On August 17th, after a baseball practice seven players from an Orcutt Youth Football team were playing together using football pads at Righetti High School surrounded by their parents who also serve as assistant coaches. It was not a sanctioned practice and head coach John De Marco was at home. To those on the field, it was simply kids playing.
“[The Central Coast Youth Football League] sent out the email to Orcutt Youth Football League and as well as my client, Mr. DeMarco, with some very heavy handed sanctions and a proposed indefinite ban,” De Marco's attorney Amber Simmons said.
What prompted action by the non-profit and governing body for the local youth football chapters was a video taken of the kids that was sent to the CCYFL which resulted in an initial ban of De Marco, suspensions for the players and coaches and the entire chapter’s removal from participating in any All-Star competition this season. According to a statement by the CCYFL President Paco Maldonado, "OYFL was placed on probation as a result of numerous violations that occurred during the 2024 season and post-season."
After reviewing the video, it was deemed a violation of a CCYFL bylaw that states “Any team found practicing on Saturday or Sunday will receive an automatic suspension for the season and a chapter fine $250.”
Maldonado said in a statement that “These activities are unmistakably those of an organized football practice. They are not consistent with 'private recreational activities with friends,' nor are they akin to a pickup game, touch football with other youth players and their parents, or a father and son tossing a ball in their backyard.”
However, Simmons disagrees.
“That's not a practice. That was kids who wanted to play. And the why did it take place at Righetti? Because they were already there," she said.
Simmons also brought to light that Maldonado faced similar accusations for one his chapter's teams practicing outside of scheduled practice time back in 2023 yet there was no punishment.
Since the initial ruling, De Marco has filed a lawsuit against the CCYFL. Since the initial sanctions were handed down, De Marco’s ban has been reduced to five years, the players are allowed to play games again but they won’t count and all but one coach is allowed at games and practices.
“We're here for the kids," former OYFL Board Member Joshua Anaya said on a chapter quorum on Sunday. "That's the whole point of this league in the first place, you know? So if we're out here, the kids can't play or coaches can't coach. It's just it makes it difficult to be there for the kids.”
On Sunday, the Orcutt Youth Football Chapter held a quorum to discuss the situation which has resulted in seven of its members resigning and two being voted off in the past few weeks. OYFL member Reshmi Sarin explained in a phone call that they have established a new board, retaining four of the resigned members and that the new leadership team is “committed to transparency, accountability and most importantly — keeping our kids on the field.”
“It's absolute unfair to him and to our overall community. We just want to let the kids play," Simmons stated.
In a statement posted to the OYFL Facebook page, the board added "This has not been an easy situation, but our focus must remain on the kids. Every action we take matters. While CCYFL enforced the rules as written, our responsibility now is to move forward with unity, accountability, and care for the children who trust us to lead them."
The first scheduled court date for the lawsuit is for early February 2026 however De Marco and his attorney are seeking a preliminary injunction in the mean time to be able to finish the season without any sanctions.
They are currently in the middle of their season right now. According to the OYFL Facebook page, since they are on probation, if they incur anymore infractions, it could jeopardize playoff eligibility.
