Youth soccer team kicked out of league for parents’ behavior: ‘Enough’

ALIQUIPPA, Pa. (WTAE) – A Pennsylvania youth soccer team has been kicked out of the league due to parental behavior.

The Aliquippa Little Quips youth soccer team was removed from its league just days before the league semifinals.

Beaver County Youth Soccer League officials said there has been a history of parental misconduct, and a recent fight between adults involving a pregnant woman was the final nail in the coffin.

However, Little Quips said children, some as young as four, should not be punished for the actions of adults.

Jason Harvey, president of the Aliquippa Youth Soccer Organization, said the program plays an instrumental role in keeping youth out of trouble.

“We love our kids, we love our program. The love of soccer in Aliquippa starts as a child with Little Quips,” Harvey said. “This is one way to keep them out of danger. I mean, without it they have nothing, absolutely nothing.

The team was kicked out of the league by a six-to-three vote.

A statement from the Beaver County Youth Soccer League detailed an incident that occurred last Saturday following a game between the Central Valley Little Warriors and Little Quips. They say several Aliquippa spectators attacked a pregnant mother.

Center County Police Chief Eldo Legge said he is working to identify the perpetrators. He said that criminal proceedings were pending against many people.

However, Aliquippa Mayor Dwan Walker says he tried to break up the fight and saw only one Aliquippa parent involved.

“It was a situation between two stupid parents who went out of their way, and that situation created a whole snowball effect to the detriment of our children,” Walker said.

The league’s removal of Little Quips took place four days after the fight and took effect immediately.

The Beaver County Youth Soccer League said in a statement: “Their removal cannot be attributed to this one incident, but it was just the straw that broke the camel’s back. They have a history of misconduct. Eight people did not vote for them. Eight organizations with over 150 families expressed their opinion and said enough is enough.”

The mayor said he is exploring what legal options the team might have.

The Beaver County Youth Football League stated that the opposing team was not disciplined after the brawl because it believed its team’s parent was a victim and acted in self-defense.

Aliquippa is located about 30 miles northwest of Pittsburgh.