Elli Bultemeier alleges that Eastside Little League Football Crushes their players’ confidence by benching them on the sidelines.
Although it’s just a second- and third-graders’ football game, coaches chase a win, forgetting what youth sports are supposed to teach: teamwork, confidence, growth, and inclusion.
A football game for second and third-graders might not be a perfect match, but kids enjoy playing in a big group, occasional tumbles, and maybe a goal scored in the wrong net.
It’s not really about winning, but the main goal is to have fun and learn.
Kids learn how to be part of a team, share the ball, and keep trying even when it’s hard. They build confidence, make friends, and get great exercise running around the field.
The score is forgotten by the next day, but the joy of playing and the lessons learned about teamwork and sportsmanship stay with them.
The second and third-graders’ game is all about cheering for the effort, the passes, and the big smiles.
Indiana Mom Says Little League Football is Crushing Kids’ Confidence
An Indiana mother is speaking out, alleging that a youth football league is prioritizing wins over children’s well-being. She tried to stay quiet all season.
Elli Bultemeier claims that Eastside Little League Football has repeatedly benched her 7-year-old son, Christian, for most of the season, harming his confidence.
In a powerful Facebook post that gained widespread support from other parents, Bultemeier shared that her son often plays 6–7 plays per half or sometimes less than a minute per game.
She had complained to the coaches and board members, but nothing changed. After the complaint, Christian played a decent amount, but then right back to the same routine.
We have a group of grown men so focused on winning that they’ve forgotten what youth sports are supposed to teach, teamwork, confidence, growth, and inclusion. This isn’t high school ball. These are second and third graders. It’s not about trophies; it’s about giving every kid a chance to feel capable and part of something.
Elli Bultemeier
Bultemeier described a tournament game in which Christian played only four plays in the final moments and none at all in the second half.
As she yelled from the sidelines to put him in the game, another mom also joined in, but still, nothing happened.
She expressed heartbreak that her son is already making comments about being small and not good enough. She believes it stems from being constantly left on the sidelines.
Her 8th-grade daughter, Madeleine, wasn’t the best on the field, but played soccer for the first time because her coach understood that’s how kids learn and build confidence.
If we keep treating kids like they’re disposable when they’re not the “star,” they grow up believing they’re useless. Like a light switch that’s only worth flipping on when it benefits someone else.
Elli Bultemeier
Bultemeier has vowed to stop supporting the league financially until changes are made. Moreover, she stated that all of the kids deserve to play.
After her post gained attention, she noted that the league coaches, who had been tagged in the original post, removed their tags, seemingly to avoid public criticism.
In Case You Didn’t Know
- Elli Bultemeier is originally from New Haven, Indiana, and lives in Auburn, Indiana.
- She studied at Purdue University Fort Wayne and owns GraceLynn Photography and Retro Stylist Wear.
- She married Brett on October 4, 2025.
