This ish is getting out of control. Sounds like the coach put him on blast a little bit by calling him out, but it should’ve been so much worse. That should have been a week riding the pine, then we’ll see if you change your mind or you can hit the bricks and go somewhere else. Of course the kids have all the power now, so you can’t do that or you just end up sucking and your opponents benefit.
See, that's the thing. At places that win, the kids don't need to "have the power", so to speak. By showing up and working toward the common goal, they end up getting what they want anyways.
Kids at places that consistently win at a high level probably get the special(sic) tights they want. But if they're not available, they for dayum sure ain't threatening to not play. Not because they fear punishment, but because they're not built to act that way.
That's what losing cultures don't get. Absent some details Payne is leaving out, which is possible, that kid should be off the team, full stop. He wouldn't be kept around at a place expecting to win.