To the Editor:

My name is Dr Michael A Cassetta. I am writing because I am concerned with the direction our community has taken regarding youth sports.

We moved to Sandy Hook in 2004 and chose Newtown because we believed this to be a wonderful place to raise children. We have been active in the community and have encouraged our children to be kind and respectful, and to pursue multiple interests including athletics.

Growing up I was always a strong student and athletically active. Despite average physical ability, I worked hard and had good success as a three-sport athlete in high school and a two-sport athlete at the University of Notre Dame. When my daughter expressed a desire to play soccer, I encouraged her to work hard and stressed the importance of sportsmanship and a commitment to team.

She played travel soccer on the u10 & u11 teams. Each year she was one of the few kids to attend every game and every practice. She worked hard, listened to her coaches and was a strong team player. Verbally, her coaches told us she showed great promise and had developed into a solid player. She unfortunately she did not make the u12 travel team. We later learned that not all the kids on the team attended the “mandatory” tryouts.

 I sent an e-mail to the travel secretary, requesting an explanation, and received a short and dismissive reply.  I encouraged my daughter to play rec soccer last year, and tryout again for the u13 travel team. She worked hard, continued to improve her skills and attended tryouts for the u13 team. Unfortunately, she was not offered a position on the u13, although she seemed to do quite well at tryouts.

 I again sent an e-mail to the VP of Travel, in July 2015, requesting feedback and suggestions for improvement from the “professional” evaluators. I also asked for clarification of the “mandatory” tryout policy. I received no reply. I subsequently sent a second e-mail to the President of the Newtown Soccer Club, VP of Travel and VP of Rec, and again have received no reply. 

My 12-year-old daughter is disheartened and discouraged. She asked me why they don’t want me, to which I have no good answer. I feel that I failed her by encouraging her to tryout for Travel Soccer again.

I respect the time commitment people put in as volunteers to youth sports and I believe their intentions are generally good. Unfortunately, there is a small percentage of kids these groups are hurting.

Regardless of which sport, I ask that the volunteers in a position of authority for youth sports understand the impact their actions and decisions have on kids during a crucial point in their physical, social and emotional development.

Dr. Michael A Cassetta

12 Johnny Appleseed Drive, Sandy Hook                August 18, 2015