Fight involving parents, coaches breaks out during youth football game

The Shasta County Sheriff's Office is investigating a fight that broke out during a youth football game on Saturday, Nov. 29, a spokesperson for the department confirmed.

The incident occurred during the Central Valley Youth Falcons and Battle Born Nevada from Reno game at 12:41 p.m. on Nov. 29 at Central Valley High School's football field, according to a Shasta County Sheriff’s Office press release.

According to witnesses interviewed by deputies, a Battle Born player was tackled near the opposing team's sideline. A Central Valley coach pushed the player back toward the field, prompting the player's father — an assistant coach on the Reno team — to rush across the field to confront the coach, as he "perceived the push an assault," the press release states.

The Reno coach attempted to punch the Central Valley coach, missed, and instead hit a child working the sidelines, authorities said. The child was not injured but authorities said the parents requested to press charges for assault/child endangerment.

The fight involved numerous people, including coaches, children and parents, according to the press release.

As parents from both teams flocked the field and other altercations broke out, the Reno coach was struck, where deputies said he was "temporarily unconscious." Medical personnel evaluated the coach before releasing him.

No other injuries were reported.

The remainder of games involving the Reno team were cancelled.

The charity event was not associated with Central Valley High School. CVHS Principal Alex Lain declined to comment on the incident, saying that police are working with the youth football program.

The Record Searchlight has reached out to the Central Valley Youth Football board president as well as the Sacramento Youth Football commissioner for comment.

According to the Shasta County Sheriff's Department, no arrests were made at the scene, but one unidentified individual was cited for 273 ABPC, or "child endangerment without the possibility of great bodily injury or death."

Authorities have not released any names of those involved in the altercation.

The case will be forwarded to the Shasta County District Attorney’s Office for consideration of charges, a spokesperson for the sheriff's office said on Monday, Dec. 1. The charge would be classified as a misdemeanor pending an investigation.

The Record Searchlight has reached out to the District Attorney's Office for comment.

Those with additional information can call the non-emergency line at 530-245-6540.

Coaches, officials fear for their safety

In 2023, USA TODAY Sports spoke with three state officials overseeing athletic associations in the United States, as well as two referees and the director of officiating services for the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS). USA TODAY Sports also gathered personal anecdotes from youth sports parents, coaches and referees nationwide.

All said they routinely witness abuse directed toward referees and coaches. All are concerned with safety.

That same year, the National Association of Sports Officials (NASO) released a survey that included 162 questions and involved more than 35,000 respondents, including sports officials from all over the United States.

One portion of the survey focuses on sportsmanship. When asked if sportsmanship is getting better or worse, nearly 69% respondents said worse. When asked what level of sportsmanship is the worst, 50% of respondents said youth competitive (travel teams, club, etc.), followed by high school at 19%.

When asked who causes the most problems with sportsmanship, parents were at the top of the list at 40% followed by coaches at 25% and fans at 24%.

There have been a handful of instances where parents have had negative interactions with coaches and officials. Some interactions involve harsh language, while others have turned physical.

In Redding during the 2025 season, Red Bluff High School football's head coach, Jacob Daricek, resigned after an incident with a parent involving "foul language."

In 2024, the head football coach at Cardinal Mooney High School was allegedly assaulted by the father of one of the athletes on his roster after a high school football game in Youngstown, Ohio.

In 2023, a St. Louis youth football coach was shot four times during a practice by a parent who was allegedly upset over his son's playing time. The coach survived.

Nearly 51% of NASO survey respondents said they have felt unsafe or feared for their safety because of administrator, coach, player or spectator behavior.

"[G]rownups are out of control watching children playing a game," Jon Butler, former Pop Warner executive director, wrote in 2023. Butler retired as Pop Warner's executive director in 2024 after 33 years.

"... It is not only making youth sports less attractive for kids and families, it is making it impossible to play games."

This article originally appeared on Redding Record Searchlight: Shasta County Sheriff's Office investigating youth football game fight