Parent alleges safety and equity problems in Wissahickon Middle School football program

A parent told the Wissahickon School Board on Oct. 6 that the district's middle-school football program has safety, fairness and equity problems, alleging that coaches denied some players practice opportunities, then used them in live games, and that varsity players were switched into junior-varsity games.

"My son was consistently denied practice reps yet then placed into a live game at a position he had never once practiced," said Aida Settles, who said she had stopped other paid activities to allow her child to commit to football and accused coaches of prioritizing winning and adult recognition over player development and safety.

Settles also said her son, who she described as Indigenous and brown, received harsher and more dismissive treatment than white peers. She alleged the coach told players to "accept" limited reps and that some varsity players, known for bullying behavior, were given playing time in JV games by switching jerseys.

The parent said other families had privately raised similar concerns and described one recent game in which she said varsity players wore JV jerseys to play in that game, and she called the practice exploitative. She asked the district to investigate allegations of retaliatory cuts, unfair distribution of playing time and bullying.

Board members did not take immediate action at the Oct. 6 meeting. The parent asked for the board to examine adherence to district athletics policy and to address training and supervision of coaches; no motion or vote on athletics policy occurred during the session.

The parent said the coach in question told her that cuts could not be made formally but then effectively denied practice reps as a way to limit playing time; she characterized that behavior as manipulative and retaliatory and urged board oversight.