Coach Berating Players

[bob jenkins]

Originally Posted by billyu2

I think a case could be made to penalize the coach. Unsportsmanlike conduct is unsportsmanlike conduct. Doesn't matter who it is directed at. If the verbal abuse of the kids is unquestionably severe or vulgar, sure, the parents/school will likely deal with it later; but at the moment someone may have to step up. I would take the risk (right or wrong) of putting a stop to it.

It could, and there's a case play / interp to that effect. But, don't be that guy.

[packersowner]

If I felt that strongly about it, I would write an e-mail to the AD or school administrator the next day. At times, parents complaining to the AD come off as parents complaining. An official, in a neutral viewpoint, may carry more weight.

We have a VB coach in our area is sounds just like this guy. I always think to myself, I can't believe they let this guy coach/instruct youth. Its really disappointing and I am not one that believes kids need to be coddled, but dropping f-bombs in the locker room to me has no business in HS athletics.

[so cal lurker]

Originally Posted by billyu2

I think a case could be made to penalize the coach. Unsportsmanlike conduct is unsportsmanlike conduct. Doesn't matter who it is directed at. If the verbal abuse of the kids is unquestionably severe or vulgar, sure, the parents/school will likely deal with it later; but at the moment someone may have to step up. I would take the risk (right or wrong) of putting a stop to it.

Originally Posted by bob jenkins

It could, and there's a case play / interp to that effect. But, don't be that guy.

I often think these questions get answered on a forum like this with different people having different visions of the context and expectations of the league. High school? Yeah, don't go there. CYO 6th grade game or YMCA game where the ref is the only authority figure besides the coaches? May go there as the expectations and standards are different. Put another way, I think an internet forum is about the worst place to get an answer to the kind of question here because beyond the high level answer, it becomes so dependent on local expectations. (It is also difficult to see how bad is bad and what lines might have been crossed.)

[stripes]

Originally Posted by bob jenkins

It could, and there's a case play / interp to that effect. But, don't be that guy.

+1. don't look for trouble.

[jeremy341a]

I disagree. If the Coach is being obscene or vulgar penalize. If he is merely riding his kids that is different. I am not going to hide in the corner because it would be easier or I don't want to be that guy.

[Raymond]

Originally Posted by jeremy341a

I disagree. If the Coach is being obscene or vulgar penalize. If he is merely riding his kids that is different. I am not going to hide in the corner because it would be easier or I don't want to be that guy.

Who said he was being obscene or vulgar? I can be a d!ckhead without using a single inappropriate word. If he is dropping F-bombs for all to hear, then that is within our jurisdiction to address.

[jeremy341a]

Originally Posted by BadNewsRef

Who said he was being obscene or vulgar? I can be a d!ckhead without using a single inappropriate word. If he is dropping F-bombs for all to hear, then that is within our jurisdiction to address.

I don't feel that it was described in a way that you can tell his exact actions. Therefore I put in two scenarios with if before each of them.

[BryanV21]

First we have to be a part of the fashion police, and now some want us to be a part of the moral police? No thanks.

If the NFHS, OHSAA, my assignors, or some other authority figure over me wants me to interject at some point... fine. But until then, I'm not there to teach manners to anyone.

Now, if the coach's actions/words start to affect the game, which I'm supposed to be in control of, then that's another thing. But there are people like ADs, parents, and school administrators whose job it is to control their coaches.

[Mark Padgett]

Many years ago I was working a MS game with a guy I hadn't worked with before. The coach of one team, who was a teacher at one of the schools, was verbally berating his players. In about the middle of Q2, he actually started to use some profanity (not terrible words, but they were profane). My partner went over to him at a TO and told him that he was on the local School Board and if he heard any more profanity coming from the coach, he would bring that up to the Board and ask for a "sanction" which would go on the teachers record.

The coach apologized and said he would change his attitude. I went over to my partner and asked him if he was really on the School Board. He kind of giggled and said, "No way." I told him it was a good move and I would use it if I needed to in the future. I never had to use it, though.

[Adam]

Originally Posted by BadNewsRef

Who said he was being obscene or vulgar? I can be a d!ckhead without using a single inappropriate word. If he is dropping F-bombs for all to hear, then that is within our jurisdiction to address.

+1 My thoughts exactly.