Virgen’s View: Pilot Cup rules always needed

When Kirk McIntosh created the Daily Pilot Cup 18 years ago he did so with the best intentions. But sometimes, soccer parents become too passionate about the youth tournament.

Back when McIntosh started the Pilot Cup he had young daughters who loved soccer and he wanted to find a way to have them play with their classmates. He also had to create rules.

The tournament grew each year, taking on more teams, more kids. McIntosh created a monster. But not in the negative sense, as he enjoyed the fact that the tournament became a highly anticipated community event, beginning each year on the day after Memorial Day.

However, there have been times when a few have caused problems with bad sportsmanship or illegal actions. Every year McIntosh has done his best to enforce the rules. Sometimes, he needs to remind parents, coaches and players about those rules.

A referee ended a game on Wednesday after a team’s sideline behaved badly, McIntosh said in an email. According to the center referee, there were parents yelling obscenities at him and continued despite warning, McIntosh detailed in the email.

“Not OK,” McIntosh said in the email to school liaisons. “Remind coaches to keep parents under control. This is a fun tournament and no jobs or health are at risk. Just a great community event.”

There are many rules that needed to be enforced during this week. There are many memories created during the Pilot Cup, but McIntosh really wants the tournament to be fun. A lot of the kids are playing organized soccer for the first time.

There are games being played in the new Costa Mesa High School stadium for the first time. McIntosh told parents that they need to sit in the stands for those games.

Also, just as AYSO has enacted the rule of no heading, so has the Pilot Cup, to prevent concussions or head trauma.

Parents and coaches need to know that this youth soccer tournament is all about the kids. Let them have fun and learn about competition throughout the week.

steven.virgen@latimes.com

Twitter: @SteveVirgen