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One Of The Biggest Headaches

Clear rules, written procedures, documentation, and calm communication help youth-sports administrators resolve protests and disputes fairly.

4 min read

Photo Credit: © Can Stock Photo Inc. / Mark2121

Having been a recreation director for a few years, I remember the dreadful times I had to deal with protests. If you have been asked to be the final word on topics, such as eligibility, then you know what I mean. According to the law of averages, one is never right. And the protest losers will haunt one throughout his or her career as “the person who cost us the championship.”

I spent many days listening to some of the most ridiculous protests imaginable and finally came up with a rule: Our office would accept all protests with one caveat—a person could submit a protest along with a $100 fee. If the person won the protest, the $100 was returned.

The results? The protests were cut dramatically. And I slept a lot better.