Our league receives too many serious incident reports describing instances of too-rough play and verbal abuse (player to player, players and parents to referees, and even parents to parents). I define “too many” as one or more. Sadly, we are imperfect.

Let me make one thing crystal clear: The Jack London Youth Soccer League does not condone dirty play, nor do we condone boorish or inappropriate behavior. But, come on folks, every athletic league official would say that, and everyone who asks, “Why does Jack London allow?”, knows that we don’t. That’s not the point. The real question is this: How do we do a better job of preventing illegitimate behavior from happening in the first place, and how do we do a better job of dealing with it when it does happen.

The Jack London Youth Soccer League serves nearly 7,000 kids with a diversity that is almost mind boggling. This is both our strength and our challenge. We have many highly dedicated volunteers who put their blood, sweat, and tears into making our league what it is, and, we need more. Much more! Much more volunteer participation at every level! We are a public purpose, non-profit, community service, VOLUNTEER organization, and we are only as good as we make ourselves.

My friends, I put way too much time into soccer, but that’s my choice, and I derive a real satisfaction from seeing the great good that we do every day that we are out on the fields. I see lots and lots of fair play, good sportsmanship, and healthy, developing kids. But I am not so blind as to not acknowledge the problems. One bad incident can override many fine games worth of good. If you think you can do better, please, come and try. We are always open to new ideas and approaches. If you think we’re doing a pretty good job, please, come and join us, there is always a job needing to be done. We have jobs big and small. Your team needs you, your club needs you, and your league needs you.

Yes, tell us where we can do better. But better yet, tell us where we can do better, and then come and make us be better. That’s what I did.

Gregg Morris
President, JLYSL