Dad pulls gun on coach to get son in ballgame

**cvcgrad** · October 24th, 2006, 09:03 AM

Police: Dad pulls gun on coach to get son in ball game

PHILADELPHIA, Pennsylvania (Reuters) -- The father of a young football player pulled a gun on his son's coach because he didn't think the boy was getting enough playing time, Philadelphia police said on Monday.

Wayne Derkotch, 40, was charged with aggravated assault after getting in a fight with the coach over the amount of time the boy was getting on the field at a game for 6- and 7-year-olds on Sunday morning, said police spokesman Officer Raul Malveiro.

"There was a physical altercation about what child should play or not play and then he pulled the gun," Malveiro said.

There were no injuries and Derkotch fled before being arrested after a complaint was made by the coach, whose name was not released, Malveiro said.

Parental behavior at children's sports events has come under scrutiny from groups such as the Citizenship Through Sports Alliance. The group's study gave parents a D grade for their conduct and involvement at kids' games.

An Internet straw poll of nearly 3,000 by the Center for Sports Parenting found that 85 percent of the participants had witnessed parents or coaches becoming verbally abusive during games. Forty percent had seen physical abuse.

**ibe4warriors** · October 24th, 2006, 09:39 AM

Well that sure answers my question from the other thread earlier this mornin.I just really can't understand why coaches can't put all the kids in the game.Win or lose they all deserve to play.That is why they are at practice isn't it?I think there should be a rule in all sports about playing time.And not just 30 seconds of playing time before a game ends.And my goodness I have gotten mad at games but not mad enough to take a gun.Shame on this father!

**cvcgrad** · October 24th, 2006, 09:48 AM

I agree. At that level, I think all the kids should be given as much playing time as possible.

I thought some of our fans got out of hand around here, but I don't think I've heard of anything this extreme.

**BALLCOACH** · October 24th, 2006, 10:07 AM

Every parent thinks their kid is an all-star. Hello people it's a game....just a game. I think parents need to keep their nose out of it, PERIOD. People need to grow up and quit living out their lives through their kids. I'm suprised something like this hasn't happend around here. Give it a little time though and some jerk will follow through with it.

I really believe that some parents need to realize maybe their son or daughter just isn't that good. Now, with that being said I think all kids in little league ranks should be given an opportunity to play during a game. How much? That's a coaches decision. In the high school level, that's a different story. Let's face it..some have it...some don't and I think parents need to take off the rose colored glasses sometimes and honestly see what's going on. Do some players get screwed? Sure, but that's life right? We don't always get it our way, so instead of moaning and complaining why not use the situation to make a better individual out of yourself and to teach your son or daughter about character in tough times?

**ibe4warriors** · October 24th, 2006, 10:38 AM

I can tell you right now that I don't live my life through my kids.Just a game?Maybe to you.And if that's how you see it then that's ok.But some of us see it as more.My son...Is my business.And yes in my eyes my boys are all stars.

**burton2019** · October 24th, 2006, 10:39 AM

Whether or not they get "playing time" in p-nut football has no outcome on their lives. People need to lighten up a bit.

**BALLCOACH** · October 24th, 2006, 10:46 AM

[ QUOTE ]
I can tell you right now that I don't live my life through my kids.Just a game?Maybe to you.And if that's how you see it then that's ok.But some of us see it as more.My son...Is my business.And yes in my eyes my boys are all stars.

[/ QUOTE ]

I rest my case....

**TheBeast** · October 24th, 2006, 11:30 AM

Was talking to a friend of mine yesterday and found out he has been coaching p-nut in Big Stone and he was telling me he loved it because the people there understood that their kid might not get to play and that on whichever team they are on 4th-5th or 6th-7th the younger 4th graders and 6th graders know that they won't get much playing time at all that next year is their year that they are there to learn.

**imported_VTgal** · October 24th, 2006, 11:31 AM

I agree with you, 27.

Maybe at little league level, all kids should get to play. But most parents keep that mindset on up through their child's athletic career (hs). As a coach, you are looking out for a TEAM...parents are only looking out for their own kid. Parents should stay out of coaching decisions in most cases. Most kids would be fine with a coach, it's the parents that make the child feel less valuable because they don't get as much playing time as someone else on the team.

**imported_VTgal** · October 24th, 2006, 11:32 AM

[ QUOTE ]
I really believe that some parents need to realize maybe their son or daughter just isn't that good. Now, with that being said I think all kids in little league ranks should be given an opportunity to play during a game. How much? That's a coaches decision. In the high school level, that's a different story. Let's face it..some have it...some don't and I think parents need to take off the rose colored glasses sometimes and honestly see what's going on. Do some players get screwed? Sure, but that's life right? We don't always get it our way, so instead of moaning and complaining why not use the situation to make a better individual out of yourself and to teach your son or daughter about character in tough times?

[/ QUOTE ]

AMEN.