A St. Mary’s Parks Department proposal to take over control of the county youth football program was not greeted friendly by officials with St. Mary’s Pigskin football.

Parks and Recreation Director Phil Rollins proposed Tuesday the county Board of commissioners adopt a national set of youth sports standards, and create a youth football league that would become the county’s sole youth football program played at local parks.

 

Charles County Recreation photo

Both proposals are in reaction to community complaints about the independent Pigskin organization, which contains approximately 46 teams of varying age and ability. In particular, one “incident” at a Pigskin game on Nov. 5 triggered government to consider new regulations and a takeover of the program.

During a Nov. 5 game between a north county team and a south county team the situation became ugly apparently as the south county team claimed favoritism on the part of the officials after numerous touchdowns were called back for penalties. The game was cancelled midway through and the south county team was apparently kicked out of league and players ordered to remove their equipment and leave it on the field. Some parents also claimed racial remarks were spewed.

“The last thing I want to do is get into a situation where we’re pointing fingers about what happened in the past,” said Board President Tommy McKay (R-Hollywood) when the board suggested holding a public forum on the issue. “Quite frankly I’m not sure it matters too much what happened in the past, we want to know how we’re going to move forward so that youth in St. Mary’s County have an opportunity to play on public fields with a standard to live up to.”

The board did not make a decision on adopting standards or the new league proposal. McKay said it will be back on the agenda in a month after interested parties are contacted in person or at a hearing.

Rollins said the new football league would be modeled after similar programs in Charles and Calvert counties, in which the county would administer the league, setting schedules, setting age and weight classes, training coaches, and hiring officials. The existing Pigskin league, and the fledgling Southern County Youth Football league, will be encouraged participate in supplying teams and coaches, Rollins said. Also, he suggested the county consider budgeting for equipment or loaning money to organizations to purchase equipment.

“We think in order for this to work it needs to becomes the St. Mary’s County football program, Rollin said. “Those that may choose not to participate we don’t think should be participating on public facilities. That is our recommendation.”

“The reason I endorse this is because it gives the county some leverage,” County Administrator George Forrest said. “Right now you don’t have any control … there’s not a whole lot you can do other than to deny use to facilities (when an incident occurs).

“We’re not shutting the door, we hope there is participation,” Forrest added. “We w