The Arkansas Premier Youth Football League (APYFL) has permanently banned three coaches after a sixth-grade game between Cabot and Greenbrier Blue ended in a brawl. The handshake line, the one part of youth football that's supposed to be the easy part, is where it all went sideways.
What we know, per KATV:
- The incident happened Saturday, Oct. 10, 2026, right after the sixth-grade game between Cabot and Greenbrier Blue.
- It broke out during the traditional post-game handshake.
- The APYFL Board of Directors announced the bans in a statement on Monday, Oct. 12.
- Three coaches are banned permanently.
- The board based its decision on video footage, photographs, and interviews with all four game officials.
- The league also issued new directives telling officials to strictly enforce rules on coach conduct and sportsmanship.
The board's statement called the events unacceptable, deeply troubling, and an embarrassment to the league and its member programs. It listed physical violence, verbal abuse, and intimidation as conduct that won't be tolerated, and it said the competitive nature of football is no excuse for behavior that compromises safety.
The board also made a point of saying the actions of a few shouldn't overshadow the coaches, parents, volunteers, and administrators who keep youth football running. That's the league drawing a line between the handful of adults who lost it and the hundreds who show up every week to coach kids for free.
Why it matters
Lifetime bans for coaches are rare, and doing it within 48 hours of the incident is fast. The league didn't just go on vibes, either. It pulled video and photos and talked to all four officials, a reminder that on a youth sideline, someone is always filming.
The statement didn't include the names of the coaches, details on injuries, or what led to the altercation, and KATV's report doesn't either. The full APYFL statement and the new officiating directives are linked in the original report.
The league's closing message was simple: respect the game, the officials, and your opponents. The handshake line is a good place to start.
Source: KATV