Interesting Article

[Justme]

I found this article online:


Calif. Softball Coach Sued for Emotional Distress, Civil Rights Violations, Sex Discrimination 04-03-2006 4:10 AM

ARCADIA, Calif. -- When Michael Oddenino's teenage daughter complained that her softball coach was insulting her teammates, he took the dispute off the diamond and into a court.

Oddenino, an attorney, filed a lawsuit in Superior Court claiming coach Don Riggio inflicted emotional distress on a player when he called her "a 2-year-old" and frequently called other players idiots.

The suit sought $3 million for intentional and negligent infliction of emotional distress, negligence, a civil rights violation, and sex discrimination.

But Superior Court Judge Jan Pluim dismissed the case, writing in her March 14 decision that there is nothing wrong with "a coach pushing an athlete to excel, and in so doing, using words that in another context would be considered rude, demeaning and even intimidating."

The suit had alleged that Riggio "took advantage of his position of authority to engage in an abusive pattern of excessive intimidation and humiliation of the female players, frequently calling them `idiots,' and belittling them for minor errors."

Said Riggio: "I'm just glad it's over. Now we can move forward and do what we're there for, and that's to coach."

[Ed Maeder]

What an idiot. Hope I don't get sued.

[wadeintothem]

Common sense prevails for once.

[Chess Ref]

I have always been a little uncomfortable with grown men yelling at teenage girls. It reeks of bullying to me. If you are a coach you can instruct my daughter, you can correct my daughter, you can even punish my daughter ( by restricting her playing time) or punishment of that nature. BUT if you think you are going to call my teenage daughter stupid or other belittling, degrading names you are going to deal with me. Now am I going to file a law suit, not likely, but when I am done talking to the coach I'm betting he doesn't call my daughter belittling, degrading names anymore.
Girls in our great country have huge self-imaging issues,major depression issues, eating disorders are rampant (espically in athletes), 3 out of 5 girls are sexually assaulted before age 18. Then some ROLE MODEL/Leader of my daughter is gonna bully her by calling her names-not today,not this week and not this season.

And that my friends is a promise.

[JFA67]

Originally Posted by Chess Ref

I have always been a little uncomfortable with grown men yelling at teenage girls. It reeks of bullying to me. If you are a coach you can instruct my daughter, you can correct my daughter, you can even punish my daughter ( by restricting her playing time) or punishment of that nature. BUT if you think you are going to call my teenage daughter stupid or other belittling, degrading names you are going to deal with me. Now am I going to file a law suit, not likely, but when I am done talking to the coach I'm betting he doesn't call my daughter belittling, degrading names anymore.
Girls in our great country have huge self-imaging issues,major depression issues, eating disorders are rampant (espically in athletes), 3 out of 5 girls are sexually assaulted before age 18. Then some ROLE MODEL/Leader of my daughter is gonna bully her by calling her names-not today,not this week and not this season.

And that my friends is a promise.

AMEN!
I coach my daughter in the summer. I can't think of any reason to bully/belittle any of my girls. extremely counter-productive. Firm but fair is my goal. I have seen other coaches who use profanity in front of their girls. throw stuff etc, etc. Nice role models.
My daughter would never be allowed to play for such a coach, regardless of the level. The almighty "W" isn't worth it.

[IRISHMAFIA]

I agree that a coach should be the leader of the team and there should be some intelligent limitation on how s/he acts towards players.

I, also, believe it is the parents responsibility to do two things if they disagree with a coach's methods:

1. Monitor the action of the team and find another if you do not care for the coach's actions;

2. If such a thing does occur, instead of whining and crying about it, take the opportunity to teach your child a lesson about how others act in the real world. Tell them NOT to accept such actions personally. As cliche as it may seem, remind your child of the age-old playground retort, "sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me!" Ridiculous? Maybe, but it is true. Teach your children now that other people's words and opinions are nothing more than that.

There is no doubt that somewhere along the way, your daughters will experience such action first or second-hand. They just as well learn now that not everyone conducts themselves in the manner in which you/she/we expect or approve.

Meanwhile, get together with other parents and find a new coach.

[NSABlue]

Originally Posted by wadeintothem

Common sense prevails for once.

........And in a California court no less........will wonders never cease!!

[bkbjones]

Originally Posted by Ed Maeder

What an idiot. Hope I don't get sued.

Ed,
It might have gone over the heads of most, but I got it. Hope things are well!

[IRISHMAFIA]

Originally Posted by bkbjones

Ed,
It might have gone over the heads of most, but I got it. Hope things are well!

You need to remember, Ed's in Northern Exposure territory.

[Ed Maeder]

Not my fault, Brain Freeze. I am doing well, we will have Wild Bill and Malcom here this weekend for our State Clinic. Sorry I missed the National Clinic in Seattle.

[bkbjones]

Originally Posted by Ed Maeder

Not my fault, Brain Freeze. I am doing well, we will have Wild Bill and Malcom here this weekend for our State Clinic. Sorry I missed the National Clinic in Seattle.

I will remind them to take a jacket

[Chess Ref]

Irishmafia-Agreed. I will be stealing the sheeple word.

Daveasa- The only thing that we may see differently is the Jr employee/ Vice president comparision. By age 30 I had the skills or acceptance to deal with that SItch. A young lady of say 15yo hasn't quite had the chance to develop those skills. Childhood development comes in stages. A 15 yo should learn those skills from interacting with other 15 yo, not 35 yo loud mouth softball coaches.

Finding my 15 yo daughter at home ,when I am not there, with the neighborhood rebel is irritating, frustrating and makes me think bad things about so called rebel--BUT it is an age appropriate behavior. Put coach it that SITCH and it is not appropriate,

My point is she should learn how to deal with mean people by dealing with mean people in her peer group.

Dakota- words are still important even if you don't like my example.

[Dakota]

Originally Posted by Chess Ref

Dakota- words are still important

Agreed. It is one of my main annoyances with our modern PC America - the devaluing of the meaning of words.

Originally Posted by Chess Ref

even if you don't like my example.

Exactly. There are plenty of real examples out there.