Ante In

I could write a bunch of fancy blah, blah, blah but I do believe that the below email chain speaks for itself.  Additionally I really have a lack of eloquent words describing this situation.

CYF seems to have upped the ante on us. I’m speculating since there were no grounds for CYSA to uphold CYF’s ban, CYF found another way to keep our family from participating in football at Carter…no team at all.

CYF has sole discretion on when registrations begin and end.  From the below emails they ended last week which did not allow time for the grievance hearing to take place.  A majority of the 14u team decided they wanted to see what the decision of the grievance hearing was prior to signing their child up.  I do believe that display of loyalty and support has now been used against the entire team, not just our family.

FYI: Nathan Nease is President of Carter Youth Sports Association.  Melvin Burns is commissioner of Carter Youth Football.  Doug Bataille is Director of Knox County Parks & Recreation.

Announcement tomorrow via Facebook, Twitter & this blog.  Our team will play together!  #HornetNation #HornetStrong

From: Nathan Nease <nathannease15@gmail.com>
Sent: Tuesday, June 13, 2017 11:35 AM
To: Kimberlie Bailey; Kimberlie Shaver
Cc: Jay Smelser; Doug Bataille
Subject: Appeals Hearing

Kim,

I received a phone call yesterday from Carter Youth Football concerning the status of the 13-14 year old team in their program. They have informed both myself and Knox County Parks and Recreation that they will not be fielding a team in that age group this season due to low player registration in that age group. Currently, they have 5 registered players after four (4) registration dates at the park.

As of this time, I will be proposing to the CYSA Board that we postpone the Grievance hearing that is scheduled for this Thursday at 6:30pm. Even if we are to hear your appeal and overturn CYF’s decision, it appears there is no team for Max to participate with at Carter this season.

CYSA would be happy to hear the appeal, but at this time it appears there is no reason to hear this appeal since there will be no team in that age group. Again, I have spoken with Knox County Parks and Recreation concerning this issue, and they agree. If you have any concerns regarding the 13-14 team at Carter Youth Football, you’ll need to contact either Carter Youth Football or Knox County Parks and Recreation.

Thank you,
Nathan Nease

On Tue, Jun 13, 2017 at 11:47 AM, Kimberlie Shaver <kimberlie_shaver@wgresorts.com> wrote:
Nathan,

Thanks for the update. I would like to let you know that a vast majority of the team is waiting to hear on the decision in the grievance hearing.

Also our coach Cameron Terry has tried to reach out to Mr. Burns on several different occasions concerning who has already registered with no response.

Not sure if this changes what CYSA plans to do. I do not suggest a postponement due to time dwindling down for team registration with KMYFL. July 28th will be here before we know it.

If it is CYSA’s decision to postpone the grievance hearing than we (our team) possibly needs to visit other avenues.

Please advise ASAP.
From: Nathan Nease <nathannease15@gmail.com>
Sent: Tuesday, June 13, 2017 12:45 PM
To: Kimberlie Shaver
Cc: Kimberlie Bailey; Jay Smelser; Doug Bataille
Subject: Re: Appeals Hearing

Kim,

I would suggest doing the following:

Contact Knox County or Carter Youth Football to see if there is any chance of registering. According to Mr. Burns, there have been 4 registration opportunities and they will be providing no further opportunities to register. This is a Carter Youth Football decision, so any questions concerning this will need to be directed towards them or Knox County Parks and Recreation.

I received a text from Cameron Terry concerning this and I have instructed him to do the same thing. I’m not sure why Mr. Burns has not returned his phone calls. That is an issue that will have to be taken up with either Carter Youth Football and or Knox County Parks and Recreation. Currently, CYSA doesn’t have the authority to control the day-to-day operations of any sports commission that falls under CYSA.

Please let me know if I can be of any further assistance.

Thank you,
Nathan Nease
On Tue, Jun 13, 2017 at 12:56 PM, Kimberlie Shaver <kimberlie_shaver@wgresorts.com> wrote:
Nathan,

Thank you for the response – I’ll get in touch with KCPR or CYF about registration.

What our team needs to know at this point is if CYSA going to follow through with the grievance hearing.

Please let me know ASAP.
From: Nathan Nease <nathannease15@gmail.com>
Sent: Tuesday, June 13, 2017 1:00 PM
To: Kimberlie Shaver
Cc: Kimberlie Bailey; Jay Smelser; Doug Bataille
Subject: Re: Appeals Hearing

I’m not sure that a grievance hearing is needed if there is no team for Max to play on. If we’re told that there will be a team, then we will be happy to hear the grievance.

Thank you,
Nathan Nease
On Jun 13, 2017, at 1:10 PM, Kimberlie Shaver <kimberlie_shaver@wgresorts.com> wrote:

Nathan,

Per CYSA by-laws we are required to be given a hearing regardless of team or no team. Myself and Mr. Terry have advised that most of the team is waiting on the decision of the hearing. This is the issue at hand and needs to be resolved now.

We can deal with registration at a later time.

I need you to advise.
On Jun 13, 2017, at 1:37 PM, Nathan Nease <nathannease15@gmail.com> wrote:

Kim,

I understand what you’re saying. But, I’m being told there will be no team at Carter for that age group. Why have an Appeal Hearing if there is no team for Max to go to? All we can go on is what I’m being told by CYF.

Nathan
Sent from my iPhone
On Tue, Jun 13, 2017 at 1:42 PM, <kimberlie.bailey@gmail.com> wrote:
Nathan,

Registration is a bridge we have time to cross until 7/28. The more pertinent problem at hand is Max and our family’s grievance hearing. All we need to know as a collective is if the hearing will happen on Thursday or not.

Thanks
Kim

Sent from my iPhone
From: Nathan Nease [mailto:nathannease15@gmail.com]
Sent: Tuesday, June 13, 2017 2:10 PM
To: Kimberlie Bailey
Cc: Kimberlie Shaver; Jay Smelser; Doug Bataille; Cameron Terry
Subject: Re: Appeals Hearing

I was told by Melvin Burns that there will be no 13-14 year old team this year because not enough people have registered to play. CYF has closed registration and doesn’t plan on registering anymore players (their words, not mine). So, unless you can convince CYF otherwise, there is no team for Max to go to at Carter. I’m not sure I see the need in having a grievance hearing if there is no place at Carter for Max to play.

The July 28 deadline is when organizations must disclose to KMYFL how many teams they will have in each age group. From my understanding, each organization sets it’s own deadline to register players. I would say July 28th would be way too late to organize a team due to the fact that jerseys, equipment, etc. will need to be order much sooner. Most organizations have already closed registration.

Unless I am advised otherwise, I will be informing the CYSA Board that the hearing will be postponed until we hear that a team will be formed for this age group. If players are allowed to register and a team is formed, then we will gladly hear the Grievance to see whether or not Max will be allowed to register for the 13-14 year old team, should it be formed.

Thank you,
Nathan Nease
On Tue, Jun 13, 2017 at 2:27 PM, Kimberlie Shaver <kimberlie_shaver@wgresorts.com> wrote:
Nathan,

Just to clarify you are saying no, that there will not be a grievance hearing this Thursday…
From: Nathan Nease <nathannease15@gmail.com>
Sent: Tuesday, June 13, 2017 2:59 PM
To: Kimberlie Shaver
Cc: Kimberlie Bailey; Jay Smelser; Doug Bataille; Cameron Terry
Subject: Re: Appeals Hearing

​As of right now, I am advising the board that we not meet this Thursday. Again, we will be happy to meet another date if we’re told there will be a team. We are just postponing until we hear otherwise. The option will still be out there to hear it, please keep that in mind.​

Thank you,
Nathan Nease
Kimberlie Shaver
Tue 6/13/2017 3:05 PM
To: Nathan Nease <nathannease15@gmail.com>;
Cc: Kimberlie Bailey <kimberlie.bailey@gmail.com>; Jay Smelser <Jay.Smelser@knoxcounty.org>; Doug Bataille <Doug.Bataille@knoxcounty.org>; Cameron Terry <cbo92077@gmail.com>;

That’s what I needed to know.

Doug Bataille <Doug.Bataille@knoxcounty.org>
Tue 6/13/2017 3:41 PM
To: Nathan Nease <nathannease15@gmail.com>; Kimberlie Bailey <kimberlie.bailey@gmail.com>;
Cc: Kimberlie Shaver <kimberlie_shaver@wgresorts.com>; Jay Smelser <Jay.Smelser@knoxcounty.org>; Cameron Terry <cbo92077@gmail.com>;

Nathan is correct on how each organization sets its own deadline in time to organize coaches, equipment and uniforms. It is also not unusual to not have enough players to have a team in some age groups. Players have the option to go to other organizations. I would also agree that if there is no team there is no reason to hear the grievance.
Doug