Coach appears to headbutt official

[Eastshire]

Originally Posted by PAlbc

I can assure you he won't be coaching, and completely agree with that.

With that being said the legal ramifications (and monetary) jump significantly between an intimidation move (acting like you are going to headbutt) and actually making contact. I hope you can understand that. No coach should ever respond to an official that way (and should rightly be removed from coaching) , but it's also not right for that same coach to get charged with assault if the official did simply "sell" or embellish contact that was or was not there.

Generally speaking (as some states use slightly different terms), if the coach did not make contact, he's guilty of assault. If he did make contact, he's guilty of battery.

Regardless, the official didn't sell or embellish anything. He simply reacted in the natural manner to a sudden attack to the head.

[Smitty]

Originally Posted by Eastshire

Generally speaking (as some states use slightly different terms), if the coach did not make contact, he's guilty of assault. If he did make contact, he's guilty of battery.

Regardless, the official didn't sell or embellish anything. He simply reacted in the natural manner to a sudden attack to the head.

If you look at the video on USA Today, which has a very different angle than the video posted in this thread, it sure looks like he makes contact.

[Smitty]

The USA Today video (different angle) which shows the head butt a bit more clearly is here: USA Today Article

[Raymond]

Originally Posted by Smitty

If you look at the video on USA Today, which has a very different angle than the video posted in this thread, it sure looks like he makes contact.

He made contact chest-to-chest, which caused the official to fall. So if he ends up with a battery charge to go along with an assault charge, oh well for him.

[Altor]

Originally Posted by BadNewsRef

He made contact chest-to-chest, which caused the official to fall.

Without a better angle, this is what I think happened too. Between the official's reflexive jerking his head back and getting an extra "push" from the coach's belly, he fell down and got right back up. I didn't see any indication from the official that he got hit in the head (e.g. putting his hand to his face).

The coach still needs to go.