Middle School Football Is Supposed to Be Fun, Not a Battleground for Bullying and Mockery; Ashford Parents!

September 23, 2026

This article was last updated by Alisha Shrestha on September 23, 2026

Ashford, West Virginia mom Courtney Doss Ballard speaks out against bullying in middle school football, urging parents and coaches to support young players and foster a positive environment.

A mother named Courtney Doss Ballard shared her deep frustration on Facebook about the junior high football team in town.

She penned a lengthy post that hit home for many parents, talking about how the boys on the team face constant teasing and put-downs after every loss.

Above all, the constant mocking doesn’t just come from kids, but also from parents and coaches, which is breaking her heart.

Courtney explained that she hears these hurtful comments almost every week. She expressed her concern about only picturing what it feels like for a 12-year-old boy to hear such talk, writing:

I can only imagine what a 12 year old boy must feel. This is coming from other kids, parents, and coaches who should know better what that does to a team’s self esteem.

She said that the young players should be out there running around, laughing with their friends, and just enjoying the game. Instead, they spend time worrying about what people say behind their backs.

Courtney voiced her frustration, emphasizing that this is not a professional game but just a middle school football game. She wrote:

It’s just a game, it’s middle school, no one is getting paid to play at your expectations.

She made a clear point, writing, “How about trying to pump these boys up instead of tear them down? How about teaching your kids and team that bullying is wrong? These kids work hard daily.”

Parents and coaches have an opportunity to demonstrate that bullying has no place on or off the field. They could teach their own kids and teams to lift others, not tear them apart.

Courtney further revealed that this year, the team barely scraped together enough players to even have a season. And now, she worries it will get worse next year.

She has heard several boys, including her own son, say they do not want to play anymore because of all the negativity.

Everyone in Ashford packs the stands for the high school games, cheering loud and proud. But Courtney asked a tough question:

well what’s going to happen when it starts to fade because nobody can find the love for the game in the younger leagues

If the junior high teams keep shrinking because of this kind of treatment, there might not be enough players coming up to keep the high school team strong.

She believed it isn’t about a single person, but that the whole community has a part to play in fixing this.

In fact, Courtney turned off her comment section because she clearly mentioned she didn’t want replies or debates.

She just wanted those responsible to take a hard look at their actions and do better. She penned:

There’s no need for comments on this post. I’m not starting an open argument. You know who you are and who your kids are so do better and expect better from them.

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Aditi is an avid music lover whose interest's goes beyond the realm of music, with passion in digital marketing. A Gen Z who loves her personal space and is keen to exploring new things. An optimist who seeks silver lining in every circumstances life throws at her.

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