The handshake line is supposed to be the one part of youth football where everyone pretends to like each other. In Arkansas, it ended with three adult coaches getting banned for life from their league.
The Arkansas Premier Youth Football League (APYFL) permanently banned three coaches after a postgame altercation between sixth-grade teams from Cabot and Greenbrier. The fight was caught on video and made the rounds on social media.
The key facts:
- Who: Alex Chambers and Kent Chambers of Greenbrier, and Brian Jones of Cabot, according to published reporting.
- When: Saturday, October 10, 2026, right after a game between Cabot and Greenbrier Blue.
- Where: During the traditional postgame handshake, when both teams line up to show sportsmanship.
- Evidence: The APYFL Board of Directors said it reviewed video, photographs and statements from interviews with all four game officials.
- The announcement: The league released its decision Monday, October 12.
- The scope: The ban covers APYFL activities. By itself, it does not create a statewide ban on coaching in unrelated organizations.
- The follow-up: APYFL also announced additional officiating directives meant to tighten enforcement of coach conduct and sportsmanship standards.
What the league said
The board called the conduct a serious violation of its standards for sportsmanship, professionalism and personal behavior. It said the events were unacceptable and reflected poorly on the league and its member programs. Physical confrontations, verbal abuse, intimidation and unsportsmanlike behavior, the league said, will not be tolerated.
The board also said competition is no excuse for behavior that undermines the safety or purpose of youth athletics. It acknowledged the many coaches, volunteers, parents and administrators who put kids first, and said the actions of a few shouldn't overshadow them. It urged member programs, directors, coaches and parents to recommit to sportsmanship, and reminded adults that kids learn from how they handle tough moments.
The league's announcement does not give a play-by-play of what each coach did, and it does not say every banned coach took part in the same conduct.
The bottom line: The players are 11 and 12 years old, and the handshake line is about as low-stakes as football gets. APYFL made clear that the adults who lose their cool there can lose their seat on the sideline for good.
Source: Arkansas Radio