San Francisco Father Faces Permit Confusion While Playing Tennis with Kids

A father in San Francisco, Sam Dogen, aimed to enjoy a simple afternoon playing tennis with his children but found himself questioned by park rangers on suspicion of offering tennis lessons without a permit. Dogen was with his 6-year-old daughter and 9-year-old son at Golden Gate Heights Park after a trip to Hawaii.

Dogen recounted, “I took the kids out for what I thought would be a nice afternoon to get over the jet lag, be outside in the sun, and play some tennis like we’ve done many times.” About 20 minutes into their game, they were approached by rangers from the San Francisco Recreation and Parks Department asking for a teaching permit.

“I was immediately thinking to myself, ‘What are you talking about? These are my kids,'” said Dogen. His son clarified the situation, saying to the rangers, “He’s my daddy.” The family was not issued a citation, but Dogen mentioned that he was warned of a potential $192 fine for teaching without a permit.

Reflecting on the incident, Dogen questioned the necessity of the interaction. “There was nobody waiting,” he noted. “Why even bother trying to disrupt a perfectly nice afternoon, father with his children?” A spokesperson for the department, Tamara Aparton, explained, “This was a routine interaction. Rangers will sometimes ask questions to determine whether someone is providing commercial instruction.”

While Dogen acknowledged the city’s need to regulate commercial instruction, he expressed concern over the treatment of parents teaching their children. “Raising children in a city as expensive as San Francisco is hard enough,” Dogen said. “When you add law enforcement officers who aren’t friendly, it gets even tougher.”

During the encounter, Dogen wanted to keep the situation calm. “My only instinct was to de-escalate and keep my six-year-old daughter and nine-year-old son safe,” he explained. Jokingly, Dogen mentioned potentially carrying his children’s birth certificates in his tennis bag to avoid similar misunderstandings.

Dogen hopes for a more family-friendly approach in park rule enforcement. “My hope is that San Francisco becomes a more welcoming place for children and families,” said Dogen. He wishes for a city where parents can enjoy activities without the threat of fines.