Pop Warner Coach Throws Punch

YULEE, Fla. - A Yulee Pop Warner football coach is accused of hitting a parent in the face and shoving a grandparent at Saturday's game. "I said, 'You can't tell me what I can say and not say,' and at that, he came about seven yard and bam, full on me, right in the chest," said Michael Crawford. Crawford's grandson is on the Pop Warner team coached by Shawn Rauls. According to an arrest and booking report, Rauls and Crawford got into an argument at Saturday's game held in Orange Park. Crawford said Rauls escalated things by shoving him and then punching his son in the face. "I got out to the car and could hardly breathe because I thought he broke on of my ribs," Crawford said. "A man like that does not need to be coaching 9-year-olds." Rauls was arrested by Orange Park Police and transported to the county jail. Crawford's daughter in law was at the game as well and she told Channel 4 that she does not know how to explain what happened to her son. "My son doesn't understand," she said. "He said, 'Mom, why did coach do that?' I just explain, 'I don't know.'" A number of parents said Rauls was back on the field Monday. The Pop Warner association did not allow Channel 4 access to the field to see if he was there. Story courtesy of News 4 Jacksonville. Pop Warner covering up for their own...rings familiar.

3 Coaches Arrested After Pop Warner Melee in Morgan City

A trio of coaches with Pop Warner's Atchafalaya Football League are jailed after fighting at a 9 to 12 year old Pop Warner Football Game "Turkey Bowl." Morgan City Police Department officers were summoned to the Morgan City Junior High School Stadium in regards to a large fight between football players and coaches on Wednesday evening. Upon arrival, officers learned that one of three coaches, two from one team and one from the other had been fighting. According to witnesses, one of the players had been making late hits after officials called the play dead. At one point, after one of the hits, police say that player and an opposing player began fighting. It was at that point, Coach Howard Hartley went onto the field, separated the two players fighting. Morgan City Police tell KATC TV that the coach then struck the player who had been making the late hit. Police said that the opposing coach and also father of the player that was hit, Hilton Rhodes, approached Hartley and the two began fighting. As the fight continued, Rhodes was knocked to the ground, and Coach Quang Nguyen approached him and allegedly kicked Rhodes. After several minutes other coaches broke up the fight. Howard Hartley, 34, was arrested and charged with two counts of simple battery. Hilton Rhodes, 41, was arrested and charged with simple battery. Quang Nguyen, 43, was arrested and charged with simple battery. The three were released on their own recognizance pending court action. Story courtesy of KATC 3. Bad boy Pop Warner. Bad boy.

Youth Pop Warner Football Coach Arrested On Sex Charges

Reno, NV A former Sparks Pop Warner football coach has been arrested on suspicion of having sex with a 14-year-old girl whom he met through a player, officers said.

Conoly Franklin, 36, was arrested Thursday for investigation of felony statutory sexual seduction.

Reno police Sgt. Kim Bradshaw said detectives learned of the case earlier this month when the girl, now 15, filed a separate complaint against Franklin alleging harassment.

Franklin, who coached one of the girl's relatives, met her when she was a 13-year-old middle school student.

Paula Tallent, president of Sparks Pop Warner, said Franklin passed a criminal background check before he was accepted as an assistant coach last year, she said.

"This came as a surprise to us and was the first time we had ever heard any claims against him," Tallent told the Reno Gazette-Journal.

Ed Lantis, president of Pop Warner's Sagebrush Empire League, said most teams began background checks of volunteers after a similar arrest in Reno years before. Last year, the league made background checks mandatory.

Pop Warner coach Anthony Dastolfo, then 56, was sentenced to three consecutive life sentences for sexually molesting two teenage boys who lived with him.

Dastolfo earlier was twice convicted in California for annoying and molesting children before he was confirmed a Pop Warner coach.

"There's really no fool-proof system because it might have been only until this year and he snaps and becomes a bad person," Lantis added.

Franklin, who's a father, coached boys between the ages of 8 and 10.

Story courtesy of Reno KOLO TV.

One more Pop Warner coach breaking bad.

Coach arrested in attack on parent in San Diego

Sun Apr 10, 2:03 pm ET SAN DIEGO - Authories say a youth football coach was arrested during a game in San Diego after he allegedly punched and kicked a parent, who was knocked unconscious when he hit the ground. San Diego police say the coach, 32-year-old Saivaauli Savaiinea, was arrested Saturday afternoon on suspicion of felony battery. He reportedly attacked 32-year-old Mark Cannon during an argument. Police say Cannon tripped over his own feet, fell and hit his head on concrete. Cannon was taken to a trauma center with head injuries. Police had no word on his condition Sunday. Police Lt. Dan Christman tells the San Diego Union Tribune that Savaiinea reportedly thought he overheard Cannon trying to recruit one of his players. "The coach threw the first punch and struck the parent on the shoulder and then kicked him in the stomach," Christman said. Christman said Cannon then began backing away from the blows. "He tripped and hit his head on the concrete. He may have suffered some serious injuries," Christman said. He said the incident was witnessed by several other parents, cheerleaders and children. The two men were with opposing teams of 9, 10, and 11-year-old kids from Chula Vista, Calif.. It happened late Saturday afternoon after a football game between the Islanders and Panthers National Youth Sports Pop Warner teams. Story courtesy of San Diego's KGTV 10. Pop Warner "coaches" at it again.

Pop Warner Fees

Pop Warner's current national fees for their individual chapter is:

$35 for a tackle team
$25 for a cheer squad
$15 for a flag team

The question that logically follows is why are registration fees for Pop Warner so high?

More Troubles for Pop Warner's Orange Empire Conference

The Orange Empire Conference, which is the local governing Pop Warner body serving such North Orange County cities as Fullerton, Brea, Yorba Linda, Anaheim, La Habra and La Mirada is facing more troubles with its chapters as the story below indicates.

WHITTER CA March 3 2010 - A former Whittier police officer was charged Tuesday with nine counts of child molestation, officials from the District Attorney's Office said.

Paul Ayala, 42, of Whittier, faces eight counts of lewd acts on a child and one count of oral copulation or sexual penetration of a child under age 10, said Jane Robison, spokeswoman for the Los Angeles County District Attorney's office.

The alleged victims are two 10-year-old boys who played on a youth football team Ayala coached, Robison said.

Ayala pleaded not guilty Tuesday to the charges, Robison said. Booking records show he is being held at Men's Central Jail in Los Angeles. Robison said his bail was set at $8.2 million.

A woman who answered the phone at Ayala's residence Tuesday hung up without commenting. A message left later on the answering machine wasn't returned.

Ayala's attorney, Sean McDonald, didn't return a phone call and e-mail seeking comment.

The charges stem from alleged incidents in 2008 and 2009 when Ayala coached the La Mirada Pop Warner League's La Mirada Matadores, said sheriff's Sgt. Dan Scott.

"He befriended (the boys) as the coach," Scott said. "He would take them over to his house before and after games and that's where the molestation occurred."

One child was allegedly molested between July and December 2008, the second during the same months in 2009, Scott said.

One of the children told a family member of the alleged incident, and the relative reported it to Whittier police last week, Scott said. Whittier police said they sent the case to the Sheriff's Department on Friday.

Ayala's booking slip shows he was arrested Friday and booked in Norwalk.

The charges were based on law enforcement's interviews with the alleged victims, Scott said. No physical evidence has been found.

"We're looking into all aspects of his life," Scott said. "We do a thorough background on everyone we investigate."

Whittier police officer Mike Dekowski said the department deferred the case to the Sheriff's Department because of its sensitive nature.

Dekowski declined further comment, except to say Ayala was a 17-year veteran of Whittier's police force. Ayala retired for medical reasons on July 20, 2007.

Scott said the investigation continues.

"We believe based on our investigation that there are more victims out there," Scott said.

Ayala also coached baseball, Scott said.

He is listed on the Pop Warner league's website as a 2010 Pee Wee team coach.


The link to the story above is: http://privateofficernews.wordpress.com/2010/03/03/former-cop-charged-with-child-molestation-www-privateofficer-com/

More links include: http://pysih.com/2010/03/28/paul-anthony-ayala/

Pop Warner Open Letter

Below is an open letter email from a Pop Warner parent addressed to Fullerton Pop Warner "president" James "Jimbo" Wright.



TimeSubj: Please help our "Blue" Flag Team!

Dear Jimbo and Board Members:

I'm emailing you today to express my deepest concern for the Blue Fullerton Titan Flag Football team. I appreciate your time and appreciate you each taking this time to read this lengthy email. I apologize for its length but several parents and I have valid arguments which need to be addressed.

I'll begin by stating how unfortunate our team has been, and how our boys have suffered, due to lack of organization and leadership skills. After speaking to some parents, I learned that I am not alone when I sadly state that our coaches have poor people skills, communication skills, and organizational skills. This is my sons first year playing flag football. Unfortunately, several parents and I have the same future outlook...that our boys may not be returning next year due to the experience the boys are having. This should be the best/funnest, most rewarding time for our boys, especially since more than 92% of our flag football team are first year players. Some of these first year boys are excellent ball players. It would be a shame to lose these boys simply because our head coach cannot commnicate and lead effectively.

Our head coach, Coach Rick, first introduced himself to our boys at a bar in Placentia. Not a kid friendly pizza place, however, a bar with literally one video game, two bar-like tables, two waitresses, a fully stocked bar, and some booths! I understand now, that Coach Rick knows the owners of the bar, and has agreed to take his team there whenever possible. A bar is not a place I would like my son to socialize with his fellow teammates after a football game. While other kids go to kid friendly pizza places, our kids gather at a bar and watch their coach drink alcohol.

At our first meeting, parents were given names of the three coaches who were to assist Coach Rick during the season. Those coaches showed up to three practices and never showed up to any practices thereafter! Today, those same coaches showed up for this mornings game. Not only did this confuse our boys, it was extremely discouraging to learn Coach Rick had been suspended and then for our boys to see him sitting on a lawn chair just adjacent to Lions Field. I had to explain to my son why his head coach was sitting so far away from his team and why there were new coaches on the field. This is not a conversation I want to have with my son.

Shortly after the third practice, parents noticed the lack of coaches. Coach Rick asked several men who were consistenly attending their sons practices to "step-up" and help him coach. Two of Coach Rick's assistants were forced into changing their employment schedules and were now working nights. Realizing that our boys were not having the best experience and were running wild, some fathers agreed to coach and commit themselves to be at each and every practice and games for the boys. This morning, at today's game, those same coaches/fathers/grandfathers, etc. whom have been there consistently, were literally pushed aside as our boys watched. These men who have already committed themselves to be at every practice have earned the respect of our kids and should be the ones on the field leading our boys as they do during practive.

One cannot be a part-time coach and expect to show up only at game time! This tactic confuses our 5,6, & 7 year olds and Coach Rick and Coach Bobby need to learn that. How can our boys be lead by men who do not have their own affairs in line? It's impossible!!! The lack of organization is apparent.

Furthermore, there are coaches that HAVE NOT BEEN BACKGROUND CHECKED!!! Coaching my son...there is one coach who has a Fullerton Titan coach shirt, badge, etc. and has not filled out a background authorization! Get him off the field! I do not want my son being coached by somebody who has not been checked!!!

Let me again apologize for this long email but something must be done about this as soon as possible. There are many other parents who feel the way I do and are not happy with this situation. Some of us parents have our own theory about why the lack of organization has affected our team. Theories such as favoritism, some boys playing both offense & defense, one quaterback, one wide receiver, etc. (the boys are not allowed to play different positions to stimulate & encourage their abilities). When I first registered my son to play football, I thought he was going to be given a chance to play every position. As a parent, I depend on the knowledge of the coach and his assistants to bring out the "aggressive player" in my son.

Since day 1 our team has been so disorganized. Communications regarding practices & scrimmages come a day before. On one occasion, I learned about a scheduled scrimmage the very same day. In fact, parents and I learned hours before our boys were to be there! My list goes on and on! Again, I am not alone when I communicate my disappointment with Coach Rick & Coach Bobby.

Did I mention?...Coach Bobby was literally using his cell phone (bluetooth on his ear) with Coach Rick during this mornings game! So while on suspension, Coach Rick was still calling the shots from a lawn chair, sitting in somebody's yard trying to direct our team. These coaches cost our team a 15 yard penalty for communicating (Bobby using his bluetooth) while on the field! This almost cost us the game!

I want the coaches who are consistently at every practice coaching my son. I want them background checked. This is a personal opinion but I also want the coaches not to appear like they've been drinking or smoking drugs before they approach our boys. Coach Rick and Coach Bobby need to learn "people skills" before they face the parents. They're disrespectful and rude to parents in front of our children.

Please help!!!!


Respectfully yours,

"BLUE" Team



Pop Warner breaking bad again.