Winter Park police investigate dispute over 3-year-old's participation in youth soccer league
Body-camera footage shows Winter Park police were called to a youth soccer field after league officials reported disruptive behavior by the parents of a highly skilled 3-year-old player, not because the child was deemed "too good" for the league.
Winter Park police responded to a disturbance at a city soccer field on Saturday after the league director reported that the parents of a three-year-old player were creating a scene. The director, Thomas Hayes of i9 Sports, told officers that the child repeatedly pushed other players and that his parents argued with other parents on the field.
Hayes said the league had previously moved the child to a different team because his skill level was significantly higher than that of other participants in the beginner 5U division. He added that the parents’ behavior escalated the situation, prompting the call for law enforcement.
The child's mother, Martasia Griffin, launched a GoFundMe campaign citing the incident and has raised more than $25,000. In the campaign description, she stated that her son was removed from the game due to concerns about his skill level and that the incident caused distress for the family.
The case highlights ongoing discussions about age-appropriate placement of highly skilled children in youth sports and the role of parents in maintaining a supportive environment for all participants.