COURTESY PHOTO | A youth soccer coach and Rocky Point School District teacher caused an uproar Monday when a rival soccer league learned he sent an e-mail to fellow teachers asking them to not send students home with a flier advertising registration dates for the other league.

A youth soccer coach who is also a Rocky Point teacher caused an uproar Monday when a rival soccer league learned he sent an e-mail to fellow teachers asking them to not send students home with a flier advertising registration dates for the other league.

Joe Camarda, who runs the Rocky Point Youth Soccer Club and also coaches the varsity soccer team at Rocky Point High School, sent the email out after the school district approved the distribution of fliers for FJS Soccer, Inc., a Shoreham-based not-for-profit youth soccer league.

“I am asking everyone for a big big big favor,” the e-mail reads. “Please please please please… Support Rocky Point Youth Soccer and DO NOT SEND HOME THE SOCCER FLYERS THAT ARE FROM FJS SOCCER or other towns. They are NOT a Rocky Point based program.”

“Just send home flyers that are only from Rocky Point Youth Soccer Club,” the e-mail continues.

Doug Kahn, of FJS Soccer, said he’s appalled by Mr. Camarda’s e-mail.

He said the FJS Soccer league has served children in the northern Brookhaven Town area, including Rocky Point, for more than 20 years. He said his less-competitive league doesn’t directly compete with Mr. Camarda’s league.

“We thought it was pretty unprecedented that somebody in their role as an employee of a school district, use their school e-mail address to tell teachers to please throw out a flier the superintendent approved to be handed out in the classrooms,” Mr. Kahn said. “I think he’s confusing his professional responsibilities with his personal activities.”

Mr. Camarda did not return several phone calls seeking comment.

Superintendent Michael Ring said the FJS flier was approved and is currently being posted in the district’s secondary school buildings and distributed to elementary school students.

He said the district will be investigating whether or not Mr. Camarda used his district e-mail in accordance with school policy.

“The district will be investigating the claim and will take any action deemed necessary following the guidelines of [the Acceptable Use Policy],” Dr. Ring said in an e-mail. “However, as this concern is a personnel matter, the district cannot comment further.”

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