A California father's attempt to enjoy a casual afternoon of tennis with his children at a public court in San Francisco took an unexpected turn when he was approached by park rangers. The father, Dogen, found himself facing questions about whether he possessed a permit to provide tennis instruction, despite simply coaching his own kids.
Unexpected Encounter on the Court
Dogen described the outing as an effort to help his children overcome jet lag and enjoy the sunny weather, an activity they had engaged in numerous times before. Approximately 20 minutes into their practice session, two rangers from the San Francisco Recreation and Parks Department arrived and asked if he had a permit for teaching tennis. Dogen recalled his immediate reaction:
"What are you talking about? These are my kids."
The misunderstanding was resolved only when his son intervened, telling the rangers, "He's my daddy." While no citation was issued, Dogen noted that one ranger informed him the penalty for teaching without a permit could be $192. He characterized the interaction as an "educational warning," yet expressed bewilderment at its occurrence. "There was nobody waiting," he stated. "It was just a surprise to me. Why even bother trying to disrupt a perfectly nice afternoon, father with his children?"
Department's Policy on Commercial Instruction
The Recreation and Parks Department has previously clarified its enforcement policy, explaining that rangers routinely verify whether individuals offering instruction on public courts are operating commercially. Paid tennis instruction in the city requires a specific permit. Department spokesperson Tamara Aparton commented on the incident, stating:
"This was a routine interaction. Because paid instruction is not allowed on public courts without a permit, rangers will sometimes ask questions to determine whether someone is providing commercial instruction or simply using the courts for personal recreation or coaching their kids."
Advocating for Family-Friendly Enforcement
Dogen acknowledged the city's need to regulate commercial instruction but maintained that parents teaching their own children should be treated differently. His primary concern during the interaction was to maintain a calm atmosphere for his young children, a 6-year-old daughter and a 9-year-old son, who were present. "My only instinct was to de-escalate and keep my 6-year-old daughter and 9-year-old son safe," he shared.
Looking to the future, Dogen humorously suggested he might carry identification for his children when visiting public courts again.
"I'm going to get their birth certificates and carry them with me in my tennis bag just to prove they're my children," he quipped. "I'm not going to get a permit to teach my children."
He voiced his hope that the incident would prompt city officials to adopt a more family-friendly approach to enforcing park regulations. Dogen concluded:
"My hope is that San Francisco becomes a more welcoming place for children and families, not a place where a father teaching his own kids tennis on an empty court gets threatened with a $192 fine."