An altercation during a youth football game in Habersham last Saturday, Oct. 4, has resulted in a step-up of security precautions during games for the final two weeks of the season.
The rivalry between two Habersham teams, Habersham Caudell and Habersham Wade, became heated, with words exchanged between two players. Subsequently, an assistant coach for the Habersham Caudell team engaged in a verbal exchange with a referee, who then ejected the assistant coach from the game. The incident also prompted angry and verbal response from some spectators in the stands, according to league officials and Habersham Sheriff Joey Terrell.
“Apparently, from what I understand, there was an altercation between coaches on the field,” Terrell says, adding that recreation department representatives have informed him “all of that has been ironed out and taken care of; there will be no more issues (with coaches).”
Regarding the actions of people in the stands, Terrell said he received a couple calls from concerned parents about the actions of at least one spectator who was using “inappropriate” language.
“This is 10- 11- 12-year-old kids playing football, and they (the parents) are acting like its the Superbowl and the world is coming to an end,” Terrell told Now Habersham late Wednesday afternoon, Oct. 8. “They’re acting like children themselves, so we are going to pay an officer overtime to go babysit, basically, at these ball games. We are going to go ahead and put somebody over there for the next two weeks”
There were no arrests or official action taken by the Sheriff’s Office at the Oct. 4 game, Terrell says.
“There are no reports, there is nothing official. When I’m talking about the coaches, I’m just telling you what I heard from other people. I did have two phone calls from parents about the issue,” he told Now Habersham. “When someone called 911 on this person in the stands, they got irate, and (the person who made the 911 call) thought (the person in the stands) was going to hurt them because of their gruff and abusive behavior. We will put a stop to that.”
Talks between the Sheriffs’ Office and the Habersham Recreation Department have included discussions of putting an officer at each game next year.
“I’ve already talked with Fenton (Fenton Morris, Director of Habersham Parks and Recreation) about them building in money for security,” Terrell says. “That’s a crying shame, that you have to build in security to the fees, but that’s what it’s going to be.”
Now Habersham spoke at length with Morris, who serves as the Habersham delegate to the North Georgia Youth Football Association (NGYFA).
Recreation department personnel are present at each game in order to “monitor games and control the crowds,” Morris says, adding that there has been some talk of increasing security at the games.
“I talked with (Habersham Sheriff’s Investigator) Greg Bowen and he did inform me that there will be a Sheriff’s resource officer at the next two games to keep parents in line with what they are supposed to be doing, (which is) just enjoying the game,” Morris told Now Habersham late Thursday afternoon,.
The prospect of stationing an officer at each game next year has been a topic of discussion, Morris says, adding that there are often officers assigned to other school sports. Morris did not specify whether there are concrete plans to include funding for the extended security in next year’s budget and fees, but says the extra security is something he would like to see happen.
The Habersham Recreation Department joined the NGYFA last year to expand the competitive oportunities for Habersham youth involved in local sports.
The NGYFA bylaws and rules state “Any coach, player, or spectator ejected from a game or facility for any reason will serve a minimum of a one game suspension in addition to the suspension from the current game. The coach will not be allowed in or around the facility while serving their suspension. After the first ejection/suspension the coach will be placed on a one year probation period. If a second ejection occurs during the probationary period the coach is suspended for 1 full (season), regular and playoffs, if applicable.” Morris says that ruling will be followed in this case.
