A youth football coach at Lakeside has been dismissed from his position following a viral video that showcased him handling a young athlete aggressively.
The incident occurred on Saturday, August 16, 2025, during the match between Lakeside and Jefferson Freshman and quickly gained the attention of social media users.
It came to light when a representative from the Jefferson Youth Football program contacted officials with the Freeway Youth Football League (FYFL) around 8:54 p.m., Saturday.
As per the league’s official statement, the representative shared a video posted on the “Jefferson Chatter” Facebook page, which captured the controversial incident.
The video showcased a Lakeside coach whose identity has not been revealed, grabbing a player who attempted to run onto the field at the wrong time, pulling him back toward the sidelines aggressively.
Tim Campbell, President of FYFL, said the incident was addressed swiftly.
After reviewing the clip and speaking with Lakeside officials, the league determined the coach’s actions were unacceptable.
In a statement, he wrote,
On Saturday August 16th at 8:54 pm, a representative from the Jefferson Youth football program contacted me to see if I was aware of the incident. He gave me a brief overview and sent me the Facebook post that was made on the “Jefferson Chatter” page and sent me the video. I immediately contacted our Freeway Youth Football League (FYFL) Vice President so that he was made aware and I then contacted Lakeside’s representative to get details. I was informed that there was a coach on the sidelines for Lakeside that, after noticing an athlete running on to the field at the wrong time, had grabbed the athlete to pull him back to the sidelines. Allegedly the athlete got swung around a bit in the scuffle. The coach was reprimanded and in the end was told his services were no longer needed. I have not spoken to the parent of the athlete, but I was informed he is still playing for Lakeside. By 11:19pm Saturday evening, the situation had been handled, and the coach was removed.
Tim Campbell
By 11:19 p.m. that same night, just two hours after the initial report, the coach was removed from his position.
League officials emphasized their commitment to maintaining a safe and respectful environment for youth athletes.
The quick response drew praise from many parents and community members, who voiced their opinions in the comment section of Geneva Youth Football’s Facebook post.
Patty Walter, a production line operator at Honeywall, commented,
I feel so bad for that kid but way to go with prompt response. Just over 2 hours from reported to action taken.
Patty Walter
Katie Burcham from Conneaut, Ohio, wrote,
Thank you for looking out for our youth
Katie Burcham
The Freeway Youth Football League positioned itself firmly on the side of accountability, stressing that coaches are expected to act as role models both on and off the field.
Vice President CJ Livingston also signed the official statement, reinforcing the league’s stance on prioritizing player safety above all else.
