Five young New York soccer players were banned from playing in their league due to their parents’ alleged misconduct and possible bullying regarding team management, according to a report.
Football-loving children ages 8 to 11 were kicked out of the Washingtonville Wizards youth football and cheer league last week, while their board member parents were expelled from their positions. News12 told,
The league’s 11 remaining board members voted out the parents in November after several arguments that resulted in a code of conduct violation.
Now expelled families reportedly complained about coaching styles, team management, playing time and how bullying was handled on teams, the outlet reports.
Nicole Berhau claimed her 10-year-old son Nolan was bullied and “made to feel inferior” throughout the season, but the league placed the blame on her before he was kicked off the team.
“Nolan was bullied and made to feel inferior practically the entire football season and when I decided I had enough and wanted to get rid of the person responsible for making a 10 year old boy feel unwanted, s -T show started,” Barhau alleged on Facebook.
The protective mother says she didn’t care if he was banned from the league but she drew the line at her innocent son.
“I don’t care about anything that happens regarding my position on the board. The one I care about and will continue to care about is Nolan. He 100% does not deserve to be fired from WYFCL and asked to never come back,” she said. “You want to be angry at me? Go ahead, but I won’t apologize for wanting to get rid of someone who not only allowed bullying to happen, but blamed Nolan for the bullying.
The league, based 65 miles north of Manhattan in Orange County, voted to ban five players and four families as well as a 13-year-old volunteer cheerleading coach because her mother was expelled.
“Please be aware that our officers have voted unanimously and this message will serve as a formal notification that you and your family have been released from our program and you are now a league member of Washingtonville Youth Football & Cheerleading Inc. Are not,” read one letter sent to parents.
Berhow says she is afraid to tell her son that he will no longer be playing in the league he has been a part of for the past five years.
“I hope we can work it out so I don’t have to tell him,” the heartbroken mother told News12.
Berhau has challenged league officials to personally tell the 10-year-old player that he has been kicked out of the league.
“So they’re all brave enough, why don’t you come and confront Nolan… tell him he’s no longer welcome to be a wizard and tell him why. If you can bring yourself to ‘free’ him If you can prepare, you can have that uncomfortable conversation,” she said. “If you can’t do that, you’ll know you made the wrong decision.”
The league allows four families to register with another youth football program in the Orange County Youth Football League.
The 17-city, county-wide governing body found that no players broke any rules or codes of conduct.
“In the interest of your child(ren), I strongly encourage you to cease your inappropriate behavior and refrain from unnecessary contact with WYFCL,” the league’s attorney told parents in a cease-and-desist letter obtained by the outlet. Am.”
Despite facing opposition to the move, WYFCL says the board followed all state-approved bylaws.
“This decision was not taken lightly,” WYFCL President James Frazzano told the outlet. “Our commitment to maintaining the integrity and well-being of the organization remains, and we believe this action was necessary for the continued success of WYFCL and everyone involved in its programming.”
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