[jmaellis]

I saw a team walk off the court last summer during a varsity tournament that was hosted by my daughter's high school. The following day the coach/team show up a the gym to continue in the tournament as if nothing had happened .... they were promptly informed that they had been replaced by the host school's JV team. I don't recall exactly what event/appointment I canceled so I could go to the game, but I canceled something and when they walked I was rather pissed off so I fired off this email to the superintendent of the school (I've changed the names to protect the innocent):

Dear Superintendent Smith;

I’m the parent of an A High School girl basketball player. I’m sending this email in that capacity only; I am not a school employee or otherwise affiliated with the high school and/or sports program.

Tonight (7/5/2007), the B girls played the A girls @ 9:00 PM. I was impressed with the way the B girls handled themselves on the court. A has several girls that are more than six feet tall; I don’t think I saw one B player over six feet. Even though the B players suffered from an obvious height disadvantage under the basket, they were holding their own; they are fast, good ball handlers and consistently scored 3 point baskets.

Approximately half way into the first half I witnessed something that I have never seen before .. the B coach ordered his team to walk off the court and leave the gymnasium.

From what I observed, the A coach requested and was granted a time out. The B coach felt that the A coach should not have have been granted the time out. He loudly protested to the referee. The referee disagreed with the B coach and granted the time out. The coach continued to loudly and angrily SCREAM at the referee. I saw and heard the referee repeatedly tell the coach to stop. The coach continued, and the referee assessed a technical foul against the coach. Even after receiving the technical foul, the coach continued to SCREAM at the referee. The coach then told his team to pack it up and they left the gym.

The coach’s behavior was absurd; but much worse, abandoning the game was truly disgraceful. The coach’s temper tantrum negatively reflects on the team, the high school and school district; and considering that B is a one high school town, his behavior was an embarrassment to the community as a whole.

I’m sure that you would agree that the role of a high school coach is more than just directing the team as they play. Coaches are role models, and the manner in which they conduct themselves serve as an example of how adults should handle difficult situations, conflict and pressure, and how an adult in a position of trust and leadership should behave. I have no idea how knowledgeable the coach is with regard to basketball; but as a leader he failed; what’s more, he not only failed, his behavior and lack of good judgment demonstrates that he is emotionally unsuitable to coach.

For a high school coach to act the way he did, it’s almost unbelievable. If I wasn’t there to see it for myself and somebody told me about it I would have thought they were pulling my leg. I’ve been involved in youth basketball since my daughter was old enough to play (youth rec., club, jr. high and high school) and I have never observed anything like what I saw tonight. The circumstances that could justify a coach acting the way that coach acted, and then abandoning the game, would have to be extreme. Disputes with the referee(s) and/or a feeling that you are be treated unfairly are issues to be resolved during the game in an appropriate manner, and if still unsatisfied, than with the appropriate authority after the game; a coach doesn’t just walk off the court to the detriment of his players, the opponent and the parents and fans who were there to see a basketball game.

If I were a parent within your district I would demand that you take action regarding this situation. Since I’m not, I just think that you should know about it.

Sincerely,