To the Board of CYBS:
We, the following parents and coaches within CYBS, are formally requesting the reinstatement of Bryan Ross as a coach within CYBS for the spring 2024 season. We are relying on you, as members of the Board, to ensure this miscarriage of justice is corrected, and formally request that any Bylaws that do exist be amended to ensure a proper process is undertaken with regards to any future allegation against a coach, so this type of situation does not happen again.
Whereas we all personally know and support Bryan and feel he has been an amazing asset to our children, CYBS, and the many players he has coached over the years. We have never seen Bryan make physical contact with a kid with any malicious intent, nor have we ever heard of him doing this.
Whereas we strongly believe the allegation against Bryan and his act of coaching a player where to stand in between innings by moving them to the correct spot was either significantly misunderstood by the complaining party who observed it, or grossly misrepresented to the President by that party when the complaint was made.
Whereas the process undertaken by the President lacked any sort of reasonable due process. Bryan was not informed of any allegation prior to being banished from coaching, nor did the President undertake any reasonable investigation of the matter by talking to additional people who were at the game as fans, coaches or umpire (except for one unknown person).
Whereas despite having a CYBS Board meeting after the complaint against Bryan was made, but before informing Bryan he was banned from coaching, the President did not discuss the incident with Board members at that
meeting, nor did he seek comments or input from a majority of Board
members outside of the meeting, including Bryan’s assistant coach (who
was on the field during the game in question) before permanently banning
Bryan from coaching in CYBS.
Whereas the parent(s) of the child involved in the alleged incident did not see any incident take place, nor did they make the complaint. The parent(s) continue to allow Bryan to coach their child in soccer, including in a game two hours after the President told Bryan he was banished from coaching in CYBS.
Whereas Bryan immediately self-reported this situation to SESC, where he is also coaching. SESC took appropriate steps to investigate the alleged incident, including interviewing the parents of the alleged victim, as well as assistant coaches present at the time of the alleged incident. SESC determined there was no need for further action and Bryan remains a coach within that organization.
Whereas the President called a private and secret Board meeting to address his decision to banish Bryan from the league only after one was requested by fellow Board members, he effectively stated at the outset of the meeting that so long as he was President of the Board his decision to ban Bryan from coaching would not change.
Whereas the Board's Bylaws were shared with other Board members at the private Board meeting, but the President did not want them being shown to anyone not on the Board - despite numerous parents and coaches directly asking the President to see a copy of the Bylaws.
Whereas many of us have personally reached out to the President of the Board with questions and many have requested information about this situation and the process, we have received no direct responses back from the President.
Whereas many neighborhood businesses will no longer be sponsoring future CYBS teams if action is not undertaken to reinstate Bryan Ross.
Whereas many coaches within CYBS will not be coaching within the league in the future if there is not a process in place to address any future allegations like this. It is not in the best interest of CYBS or its members to allow a Board President to have full executive power.
Therefore, we, as parents and coaches of children within CYBS, hereby demand the Board takes action to review the underlying allegation against Bryan, acknowledge the lack of due process that followed, and at a minimum, correct the grossly disproportionate punishment that was given to Bryan. In addition, we demand the Board takes action in the near future to ensure that reasonable due process is followed for any similar situation.
Thank you,
Parents & Coaches in Support of Bryan Ross
Updates
October 14, 2023
The momentum behind this petition is proving that the CYBS Board cannot hide from their failure to provide due process. We are turning the tide and forcing them to acknowledge that this reckless decision to banish Bryan will not stand without a fight.
36 Comments
I've always appreciated Bryan's dedication to coaching + development of young baseball/softball players. His passion for the game is obvious. He deserved the opportunity to respond to to any accusations against him.
Bryan is a great coach and teacher of young children. Under Bryan, I watched every second the two were together and not once saw any inappropriate behavior in 3 seasons.
Bylaws should be Public information and dated/approved in meeting minutes. A through process/investigation should have been done. This is ridiculous!
For a league to not support their VOLUNTEER coaches is unacceptable. How could a formal investigation not have taken place? To lose Bryan Ross as a coach would be devastating to the league and our youth.
Bryan has spent time coaching both my sons. I appreciate the time he has spent volunteering for Cleveland baseball. I do question the integrity of the allegations against him. I was at the game in question and it feels odd that I personally did not witness the altercation.
We do not know Coach Ross well but have always heard positive things. Above all, every person should have the opportunity to give their side of the story. Banning someone without a full investigation is not right and we do not support the league's actions in this case because of that. This type of decision can be damaging to a person's mental health, family and reputation and Bryan Ross should have the chance to speak up for himself.
I have had 3 children play within the Cleveland youth baseball/softball program. The last of my 3 has played softball for Bryan for the last 2 seasons. I credit his knowledge, coaching style, above and beyond effort, and overall good character, as contributing factors to her wanting to continue playing softball, when she showed very little interest at the beginning! I applaud his patience and dedication to all of his players (regardless of skill level) It is very evident that he possesses an above average IQ for the games of baseball/softball, and those of us lucky enough to have him coach our kids are grateful. I hope the Board reconsiders his ban, and Bryan is given the opportunity to positively impact kids in this area for years to come. He is definitely one of the “good ones.”
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To the Board of CYBS:
We, the following parents and coaches within CYBS, are formally requesting the reinstatement of Bryan Ross as a coach within CYBS for the spring 2024 season. We are relying on you, as members of the Board, to ensure this miscarriage of justice is corrected, and formally request that any Bylaws that do exist be amended to ensure a proper process is undertaken with regards to any future allegation against a coach, so this type of situation does not happen again.
Whereas we all personally know and support Bryan and feel he has been an amazing asset to our children, CYBS, and the many players he has coached over the years. We have never seen Bryan make physical contact with a kid with any malicious intent, nor have we ever heard of him doing this.
Whereas we strongly believe the allegation against Bryan and his act of coaching a player where to stand in between innings by moving them to the correct spot was either significantly misunderstood by the complaining party who observed it, or grossly misrepresented to the President by that party when the complaint was made.
Whereas the process undertaken by the President lacked any sort of reasonable due process. Bryan was not informed of any allegation prior to being banished from coaching, nor did the President undertake any reasonable investigation of the matter by talking to additional people who were at the game as fans, coaches or umpire (except for one unknown person).
Whereas despite having a CYBS Board meeting after the complaint against Bryan was made, but before informing Bryan he was banned from coaching, the President did not discuss the incident with Board members at that
meeting, nor did he seek comments or input from a majority of Board
members outside of the meeting, including Bryan’s assistant coach (who
was on the field during the game in question) before permanently banning
Bryan from coaching in CYBS.
Whereas the parent(s) of the child involved in the alleged incident did not see any incident take place, nor did they make the complaint. The parent(s) continue to allow Bryan to coach their child in soccer, including in a game two hours after the President told Bryan he was banished from coaching in CYBS.
Whereas Bryan immediately self-reported this situation to SESC, where he is also coaching. SESC took appropriate steps to investigate the alleged incident, including interviewing the parents of the alleged victim, as well as assistant coaches present at the time of the alleged incident. SESC determined there was no need for further action and Bryan remains a coach within that organization.
Whereas the President called a private and secret Board meeting to address his decision to banish Bryan from the league only after one was requested by fellow Board members, he effectively stated at the outset of the meeting that so long as he was President of the Board his decision to ban Bryan from coaching would not change.
Whereas the Board's Bylaws were shared with other Board members at the private Board meeting, but the President did not want them being shown to anyone not on the Board - despite numerous parents and coaches directly asking the President to see a copy of the Bylaws.
Whereas many of us have personally reached out to the President of the Board with questions and many have requested information about this situation and the process, we have received no direct responses back from the President.
Whereas many neighborhood businesses will no longer be sponsoring future CYBS teams if action is not undertaken to reinstate Bryan Ross.
Whereas many coaches within CYBS will not be coaching within the league in the future if there is not a process in place to address any future allegations like this. It is not in the best interest of CYBS or its members to allow a Board President to have full executive power.
Therefore, we, as parents and coaches of children within CYBS, hereby demand the Board takes action to review the underlying allegation against Bryan, acknowledge the lack of due process that followed, and at a minimum, correct the grossly disproportionate punishment that was given to Bryan. In addition, we demand the Board takes action in the near future to ensure that reasonable due process is followed for any similar situation.
Thank you,
Parents & Coaches in Support of Bryan Ross
Updates
October 14, 2023
The momentum behind this petition is proving that the CYBS Board cannot hide from their failure to provide due process. We are turning the tide and forcing them to acknowledge that this reckless decision to banish Bryan will not stand without a fight.
36 Comments
From our experience, Bryan is an effective, respectful and dedicated coach. More importantly is the utter lack of due process. This knee-jerk response by the CYBS is concerning. There needs to be more transparency and frankly, more spine.
I've always appreciated Bryan's dedication to coaching + development of young baseball/softball players. His passion for the game is obvious. He deserved the opportunity to respond to to any accusations against him.
Bryan is a great coach and teacher of young children. Under Bryan, I watched every second the two were together and not once saw any inappropriate behavior in 3 seasons.
Bylaws should be Public information and dated/approved in meeting minutes. A through process/investigation should have been done. This is ridiculous!
For a league to not support their VOLUNTEER coaches is unacceptable. How could a formal investigation not have taken place? To lose Bryan Ross as a coach would be devastating to the league and our youth.
Bryan has spent time coaching both my sons. I appreciate the time he has spent volunteering for Cleveland baseball. I do question the integrity of the allegations against him. I was at the game in question and it feels odd that I personally did not witness the altercation.
We do not know Coach Ross well but have always heard positive things. Above all, every person should have the opportunity to give their side of the story. Banning someone without a full investigation is not right and we do not support the league's actions in this case because of that. This type of decision can be damaging to a person's mental health, family and reputation and Bryan Ross should have the chance to speak up for himself.
I have had 3 children play within the Cleveland youth baseball/softball program. The last of my 3 has played softball for Bryan for the last 2 seasons. I credit his knowledge, coaching style, above and beyond effort, and overall good character, as contributing factors to her wanting to continue playing softball, when she showed very little interest at the beginning! I applaud his patience and dedication to all of his players (regardless of skill level) It is very evident that he possesses an above average IQ for the games of baseball/softball, and those of us lucky enough to have him coach our kids are grateful. I hope the Board reconsiders his ban, and Bryan is given the opportunity to positively impact kids in this area for years to come. He is definitely one of the “good ones.”
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From our experience, Bryan is an effective, respectful and dedicated coach. More importantly is the utter lack of due process. This knee-jerk response by the CYBS is concerning. There needs to be more transparency and frankly, more spine.