Prince George parents rally against new jersey rules amid bible verse controversy

PRINCE GEORGE COUNTY, Va. (WRIC) — Prince George County parents are rallying against a new rule that restricts what kids can wear during Parks and Recreation games.

On Tuesday, Oct. 14, the county’s board of supervisors voted 3-1 in favor of a set of rules regulating messaging on county-sponsored jerseys.

This comes after youth soccer coach Andrew Collins added the bible verse reference “John 14:6” to county-issued jerseys for a local recreational soccer team.

“It's only going to create more conflict between the Parks and Rec employees and the parents,” Collins said.

The verse referenced “Jesus answered, ‘I am the way and the truth and the life — No one comes to the Father except through me,” within the New International Version of the Bible.

According to the new rules on County Parks and Recreation Property:

Sub-paragraph A:

Only uniforms purchased or issued through the Department may be worn during recreational activities and games. … County issued uniforms may not be torn, cut, or modified.

Sub-paragraph B:

No apparel may be worn during games or practices that appears to be part of a uniform and that bears messaging that a reasonable observer would construe to be approved by or endorsed by Prince George County or its constituent departments or agencies without the prior approval of the Parks and Recreation Department of Prince George County

Collins said Sub-paragraph B is unconstitutional.

“I'll let them have the jerseys, they can have the jersey. Whatever. But Sub-paragraph B, they've gone way too far and really overreached,” Collins said. “Now they're trying to tell us what we can and can't wear on our personal clothes, when this is the same board of supervisors that will open the meeting with a prayer in the name of Jesus Christ. Not a contradiction at all, is it?”

Parent, Zach Devlin, who spoke to 8News, said that he was caught off guard when he saw the jerseys and “didn’t feel that that has any place on the soccer field.”

Devlin said rules that don't require anyone to conform to a specific thought or idea are the way to go.

“If you allow one thing, you have to allow everything, and eventually somebody is going to put something intentionally offensive,” Devlin said. “Soccer is for everybody, not just Christians. There are a lot of different beliefs, and we shouldn't have to announce our beliefs to participate.”

Nearly 190 parents have signed Collins' petition asking for paragraph B to be removed from the new rules. Collins said he’ll be attending the Oct. 28 meeting to make his voice heard.