Winter Park police respond to dispute over 3-year-old’s soccer performance

Winter Park police officers responded to a soccer field to resolve a dispute involving a 3-year-old player and his parents.

The incident centered on the child’s skill level, which the parents felt was a reason for him to be removed from the game. Nevada, the 3-year-old, was playing in an i9 Sports league match when the issue began. The parents posted a video to Instagram showing their son dribbling the ball and scoring goals. In that footage, Nevada’s father stated that officers were on the field because he was considered too good at the sport. The parents claimed the league kicked the boy out for the same reason, and the clip received thousands of comments from viewers questioning the police presence.

Body camera video obtained by Gray News provides additional context from the officers' perspective. Footage shows responding officers speaking with a coach who described the parents as causing a disturbance. The coach explained that Nevada was significantly more advanced than the other six children on the team. He noted that while the boy scored frequently, he also pushed other players. The coach said he substituted Nevada out of the game to ensure all children received playing time. He stated that the parents disagreed with this rotation, calling him ignorant and demanding they leave the field immediately.

Officers then spoke with the boy’s parents, who disputed the coach's account of the events. One officer explained that the league official called because the parents were causing a disturbance that interfered with gameplay. The boy’s mother responded that she was confused because she had signed her son up to play soccer. She stated that the team was effectively kicking him out for being good at the game. Another officer noted that the coach mentioned the boy's skill but expressed dislike for how the parents became aggressive. After the conversation, the parents agreed to leave the park with their son.

A police event report described the situation as a civil matter rather than a criminal one. The report stated that the parents left the field without issue and were cooperative with league personnel. It noted that the parents were upset that their child was being taken out of the game for playing too well. The Winter Park Police Department issued a news release confirming that the family was cooperative and was provided an event number for the incident. The department stated that no one was arrested, trespassed, or forced to leave the park. The release also mentioned that the league offered to refund the cost of the league to the family. At the end of the body camera footage, one officer could be heard laughing and saying he wanted to see the boy play.