Youth Football & Cheer Practice at Central in Springfield, Illinois Turning Unsafe: Parents, Stop Sending Kids Unsupervised!

The conversation started with a widely shared Facebook post from local parent and coach Tina Black Creech, resident of Baxter Springs, Kansas, United States.

September 10, 2026

This article was last updated by Alisha Shrestha on September 10, 2026

Parents in Springfield, Illinois, have spoken out after repeatedly raising concerns about safety at the Central Playground during evening youth football and cheerleading practices.

The conversation started with a widely shared Facebook post from local parent and coach Tina Black Creech, resident of Baxter Springs, Kansas, United States.

She pleaded with families to either talk to their kids about respect or stop sending them without adult supervision, writing that she was by the things she heard and saw during practice.

She wrote,

If you have a kid that is going to central in the evenings to play PLEASE have a conversation with them! Or STOP SENDING THEM WITHOUT AN ADULT! I can’t believe the things that I have heard and seen happening at the playground while football/cheer practice is going on. Stop sending your kids to central with no respect & no adult supervision! It’s getting out of hand!
if you wanna know if your kid is involved just ask me! I will gladly tell you!

Her post sparked a flood of comments describing similar experiences, with some parents saying they were hesitant to let their children return.

Tiffany Coleman, a graduate of Baxter Springs High School, commented that there had been another fist fight that very night. She added,

Another fist fight again tonight? Heard all about this happening last week also. Getting ridiculous.

The debate highlights the importance of personal responsibility. (Source: )

On the other hand, Brad McCandless, a CNC programmer at KMT Waterjet Systems, admitted he probably would not allow his children to after the recent situation. He wrote,

Yea mine probably won’t be going back over there after tonight. I don’t know if they were involved or not

Molli Kai Biddle that the situation would improve at all, pointing out that the same behavior had driven her and her children away years ago. She added,

Nothing will change! It happened to me and my kids a few years ago and we haven’t been back!

Krista Davis from Columbus, Kansas, recalled similar issues in past years, noting that last season older kids had to be run off after making inappropriate remarks toward her daughter, and this year things escalated with fist fights. She commented,

I feel like it gets worse every year! Last year there were kids running around making inappropriate comments toward Xahria that had to be ran off! This year, there has been a fist fight & constant name calling & inappropriate comments! If your kid doesn’t have a reason to be there during practice, they shouldn’t be up there talking nasty in front of little kids!!!

Shannon McClintock suggested that the rough kids are simply part of small-town life and sarcastically commented that “the Krafts raise some hell raising kids” and that anyone who could not handle it should keep their children home.

However, the debate underscores the need for responsibility, both from parents ensuring their children are respectful and from the wider community working together to keep Central a safe place for sports and play.

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Rohit Maharjan is a skilled content writer and editor, known for his expertise in crafting engaging and informative written pieces. Beyond his professional work, Rohit is also a passionate musician, dedicating his free time to playing the guitar and creating melodious tunes.

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