[kmw]

I worked a Special Olympics tournament today. Both games are top bracket winners and young adult/adult teams. First game - nice and refreshing to see the kids enjoy the game for what it is. Second game - My partner and I almost threw out the visiting team two coaches. In first two minutes of Q1, the v coach entices a home player by saying - go ahead and take me on - throw the first punch- after he just got done pleading his case to us that the home team was mouthy and explosive based on their age and disabilities. IMO - he was baiting... I tried to calm him down and told him that he is the adult and needs to walk away - his response - those kids are not disciplined by the coach, parents or anyone. I told him that it wasn't his responsibilty to do that - his was to be the adult coach and worry about his own team - his response - NO - if no one else is going to discipline them I will....

Of course later in the game, he was up and down complaining about traveling and any touch that he felt was a foul. My partner (great official) told him to have a seat, we didn't give him a t because the game was close (they were down by 4) and we didn't want his team to bear the brunt of his actions. During the course of the game - we were in contact with On site coordinator during the whole game. She also let us know that the SO Regional Coordinator was sitting behind V bench and taking lots of notes. These two knucklehead coaches from V will probably be removed from the positions according to her after the game. The Local Coordinator came in the locker room afterward and said that a call was in to State Office to file complaints against the coaches for their actions. Can you believe it??? both teams (irregardless of outcome of game) were headed to state play anyway.

what is the world coming to when even special olympics is tainted by immature and dangerous coaches. The coordinators have been running this tournament for over 20 years and have never had anything like it.

I post this because I was shocked and as an FYI - there is no need to post whether you feel we should have whacked and sent him packing. If you have never worked Special Olympics - it would be hard to imagine the scenario and understand why we didn't.