When a League Ban Affects the Child More Than the Parent
I never expected that showing up for my child would eventually result in me being permanently banned from his baseball league.
For an entire season, I was there. I attended my son’s games and practices, supported him, and did what I believed any parent should do: I showed up for my child.
Then, following an incident at the end of a game, I received an email informing me that I had been permanently banned from Chili Youth Baseball (CYB). The email stated that the decision was based on my alleged conduct, a board member’s account of the incident, and a Monroe County Sheriff’s Office police report.
I understand that youth sports organizations have a responsibility to maintain a safe and respectful environment. I also understand that boards sometimes have difficult decisions to make when they believe a parent has crossed a line.
What I am struggling to understand is what happens when a parent has questions about that decision—and the organization does not answer them.
On July 24, I submitted a written request to CYB asking for the information and records relating to my ban. I asked what specific rule or policy I had violated, what evidence the board relied upon, whether a formal vote was taken, whether meeting minutes existed, and what appeal or review process was available.
I subsequently asked what avenue was available to me to have the decision reviewed. I was told by the league president, in a text message, that the leagues are privately run, so there was nobody above him and one other person.
That statement has left me with more questions than answers.
I am not asking that a youth baseball organization be subjected to unnecessary scrutiny every time it makes a disciplinary decision. I am asking a much simpler question: Who holds an organization accountable when a permanent decision is made about a parent, and there appears to be no meaningful avenue to question it?
My concern goes beyond my own ability to attend baseball games. My son was affected, too.
Because I was permanently banned, neither my son nor I attended his end-of-year ceremony. He was supposed to have the opportunity to receive his trophy and celebrate the season he worked hard for with his teammates and coaches. Instead, his trophy will be mailed to him.
For a child who spent the season playing baseball, practicing, competing, and looking forward to that final celebration, missing that moment was heartbreaking.
He was hurt. I was hurt.
And that is what makes this situation so difficult for me to simply walk away from.
This isn’t about whether a parent should be held accountable when they genuinely violate a league’s rules. If I did something wrong, I should be able to know specifically what I did, what rule I violated, what evidence was considered, and why a permanent ban was determined to be appropriate.
What I am asking for is transparency, an opportunity to understand the decision, and a fair process.
I have now reached out to the appropriate Parks and Recreation Director for guidance because I do not believe that asking reasonable questions about a permanent ban should be treated as an attack on the organization.
This is not about winning an argument with a baseball league. It is about making sure that when an organization has the authority to exclude a parent from their child’s youth sports community, there is also a meaningful process for accountability.
Youth sports are supposed to create memories for children. My son should remember the season for the games he played, the teammates he made, the practices, the excitement, and the pride of receiving his trophy.
Instead, one of the memories he will carry is that he wasn’t there to receive it.
I showed up for my child all season.
Now I am simply asking the people who made this decision to show up for their responsibility to explain it.
Jennifer Hovey
Churchville
