Ben Hjelle

Five Unanswered Questions

These are five sets of related questions I have been forced to ask publicly after every private attempt at resolution was exhausted.

  1. Why was a 10-year-old child removed from a youth soccer program in which he was actively and appropriately participating, where the child had engaged in no misconduct? Is it considered appropriate or ethical to exclude a child from youth activities due to private adult disagreements?
  2. Why were multiple, conflicting explanations given for the child’s exclusion from youth activities? Who made the actual decision to remove the child, which explanation is accurate, and when did that explanation change?
  3. Why was a cease-and-desist letter demanding $25,000 in damages sent only after I stated my intent to leave a public review concerning my child’s exclusion, rather than in response to any published statement or allegation? Why did that letter reference a webpage that contained no substantive content other than a footer stating, “This page intentionally left blank”? What specific content is alleged to have caused financial harm, and how was the $25,000 figure calculated? Is it your position that the cease-and-desist letter was unrelated to my stated intent to publish a lawful consumer review following the exclusion of the child from the program?
  4. Why were no steps taken to de-escalate the situation after it was communicated that the exclusion was causing emotional distress to a 10-year-old child?
  5. Why is there no transparent grievance or appeal process when a child is excluded from youth activities in Palmas del Mar? What safeguards exist to prevent decisions based on rumor, vague allegations, or adult conflict rather than fairness and consistency?

This matter concerns a parent seeking to protect a child from harm, not personal animus or retaliation.

These questions reflect unresolved concerns based on direct experience. No conclusions or accusations are asserted.

Opportunity to Respond

An opportunity was provided to respond to or clarify these questions prior to publication, in order to ensure accuracy and completeness.

Identification

The questions on this page concern Ben Hjelle, who has acted in a coaching and organizational role in the relevant youth activities.

He publicly identifies himself as “Coach Ben Hjelle” and uses the handle @CoachHJELLE on Twitter/X.

His name and publicly available photograph is included solely to avoid confusion about who the questions are directed toward.