It’s that time of year—football season. Family members traveling to see their loved ones play, fans dressing up in their team’s colors while withstanding all kinds of weather conditions as they cheer their team to the end zone; but for one area youth football team that is no more—at least not as part of the PAC 6 league.
On Sept. 29, at a league meeting, John Wilson, assistant head coach of the Swissvale Flashes, one of six teams to play in the PAC 6 league, was told that his team was no longer welcome, citing various reasons which included accusations of cheating and parents who were “too rowdy” and “loud.”
While there may have been some incidents, according to Wilson, there was no cheating and nothing that warrants “the game” being taken away from the kids. He claims the league has targeted his youth for weeks, being “knit-picky,” all because they’re a predominantly Black, urban team who just happened to be winning this year.
“They don’t deserve to be taken off a field because maybe a few adults had a few words or whatever; I don’t see why the kids should suffer. This is important to them. They’re safe at football practices. It teaches them so much. Usually when a kid gets punished for doing something, he gets punished for doing something wrong,” said Wilson. “We do a good job with the kids. One of the things said in the meeting is that our ‘kids are very mannerable and respectful.’ (But) what they’re saying to us (now) is ‘you guys do a good job, your coaches are fine, but you’re a bunch of animals. We don’t want to play you because your parents, your guardians and your supports are animals.’ And that’s not the case. ”
Bob Soderberg, president of the Swissvale Athletic Association and head coach of the varsity team, said, “I think we got a raw deal. Our fans were a little over zealous. It was nothing to do with the kids.”
While he admits the parents were loud, like most football fans, he said the parents were never a problem and doesn’t believe there were threats. He went on to say that often times, when PAC’s accusations were questioned, his organization was viewed as being a problem. He said he knows the kids are hurt, but his teams will continue their goal, which is “to keep the kids off the street, to keep the kids playing and learning about football.”
The PAC 6 is a youth football league that consists of youth football organizations from Greensburg, South Greensburg, Hempfield, Pitcarin, Jeannette, and once Swissvale. Each organization, which contains children ranging from 6-12, has three teams—the developmental (for 6-8), junior varsity (for 9-10) and varsity (11-12). Last year was the Flashes first year with the league.
According to Wilson, the league made numerous accusations of the Flashes cheating, citing incidents such as: the use of a non-PIAA certified referee during a home game, which the rules online state that all game officials must be PIAA certified; the wrong size ball during a home game; the use of a coach as a referee and the switching players’ jerseys, just to name a few.
Wilson denies ever switching player’s jerseys or players, and said when he asked to see the proof they had on film, it was not shown to him. With regards to the use of a non-PIAA certified referee and the wrong ball, were all mistakes made on behalf of the organization’s president, nothing intentional. He said the referee that was used was only used because the league did not provide a referee for their scheduled game and approved them finding their own. As for the accusations of using a coach as a referee, Wilson said he had proof that both his coach and the referee were filmed in the same area at the same time, but that the league did not want to view it. He claims the ‘misidentification’ occurred because they were both, “Black men with dreads.”
Along with accusations of cheating, Wilson also said the league claimed that there were too many problems with the parents, saying there were “rowdy,” “too loud” and that some had even made threats to the opposing team. In regards to those allegations, Wilson said there was only one incident with a parent, which was not physical, and that his side immediately removed the parent from the field and the organization, soon after. He said there couldn’t have been too much of a problem, because a game was played the next week. As for parents being too rowdy, he said the Swissvale parents were no worse than parents from other teams, especially Jeannette, who had an incident prior to the removal of the Flashes. Wilson said if that’s the case, then all the teams should be removed the league.
As an alternative to their removal, Wilson said he suggested banning his teams’ parents from the games and only playing away games, but it was rejected.
Treasurer of the Swissvale Athletic Association Sharon Noel said, “We should have left before the season started because something just didn’t feel right. (Now), they’re trying to make up stuff.” She went on to say that last season when they weren’t competitive, everything was okay, because the league needed their team, but now, she also believes the Flashes are being targeted because they are doing well and the league no longer needs them and using any little reason to get rid of them.
When asked for comment, PAC 6 League President Frank Lehman, also Greensburg’s superintendent of Parks and Recreation, refused to speak on the matter, replying via email with, “I spoke to all the PAC 6 league representatives and there is no need to make a statement.”
Christina Castello, vice president of the South Greensburg Bulldogs and would only speak on behalf of her organization, said to her knowledge, the Flashes were only removed for the season, not from the league. She said at the meeting she attended two weeks ago, the question was asked, based on incidents this season, whether or not to end the Flashes’ season. She said the remaining teams who were scheduled to play them, voted not to play them.
Wilson said they were in fact removed and even given well wishes for their future.
According to Castello, the Flashes’ removal was based “on a number of things,” including Swissvale’s “parents getting out of line.”
She cited league rule violations and recalled an incident where parents were warned for shouting curse words during the game against her team and where a threat was made against her.
Noel refutes that there were any incidents where threats were made against anyone. She said that would not be tolerated. She said their fan base of 30 game attendees in so small compared to the more than 100 that come out for the other organizations.
Although she believes some action needed to be taken, Castello said she does feel bad for the children.
“Those children on that team are amazing children, just polite and courteous. I honestly feel bad for them,” she said. “But at some point there has to be some accountability for the parents and the parent’s actions, and there was none. Their parents were out of control.”
Castello said Wilson has alluded to the removal being an issue of race on his Facebook page and she said that’s not true and is offended by it. She said Jeanette’s organization is another predominantly Black team and they voted not to play the Flashes.
But Wilson believes it is just because Jeannette’s organization doesn’t want any repercussions since they had a previous incident involving their parents.
In a private message to Wilson, which was provided to the Courier by Wilson, a South Greensburg parent identified as Melissa, said, “…We didn’t have a problem playing u guys at all. My son said ur boys weren’t mean at all.” Later in the message she said, “… I hope u guys do get to play.”
And play is what Wilson said his boys will do. He has already arranged games with local teams in the Braddock and Woodland Hills, and is working on arranging the kids’ participation in a tournament, which they are currently raising funds for. A GoFundMe page has been created under “Let Them Play. Swissvale Football.”
Wilson vows never to give up on his kids. “I know how hard these kids work. Some people would just take it and back away, but I’m going to fight for my kids (to keep playing).”
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