Friday July 20 7:32 AM ET
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - U.S. youth soccer officials got tough with unruly adults on Thursday after a violent brawl during an under 14 tournament described as a ``wake-up call'' for the growing problem of sideline sports rage.
The American Youth Soccer Organization (AYSO) banned one parent and two soccer coaches for life and disbanded two boys soccer teams following the worst brawl in its 35-year history. It will in future require parents of young soccer players to sign good behavior pledges.
About 30 adults were involved in a post-match melee in the southern California town of San Juan Capistrano last month after a tournament game between the Palmdale Eagles and the Chino Chiefs. Three adults were arrested, one parent needed treatment for a bite, another suffered cuts and a swollen eye and others reported being hit on the head with umbrellas and being threatened by a man swinging a metal rod.
``The message we are sending with these decisions is unmistakable. AYSO will not tolerate such conduct on the part of our players, volunteers or parents, and we are working to eliminate it,'' said AYSO national executive director Cherie Tucker.
AYSO National President Joel Mark called the incident a wake-up call for the nonprofit organization's 250,000 volunteers nationwide who coach, referee and officiate at youth matches.
The June brawl was part of a spate of sideline spectator violence at U.S. youth sports events ranging from parents screaming abuse at referees to a case in Boston last year where the father of one young hockey player was beaten to death by another father.
The cause of the melee after the San Juan Capistrano game was unclear but reports from the sheriff's department at the time said violence broke out after an assistant coach for the winning Chino team allegedly tried to pick a fight with a Palmdale player. Palmdale parents rushed onto the field to intervene and fighting broke out.
The AYSO said it was extending nationwide its Kids Zone program piloted near San Diego that is designed to stamp out sideline violence.
Under the program all parents will be asked to sign a pledge at the beginning of the season promising not to disrupt games and large posters listing good behavior standards will be posted at soccer fields.
� 1997
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