Denying my rights to public place

[jbsmomof3]

What is the name of your state? PA
I'm sure this is a minor case but I would like to get some legal advice as to what I can do. My daughter plays softball on a tournament team & during this weekends games several parents & myself were sitting in the stands lamenting the fact that the girls didn't have sufficient coaching. All of the conversations were private, not once did any of us yell, curse or become demonstrative in any way or make any comments to or about ANYONE on the field.I have been involved in sports all of my life & when you sit in the stands you make comments, that is part of the game. . Not one comment was directed at any player or coach on the field. We were simply lamenting the bad job that was going on on the field .(mostly the bad job the coach was doing) I received a phone message from my daughters coach yesterday informing me that I was not ALLOWED to attend any further tournaments in which my daughter participates due to my "rude, childish & derogatory behavior" & numerous complaints from parents. Are we saying i'm not allowed to speak or voice my opinion of a game any longer? does a coach have a right to ban me from a public area? Is my first ammendment rights not violated? I thought this was a free country & as long as I was not loud obnoxious or caused a scene ( which did not happen) I had every right to sit & talk to my husband & friends. I am quite angry & would like to know my and my daughters legal rights in this case. thanks in advance for any help.
the coach informed me that this matter is going to be brought up at the next softball meeting & I would appreciate any help in wording a letter I intend to send before that & any advice on how I can state my case in this matter.

 

[xylene]

how old is your daughter?

 

[jbsmomof3]

she is 8 years old.

 

[fairisfair]

she is 8 years old.

bad coaching for an 8 year old???? What is wrong with you!?? Isn't your intention for your daughter to grow up to be a good sport, to play and act with integrity? Good coaching?? I think I would be worried about good parenting if I were you.

 

[xylene]

she is 8 years old.

Then don't be 'that' parent.

Have the letter you write be one of apology and concilliation, not hostililty and defense.

Explain why you must see you beloved daughter and that you will not be disruptive.

Maybe these people are PC tools.

Maybe you're that abrasive parent who acts like this is the NCAA.

Keep your focus on who is important- your 8 year old daughter.

---

Or just yank her from the league and put her in another league or sport.

 

[Zigner]

You are attending a private function, and you don't have a "right" to be there. It is a privilege.
You, of course, have the right to remove your daughter from the team. It's not a "right" that she be on the team, and it's not a "right" for you to be able to sit in the stands and cause problems.

 

[tranquility]

No. The league cannot ban you from a public place. Some states have changed the law to allow officials (i.e. referees) to dismiss people from a game's vicinity even if it is a public place, but these laws are still rare.

However, the league *can* keep your kid from playing. Stay away or the kid is gone. Many youth leagues also give the coach such power too. This can be limited in everyone plays-type leagues, but there are usually proceedures for that as well.

You will not win this one. No one, except your friends, will support you. The tack I'd take, if you want to watch your daugher to play, is to be very sorry for everything and give concrete reasons as to why it won't happen again.

 

[Zigner]

No. The league cannot ban you from a public place. Some states have changed the law to allow officials (i.e. referees) to dismiss people from a game's vicinity even if it is a public place, but these laws are still rare.

However, the league *can* keep your kid from playing. Stay away or the kid is gone. Many youth leagues also give the coach such power too. This can be limited in everyone plays-type leagues, but there are usually proceedures for that as well.

You will not win this one. No one, except your friends, will support you. The tack I'd take, if you want to watch your daugher to play, is to be very sorry for everything and give concrete reasons as to why it won't happen again.

If it is a "public" place, the league likely has a use permit, which would allow them to restrict attendees as they see fit.

 

[jbsmomof3]

No. The league cannot ban you from a public place. Some states have changed the law to allow officials (i.e. referees) to dismiss people from a game's vicinity even if it is a public place, but these laws are still rare.

However, the league *can* keep your kid from playing. Stay away or the kid is gone. Many youth leagues also give the coach such power too. This can be limited in everyone plays-type leagues, but there are usually proceedures for that as well.

You will not win this one. No one, except your friends, will support you. The tack I'd take, if you want to watch your daugher to play, is to be very sorry for everything and give concrete reasons as to why it won't happen again.

thank you for the advice.. I'm not sure what I can apologize for tho.. nothing happened, I did not speak out loud. Myself & other parents were just concerened over the way the coach handled the girls.. she was very hostile & rude to several of them ( not my daughter) & walked onto the field during the game to physically pull a girl from the field yelling "don't ,make me embarass you" I simply said (to my friends, not loudly) that I felt her behavior was inapropriate for a coach. nothing more & nothing was done at the game & I spoke to the tournment director who had no idea that there was a 'problem' nor did I until 3 days later & I got the phone call.

 

[xylene]

The league cannot ban you from a public place.

Can they stop this woman from watching from her car in the parking lot, or from the road: As you point out, Pretty unlikely.

True, but the bleachers may not even be a 'public place'.

The facility (including stands) may be in fact rented by the league for the games, as most t/ball softball (adult and child) leagues I have been on do to so their is in fact a basis beyond courtesy to ask the guy using the metal detector in the outfield to leave. (true story)

This coach may be blustering and mad, but I am pretty sure that they can get this woman out of the bleachers.

 

[tranquility]

I've been involved with use permits in youth sports for decades. They don't give you a right to decide if another person can be in a public place or not. If someone interferes with the use permit, the police may be called to deal with the *group* who does not have a permit. (Usually by municipal statute.) Most statutes are written related to activities with over a certain number of people.

For the person in the outfield looking for gold, the infringment is so great the police could possibly do more. An analogous situation would be a person walking down a sidewalk. A person starts looking for gold right in front of the walker--slowing him down. The walker tries to go around, but the gold seeker stays right in the path no matter where it is. This goes on for hours. What law is broken? What tort is committed? I'd go with a disturbing the peace charge. But, it is not the mere interference with the walking (or game playing), but the greater extent of interference so as to cause the disturbance.

This is not the same for a parent at a field. The league can ask, but does not have the power to order. There are cases where leagues have gotten restraining orders to solve the problem.

If, however, there was a true "rental" of space, then all bets are off. Anyone who represents the renter can remove others for tresspassing. Few leagues want the liability that comes with a true rental and most use permits, while a useage fee may be charged, are not rental agreements.

 

[shell007]

thank you for the advice.. I'm not sure what I can apologize for tho.. nothing happened, I did not speak out loud. Myself & other parents were just concerened over the way the coach handled the girls.. she was very hostile & rude to several of them ( not my daughter) & walked onto the field during the game to physically pull a girl from the field yelling "don't ,make me embarass you" I simply said (to my friends, not loudly) that I felt her behavior was inapropriate for a coach. nothing more & nothing was done at the game & I spoke to the tournment director who had no idea that there was a 'problem' nor did I until 3 days later & I got the phone call.

Obviously someone (another parent maybe/OBVIOUSLY??), did hear your comments and didn't like them.

NEXT TIME...WHISPER...or say NOTHING!!!!

 

[BelizeBreeze]

Go to the next game. If the coach makes a scene then simply ask her in front of everyone if she is now under the impression that her bullying tactics are appropriate in the stands as well as the dugout or on the field.

if asked to leave by the officials or the police, ask them why as you would like to inform your attorney of the reason for your suit.

 

[xylene]

if asked to leave by the officials or the police, ask them why as you would like to inform your attorney of the reason for your suit.

Challenge an officer's authority by threatening suit...

Instant respect winner and community relations builder AND a sure fire way to get cop off your back

Everything is going to work out great for you and daughter.

She is learning what every kid should learn from competitive sports: that video games are SIGNIFICANTLY more fun with less chance of injury.

 

[tranquility]

"Challenge an officer's authority by threatening suit... "

No. Challenge an officer who is exceeding his authority by pointing out he may be doing something under color of authority that is not legal.

Having been on the board in many instances of problem parents, I continue to advise the OP to suck it up and give a sincere apology. Even if there is nothing he is sorry about. I'm married and do it all the time. "I am truly sorry anything I did caused you to be upset honey, what can I do to make it up?" I find being forgiven is far better than being right.

We all can admit the problem could be the coach. We don't know. All we know is the OP is talking about things he doesn't like about the running of the team and the coach tried to ban him from a public place. Having coached youth soccer for over 25 years, I take the coach's word out of habit. (Coaches are the most upright, reverent, thrifty and brave of all people.) That does not mean he is right here.

However, unless the league wants to coach the team, they will support the coach and deal with the parent as harshly as they feel necessary. A parent who continues to express dissatisfaction over the coach will be given an option. That option won't be something the parent or player usually wants to exercise.