ROANOKE TIMES 
                      Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times

DATE: Tuesday, September 17, 1996            TAG: 9609170117
SECTION: VIRGINIA                 PAGE: C-1  EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: DAN CASEY STAFF WRITER

PARENTS GO ON OFFENSE OVER CUTS IN KIDS' SPORTS

During a standing-room-only hearing that Mayor David Bowers likened to "mob rule," dozens of angry parents, coaches and kids showed up before City Council Monday night to complain about cutbacks in the city's youth sports league schedule.

Council members referred complaints to City Manager Bob Herbert. But they acknowledged they probably won't take any action until next year at the earliest.

At issue was youth football for children ages 6 to 13, which this year has been cut back from 10 games per season to eight. Parents and coaches also complained that playoffs were also cut back.

Parents also complained that the football games were moved off the River's Edge Sports Complex in South Roanoke to make room for soccer. Youth football was moved to a practice field at Patrick Henry High School that has a single portable toilet for the hundreds of people who show up, they said.

"Every time there's a new cut and when we say 'Why?' and we go to the parks department, we're told 'There's no money,'" said Becky Leonard, a parent whose sons play in the city's football league. "I hear an awful lot of talk about us being an All America City, and I hear about a lack of pride. If we're going to slowly cheat our children out of all these things we had, then what can we be proud of?"

Councilman Jim Trout suggested the city has the money to extend the schedule this year with money left over from last year.

But he was criticized by Councilman William White, who called Trout's comments "running government from people's personal opinion." White said the time to consider the complaints is next spring when council is preparing the fiscal 1998 budget.

After the hearing, Vic Garber, a youth sports coordinator with the recreation department, acknowledged the schedule had been cut. He said it was because the city gave game officials raises and hired security officers and field supervisors with a cellular phone in case of emergencies.

Depending on the weather, the city will try to add more playoffs, Garber said.

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