Terrebonne Council reviews All Stars suspension, outlines 0‑tolerance path to possible reinstatement
Loading...
Summary
After citing incidents of parental misconduct at tournaments, council members and recreation officials described a new 0‑tolerance policy (no alcohol, no threats, no verbal abuse) to protect volunteers and players; officials said the policy will be incorporated into registration waivers and districts will post signage, with the aim of returning All Stars if enforcement succeeds.
Council members and community representatives discussed the future of Terrebonne Parish's Recreation All Stars youth program at the Dec. 17 meeting and described a 0‑tolerance enforcement policy intended to address incidents involving parents and spectators.
Several speakers traced the program's suspension to repeated incidents of abusive behavior at events. A recreation official described the new 0‑tolerance policy as prohibiting alcohol, drugs, threats and verbal abuse at public fields and said violators will be asked to leave and may face police involvement if they do not comply.
Longtime recreation employee Bobby (who said he has worked with the parish for 52 years) described the program's history, the economic benefits of hosting large tournaments, and specific episodes of parental violence or threats that helped prompt the policy. "We have a great program," Bobby said, noting national tournaments once brought dozens of teams and substantial local economic activity.
Council members and staff outlined steps to make reinstatement possible if the policy proves effective: adding the code of conduct to registration forms and waivers, placing 0‑tolerance signage in recreation districts, and coordinating enforcement among recreation districts, quality-of-life staff and the police. Officials said they hope to implement the policy this season and consider bringing All Stars back the next season if safety is assured.
No formal ordinance or vote to reinstate All Stars occurred at the meeting; the discussion produced direction and a plan to enforce behavior expectations and explore a controlled return of the program.
The council asked administration and recreation districts to include parents in planning so expectations and penalties are clear before any reinstatement.
