The parents of an 11-year-old Strongsville youth football player are speaking publicly after they say racial slurs were directed at their son during a game against a Brunswick youth team.
Stina Madison said she noticed a change in her son’s demeanor during the Saturday game involving Strongsville and the Brunswick Blue Devils Youth Football program.
The family told News 5 Cleveland that racial language was directed at the boy during the game. His parents are asking adults involved in youth sports to address behavior that targets children.
The report has brought attention to conduct at youth sporting events and the responsibility of leagues, coaches and parents to maintain an appropriate environment for young players.
The child plays for Strongsville. His parents described the experience publicly after the game and said they want the incident taken seriously.
The allegations involve statements made during a youth football contest rather than an adult or professional sporting event. Because the player is a minor, local reporting focused on the parents’ account and the broader concerns raised by the family.
Strongsville and Brunswick are neighboring communities in the Greater Cleveland area with active youth sports programs.
The parents said their concern extends beyond a single game and includes how adults respond when children report discriminatory language.
News 5 Cleveland reported the family’s account and interviewed the parents about what they say occurred.
The incident comes during the opening weeks of the fall youth football season, when community leagues throughout Northeast Ohio are beginning their schedules.
The family’s public statements focus on the treatment of their son and their request for change in the youth sports environment.
No criminal allegation was reported in connection with the incident. The issue centers on the family’s account of racial slurs during the game and how youth football organizations and adults supervising games respond to such complaints.
Add comment