Coach stung by example of adult accused of assault at youth football game

Cleades Sanders, head coach of the Little League Selma Yellow Jackets, said the man came out of the stands last weekend, grabbed an 11-year-old player and threw him to the ground.

Robert Eugene Holloman, 40, is charged with one count of misdemeanor assault on a child under 12 and one count of misdemeanor disorderly conduct.

Sanders' Yellow Jackets were playing the Princeton Bulldogs at Smithfield-Selma High School when the player made a tackle, then Holloman rushed the field.

In multiple calls to 911, people asked for backup for the law enforcement presence at the game and said they feared fights would break out.

One caller said, "We have some unruly parents trying to cause some problems at a Little League football game, and they need to go."

Elton Daniels, Selma town manager, said Holloman was escorted off the premises by law enforcement.

It was not clear why it took three days for authorities to arrest Holloman.

Sanders said he is most disappointed about the example an adult's actions set for his players.

"If we show kids this is how we're going to act then they're going to act the same way when they get to be adults or feel like it's okay to act that way," he said.

Eric Pate, president of the Princeton Little Tar Heel League said he was aware of the incident and was "very disappointed."

"Princeton Little Tar Heel League has a code of conduct policy for all participants and spectators to ensure our community has a safe place for kids to participate in team athletics. An ongoing internal review continues and the individual in question will be held accountable for his actions to the fullest extent of our abilities once all info has been gathered and evaluated," he said in a statement.