Youth League Discriminating against Coaches & Players, legal?

[frisco]

TX

Recreational Football League amends policy to discriminate and control what participants do during another season prior to the beginning of their league. Is this legal?

Never thought a Fall (Aug 11 - Nov 17) Recreational League in one city can tell me what my son can do during June and July. My son plays indoor Arena Football, which is a completely different sport during June and July. Practices are early morn, 1 hour in length, helmet only, and is spent on agility training, skill development, and fundamentals. We practice about every 10 days, similar to a football camp.

Here is the new rule:
Policy and Procedure amendments that pertain to this issue:

1) Any coach or player that participates in tackle football activities (Games or practices) starting 3 months prior to the start of the first allowed practice date except for "League Name" approved camps will not be eligible to participate in the "League Name" Recreation Football season.
a. To clarify for 2012…any tackle activity between May 11th and first practice date of Aug. 11th. 2) No practices or conditioning is allowed unless you are participating in a flag league. Violations will result in suspension of the coaches and all participating players in attendance at the event.
a. If it has to be football 24/7, then encouraged to play flag.

 

[stealth2]

Of course they can do that. Apparently league 2 is a flag league. They don't want kids to get hurt by players who are training for tackle. So, if you want your son to play tackle, put him in a tackle league instead.

Is it discrimination? You could look at it that way. But it is not *illegal* discrimination. If they allowed kids of one race to play tackle during the summer, but not kids of another - THAT would be illegal. But not allowing ANY kids to do so? Not in the least.

 

[frisco]

Both leagues are tackle leagues. They are in different cities, and both are recreational, and both are during different seasons, no over lap.

Of course they can do that. Apparently league 2 is a flag league. They don't want kids to get hurt by players who are training for tackle. So, if you want your son to play tackle, put him in a tackle league instead.

Is it discrimination? You could look at it that way. But it is not *illegal* discrimination. If they allowed kids of one race to play tackle during the summer, but not kids of another - THAT would be illegal. But not allowing ANY kids to do so? Not in the least.

 

[cbg]

Still not illegal.

 

[stealth2]

Both leagues are tackle leagues. They are in different cities, and both are recreational, and both are during different seasons, no over lap.

Fair enough - I made an incorrect presumption. However, this still does not make it illegal discrimination. Find a different league, or abide by their requirements.

 

[tranquility]

I don't think that is a good rule at all. I suspect it has to do with a fair-minded attempt to limit the physical stresses of youth tackle football on the children participating. If so, I believe them to be wrong, but it matters not.

A private league can put on whatever criteria they want as long as it does not implicate a protected characteristic. (Race, religion etc.)

You have no legal avenue to force them to do what you want.

Having been on boards of youth sports for decades, I know there are a lot of rules which get passed on erroneous information. Try to correct it. Lobby the board for a rule change and get like-minded parents involved too.