The suit alleges that coaches for the Chantilly Juniors promised the girl, Audrey Dimitrew, that she’d get “significant tournament game experience” if she decided to play for them. That changed when the season began, however, and Dimitrew wasn’t allowed to transfer to another team.
Dimitrew’s lawsuit is just the latest in a string of lawsuits pitting athletes and their parents against the organizations for which they play. Given the stakes, perhaps that’s not surprising. Club sports have taken on an increasingly professional sheen, and college scholarships often are on the line.
“Youth sports is not just about orange slices and kids running free,” says Tom Farrey, executive director for the Aspen Institute’s Project Play. “It’s about aggregating talent in as elite a setting as possible so your kid can receive a reward at 17 or 18.” (Washington Post)