i9 Sports Refunds Mother After Police Video Shows 3-Year-Old Benched
Footage shows officers at a park field after a league director called 911 over a parent livestreaming a benching decision.
By Andrew Bennett ·
Winter Park police released body camera footage on Monday showing officers responding to an i9 youth soccer game on Saturday. The video captures a confrontation between league staff and the mother of Nevada Pierre, a 3-year-old player, who was removed from the field to allow other children to play.
The incident began when the league's athletic director decided to substitute Pierre, a move parents often request to ensure equal playing time. The director told police he called 911 because Martasia Pierre's mother began livestreaming their interaction on social media. In the 911 audio, the director described the mother as an unruly parent who was following him around and calling him names in front of the crowd.
Griffin, who identified herself as the child's mother, said she was standing up for her son after learning he would be benched. She noted that her son trains three hours a day with his father and is advanced for his age, often dominating the field. Griffin said other parents told their children to push him on the field, and when he saw the police, he was scared. She stated the experience damaged his spirit.
The i9 Sports Experience website outlines a league ethos focused on fun and equal playing time regardless of talent level. Their sportsmanship values include being a team player and ensuring everyone is treated equally and fairly. The athletic director, who did not respond to requests for comment, explained that the 3-year-old was very advanced compared to the others and scored many goals.
Police told the parents during the interaction that the dispute was a civil matter, not criminal. They noted they could not force the family out of the public park but could tell them they could not participate in the program anymore. In the footage, Griffin asks for a refund, and the director agrees to return the full amount paid.
The officers told the family the league would contact them about the refund in a week or two. The family left the field on their own. Griffin said the league offered her son a free spot in another league, but they declined because the program was three hours away.
The i9 sports program issued a statement saying they are aware of the concerns and take them very seriously. They said they have reached out to the family and begun a review that includes speaking with those involved. The league said they will not speculate or share unverified information while working to understand the circumstances.
