12/18/2024
I'm speaking out after careful consideration, ensuring my emotions didn't cloud my judgment. As a seasoned coach and media professional, I've participated in numerous national tournaments across the country. The United Youth Sports West Coast Nationals initially showed promise, offering a fresh alternative to established events. Unfortunately, my optimism was short-lived.
The tournament director, Uys Malik, had a team participating in the event, which received a #1 seed and a first-round bye. This preferential treatment raised eyebrows, as teams are typically seeded randomly. Malik's team played only one game on Saturday, while other teams played two. The following day, the Blitz played their third game, while Malik's team played their second.
The championship game was initially scheduled for Sunday at a high school field, but the Blitz were informed that the loser would have to play a "play-in" game at 9:30 am, followed by the "National Championship" at 12:30 pm. The Blitz lost a close game to a team with multiple high school students, which was concerning, as this was supposedly the 13u National Championship division, “high schoolers only ever age qualify for 14u”.
The Blitz proceeded to win the 9:30 am game, their fourth of the tournament, and then had to play their fifth game with only an hour and a half of rest. This was alarming and posed a significant risk to the players' safety.
Prior to the final game, the head official, who hadn't been there throughout the tournament, was removing Blitz players from the field for not wearing knee pads. However, in the final game, when Malik’s team committed the same infraction, the referee verbalized that he would overlook it.
The game's outcome was marred by controversy. With 2:40 remaining, Oklahoma scored, making it 6-0. The Blitz drove down the field, getting to the 20 yard line and out of bounds with 45 seconds to go. The side judged called for the clock to be stopped. Blitz ran one more play out of the hurry up, and go to the 5-yard line in which their coach called a timeout, but the referee abruptly ended the game, claiming the clock had been running continuously. This decision denied the Blitz an opportunity to potentially tie or win the game.
While I'm proud of the Blitz's resilience and representation of Colorado, I must warn others about the United Youth Sports West Coast Nationals. The event's mismanagement, lack of transparency, and blatant favoritism make it a questionable investment for teams. As a coach and advocate for young athletes, I urge you to explore alternative tournaments that prioritize fairness, safety, and sportsmanship.
