Maybe the adults can learn from the children who actually play the game.

On Monday, following a baseball game for 8-year-olds at the Slidell Bantam Baseball Association Fields, an altercation between a head coach of the Slidell Yankees and an assistant coach from the Slidell Red Sox broke out during post-game handshakes.

Both coaches were arrested and charged with misdemeanor counts of simple battery and disturbing the peace, according to Slidell police spokesman Capt. Kevin O’Neill. The coaches each bonded themselves out Monday night. O’Neill said the incident started when Red Sox assistant coach Robert Johnson, 34, 218 Crescentwood, went to shake hands with then SBBA board secretary and Yankees head coach Jason Chighizola, 32, 1008 Woodview Drive, after a game the Red Sox won, 8-5. O’Neill said Chighizola refused to shake hands, at which point Johnson allegedly faked a punch at Chighizola. The Yankees coach, however, allegedly threw a real punch in retaliation. O’Neill said the two started rolling around on the ground.

After the fight was broken up, O’Neill said Johnson went to the hospital and received seven stitches under his left eyebrow.

A videotape of the incident taken by a parent confirmed the police account. The videotape also showed the umpires trying to break up the fight.

SBBA board president Dennis Neyland was not at the game but said he was “totally shocked” when he first heard about the fight.

“This will not be tolerated. It’s ridiculous. This is for the kids, not for competing adults,” Neyland said. “If you provoke somebody, you’re out. We’re going to take swift action. It will be drastic.”

The board president said he immediately assigned a committee of three board members not associated with the 8-year-old baseball category to investigate the situation. The SBBA board met Wednesday night and suspended both coaches indefinitely from all SBBA and United States Specialty Sports Association functions and facilities. Chighizola was also terminated from his board duties.

Neyland said he feels this is an isolated incident. Neyland has been involved with SBBA for the last five years and has talked to coaches who have been involved even longer. He said he has only heard of coaches arguing but has heard no reports of coaches coming to blows.

“We have a great group of coaches. You take over 300 coaches and assistant coaches and never have a problem with any of them,” Neyland said.

He said the parents are upset this happened but are happy with the way it was handled.

Neyland said he has responded to more than 300 e-mails and answered more than 100 phone calls. He said he feels bad for the young players.

“My thoughts are with the families of the kids. I really feel for everybody involved,” he said.

Neyland said the sportsmanship shown by the children throughout the park is at a high level.

“The kids are great. They’re comical, funny, and they do things that crack you up. The kids in that park get along unbelievably,” Neyland said.

Neyland said he not had any incidents with any of the youngsters.

“We need to learn from the way these kids are on the way we act,” he said.

This season, SBBA has worked hard to improve the park at Terrace Avenue. Neyland said they have renovated the facility by painting it, landscaping, planting trees and improving concessions to make the park better than it’s ever been.

Neyland said the big thing is getting community support in the form of donations and sponsors.