Legal Question in Civil Litigation in Pennsylvania

Re: Stopping a volounteer for childrens activities

As a parent and president of a volunteer sports program, I have great sympathy for your question.

The great dilemma facing such organizations is that enthusiastic volunteers are very hard to come by. Yet the responsibility of assuring safe and wholesome experiences is a very serious one.

There's also a tension between "fun" and "competition" in the goals and philosophies of these programs.

Legally, control of such decisions is placed in the officers and board of the organization. As a member, you have the right to express your views, participate in leadership in the league, and help make it better. You can also complain to the league or parent organization, if any. I think that a court would be very reluctant to interfere in these types of decisions, however.

Personally, I hate to see over-aggressive coaches take the fun out of sports and the group I'm with is very sensitive to such complaints.

Since participation in these programs is voluntary (not required as a school activity would be), the immediate and most effective remedy for those who disagree with the way the program is run is to leave the program.

Yes, the organization could be held liable if a child is harmed by improper actions of a coach, especially if the board had notice of the coach's unsuitability.

But your interest is in preventing such harm. Why don't you volunteer to coach your son's team and get more involved in improving the group?