ASTORIA, Ore. — Adults behaving badly in youth sports left an 11-year-old player in tears in Oregon.

Coaches accused a child of being too old to compete. The shocking moment was caught on video.

Brinley Stephens is an 11-year-old softball player from Astoria, Oregon.

She had just hit a line drive, when coaches from the opposing team stormed the field and began questioning her age in front of everyone in the stands

“I want to see birth certificates or this game’s done,” someone was heard yelling.

“I was holding back my tears because I was like, ‘Oh my gosh, she’s out there by herself. There’s these two adults are confronting her.’ Thank God that our coach was there to step in between,” mother Tracy Stephens said.

Stephens is a fifth-grader, who stands nearly 5-feet, 10-inches tall. She and all the kids in her league have to prove their age before they join a team. Her family says she is used to comments, but not like this.

“It was like, scary, like him coming at me. And I was just looking at him, like, what the heck was going on?” the girl said.

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Following the verbal exchange, Tracy Stephens says the opposing team coaches continued the behavior, making obscene gestures toward the parents when the game ended.

“We were upset, but we took it to the association, and hoping that they do better and reprimand and hold him accountable for his actions,” Tracy Stephens said.

According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, 70% of kids quit playing organized sports by age 13, often because of pressure from adults who they say make the games stop being fun.

“We’re not making room for our kids to be successful. We’re not making room for our kids to understand that it’s OK sometimes to lose. And, in fact, sometimes when you lose, there’s a victory in the loss,” said Brian Barlow, the creator of Offside.

One assistant coach has been suspended for the year, and another was suspended for 10 days, with probation for the year.

The tournament organizers said in a statement, “We are still investigating the incident – the player did nothing wrong as she is just tall … And skilled for her age. “

“It doesn’t take much to hurt a kid that much and make them just stop believing in themselves. These kids deserve better. We as adults need to do better,” Tracy Stephens said.

Youth Sports Alliance Executive Director Emily Fisher and Programs Director Heather Sims discuss The Circle of Excellence Awards which recognized 150 young athletes and community members for their achievements in winter sports. Awards included All-Star, Champion, Leadership, Showstopper of the Year, Breakthrough Performance, Spirit of Service, Hall of Fame and Activate Student awards.

A new opportunity is lighting up the local youth football scene.

The 406 Flash Football Clinic is coming to Copper Mountain Park in Butte on May 23, offering young athletes a fast-paced, fundamentals-driven experience focused on building knowledge and confidence in the game of football.

The clinic is open to both boys and girls ages 8U to 14U, with one-hour sessions designed to teach core skills, deepen understanding of the game, and sharpen each athlete’s on-field development.

• Boys Session: 11:30 AM
• Girls Session: 1:00 PM
• Cost: $20 per athlete

Led by athletes for athletes, the 406 Flash Football Clinic is built around effort, energy, and education — creating an environment where players of all experience levels can grow.

Whether you’re new to the game or looking to elevate your offseason reps, this clinic promises a focused, high-impact session to help take your game to the next level.

Spots are limited. Scan the QR code on the flyer to register and secure your place on the field.

by ALEXANDRA RETTER

In a soccer program for children of all abilities, students at a practice this month took turns  dribbling through cones before trying to shoot a goal. The Winona Family YMCA offers this inclusive soccer program, as well as a variety of other inclusive sports programs. This programming gives students a chance to practice social skills and make friends, as well as practice their sports skills. 

The Winona Family YMCA  also offers programs such as adaptive volleyball and basketball and adaptive swim lessons. 

Sports Lead Collin Perschnick has been involved with all the inclusive sports programs. “I think it’s something that can be missed a lot in our day in society,” he said. “Making programs that are for everyone and anyone, just bringing people of all skills and abilities together is what I really like about it.” He aims to become an adaptive PE teacher, and he has fun watching students grow. “It’s inclusive sports, but it builds more than just the sports skills; it’s also connection and working on social skills and [it] gets them in a new environment.” He’s glad to see students get more and more comfortable and keep building relationships with others. “I think there’s been a lot of students who have maybe had friendships or known each other from school but are still kind of nervous, and then a lot of time you can find kids who develop buddies or partners who they really like to hang out with a lot,” he said. “And it’s always fun to see those relationships build.” Similarly, he wants students to feel comfortable in themselves. “What I really hope they take away from this is … it’s OK to be them and themselves, and there are people who care about you, adults and peers,” he said. 

In soccer, students work on dribbling, passing and shooting, Perschnick said, and they play games as well. “What you will also see with all our inclusive programs is we have our sport, but we will also take breaks to play different games they like … They love freeze tag, they love four cones, which is four corners. We include those games for them to break up their soccer skills and get to interact with their peers in different ways besides just soccer,” he said. They also play color tag, in which students stand on one side and taggers stand in the middle, then call out a color, and if a student is wearing that color, they have to run across without getting tagged.“It also helps them work on the skill of what happens when something maybe doesn’t go our way … and you can see that each and every single time, it gets better,” he said. 

Marge Literski’s grandson is in the soccer program, and she said it has been great to watch him interact with his peers. “… The socialization is really good for him,” she said, adding that he has not stood back as much as usual. She wants to sign up him for future programs. Jade Beck’s two children are also in the soccer program, as they are trying out different sports to see what they enjoy. “It’s good for them to learn skills through the program, like waiting one’s turn, waiting in line and listening to instructions,” she said. “I hope they make some new friends and learn some listening skills … We’re members of the Y, so physical activity is a big, big thing that I like to implement into their lives or integrate into their lives, so hopefully they will learn that at this impressionable age and it will last throughout their lifetime,” she said. It’s great to include everyone in the program, she added. “I think everybody has different levels of skill, whether it be athletic skills or listening skills or sportsmanship, so it’s nice to see and appreciate other people’s strengths and weaknesses and just learn that it’s OK for everyone to have varied levels of both those things,” she said.  

Education@winonapost.com

Sam Henderson didn’t just win the triple jump at the Western AA Divisional meet — he rewrote history.

The Butte High senior exploded for a mark of 48 feet, 7¼ inches in the triple jump Saturday in Kalispell, smashing the divisional meet record of 46-7½ set back in 2012. The leap wasn’t just a personal best — it was the best in the state this season and one of the top marks in Montana history.

And Henderson wasn’t done there.

He also cleared 6 feet, 10 inches in the high jump to win another gold medal, setting a new state-leading mark in that event as well. The towering jump came just weeks after he placed fifth at the Penn Relays, competing against some of the best prep talent in the country.

Henderson’s effort helped propel the Butte High boys to a strong team finish and sent a loud message heading into the Class AA State Championships: he’s not just here to compete — he’s here to dominate.

Already recognized as an MHSA Athlete of the Week earlier this spring, Sam earns Butte Sports Athlete of the Week honors after etching his name into the record books once again.

Various events across Türkiye were held as part of the 19 May Commemoration of Ataturk, Youth and Sports Day, marking the 106th anniversary of Mustafa Kemal Ataturk’s arrival in Samsun on 19 May 1919, to launch the War of Independence.

On Monday morning, people across the country gathered to pay tribute to the great leader as Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan highlighted the importance of empowering young people on this historical day.

Erdogan said Türkiye provides opportunities for youth to discover their potential in every field — from science to art, sports to agriculture, diplomacy to nuclear technologies — and will continue to walk hand in hand, arm in arm with them.

In the capital Ankara, thousands visited Anitkabir, the mausoleum of Mustafa Kemal Ataturk.

The ceremony began with a moment of silence and the national anthem, followed by a delegation led by Youth and Sports Minister Osman Askin Bak, joined by young representatives from across the country.

“You kindled the flame of independence in Samsun 106 years ago; today, that very flame endures across this land as a symbol of unity, serenity and hope,” Bak wrote in the ceremonial ledger.

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Shaping the country’s future

On May 16, 1919, Ataturk departed from Istanbul aboard the Bandirma ferry. Three days later, on May 19, he arrived at Dil (Reji) Pier in Samsun—a date now widely viewed as the beginning of the Turkish War of Independence. 

At the time, he was appointed Inspector General of the Ottoman Armies by the Ottoman government, which was under pressure from Allied occupation forces in Istanbul.

Instead of adhering to the official mandate, Ataturk launched a national movement to end foreign occupation and reshape the future of Anatolia.

This led to a four-year war that ultimately concluded with the establishment of the Republic of Türkiye in 1923. 

In 1938, Ataturk designated May 19 as Youth and Sports Day, highlighting the significance of young people’s role in shaping the country’s future.

Today, commemorations across the country reflect that emphasis. 

In Samsun, Türkiye’s naval warship TCG Anadolu arrived carrying 81 youth representatives from each province and military academy cadets, symbolically retracing the original journey.

The Bandırma Ferry Museum, featuring a replica of the original vessel and a clock frozen at 8:00 a.m. to mark Ataturk’s landing time, drew a large number of visitors.

In Cappadocia, hot air balloons with Turkish flags and Ataturk images were launched. 

In Tekirdag, motorcyclists took part in a commemorative ride. Divers in coastal cities such as Ordu and Antalya carried flags underwater to mark the occasion.

“We work with all our might to fulfil our promise to leave our youth a peaceful and serene, high-tech, and prosperous country,” President Erdogan said, adding that the government would continue to support youth who strive to achieve their goals and elevate Türkiye’s civilizational heritage.

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