BAD ACTS ARCHIVES

Bad Acts By Year: (2010) (2009) (2008) (2007) (2005-2006) (Prior to 2005)

Bad Acts By Sport: (Baseball) (Basketball) (Cheer) (Football) (Soccer) (Softball)

Special Cases: (Closed Gyms) (Conduct Codes) (Judicial Reviews) (Officials Attacked) (Parents and Relatives) (Post-game handshakes) (Pepper Spray and Police Actions) (Shootings/Stabbings etc...) (Specific Schools, Leagues, Organizations And Others)

return to home page

Bad Acts By Year

Bad Acts - 2010

Slidell, LA - August 5, 2010 - The New Orleans Times-Picayune Won A Legal Battle to Get Test Results on Jason Chighizola. The results confirmed that Chighizola tested positive for steroids in 2008 when he beat a rival coach to a bloody pulp following a baseball game in a 8-year-old's league. This one has it all: steroids, a coach losing it in a post-game handshake line, a grown man going nuts in a league for little children, and, yes, the two 8-year-old teams were the Yankees and the Red Sox. If it wasn't a true story, you wouldn't believe it. Chighizola was ultimately convicted of battery, and we can only hope that he never coaches anywhere again. He's a danger to us all - and to himself. See Slidell Youth Baseball Coach Who Beat Rival Coach Tested Positive For Steroids by Benjamin Alexander-Bloch, Times-Picayune, August 5, 2010.

Windsor, Ontario - August 1, 2010 - Parents Fight Gets 8-Year-Old League Soccer Teams DQd in Canadian Tournament. See Under-8 Soccer Teams Disqualified As Parents Fight, Regina Leader-Post, August 3, 2010.

Vallejo, CA - July 20, 2010 - Umpire knocked unconscious in Vallejo, CA Babe Ruth summer league game. See Coach Knocks Out Umpire In Teen Game, reported by Steve Large, CBS 13 Vallejo, CA, July 20, 2010.

Ann Arbor, MI - July 19, 2010 - Professional athlete pleads guilty to sexual assault charge. Okay, this site generally deals with sportsmanship issues, not crimes. However, this crime is unusual because the professional athlete is a hacky sack player. Yes, hacky sack... you know, the silly game where a bunch of guys kick a little pouch around during lunch break. Who would have thought that we'd see a self-entitled, boorish lout of an athlete from the world of hacky sack? See Professional Hacky Sack Player From Ann Arbor Pleads Guilty To Sexual Assault Charge by Art Aisner, AnnArbor.com, July 19, 2010.

Harrogate, TN - July 16, 2010 - Tennessee Little League coach attacks umpire. See Blount County Little League Coach Arrested For Attacking Umpire by Josh Ault, WATE.com, July 16, 2010.

Ann Arbor, MI - July 3, 2010 - Post-Game Handshake Fight in Youth Baseball Game Sends Teens To Hospital. See Fight Breaks Out At Youth Baseball Game At University of Michigan Field by Tina Reed, AnnArbor.com, July 5, 2010.

Westchester, N.Y. - June 27, 2010 - WFAS New York's Tony Fiorino, host of WFAS New York's Let Them Play show, describes how youth parents can very easily have incidents. Coach Tony was watching his 9 year old daughter's soccer game when trouble broke out. Hear Coach Tony describe the tension amongst the parents, and the loony dad who ran on the field, and click here for a show description and a link to the show or click here to jump directly to the show. Ask yourself if the loony dad should have run on the field, if Coach Tony should have spoken to the officials, if other fans should have mocked the loony dad, and lots of other things that could trigger an incident.

Eagle-Vail, CO - June 12, 2010 - Goalie Allegedly Assaults Referee in Eagle-Vail, Vail Daily, June 12, 2010. Referees are frequently under attack, but people should take note that in many of these attacks (but not enough of them), the assailant is arrested and prosecuted. Batteries on sports officials are not worth the legal problems. Assailants will eventually learn this lesson - we hope.

Concord, MI - June 5, 2010 - Brawl Mars Michigan HS Playoff Game. See Concord, Homer Baseball Coaches Reflect on Brawl; MHSAA Confirms Game Will Not Be Finished by Gary Kalahar, Jackson Citizen-Patriot, June 8, 2010.

Perry Township, Ohio – May 28, 2010 - Mentor Officer Allegedly Assaults Little League Coach by Elisa Amigo, Fox News 8.

Muskegon, MI - May 15, 2010 - Don't Verbally Abuse The Coach When James Ian Sherril Is Around! See Youth Soccer Coach Says Man Was Trying To Defend Her When He Pulled Out Pistol by Heather Lynn Peters, Muskegon Chronicle, May 17, 2010. On a more serious note, one of the problems of poor sportsmanship (such as having a parent verbally abuse a coach) is that it invites other people to intercede. Sherril appears to be a well-meaning sort who allegedly picked a rather poor method of telling a verbally abusive parent to back off. Now, we should note that the parent who allegedly verbally abused the coach was way out of line. It is not the parent's role to "discipline" or "manage" the coach. By the same token, it is not Sherril's role to "manage" the spectators. Where everybody strays from their proper role, chaos rules and problems occur.

Odessa, TX - May 12, 2010 - Permian HS Forfeits After 22-Year Old Texan Is Caught, Posing As 16-Year Old HS Student. See Permian Player Is Impostor by Craig Craker, Odessa American, May 12, 2010; and Texas School Permian Forfeits Wins After Player Admits He's 22 by Jim Halley, USA Today, May 12, 2010. This happened earlier this year in Arizona. See Yuma High School Duped By 22-Year-Old Man Posing As Student So He Could Play Basketball by James King, Phoenix New Times, November 6, 2009.

Fredericksburg, VA – May 4, 2010 - Sometimes you just wonder about these grown men who coach young kids and attack youth umpires. In Virginia, Jason Adkins, a 34 year old youth soccer coach, was arrested for an alleged attack against a 16 year old boy who was officiating a game in a league for 11 year old kids. Adkins allegedly entered the field of play to complain about a call, grabbing the 16 year old by the shirt. When the 16 year old official’s 20 year old partner came to assist, Adkins allegedly pushed him and broke his sunglasses. Quite a guy, - and he’s coaching somebody’s kids. See Soccer Coach Arrested For Assaulting Ref, Fox Channel 5, Washington, D.C., May 5, 2010; and Youth Soccer Coach Charged With Assaulting Young Refs by Keith Epps, Fredericksburg Free Lance-Star, May 5, 2010.

Samoa - April 21, 2010 - Wild Brawl In Samoan High School Soccer Championship Leads To Cancellation of All School Sports For The Rest of The School Year. See DOE Cancels School Sports For The School Year by Tina Mata’afa, SamoaNews.com, April 27, 2010.

Pinole, CA - April 14, 2010 - Youth Shot As High School Track Meet Turns Violent by John Cote´, San Francisco Chronicle, April 15, 2010 page C2. This just doesn't happen at track meets, but it did. Something triggered a series of fights at a track meet between Pinole Valley, El Cerrito, De Anza and Hercules High Schools. Multiple fights broke out on the track, and one person was shot. The alleged shooter then fled, and was later caught by police near a Red Onion restaurant. It is not clear how this fight started, and it's not even clear whether the fighters were members of the track teams. As mid-week track meets don't normally tend to draw a large crowd, one does have to wonder whether the fights were linked to the meet. Time will tell.

Texas City, TX - April 8, 2010 - Texas City Little League Hit With Rash of Coach Misconduct. First, two coaches fought in March after a trick play. In April, one coach was arrested following a profane verbal dispute. See Youth Coaches Fined After Baseball Game Fight by Chris Paschenko, Galveston Daily News, March 31, 2010 (reprinted at KHOU); 3rd Texas City Little League Coach Faces Charges by Chris Paschenko, Galveston Daily News, April 15, 2010; and Little League Coach is Suspended For F-Word by Chris Paschecnko, Galveston Daily News, April 16, 2010.

Fort Mill, S.C. - April 9, 2010 - Flag Football Player Charged In Assault On Refs at Leroy Springs, Fort Mill Herald, April 12, 2010.

Temecula, CA - April 4, 2010 - Another Referee Attacked & Hospitalized. This time it's an adult soccer game. See Police: SoCal Soccer Referee Attacked By Ejected Player, Associated Press report in Signonsandiego.com, April 6, 2010.

Philadelphia, PA - March 16, 2010 - Philadelphia School Loses By 30 In Playoffs, Blames "Racist" Officials. Nothing New, Here. They Lost In Playoffs In 2009, and Blamed "Racist" Officials For That Loss Too. Sometimes you're inclined to feel sorry for high school teams in State Playoff competition. They're playing out of their area, facing different skill levels, and styles of play. The officials may be seeing a different style of play, too. You can almost begin to feel sorry for the Math, Civics and Sciences Charter High School of Philadelphia - even if you're inclined to disagree with their charges of racist and biased officiating. Then you realize that they received seven technical fouls, and the game was called with 13 seconds to go when a MC&S Charter "whipped the ball" into the stands. Now, it's harder to feel sorry for this team. They didn't carry themselves with dignity on the court, and their charges of racially biased officiating certainly don't indicate a lot of off-court dignity. When you lose by 30 points and accuse people whom you don't know of racism without any evidence other than a disagreement with some calls, you simply don't have dignity. For more, see Math, Civics, and Science Founder Alleges 'Discrimination' by Referees by Ted Silary, Philadelphia Daily News, March 23, 2010.

Toms River, N.J. - March 14, 2010 - NJ Girls Basketball: Incident In The Handshake Line mars Group 1 Final by Chris Orlando, NJ.com, March 14, 2010 (ejected player comes out swinging during post-game handshake). An interesting sidenote: one of the officials was quoted as saying the ejected player should have been taken to the locker room. No she shouldn't. For supervision reasons, ejected high school players are ejected to the bench. The same social forces that lead to the increase in poor sportsmanship make it unsafe to leave a high schooler unsupervised following an ejection so rulesmakers send ejected high schoolers to the bench.

Bay Shore, NY - March 10, 2010 - Fan Slashed, Receives 15 Stitches As Spectator’s Insult Triggers Brutal Fight At Long Island Basketball Game. See Arrest Made In Fight At Basketball Game By N.J. Burkett, ABC TV Bay Shore, NY, March 10, 2010.

Philadelphia, PA - March 1, 2010 - Cheerleading Brawl In Philadelphia. The Philadelphia Girls’ Public League expected 2,500 fans but they got 6,000 and couldn’t handle it. This ugly incident led to police intervention. The one light at the end of the tunnel is, of course, the intense interest in cheerleading. 6,000 is a lot of spectators. See Girl Fight At Overcrowded Cheerleading Event by Karen Araiza, NBC Philadelphia.

Monessen, PA – Feb. 27, 2010 – Halftime Fight At Basketball Game Spills From Gym to Hallways, leads to multiple arrests. See Student Stunned By Monessen Police During Basketball Brawl, The Pittsburgh Channel, Feb. 27, 2010.

Charleston, SC - Feb. 27, 2010 - Post-game handshake line turns into brawl in this South Carolina high school basketball game. See Fight Breaks Out At Upstate High School Basketball Game, Channel 5 News, Charleston, SC, Feb. 25, 2010; Basketbrawl: High School Puts Both Schools On Warning, WSPA Channel 12 (Greenville, SC), February 26, 2010. In the aftermath of this incident some South Carolina coaches are questioning whether they should continue to have post-game handshakes. These coaches know that post-game handshake bans inevitably touch off media controversies so one idea that's been floated is to have a pre-game handshake. See Coaches Consider Ban on Post-Game Handshake by Scott Keepfer, Greenville News (on-line edition), February 26, 2010.

Nashville, TN - February 13, 2010 - Poor Sportsmanship, Rivalry Game, No Security, No Police, and a Controversial Ending - A Recipe For Post-Game Trouble: Timing Dispute Launches Attack in Tennessee High School Game. Nashville's Maplewood High lost a game on a buzzer beater so they not only blamed the timer, they confronted her, one girl hit her, and the gym went crazy. Host Stratford High School and Maplewood received TSSAA sanctions: Maplewood for their lack of sportsmanship and Stratford for not meeting a state requirement of providing security at all games. A school district security officer noted that this was a rivalry game that also required police. The combination of people who lack inherent grace in accepting a frustrating result (i.e. they lack sportsmanship), combined with a propensity to violence and a lack of security led to the inevitable here. See Metro Schools Sanctioned After Game Melee: No Security, Police At Game Between Maplewood, Stratford, WSMV TV 4, Nashville, reported by Jonathan Martin, February 17, 2010.

Minneapolis, MN - February 13, 2010 - Another Parent Who Can't Control Himself: This Moron Yells At The Ref, Touches Off a Melee, and Gets Arrested - All Over a Timing Dispute At A 6th Grade Basketball Game. See Parent Could Face Assault Charges After Alleged Assault At Burnsville Basketball Game by Joseph Palmersheim, Minnesota Sun, February 15, 2010; and Parent Arrested After Melee At Burnsville Youth Basketball Game by Nick Ferraro, St. Paul Pioneer Press, February 16, 2010.

Hartford, CT - February 12, 2010 - Post-Game Handshake Fight Touches Off Spectator Riot. Multiple Parents Arrested. See Four Parents Arrested After Fight at HS Hoops Game, Hartford Courant On-Line, Feb. 12, 2010; and Names Released of Parents Involved In High School Basketball Game Brawl by Grace E. Merritt, The Hartford Courant, February 13, 2010.

Camillus, N.Y. - February 10, 2010 - Hard Foul In Youth Basketball Game Sparks Attack on Ref and Full-Scale Brawl Involving Parents and Players. See Brawl Breaks Out At Youth Basketball Game by Brandon Roth, CNY Central.com, February 10, 2010.

Jackson, MI - February 7, 2010 - Ugly Fight Mars Mississippi Soccer Championship. The fight's posted on youtube at the following URL: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KqTmnS9QiW8. For more, see Students Disciplined For Soccer Fight, WAPT, Jackson, MI, Feb. 10, 2010; and High School Soccer Championship Soccer Match Turns Vicious, WSFA Channel 12 (Gulfport, Mississippi), February 26, 2010.

Liberty Township, N.J. - January 30, 2010 - Spectator Arrested For Bashing Youth Wrestling Coach. See Liberty Township Man Arrested Following Wrestling Tournament Brawl At Belvedere High School by Sarah M. Wojcik, LehighValleyLive.com, February 1, 2010. Note: the headline refers to this as a brawl, but when you read the article it sure doesn't sound like a brawl. A brawl implies that two people fought. Here, the spectator appears to have simply jumped out of the stands and launched an attack.

Monessen, PA - January 29, 2010 - Police called in to break up brawl at basketball game: arrests made and tasers used. See Brawl Breaks Out at Basketball Game in Monessen, KDKA Channel 2, Pittsburgh, PA, Jan. 30, 2010. Tasered student speaks out: See Student Speaks Out Over Brawl at High School, KDKA Channel 2, Pittsburgh, PA, Jan. 31, 2010.

Nashville, TN - January 28, 2010 - Basketball Player Expelled For Threatening To Kill His Coach on Facebook. Taylor Cumnings, a Nashville basketball player butted heads with his coach. So he went home and threatened to kill the coach. That’s right, Taylor got on Facebook and wrote, “I’ma kill em all.” Taylor’s school expelled him. Now Taylor said he was just venting and didn’t really mean it. Taylor’s case raises all kinds of social and legal issues. To read some excellent coverage of the ramifications, see Tennessee Teen Expelled For Facebook Posting by Jaime Sarrio, The Nashville Tennessean, reprinted in USA Today, January 28, 2010; and Expulsion Feeds Debate On Online Rights by Jaime Sarrio and Emily Bazar, USA Today, February 2, 2010 page 3A.

Tecumseh, MI - January 23, 2010 - Official Grabs Throat To Stop Confrontation by Mickey Alvarado, Tecumseh Herald, January 25, 2010. The official (Erich Schifter) grabbed a wrestler (Tim Elkins of Tecumseh HS) by the throat to break up two wrestlers who were wrestling while out of bounds. The official then walked the wrestler across the mat while gripping the wrestler's throat and screaming, "You don't misbehave on my mat." The wrestler's reply? "Let go of my throat." Words don't do this justice, but the link provides the video.

San Marino, CA - January 20, 2010 - California High School Coach Makes Physical Contact With Referee ... And Some Folks Blame the Referee. This is a case that shows how little sympathy an official gets in an ugly incident. Coach Basil Woodruff, the girls' coach at Monrovia High School in California, approached two officials after a tough overtime loss. The officials were using a standard technique of coach-avoidance by standing together at half court well away from the bench area. This technique assures that the officials won't be an easy target for an angry player or coach as the player or coach would have to walk across the gym to get at the official... and sure enough, Coach Woodruff took the long walk and engaged in a dispute with the officials. Woodruff is wrong in a big way the moment he takes that walk as he has actively pursued a referee. It gets worse, though. Woodruff and the officials allegedly make contact. Woodruff's technical defense is that the referee initiated the contact. Allegedly, the referee put her hand out and that's when the contact occurred. So, let me see if I've got this right. Some guy goes out of his way to come after you at the end of a game. You stick your hand out to gesture, "back off, please." The guy doesn't back off and claims that any contact is your fault. Some people will accept Woodruff's defense.. some won't. But this illustrates the problems referees have. They work in an environment where many people think it's acceptable to chase them down and get in their face; then, those same people blame the referee when contact occurs. Woodruff quite properly got suspended. His school didnt' have the guts to fire him... yet. They may be waiting for the end of the year. See Girls Basketball: Woodruff To Stay on As Monrovia Coach, From The Sidelines Column by Miguel Melendez, Pasadena Star-News, Jan. 25, 2010.

Oak Park, IL - January 15, 2010 - Oak Park Kids Fight After Basketball Game, Attack Cop Who Tries To Break Fight Up. See Eight Charged In OPRF Post-Game Fight by John P. Huston, Oak Park Pioneer Press, January 18, 2010; and see 8 Arrested In High School Basketball Fight, Chicago Sun Times, Jan. 22, 2010..

Oakland, CA - Jan. 12, 2010 - One Hospitalized After Fight At Oakland HS Basketball Game, KTVU Channel 2, Oakland, CA.

Romeo, MI - January 8, 2010 - High School Sinks Buzzer Beater for Win, But Loses Game Due to An Excessive and Unsportsmanlike Celebration. See Romeo Wins in Overtime After Foul Called In Dakota Game by Rick Desotell, Romeo Observer, January 9, 2010. An amusing vignette, here. These small towns appear to have "hometown" newspapers. The losing team's newspaper downplayed the incident, but it has a reader's page. The reader's make it clear that after the buzzer beater, the players from Macon Dakota High School did a bit more than celebrate. Some of them ran over to the Romeo High School bench, taunted the Romeo players, and basically made complete buttheads out of themselves. See Romeo Wins Basketball Game, Dakota To Protest, Macomb Daily, January 9, 2010.

Sikeston, MO - January 8, 2010 - Spectators Fight In Stands at High School Game. See Two Teenagers Arrested At Sikeston-Charleston Basketball Game, Southeast Missourian, January 10, 2010.

Salt Lake City, UT - Jan. 7, 2010 - Fans Rush Court, Arrests Made At Utah High School Basketball Game. See Fight At High School Basketball Game Could Result In Multiple Charges by Randall Jeppesen, KSL Channel 5, Salt Lake City, Jan. 7, 2010.

Philadelphia, PA - Jan. 7, 2010 - Fans Beat Up Opposing Players and Coach After Loss. This was to quote the referee, "disgraceful." Olney High School of Philadelphia has a problem. Its fans can't stand losing, and they try to bully their opponents. You've seen it: fans press up against the court, threaten players, badger officials, become unruly when you try to move them. Well, this game had it all. The officials finally had to call the game early with the home team well behind. It didn't stop the fans. They beat up Franklin High School of Philadelphia in the parking lot. Was this game undersecured? Hard to say. Olney says it had one school police officer. However, some games need more than one. See Frankford Hoops Team Attacked by Dana DiFilippo and Ted Silary, Philadelphia Daily News, January 9, 2010. The Philadelphia School District (or its athletic office) reacted to this brawl by putting severe restrictions on who can attend Olney games. See Olney High Sees Fewer Spectators After Brawl by Rick O'Brien, Philadelphia Inquirer, January 15, 2010.

Houston, TX - January 4, 2010 - More Running Up The Score - And It's Only January - 170-35 Basketball Rout. Is this the right way to do things? Houston's Yates High Seems To Think That Piling It On Is OK. See Fair Play or Bad Sportsmanship by Kevin Quinn, ABC TV 13, Houston, TX, January 6, 2010. One bad turn led to another in Houston. Running up the score leads to bad atmosphere, fights, and post-game verbal jousting between the "disrespected" Lee Coach and the Coach from Yates, who said what every coach who runs up the score says, "[My subs] work really hard in practice, and when they go in, they deserve the chance to play hard and compete, too." See Yates Sets Texas Scoring Record In 170-35 Win: Lions Break 18-Year-Old Record In Fight-Marred Victory over Lee by Jenny Dial, Houston Chronicle, January 5, 2010. For more, see the running up the score page.

Click Here For Bad Acts Prior to 2005

Click Here For Bad Acts From 2005 and 2006

Click Here For Bad Acts From 2007-2008

Click Here For Bad Acts From 2009

Bad Acts By Sport

Baseball

Harrogate, TN - July 16, 2010 - Tennessee Little League coach attacks umpire. See Blount County Little League Coach Arrested For Attacking Umpire by Josh Ault, WATE.com, July 16, 2010.

Perry Township, Ohio – May 28, 2010 - Mentor Officer Allegedly Assaults Little League Coach by Elisa Amigo, Fox News 8.

Chicago, IL - September 6, 2009 - Chicago coach shot because he removed player from game. Sad but true: A player in a league designed to keep troubled youth off the streets, kind of missed the point of the league, got mad at his coach and tried to kill him. The player shot his coach twice, but, fortunately, ran out of bullets before he could finish the coach off. See Baseball Coach Shot At Abbott Park in Roseland, WGN, September 6, 2009; Teen Baseball Player Shoots Coach After Argument by Jeremy Gorner and Will Lee, Chicago Tribune, September 7, 2009.

Victor, N.Y. - July 16, 2009 - Youth Baseball Coach Goes Ballistic, Shoves Player. We've seen so many bad things from coaches in the last few years, that this almost doesn't register. However, anytime a 48 year-old grown man physically attacks a kid you have to wonder what's going on. This coach just lost it, screaming profanities and shoving a 13 year old boy at a baseball practice. Coaches have really gotten a bad name after the Chicago incidents a year ago, where coaches paddled kids. Those acts were intentional, thought-out attempts to motivate. They were certainly ill-advised, and not appropriate but there once was a time where people used corporal punishment. There was never a time when anybody advocated a coach simply losing it and attacking a kid. The Chicagoans were out of tune with modern standards of decency and child care. This coach is worse. He just shouldn't be around kids. See Baseball Coach Accused of Shoving Player, WHEC News 10, Rochester, N.Y.

Rancho Murieta, CA - July 7, 2009 - Out of Control Parents Launch Post-Game Fisticuffs. See Fight at Little League Game Brings Deputies To Stonehouse Park, RanchoMurieta.com, July 8, 2009.

Westfield, N.J. - June 25, 2009 - Post-Game Headbutt Mars New Jersey Little League Game. See Little League Rage: N.J. Game Ends With Headbutt - Substitute Coach Allegedly Attacks Other Coach After Teams Shake Hands; Parents Furious, CBS 11, New Jersey, June 30, 2009; See Violence Flares At Little League Game, Police Called, New Jersey.com, June 26, 2009..

Kingston, Ontario - June 23, 2009 - Kyle Pike, a 19-year old baseball player, allegedly punches out a 16-year old youth umpire. See Kingston Thunder Suspend Player Indefinitely After Attack on Umpire by Mike Koreen, Kingston Whig Standard, June, 2009; Cops Called To Baseball Brawl, K-Town Sports Report, Kingston, July 1, 2009.

West St. Paul, MN - June 17, 2009 - Former WSP Councilor Disrupts Little League Game by Seth Loy, West St. Paul Southwest Review News, August 10, 2009. This wasn't the worst of incidents as it only involved verbal abuse that did not degenerate into anything more. However, the incident is noteworthy in that Greg Shepherd, a prominent local official, was involved. When you're a public figure, you may want to control yourself at youth sports contest. Interestingly enough, a number of prominent figures have had blow ups at youth league sports contests over the year.

Albany, N.Y. June 16, 2009 - Post-Game Handshake Incident Leads to Legal Charges: But was the wrong person charged? Corey Hall was allegedly punched in the handshake line. He reacted to the punch by pushing the alleged perpetrator and kicking a helmet in frustration. The alleged perpetrator was expelled from his youth baseball league. After the alleged perpetrator was punished, his father, a police officer, filed charges against Corey on the grounds that Corey damaged property by kicking the helmet and committed a battery by pushing the kid who punched him. The lethal combination of a post-game handshake line and a parent who can't accept his son's punishment will tie up the judicial system for a little while. See Score Deputy's Move An Error For Justice by Mark MgGuire, Albany Times-Union, June 23, 2009.

West Burlington, Iowa - June 11, 2009 - Iowa High School Umpire Don Briggs ejected all the spectators (estimated to be 100 people in all) for unruly conduct. He later changed his mind and allowed the spectators back as long as there were no more negative comments. Was Briggs right? Well, we'll never know. The spectators and coaches all contend that they didn't fight and they weren't profane. That's a pretty low standard - imagine another public forum where you can deem yourself to be a gracious individual by merely not fighting and not using profanity. However, charges of overall negativity are hard to prove - especially when one accuses everyone of being negative. See High School Umpire Tells Entire Crowd: You're Out by Bryce Miller, Des Moines Register, June 13, 2009.

Antioch, IL - May 18, 2009 - Cops: Parent Takes Swing At Baseball Coach by Ruth Fuller, ChicagoBreakingnews.com, May 18, 2009; and Dad Bops Boys' Baseball Coach by Peggy Cassidy, NBC News.com Chicago, May 19, 2009..

Palm Beach, FL - May 15, 2009 - Ugly Fight/10 Ejections Mars Florida Baseball Game - School Gets Injunction, Temporarily Lifting State Suspensions. State Will Continue To Pursue This Matter. See Baseball: Trinity Christian and Miami-Brito Private Series Ends With Split, 10 Ejections After Fight by Bill Van Smith, Palm Beach Post, May 16, 2009; and Trinity Christian Wins Injunction, Loses Game by Dave George, Palm Beach Post, May 21, 2009. Note: We've seen this pattern before. A school doesn't like a penalty so it runs to court for an injunction. The school will often succeed in getting the injunction because the injunction doesn't decide the case it's just a ruling that says that harm might be done if the penalty is enforced before the case is decided. The school can easily point out that it won't get to play a game that can't be made up; thus, the school will get an injunction. The problem with the injunction is that it makes somewhat of a joke out of the penalty. The school seldom wins the case if the governing body that penalizes it continues to fight in court for a ruling. Schools know this. They just don't want to lose the big game. Some high school governing bodies now have harsh rules that include fines, forfeits and suspensions if a school asks for an injunction and then loses the case later on. There are times for an injunction, but let's face it, Trinity and Brito had a bench clearing brawl. The only reason for the injunction is because these two schools lack the integrity to take the penalty for fighting. Stacy Hicklin from the South Florida Sun-Sentinel gets it in her article, Filing Injunctions Does Not Send Right Message To Student-Athletes.

Bartlesville, OK - May 9, 2009 - Coach's Wife Charged In Alleged Attack on Umpires by Laura Summers, Tulsa World, May 22, 2009. A JC coach's wife allegedly entered the umpires' locker room and grabbed one of the umpires by the throat after her husband's team lost a playoff game.

Kirkland, WA - May 2, 2009 - Mom allegedly attacks 12-year-old Little League player - and the League lacks the guts to suspend her.. See Mom Arrested After Little League Game Goes Foul by Carrie Wood, Kirkland Reporter, May 8, 2009; Click here for interview with the victim's mother; It gets worse: the Kirkland Little League didn't suspend the mom. See Parents Outraged as Little League Feud Continues by Carrie Wood, Kirkland Reporter, June 2, 2009 (note: this article also shows the weakness of newspaper headlines - the story isn't about a feud; it's about a league that lacked either the guts or good sense to suspend an unsportsmanlike parent).

Greene County, IN - April 24, 2009 - "Big Fight" Reported Between Area Schools: WRV and Union Officials Looking Into the Incident by Anna Rochelle, Greene County Daily World, April 24, 2009.

Pittsburgh, PA - August 15, 2008 - Sportsmanship 'Bottoms' Out. Coach Charged With 'Mooning' Umpire, Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, August 15, 2008. Fayette County, PA youth coach "Jeffrey Kelley" is facing a disorderly conduct charge for his alleged "mooning" incident. For more see, Local Youth Baseball Coach Accused of Mooning Umpire, WPIX, Pittsburgh, Pa., August 15, 2008.

Ump Attacked, Fans Cheer. See Assault on Umpire 'Sickening', Fans Say by Kevin Cole and Susan Szalewski, Omaha World-Herald (Umpire Charles Andersen attacked, alleged assailant, Jeffrey Johnson, was father of one of the players). For More See: Umpire Alleges He Was Assaulted at Boys' Baseball Game, KETV 7, Omaha, NB, July 14, 2008. The Gretna Youth Baseball and Softball Association Took Strong Action Here. See Dad Banned From Games After Ump Bump: Gretna League Also Suspends Coaches, KETV 7, July 18, 2008, and The Umpire Strikes Back. See Bumped Umpire Files Lawsuit: Attorney Says He's Asking For Damages, KETV 7, Omaha, NB, July 30, 2008.

Jersey City, N.J. - July 5, 2008 - New Jersey Umpire Attack May Lead To Sports Rage Legislation. After New Jersey Parole Officer Thomas Lambert was charged with assaulting a 14 year old youth baseball umpire, New Jersey Assemblyman Ruben Ramos decided to work on sports rage legislation, mandating signage and public service announcements at all ball fields throughout the state reminding spectators about existing statutes that guard against sports rage at children's events.. Will it pass? We'll keep track of it. For details on the attack click here Also, see Father Seeks Changes After Son's 'Sports Rage' Incident by Melinda Vickerman, 1010 Wins, New York, July 24, 2008. Vickerman writes the The Jersey Mom Column in the Jersey Journal. Click here for a link to the Jersey Journal..

Nashville, TN - July 3, 2008 - Tennessee Little League Parents Fight In Holiday Championshp Game. See Little League Game Erupts In Fight, 911 Call, Reported by Catharyn Campbell, WSMV TV 4, Nashville. The big games often bring out the worst in people. Many incidents occur when people realize that it's the last game of the season. Year end games have a lot of meaning and people also feel that suspension and ejection rules don't matter since there's no next game. Finally, championship games also bring spectators who may not go to a lot of other games; sometimes these people don't react very well. Game administrators need to be on edge at the end of the season - even if the championship is played during a holiday.

June, 2008 - Plate Umpires Literally Under Attack: A plate umpire is hit by a pitch in a Georgia High School Game. Was it on purpose? Sure looks like it. The Georgia High School Association thought it was on purpose. They fined the school. The catcher lost his college scholarship - the college didn't want anybody who'd do this. Were they right? You can see the stills and the video by clicking on the June 18, 2008 Life of Reilly Column from ESPN The Magazine. Think this is the only time, think again: A California catcher told the ump what was coming! The catcher told the umpire he was gonna miss one. The ump took a fastball in his mask, ejected the catcher and the California Interscholastic Federation's North Coast Section did the right thing - a lifetime suspension! As of June 27, 2008, the catcher's appeal is pending. It's dangerous enough without catcher's trying to get the umps hurt. See Home-Plate Umpires Find Themselves In The Line of Fire by Paul White, USA Today, June 18, 2008 (foul balls lead to rash of concussions for plate umpires.

Snohomish County, WA, May 27, 2008 - Snohomish County Baseball Game Ends In Assault, Reported by Jim Forman, King TV, Seattle, WA; See Youth Sucker Punch Caught On Tape, Reported by Jim Forman, republished on WSAZ TV, Charleston, W. VA for video. This game ends with a sucker punch in the post-game handshake line, caught on tape.

New Jersey Dad Closes High School Season By Allegedly Choking Ump: See Randolph Dad Accused of Choking An Umpire During High School Game by Bill Swayze, Newark Star-Ledger, May 13, 2008; Randolph Man Jailed For Assaulting Umpire by Matt Mahochio, New Jersey Daily Record, May 13, 2008.

Nashville, TN, May 12, 2008 - It's A Cowardly Knockout of The Worst Sort: Youth Coach Allegedly Attacks From Behind/Knocks Out Ump. See Coach Accused of Knocking Out Umpire, WSMV TV.

Portland, OR, May 10, 2008 - Fighting Adults Go "Cuckoo" at Portland Little League Game. See Police Called To Little League Game As Adults Fight, KATU TV, Portland.

Knoxville, TN - April 23, 2008 - A Most Inappropriate Coaching Technique - Loudon Baseball Coach Told To Stop Making Boys Fight by Hugh Willett, Knoxville News Sentinel, April 23, 2008 (middle school baseball coach toughens up players by having them box each other).

Sparta, TN - April 3, 2008 - Three Arrested After Altercation on Baseball Field: High School Coach Assaulted by Jody Sliger, Sparta Expositor.

Layton, UT - March 15, 2008 - Post-Game Handshake Problems Mar Utah Baseball Game. See High School Baseball: Fight Mars Pirates' Comeback Over Lancers by Michael Black, Deseret Morning News.

Concord, NH - August 4, 2007 - Angry Fan Charged With Assault For Throwing Pizza At Little League Umpire. See Police Say Pizza Toss Was Assault by Joelle Farrell, Concord Monitor, August 4, 2007.

Southington, CT - July 3, 2007 - Adults Fight at Youth Baseball Game, WFSB.Com (story and photo of injured man).

St. Paul, MN - June 26, 2007 - Crazed Father Threatens to Shoot Little League Coach. Click here for WCCO, St. Paul's coverage. See Also, First A Tirade, Then Threat To Shoot Coach, Charges Say by Howie Padilla and Anthony Lonetree, Minneapolis Star Tribune, June 26, 2007.

Talladega, AL, May 19, 2008 - Parents Little League Brawl Results In More Security, Reported by Jeremy Campbell, ABC33/40, Talladega. Talladega instituted a one dollar parking charge to pay for a security guard at all youth games in the wake of this incident.

Jacksonville, Fl. - April 30, 2007 - Parent Throws Soda At Teenage Volunteer Umpire/Husband Allegedly Attacks the Ump. See Little League Baseball Brawl by Kirsten Smith, First Coast News.Com - ABC 25/NBC 12 - Jacksonville, FL. For more, see Unbelievable: Parents Attack Umpire Over Call In Game by Florida Today Staff, May 4, 2007. Click here for Florida Today's special website covering Florida Little League Sportsmanship Problems.

New York, N.Y. - April 27, 2007 - Is it Self Defense or a Case of Sports Violence? See Coach Beat us With Bat: Students Say They Were Clubbed Over Cheering; Teacher Aide Rips Hooligans, by Allison Gendar, Kerry Burke and Michael White, New York Daily News, April 27, 2007

April 25, 2007 - Highlands, CA - Fight Breaks Out at Little League by Michael Sorba, Highland Community News, April 25, 2007.

Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio, July 2005 - Black eye for umpire in dustup with coach. Charges against coach dropped (this coach got away with his attack on the umpire - a black eye for sportsmanship).

Opelika, AL. - Baseball Parent Charged With Assault on Son's Coach at Game, Decatur Daily, March 24, 2006.

Newark, NJ 2005 - Father attacks 15 year old umpire in Little League game.

Pittsburgh, PA 2005 - Youth Tee-Ball coach arrested for paying to have player hurt so he wouldn't have to put him in game. 12/30/05 - Tee-Ball Coach rejects plea bargain.

Palmdale, CA. 2005 - 13 year old boy kills a 15 year old boy by hitting him in the head with a baseball bat at a Pony League game.

Renton, WA - August 1, 1994 - Little League Father Dies After Fight At Championship Game by Wayne Wurzer, Dee Norton, Seattle Times, August 1, 1994.

Basketball

Oakland, CA - Jan. 12, 2010 - One Hospitalized After Fight At Oakland HS Basketball Game, KTVU Channel 2, Oakland, CA.

Sikeston, MO - January 8, 2010 - Spectators Fight In Stands at High School Game. See Two Teenagers Arrested At Sikeston-Charleston Basketball Game, Southeast Missourian, January 10, 2010.

Salt Lake City, UT - Fans Rush Court, Arrests Made At Utah High School Basketball Game. See Fight At High School Basketball Game Could Result In Multiple Charges by Randall Jeppesen, KSL Channel 5, Salt Lake City, Jan. 7, 2010.

Chicago, IL - Dec. 26, 2009 - Big Fight at Rich South After Basketball Game. One Girl, Miracle Jackson, says she had nothing to do with the fight and is the victim of police brutality. Interestingly, that's how the Chicago's NBC TV covered this. That's right, the headline isn't, "Riot at Game." Oh no! The headline is Richton Park Teen Girls Allege Police Brutality by BJ Lutz and Natalie Martinez, NBC Chicago, December 29, 2009.

Amarillo, TX - December 21, 2009 - Angry Player Spits On College Basketball Referee. Why, you ask? Well, he didn't like the calls. Officiating is the only business where someone thinks they're justified in attacking someone if they disagree with them. This is a disgrace and here's hoping that the player who did this is suspended for an extremely long time. See Buffs Impressive in Rout of Lions by Lance Lahnert, Amarillo Globe-News, December 22, 2009

Cincinnati, Ohio - December 15, 2009 - Mob of Students Attack Ohio Officer Who Broke Up Fight, WTVG-TV - Toledo, Ohio Channel 13, December 20, 2009. The worst things about this incident is that these were elementary and middle school kids. The officer broke up a fight and was walking the fighters out of the gym when 30 kids attacked him. Some of these youngsters went so far as to grab for the officer's gun. Also see, Police Officer Hurt In Fight Has Concussion, WKRC 12 - Cincinnati, December 18, 2009.

Omaha, NE - December 4, 2009 - Gunshots Fly at Omaha Basketball Game. See Violence Sparks Increased Tournament Security by Jodi Baker, WOWT, Dec. 4, 2009.

Yuma, AZ - November 5, 2009 - 22 Year-Old Poses as Student So He Can Play High School Basketball. Anthony Avalos, the 22-year old, didn't learn very well his first go-round in high school; he was caught because of numerous misspellings on a forged birth certificate. This could be a somewhat amusing story except Anthony didn't restrict himself to basketball. He allegedly returned to dating high school girls, who are generally under-age, and yes, he had sex with one of the under-age high school girls. So, a potentially amusing forgery and fraud crime now becomes a most-definitely unamusing forgery, fraud and sex crime. Anthony will undoubtedly be going to prison for a very long time, and will surely be a registered sex offender. See Yuma High School Duped By 22-Year-Old Man Posing As Student So He Could Play Basketball by James King, Phoenix New Times, November 6, 2009.

St. Paul, MN - March 9, 2009 - 20 St. Paul Officers Break Up Melee At Basketball Game; 1 Arrested by Anthony Lonetree, Star Tribune, March 9, 2009.

Berkeley, CA - February 28, 2009 - Basketball Team Suspended for Trashing Opposing Coach's Office After Tough Loss. See Berkeley Receives 2-Year Ban From Postseason by Will McCulloch, San Francisco Chronicle, page D-8, May 16, 2009.

Montgomery, AL - February 17, 2009 - Riot At Alabama High School Basketball Game - Players Brawl, Fans Rush Court and Fight Each Other In Stands, Multiple Arrests. This was a complete loss of control that displayed the worst in sports. See 'Bama High Schools Booted After Basketbrawl, MSNBC, Feb. 19, 2009; Carver & Valley Basketball Teams Meet Again, WSFA 12 Montgomery, February 19, 2009; and High School Basketball: Carver, Valley Out of Playoffs by A. Stacy Long, Montgomery Advertiser, Feb. 19, 2009.

Denver, CO - February 11, 2009 - Racial Taunts Heard At High School Basketball Game, Associated Press Wire Service, Rocky Mountain News, February 15, 2009. And what racial taunts they were. The fans in this game didn't use the "N" word. Instead, they broke out some classics like "Buckwheat" and "Shrimp Boat."

Watertown, MA - February 2, 2009 - Now Here's An Unusual One! Scorekeepers Fight at Watertown-Lexington High School Boys Basketball Game by Sean Jacquet, Waltham (MA) Daily News, Feb. 3, 2009.

Washington Township, IN - February 2, 2009 - Stupid Fan Attacks The Wrong Ref! See Fan Attacks Ref Who Is Also A State Trooper by Ken Kosky, Northwest Indiana Times, February 2, 2009; and Ref Doubles As Cop, Arrests Rowdy Fan by Reid Cherner and Tom Weir, USA Today.Com Game On Blog, February 3, 2009.

Houston, TX - January 28, 2009 - "Sammy the Owl" Ejected For Headbutting Ref. Yes, the mascot did it. As mascots are in some rather awkward uniforms, this was not one of the more injurious of acts but still, it is true that the mascot headbutted a ref. See Sims' Coast-to-Coast Buzzer Beater Caps Furious Second Half Comeback at Rice, 61-59, NOLA.com, January 29, 2009; Rice's Owl Mascot Ejected - Yes, Ejected - by Referee by Eamonn Brennan, yahoo.com, January 29, 2009.

Chicago, IL - January 20, 2009 - 2 Cited After Fight, Wounding of Player by Lauren R. Harrison, Bob Sakamoto and Pat Curry, Chicago Tribune, January 21, 2009. When It Rains, It Pours: Less than 2 weeks after 5 people were shot at a Dunbar High School game, Chicago has another shooting. See also, 2 Charged In Shooting After School's Basketball Game, MyFoxChicago, January 21, 2009. Calvin Davis, the Chicago Public League Athletic Commissioner, didn't sit idly by in the wake of the violence at Chicago basketball games. Davis cancelled night games, barred visiting fans, and in rivalry games with a history of problems he barred all fans. See Visiting Fans Barred From High School Games by Bob Sakamoto and Carlos Sadovi, Chicago Breaking News.com, January 23, 2009. For a reaction to the ban, see High School Sports and Violence In Chicago by Teganx7, Jan. 23, 2009 on the wordpress.com blog.

Lansing, MI - January 15, 2009 - Spectator Fight Leads To Police Pepper Spray and Game Suspension. See Fight Disrupts High School Basketball Game, WILX TV (Lansing, MI), January 16, 2009.

Vallejo, CA - January 15, 2009 - Basketball Player "Beaten Nearly To Death" By Gang At Practice. See Teen Badly Hurt In Videotaped Beating At School Slowly Recovering by Demian Bulwa, San Francisco Chronicle, January 19, 2009 page B1.

Los Angeles, CA - January 14, 2009 - Players, Fans fight at Crenshaw-Fremont Basketball Game by Eric Sondheimer, LA Times, January 16, 2009. This ugly incident started with an on-court fight between players. Ultimately, the police had to use pepper spray to disperse the crowd.

Fulton, KY - January 12, 2009 - 50 People Spark Basketbrawl One Minute Into High School Game. See 3 Arrested After Western Kentucky Basketball Game Fight by Malcolm Knox, Kentucky.com, January 12, 2009; and 3 Now Arrested In Crowd Incident At Ball Game, Fort Mill (South Carolina) Times, January 12, 2009.

Hoboken, NJ - January 9, 2009 - Hoboken Game Stopped By Fight, Jersey Journal, Jan. 10, 2009; Hoboken High School Game Called When Fight Erupts, NJ.com, January 10, 2009.

Chicago, IL - January 9, 2009. 5 Shot After Chicago High School Game. It’s the biggest fear of anybody who runs an urban athletic program, and it just happened in Chicago. A group of gang-bangers with no affiliation with the school or program decide to bring their foolishness into your gym. See No Arrests In High School Shooting, NBC Chicago, Jan. 9, 2009; Five Shot Outside Dunbar High After Basketball Game, Chicago1st.com, Jan. 10, 2009; 5 Injured in Shooting at Dunbar High by Art Golab, Chicago Sun Times, Jan. 10, 2009; 5 Hurt by Gunfire Outside Chicago High School After Basketball Game by Ruba Shenoy, Associated Press Wire in San Francisco Chronicle, January 10, 2009 page A6.

New Castle, Del. - January 8, 2009 - Arrests Made In Delaware High School Fight by Dann Cuellar, ABC 6 Action News (Philadelphia, PA), January 9, 2009. Fight over boyfriend leads to shooting at William Penn HS Basketball Game.

Cincinnati, OH - January 3, 2009 - New Year Gets Off To A Fighting Start In Cincinnati. See Basketball Game Halted By Brawl by Tom Groeschen, Cincinnati Enquirer, January 6, 2009.

Brownsville, TX - January 2, 2009 - Players and Fans Storm Court in Texas Basketball Game. See Basketball Players May Be Suspended After Brawl Friday Night by Mike Gonzalez, Mid-Valley Town Crier On-Line (South Texas), January 5, 2009; and Brawl Breaks out At High School Basketball Game by Mark Nino, KVEO 23 Texas, January 3, 2009.

Stamford, CT - December 27, 2008 - Game Suspended Due To Spectator Brawl! See One Man Charged Following Stamford High Basketball Fight, Stamford Times.

Liberty, NY - December 18, 2008 - Fight After Liberty High School Basketball Game Leads To 2 Arrests by Victor Whitman, Hudson Valley Record On-line.com, December 19, 2008.

Brookhaven, MS - November 22, 2008 - Mississippi's Brookhaven High School issued an interesting suspension. Following a fight involving a player, his mother and a spectator, the school suspended the head basketball coach. Brookhaven took a strong stand to pressure the coach to show leadership, but there may be details here that we'll never know. See High School Basketball Coach Suspended After Fight, Associated Press Wire published by Mississippi Sun Herald, Dec. 4, 2008.

Philadelphia, PA - July 21, 2008 - Referee Gets Shot - Youth League Cancelled. See Shooting Victim Had Been Target Before by Kia Gregory, Philadelphia Inquirer, July 23, 2008.

Oklahoma City, OK - July 14, 2008 - Church Men's League Basketball Game Interrupted by Gunfire. See Shot Fired In Memorial Road Church Parking Lot by Matt Dinger, newsok.com, July 14, 2008.

Denver, CO - May 7, 2008 - Youth Coach Dismissed After Assault Arrest by Mike McPhee, Denver Post.

Denver, CO - April 29, 2008 - Brawling After Teen Ball Games Injures 5: Police are Unsure Whether The Melee outside Eaglecrest High Was Related To Gangs Or Race by Kieran Nicholson and Howard Pankratz.

Portland, OR - March 20, 2008 - Man Tries To Shoot His Opponent After A Pick-Up Basketball Game. See Portland Man Arrested In Attempted Murder Over Basketball Game by Cheryl McDermott, Bend Weekly News, March 20, 2008.

Pittsburgh, PA - March 8, 2008 - PIAA Basketball Playoffs: Fight Erupts Following Contest by Mike White, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, March 9, 2008. This ugly post-game fight led PAHoops.org to call to end post-game handshakes. See Playoff Storylines by Bill Gaffey, pahoops.org.

Charleston, AR - March 6, 2008 - Youth Basketball Ref Assaulted by Parent, 4029tv.com, Charleston, AR and Teen Referee Assaulted; Man, 33, Pleads Innocent, Arkansas Democrat Gazette.

Tulsa, OK - March 1, 2008 - Girls' Coach Injured In Altercation At Game: Police Allege That A Player's Father Grabbed the Preston Coach By The Throat by John D. Ferguson and Curtiss Killman, Tulsa World, March 7, 2008.

Clackamas, OR - February 17, 2008 - 6th Grade Girls' Coach Leads Fans In Abuse of Referee and Physical Attack on School Administrator Who Tries To Invervene. Coach is arrested and charged with "criminal trespassing of a sporting event." See Aggressive Behavior at Game Leads To Arrest of Basketball Coach, SalemNews.com, February 17, 2008, and Tempers Flare at Girls' Basketball Game by Joe English and KATU TV Staff, KATU TV Portland, Or., February 17, 2008. One interesting note is that Oregon actually has a law that requires spectators, coaches and participants to leave a game site when ordered to do so by an official. This is part of a modern trend to empower and protect officials. See Oregon Revised Statutes 164-276 and 164-278.

Amherst, N.Y. - February 12, 2008 - Student Tasered After Spitting On Opposing High School Basketball Spectators, Then Running From Police. See SH Teen Arrested After Spitting Incident, Albany Democrat Herald, February 12, 2008.

Pacific, MO - February 11, 2008 - Fan Assaults Referee at PHS Basketball Game, emissourian.com.

Waco, Tx - Feb. 1, 2008 - Spectators Out of Control At Waco, TX Basketball Game - Police Called In, One Fan Pepper Sprayed, and Game Stopped - See Fight Breaks Out At Local High School Basketball Game, KWTX-TV, Feb. 1, 2008

Chicago, IL - Jan. 23, 2008 - Multiple Fights Break Out After Chicago Basketball Game - See 15 Teens Arrested In Brawls After Proviso Basketball Game In Hillside by Josh Noel, Chicago Tribune, January 23, 2008.

Warr Acres, OK - January 15, 2008 - Gun Violence Hits Basketball Game at Oklahoma's Putnam City High School. See Police Link Area Gangs To Shooting by Robert Medley, newsok.com, January 17, 2008.

San Francisco, CA - January 12, 2008 - Anti-Violence Activist Slain Outside Daughter's Basketball Game by Demian Bulwa, San Francisco Chronicle, January 13, 2008; Sacred Heart Cathedral Shaken By Death of Player's Father by Mitch Stephens, USA Today, January 14, 2008; Tragedy Strikes During Halftime by Brent Begin, San Francisco Examiner, January 14, 2008; and Rogers Struggles To Overcome Tragedy by Chris Hansen, ESPN.com, January 18, 2008.

Indianapolis, IN - January 12, 2008 - 2 Shot As Fight Spills From High School Game Into Streets, IndyChannel.com, January 12, 2008.

Wilmington, Delaware - January 11, 2008 - Police Investigate Fight At High School Basketball Game, Wilmington News Journal, January 11, 2008.

Putnam Cty, FL - January 11, 2008 - Fans, Spectators Clash In Putnam Cty HS Hoops Game. School Officials Initially Ban All Spectators, but back off to allow immediate families to watch. See Palatka Softens Ban On Basketball Spectators by Justin Barney, St. Augustine Record, January 16, 2008, and PHS Hoops Brawl In the Hands of State Athletic Board by Andy Hall, January 17, 2008.

Portland, Oregon - January 8, 2008 - Out of Control Spectators Swarm Court, Cause Game Cancellation. See Grant at Benson: Game Canceled Because Of Fight, Oregon Live.com, Jan. 8, 2008. Brawl Halts Benson - Grant Game At Half, KOIN TV Portland, Jan. 9, 2008.

Rockville, MD - December 18, 2007 - Fans Call African-American B-Baller "Monkey"! See, Students Accused of Racially Taunting Basketball Player, NCB4.com.

December 7, 2007 - Game Called! Spectators Throw Objects On Court At HS Basketball Game. See Unruly Fans Cut Maginn Rout Short, Albany Times Union, December 7, 2007.

Colorado Springs, CO - October 25, 2007 - Coach on Trial On Charges Of Hitting Boys In Groin, CBS4 Denver, Oct. 25, 2007 (Monument Academy Basketball Coach Gregory Burr allegedly uses a rather strange motivational technique: one of the boys required surgery).

New York, N.Y. March 19, 2007 - Spectator Brawls In NYC Public School Basketball Finals Spills Into Streets and Subways. Gunshots Fired. NYC Cancels Night Championships in Basketball. See: Basket-Brawl Spills Onto NYC Streets, CBSNews.com, March 19, 2007; Police Arrest 21 in 'March Badness' MSG Brawl, WCBSTV.Com, March 19, 2007; High School Basketball Brawl May Bring Changes, National Public Radio - All Things Considered Show, March 19, 2007. Also See - PSAL Sounds Security Alarm by Dan Martin, New York Post, March 20, 2007 (PSAL cancels night playoff games and bans outside spectators from championship games).

Memphis, TN. February 26, 2007 - Mad Dad Threatens To Shoot Coach At Church Basketball Game, WMCTV.Com.

Providence, RI February 2, 2007 - Suspensions, Arrests Follow Hoop Melee by John Gillooly, Providence Journal, Feb. 2, 2007.

Huntington, W. VA. January 31, 2007 - O.J. Mayo, country's top hoops recruit, involved in Imperfect Storm with two technicals, a ref bump, allegations that the ref literally took a dive, and a temporary restraining order preventing O.J's suspension for his ejection from the game. Big mess in West Virginia. See USC Bound Mayo Fuels Huntington's Win at Cameron, Jan. 31, 2007 espn.com. The story was broke by the New York Times. See A Star Player, A Video and A Suspension, by Pete Thamel, New York Times January 30, 2007 (log in required). For complete local coverage, court documents and video click here for WSAZ Channel 3 in Huntington's coverage. See W.Va. star Mayo faces discipline, by Christopher Lawlor USA Today, February 2, 2007 page 11 C. Mayo to Sit Out Three Games by Travis Hubbard, The Huntington Herald-Dispatch, February 9, 2007 (in the end Mayo admits making contact with the official, the parties settle out of court and agree to accept the school's three game suspension and 13 day suspension from school). For national coverage see Huntington's O.J. Mayo Suspended For Three Games, USAToday.com, February 9, 2007.

Milwaukee, WI. January 30, 2007 - Disturbance After Basketball Game Injures 6 by Jesse Garza and Bob Purvis, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Jan. 30, 2007. Police and fans injured in this stands-clearing riot. For video click here. Milwaukee Public Schools Crack Down on Spectators After The Fight: See Fan Ban Extended For Tech, Bay View by Sarah Carr, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, February 2, 2007. For national coverage see Milwaukee Schools Punished After Rowdy Postgame Fight, USA Today February 1, 2007. For the game announcer's persective, see A Courtside View of the Tech-Bay View Brawl by Bob Brainerd, OnMilwaukee.com, Feb. 1, 2007.

Ironton, Ohio, January 23, 2007 - Zanesville Police Investigating After-Game Fight, The Huntington (W. VA) Herald - Dispatch, Jan. 23, 2007.

Montgomery, Ohio, January 19, 2007 - Officer Assaulted After High School Basketball Game, WLWT.com Channel 5 (the officer was hit in the head with a flower pot while breaking up a fight at a basketball game - poor sportsmanship at sports events often affects third-parties).

Pittsburgh, PA, January 18, 2007 - Did principal attack students who stormed the court after basketball game? See High School Principal Accused of Attacking Student After Event, WTAE TV Channel 4, The Pittsburgh Channel.com.

Stockton, CA, January 6, 2007 - Click here: Girls' basketball fight in Stockton, CA girls' basketball game caught on film. For related article see, On-Court Altercation Prompts Police Investigation by Michael Sudhalter, Recordnet.com, January 20, 2007, Stockton, CA.

Palm Beach, FL, December 16, 2006 - Fight in Florida High School Game Involves Coaches, Parents, Players. See Girls Basketball Players Suspended After Fight by Andrew Abramson Palm Beach Post. Florida High School Athletic Association suspends 16 players up to six weeks. Rematch played by mostly JV players. See Gardens Wins RPB Rematch by Stacy Hicklin, South Florida Sun Sentinel, January 12, 2007. The sad thing about this incident is that a number of the same players were involved in a huge summer league brawl that resulted in a serious injury. See Top Florida High School Star Beaten and Injured In Post-Game Fracas. by Shandel Richardson South Florida Sun - Sentinel, April 5 & 6, 2006.

New York, N.Y., December 14, 2006 - Fans at Paul Robeson HS in NYC storm court and instigate brawl in closing minutes of game against Jefferson HS. PSAL suspends Robeson HS for the season and suspends Jefferson for 3 games. See PSAL Reads Riot Act To Robeson by Dan Martin, New York Post, December 21, 2006. Robeson has a long history of intimidation, violence, and discipline problems. See A Team Feared By Rivals Now Sits Idle and Angry by Timothy Williams, New York Times, February 26, 2007.

Wichita, KS. September 5, 2006 - Brutal Fight in Youth Basketball Game May Lead To Charges. See Father Upset About Violence On The Basketball Court. KSN TV Video. For more, see KSN's follow up coverage: Charges Filed In Case of Basketball Game Fight.

Houma, Louisiana - Nov. 15, 2005 - 16 people faced charges after a huge spectator brawl following a high school basketball game.

Seaside, CA. 2005 - High School Assistant Principal assaulted trying to break up fight at basketball game. The men who attacked the assistant principal were ultimately convicted.

Honolulu, Hawaii, Feb. 16, 2006 - Ejected Basketball Player Tries To Tackle Ref. (Feb. 16, 2005 Honolulu Star Bulletin).

Prattville, Alabama February 2005 - Riot at high school basketball games. Police fire tasers to clear gym. Game cancelled.

Cincinnati, Ohio January 2005 - North College Hill game called after spectators and players fight.

Akron, Ohio & Tontonagy, Ohio 2005 - High school players, spectators brawl on two separate occasions in Ohio.

Click here for coach convicted for wire fraud for illegal payments to basketball players. U.S.v. Piggie, (8th Cir. 2002).

Cheer (Some cheer issues appear on the administrators and school officials page under supervision issues).

El Paso, TX - November 11, 2008 - Texas High School Cheerleaders Try To Win By Poisoning Opponents. See 3 Chapin Dancers Suspended In Tampering Of Snacks by Zahira Torres, El Paso Times.

Forsyth County, GA - August 21, 2008 - 9 Year Old Cheerleader's Mother Involved In Sports Rage Incident. Michele Rains, the mother, allegedly attacked the head of the Sharon Springs Cheerleading Association because she thought her daughter should have been transferred to a more experienced cheer squad. See Cheerleader's Mom Faces Battery Charge by Nancy Badertscher, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, August 21, 2008; click here for San Francisco Examiner version of the same story.

Putnam City, OK - April 18, 2008 - Cheer Coach Attacked by Parent - Apparently Because Daughter Didn't Make Team. See Woman Arrested In Stungun Attack on Cheerleading Coach, Newsok.com, April 30, 2008; Was Putnam City North Attack Connected To Tryouts? by Jesse Olivarez, Newsok.com, April 23, 2008; Cheerleading Coach Attacked With Stun Gun, NBC12 firstcoastnews.com, April 25, 2008. Click here for national television news coverage

San Marcos, TX - July 24, 2007 - Dallas Skyline Cheerleaders Involved In Scuffle: reported by Emily Tsao, WFAA Dallas Morning News Show.

Gallup, N.M., March 17, 2007 - Cheerleaders' Fracas 'Bigger Than It Is' by Bill Donovan, Gallup Independent (cheerleaders' mom scuffles with team members).

Football

Fort Mill, S.C. - April 9, 2010 - Flag Football Player Charged In Assault On Refs at Leroy Springs, Fort Mill Herald, April 12, 2010.

Hawaii Survives "Minor" Post-Game Handshake Incident At State Football Championships. See Postgame Handshakes Can Be Valuable Learning Tool, Honolulu Advertiser Prep Talk Blog, November 10, 2009.

Orange, NJ - November 6, 2009 - 3 Fights and You're Out. Football Team Banned From Playoffs Due to Cumulative Ejections. See NJ High School Football: West Orange Banned From Postseason Play by Matthew Stanmyre, Newark Star- Ledger, November 9, 2009.

Oakland, CA - November 3, 2009 - Jeremy Brigham, a former NFL player, attacks a parent at a Pee-Wee League football game. This isn't the first time a former athlete went nuts at a youth game. The strange thing with this one is that the athlete's a coach and he attacked a parent. We don't commonly see coaches attacking parents. Click here for more.

Rochester, N.Y. - October 29, 2009 - Adult Rec-League football player charged with first-degree felony assault for hitting an official over the head with his helmet. See Football Attack Stuns Team, Referees, Rochester Democrat Chronicle, October 29, 2009.

Shade Township, PA - October 18, 2009 - Ugly Ending to Pennsylvania Youth Football Game. See Charges Filed After Crowd Confronts Ref After Youth Game by Dan DiPaolo, Somerset Daily American, November 30, 2009.

Los Angeles, CA - October 17, 2009 - 5 Arrested in Brawl At Fairfax High School Football Game, CBS2 Los Angeles, CA.

Carrolton, IL - October 17, 2009 - Woman Charged With Battery For Alleged Referee Attack. Julie Teno of Roodhouse, Il. allegedly charged the field and hit the referee during a youth football game in Carrolton, IL. See Woman Charged For Allegedly Striking Referee by Maggie Borman, The Illinois Telegraph, December 15, 2009

Columbus, Ohio - October 16, 2009 - Ugly post-game fight at Ohio's Northland High led school officials to consider cancelling the remainder of the season. The two schools ultimately decided to do community service. See High School Football: Brawl Might Prompt Northland to Cancel Rest of Season by Steve Blackledge, Columbus Dispatch, October 20, 2009; and Football Players To Perform Community Service After Brawl, Ohio 10TV News, October 20, 2009; and High School Football: Players Must Perform Community Service, Columbus Dispatch, October 21, 2009.

Eaton, CO - October 5, 2009 - This one has it all: parents confronting coaches; coaches fighting; and a youth football team refusing to play because their opponent had a girl (11-year old Mikayla Crespin) on the team. See Football Coach Throws Punch Over Girls' Right To Play by Emily Friedman, ABCNews.com, October 7, 2009; and Flag! Coaches Brawl Over Girl Playing Youth Football by Alan Gathright and Tyler Lopez, Denver Channel, October 6, 2009.

Hickman, KY - October 2, 2009 - Players, Coaches, Fans Take To The Field. Brawl Ends Ky. High School Game, Associated Press Wire Service, Cincinnati Enquirer, October 5, 2009.

Clarksdale, MI - September 26, 2009 - Mississippi Officials Investigate Brawl At Blowout High School Game, Associated Press Wire on al.com, October 1, 2009. This bench clearing brawl among players and some fans from the stands occurred near the end of a 54-0 blowout between Coahoma County High School and Coahoma Agricultural High School.

Boynton Beach, Fl - September 26, 2009 - Little Players, Big Fight. 30 Spectators Duke It Out in Parking Lot At Halftime of Youth Football Game. See Boynton Beach Police Arrest 8 After PAL Fight, Palm Beach Post, September 28, 2009.

Massillon, Ohio - September 22, 2009 - Nutty Fan Gets Arrested, Turns Out to Be An Off-Duty Police Officer. See Police Officer Arrested At High School Football Game, wtov9, Steuvenville, Ohio.

Lisbon, Ohio - September 22, 2009 - Football Fan Arrested at Lisbon Game, East Liverpool Review, September 22, 2009.

Delray Beach, FL - September 17, 2009 - A tough football season gets tougher with a fight that spilled from the stands into the parking lot in Florida. See Pepper Spray, Stun Gun used To Stop Brawl at Delray Beach Football Game by Jerome Burdi, South Florida Sun-Sentinel, September 18, 2009.

Tulsa, OK - September 10, 2009 - 3 Arrests, 9 Injured at Tulsa HS Football Game! Gang tensions lead to fights at Booker T. Washington High School football game in Tulsa. Police use pepper spray to break it up. See Fights Break Out At Booker T. Washington Football Game, Tulsa World, September 11, 2009; and Brawl Ends High School Football Game, KOCO Channel 5, Oklahoma City.

Chicago, IL - September 4, 2009 - The 2008-09 academic year was a particularly violent year for Chicago sports teams so the last thing they needed was a major brawl to start off the 2009-10 academic year. Unfortunately, that's exactly what they got. North Chicago High School and Simeon started the year with a brawl sufficiently bad to lead officials to call the game in the first quarter. See Fight Ends North Chicago-Simeon Game by Tina Sfondeles, Chicago Sun Times's Yourseason.com, September 4, 2009; and Fight Breaks Out, Prep Football Game Canceled, WGN, September 5, 2009.

St. George, UT - September 3, 2009 - An old-fashioned fight. Utah teams brawl but they brawled the old-fashioned way, just the guys on the field. No crazed parents, no gangs, no fans, just players. Poor sportsmanship, yes! However, this year's been so violent that it's almost refreshing to see an old-fashioned act of poor sportsmanship. See High School Football: Cottonwood Shuts Out Pine View In Fight-Marred Game by Andy Griffin, Salt Lake City Deseret News, September 4, 2009.

Pittsburgh, PA - August 25, 2009 - Good clean fun, hazing, thuggery? We just don't know. What we do know is 5 football players decided that it was a good idea to shoot bb guns at their teammates during a break in practice. They're off the team and facing expulsion. Zero tolerance? The heck with that. Demarrio Patterson, one of the players on the team, put it all in perspective - at least from a youth perspective - telling news reporters, "It was an air soft bb gun ... that stings for 20 seconds and goes away." Yeah, tell 'em Demarrio. Toughen up. Who are we adults to complain about bb guns and coaches who punch their athletes and fights and guns at games. Suck it up and get tough. For more, see 5 H.S. Players Accused In Pellet Gun Shooting Kicked Off Team, WPXI, Pittsburgh, PA, August 25, 2009; and HS Students Face Punishment In Pellet Gun Fight, KDKA Channel 2, Pittsburgh, PA, August 26, 2009..

Douglas County, GA - August 14, 2009 - A gang fight results in a stabbing at a high school football scrimmage. The unfortunate reality of our youth sports world is the extraordinary amount of poor sportsmanship and even violence that mar what should be joyful experiences. The poor economy may bring out some even uglier incidents this year as people will be on edge and have idle time on their hands. This early season incident could be a harbinger of very ugly things to come. See High School football Brawl, Stabbing Result in 7 Arrests by Alexis Stevens, Atlanta Journal-Constitution, August 15, 2009.

Memphis, TN - July 8, 2009 - Gang Related Problems Put Everybody on Edge. A Coach in Memphis tried to do the right thing by telling a player to remove a gang related shirt. The kid refused. Think the coach was unreasonable? Think again. The kid, who was denying that his shirt was gang-related, tried to dissuade his coach of that notion by pulling a gun on him. See Football Player Arrested For Pulling Gun on Coach, WREG Channel 3, Memphis.

Irving, TX - December 6, 2008 - Texas HS Football Player Intentionally Runs Over Official. See Euless Trinity Football Player Disciplined For Hit On Official by Keith Whitmire, Dallas Morning News, December 20, 2008 (republished in hsgametime.com). Click here for original story in Dallas Morning News.

Groveland, FL - November 20, 2008 - High School Football Team Facing Fines For Fight, Central Florida News 13.

Stuart, FL. - November 14, 2008 - Spectator Goes Nuts, Stabs 5 At High School Football Game. Cops use Tasers and Dogs to Break Up the Brawl. See Five Stabbed At Martin County High School After South Fork Game, TCPalm.com, November 15, 2008; Teen Accused of Stabbing 5 In High School Football Game Melee Still Loose, Associated Press Wire on FoxNews.com, November 17, 2008.

Nampa, Idaho - October 31, 2008 - Nampa High School Football Player Arrested For Punching Coach, KTRV - Fox 12, Boise, Idaho; and S. Idaho High School Football Player Arrested, Associated Press Wire, Oct. 31, 2008.

Seattle, WA - October 22, 2008 - Renton, Tyee Forfeit After Football Fight by Sandy Ringer, Seattle Times. It's bad enough that these schools had a fight, but this is a troubled league. In 2007-08, four schools had five players or more receive ejections. The problem is bad enough that the State High School Association has stepped in to try to work with league officials to come up with solutions.

Atlanta, GA - October 11, 2008 - Lakeside, Stone Mountain Game Turns Ugly Late by Todd Holcomb, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Seven player fight leads to early end in this Georgia football game.

Amherst, Ohio - September 24, 2008 - Parent Accused of Attacking Youth Football Coach, newsnet5. This is a confluence of unprofessionalism that turned ugly. The parent kept yelling at the coach to run a sweep. Finally, the coach did, and the play was unsuccessful. The coach then allegedly told the parent, "There's your sweep" and the parent allegedly responded by beating up the coach. Poor professionalism by a clearly frustrated coach and even worse thuggery by the idiot parent.

Salt Lake City, UT - September 22, 2008 - Parent allegedly hits an assistant coach with a helmet, knocking the coach out. See Parent Accused of Attacking Football Coach by Buddy Blankenfeld, ABC4.

Houston, TX - September 6, 2008 - Fight at High School Football Game Leads To Freeway Shooting, Fox 26 TV Houston.

Portland, OR - September 2, 2008 - Possible Gang-Related Shooting At Madison High Worries Police by Aimee Green, The Oregonian, September 2, 2008. What's the world coming to? It's bad enough that there was a shooting, but this shooting was at a high school football game that was covered by a large contingent of police officers. The shooters shot into the crowd in front of the stadium despite the presence of 15 officers in that very location. Worse, the shooters taunted the police officers as they escaped. If 15 police officers don't deter sports violence, what will?

Florence, SC - August 28, 2008 - Bench Clearing Brawl, Multiple Arrests, Helmet Swinging Mar Season Opener for South Carolina's Defending Football State Champs. See Brawl Mars Lake City's Upset Win Over Wilson by Kevin Smetana, South Carolina Now, August 29, 2008.

Miramar, FL - July 12, 2008 - Summer Football Game Turns Ugly. See Pahokee Football Game Ends In Brawl by Jason Lieser, Palm Beach Post.

Columbus, Ohio - July 3, 2008 - High School Football: Two Fights In Stands Mar All-Star Game - Inaugural City League Contest Is Called With Eight Minutes Remaining by Mark Znidar, Columbus Dispatch.

Detroit Man Takes The Game Too Seriously - Shoots Opposing Fan. See Detroit Man Charged In Shooting Death Following Youth Football Game by David Josar, Detroit News, June 20, 2008.

Long Island, N.Y. - March 31, 2008 - Post-game handshake problems in New York where a Hofstra University assistant football coach playing in a touch football Rec League punched an opponent in a post-game handshake line after a game. See Hofstra Asst. Football Coach Arrested In Touch- Football Assault by Bill Mason, New York Newsday.

Saginaw, MI - October 25, 2007 - Spectator Violence: Fan Shoots 4 At Middle School Football Game. This is the latest in a series of incidents involving violent spectators this year. See Cops: 4 Students Shot At Middle School Football Game, foxnews.com, October 25, 2007.

Southington, CT - October 24, 2007 - Did Football Players Stab Opponents At High School Football Game? See Unsportsmanlike Conduct at High School Football Game, WTNH Connecticut News Channel 8, October 24, 2007. Investigation Indicates Cuts Were Probably Caused by Sharp Edges on Equipment. See Foul Play In Game Called Unlikely by Ken Byron, Hartford Courant, Oct. 27, 2007. Were the charges against East Hartford racially motivated? Click here to see Racial Allegations Flying Back and Forth From on-line Connecticut readers. This alleged incident seems to have struck an ugly chord with Connecticut football fans.

Lansing, MI - October 12, 2007 - Another Bench Clearing HS Football Brawl - This One's in Lansing, MI. For video, see Football Brawl Between Lansing-Everett and Jackson, WILX.com Lansing, Oct. 13, 2007. Also, see Major Brawl Breaks Out at HS Game, WLNS.com Lansing, Oct. 13, 2007. For Superintendent's suspensions and video, see Officials Hand Out Penalties After HS Brawl, WLNS.com Lansing, Oct. 16, 2007.

Broward County, FL - October 5, 2007 - 66 Players Suspended After Huge Bench-Clearing Brawl in Florida High School Football. See Dozens of Broward Football Players To Be Suspended, FHSAAsports.com, October 5, 2007; High School Football Brawl Leads To Recommended Suspensions, NBC6.net, South Florida, October 5, 2007; Click here for fight video.

Tampa, FL - October 4, 2007 - High School Football Game Ends, Brawl Begins by Beth Gaddis, Tampa Bay Online.com. Six players engage in post-game handshake line brawl during the Alonso and Jefferson High School Junior Varsity football game.

Tampa, FL - September 27, 2007 - FHSAA Levies Suspensions, Fines, Probation In TBT -Freedom Melee, by Joe Smith, TampaBay.com (reprint of St. Petersburg Times article).

Aspen Hill, MD - Sept. 22, 2007 - Pee Wee Football Coach Takes "Kill The Ref" Seriously - Pulls Gun on Ref at Little League Football Game. See Youth Football Coach Charged With Assaulting Ref by Dennis Edwards, WKJZ TV 13 Baltimore, Sept. 30, 2007. The coach was charged with being a felon in possession of firearms on Oct. 11, 2007. Click here for DOJ press release. The League immediately issued a no-tolerance rule. See New Code of Conduct Issued For Baltimore Sports by Dennis Edwards, WKJZ TV 13 Baltimore, October 13, 2007. The coach pleaded guilty in May, 2008. See DOJ Press Release, Football Coach Pleads Guilty, March 14, 2008. Also, see Youth Football Coach Pleads Guilty To Threatening Referee, NBC4, Washington, D.C., March 14, 2008.

Ridgeville Man Faces Charge of Hitting Ref At Pee Wee Game, by Stephen Szucs, Loraine County (Ohio) Chronicle-Telegram, September 19, 2007.

Scottsdale, AZ - September 15, 2007 - Strange But True - Stadium Lights Won't Start Because Somebody Stole the Copper Wire. See Game Nixed Because of Stolen Copper Wire, FoxNews.com, September 15, 2007; Copper Wire Thieves Force End To Football Game, ABC15.com, Phoenix, September 15, 2007.

Springfield, MA - September 3, 2007 - Gang Brawl Leads To Stabbing at Football Game. See One Stabbed At High School Football Game, by Matthew Campbell, CBS Channel 3, Springfield, MA, Sept. 3, 2007 (video clip included).

Miami, FL - July 12, 2007 - School Officials Ignore Statutory Rape So Football Team Can Win. Superintendent Lets Team Continue - Fires Coaches, and Staffers Who Knew About The Rape - See Football Spared But Coaches Ousted At Northwestern High by Tania deLuzuriaga and Andre C. Fernandez, Miami Herald, July 12, 2007, and At Miami-Northwestern: Season Saved, But Coaches Axed, USA Today Prep Rally - Online, July 11, 2007. The most telling report here is the Grand Jury Report, which contains all the ugly details. This incident tells us a lot about the all-consuming power of sports. Over 20 teachers and administrators knew about this incident. None reported it because they didn't want to hurt the football team. The Superintendent initially threatened to shut down football, angering the entire community. Ultimately, the Superintendent cleaned house of all the adults who knew, but didn't report the crime but spared the sport itself, which was probably the right thing to do.

Grapevine, TX - April 28, 2007 - Freshman Football Player Arrested, Accused of Punching Coach, USA Today, April 28, 2007. The player is a 300 pounder who punched his coach when the coach tried to break up a fight between the 300 pounder and another player. The player ultimately got probation. See Teen Gets Probation For Punching Coach by Domingo Ramirez, Jr., Fort Worth Star-Telegram, June 6, 2007.

Dallas, TX November 25, 2006 - Football Team Engages In Classic Example of Poor Sportsmanship By Not Shaking Hands. Click here for the Comments Section on The Dallas Morning News HS Game Time Blog (Carter HS storms off field and appears to snub their opponent which was waiting to shake hands post-game).

Hilton Head, SC - Nov. 7, 2006 - Visiting Football Team Vandalizes Locker Room at Hilton Head High by Daniel Brownstein and Jeff Kidd, The Island Packet, November 7, 2006.

Westchester, CA - November 3, 2006 - Police Officer Injured, Pepper Spray Used to Control Crowd. See Football Fight At Westchester High Injures Officer, ABC7 Los Angeles, Nov. 3, 2006.

Norristown, PA - November 1, 2006 - Norristown Players Cited For WT Fight , Philadelphia Intelligencer on line. Two Norristown High players knock the helmet off of an opponent's head and then punch him, causing a head injury.

Charlotte, N.C. September 28, 2006 - Two Teens Arrested In Post-Game Brawl At East Mecklenburg High, WSOC Action 64. Click Here for WSOC Follow Up Story. Click Here for newspaper article, Reports: 2 Hurt After East Meck Game, by Steve Lyttle, Charlotte Observer September 22, 2006.

Hate Crime Plus Poor Sportsmanship: Spectators call male cheerleader a homosexual, then punch him - football team comes to the rescue. See Crossing The Line by Greg Duggan, Malden Observer, September 22, 2006.

Akron, Ohio September 12, 2006 - Story and Video Of Post-Game Fight In Ohio Football game: Player Suffers Concussion; Suspensions Pending. Click here for Penalties Possible After Fight, Akron Beacon-Journal, by David Lee Morgan, Jr.

Stockton, CA. September 5, 2006 - Stockton Father Pummels 13 Year Old Football Player, San Jose, San Francisco, Oakland, CA. NBC11.com, Sept. 5, 2006 (complete with video of the attack). For more on this incident, see: Youth Coach Charged With Attacking Player, USA Today, September 6, 2006 Page 13C; Image of Youth Sports Takes Another Hit, USA Today, September 6, 2006 Page 7D by Greg Toppo; and Youth Game Ends Up as Footbrawl, CBSNews.com, September 5, 2006.

Terre Haute, IN. August 26, 2006 - Post-Game Confrontation Mars West Vigo-Paris Contest, Terre Haute Tribune Star, August 26, 2006 by Todd Golden (the first incident of the school-year is a post-game handshake fight between ... the coaches of all people).

Grapevine, TX - June 20, 2006 - Arrest to Be Made In Referee Attack by Ben Tinsley, Fort Worth Star-Telegram (republished on RedOrbit.com), June 20, 2006.

Los Angeles, CA Nov. 30, 2005 - Coach Moves Yard Marker - Suspended For Cheating. Click here for tv report and video on cheating coach. Dec. 2005 - Cheating Coach Banned For Life (A courageous decision by the CIF Los Angeles Section and its Commissioner, Barbara Fiege)

Washington, D.C. Nov. 28, 2005 - Charter School Postgame Ritual Sparks Postgame Bench Clearing Football Melee (This is an example of a seemingly innnocent ritual leading to controversy - the winners enacted the ritual in the middle of the field and the losers took it as an in your face moment)

USA Today reviews violence in high school football in 2005. (Nov. 23, 2005).

Houston, TX Nov. 18, 2005 - High School Cheats and Still Loses: School Uses Adult Ringers In High School Football Game.

Hampton Roads, Va. October 22, 2005 - Oscar Smith Still Reigns Over Deep Creek by Jami Frankenberry, Hampton Roads Virginian-Pilot, October 22, 2006 (at the conclusion of this game, Oscar Smith High did not go to mid-field to shake hands. Oscar Smith's coach stated he wished to avoid any potential problems resulting from vandalism to Oscar Smith High's new $10,000 victory bell). Hampton area schools enact a sportsmanship education program in 2006 to prevent further incidents of this nature. See Chesapeake Schools Put Good Sports Into Sports by Cindy Clayton, Hampton Roads Virginian-Pilot, August 30, 2006.

New Baltimore, MI October 2005 - Parent hops fence, runs onto field, and threatens coach who benched his son.

Duncanville, TX October 2005 - Student Dead Others Injured In Football Postgame Shootings.

Washington, D.C. September 25, 2005 - Girl, 15, Is Charged In Fatal Fight at School by Katherine Shaver and Lori Aratani, Washington Post, Page A01 (post-football game stabbing kills high school girl).

Parsippany, NJ September 2005 - Parent makes terrorist threat against son's high school football coach.

Florida, September 22, 2000 - Youth Coach Accused of Breaking Boy's Arms, ABC News.

Soccer

Samoa - April 21, 2010 - Wild Brawl In Samoan High School Leads To Cancellation of All School Sports For The Rest of The School Year. See DOE Cancels School Sports For The School Year by Tina Mata’afa, SamoaNews.com, April 27, 2010.

Providence, RI - November 8, 2009 - Players and Fans Brawl In Rhode Island High School Soccer Final. For video, see Fight Breaks Out At Rhode Island Soccer Game, Boston.com, November 9, 2009; and Brawls Break Out At Girls' Soccer Game, Bill Tomison with reporting by Sara Hogan and Patrick Little, WPRI, Providence, Rhode Island, November 9, 2009. As bad as the brawl was, it wasn't the most blatant act of poor sportsmanship in soccer in November, 2009. University of New Mexico soccer player Elizabeth Lambert wins that prize as you can see on video at New Mexico Player Banned, Apologizes, ESPN.com, November 6, 2009.

Oxnard, CA - August 22, 2009 - One of the bad things about having relatives at games is their attempts to help generally make things worse. In Oxnard, CA, a 20 year old spectator charged the field and attacked a 13 year old kid. The poor kid never had a chance. The attacker was a grown man and the attacker hit the kid from the blindside. The kid's in the hospital with a possibly broken nose right now. The logic behind this crazy act: the man's brother was playing in the game, and at the end of the game a fight broke out between members of the two teams. Remember, fans belong in the stands - even if their relatives are in a fight. See Man Arrested For Punching Player After Soccer Game, Ventura County Star, August 22, 2009; and Man Accused of Punching 13-year-old During Youth Soccer Game, L.A. Times, August 23, 2009.

China - April 24, 2009 - Chinese School Admits Age Fraud In Soccer Tourney, Examiner.com, April 24, 2009.

Elizabethton, TN - April 21, 2009 - Soccer Brawl Leaves Unanswered Questions by Douglas Fritz, Johnson City Press, April 23, ,2009. Click here for Kingsport Times-News report.

Kenya - March 14, 2009 - Kenyan youth soccer fans literally "killed the ref." That's right. Fans in Kenya killed the ref in a youth match sponsored by a "Christian" league. Youth sport spectators are violent all over the world. Click here for details from KenyaTV. and for newspaper coverage see Referee Killed On Duty by Gilbert Wandera, Nairobi (Kenya) Standard, March 18, 2009.

Sanger, CA - February 10, 2009 - Player Skirmish Mars Soccer Match. See Soccer Brawl Probe Is Ongoing by Margaret Slaby, The Fresno Bee, February 11, 2009; It's So On! High School Girls Game Turns Into Brawl, unprofessionalfoul.com; One player was taken away in an ambulance, leading to a police investigation. Ultimately, charges were not filed. See Sanger Police Don't Press Charges In Soccer Brawl, Fresno Bee, February 20, 2009.

Jackson, MS - December 11, 2008 - Referees Take Action Against Irate Parent by Ruth Ingram, Clinton News, Dec. 11, 2008. Spectator Jim Gulley charged with assault after alleged attack against two soccer referees.

Framingham, MA - November 11, 2008 - 100 Fans Rush Field in Wild Soccer Brawl. See Soccer Fight Being Investigated, MIAA Says by Norman Miller, MetroWest Daily News (Framingham, MA), November 14, 2008.

Vestal, N.Y. - October 7, 2008 - Soccer game marred by spectator allegedly yelling a racial slur at African-American girls JV soccer players. See Horseheads Girls Forfeit Over Alleged Racial Slur by Nancy Doolilng, Ithaca Journal, Oct. 7, 2008. When these things happen, if you don't catch the offending party red-handed, you often have trouble proving it. That's what happened here. See No Evidence of Racial Slurs, Say Vestal Officials by Nancy Dooling, Ithaca Journal, Oct. 8, 2008, and Racial Slur Reports To Be Released by Nancy Dooling, Ithaca Journal, Oct. 9, 2008.

Edmonton, CA - June 5, 2008 - A Dozen Players From Youth Soccer Team Launch Post-Game Attack On Parent. See Edmonton Boys Soccer Team Suspended After Soccer Dad Swarmed, Camwest News Service on Canada.com, June 16, 2008; and See Teen Charged In Soccer Attack Says He Wasn't There, Reported by Sonya Sunger, CTVEdmonton.ca, July 23, 2008.

Staten Island, May 13, 2008 - Girls Soccer Game Ended By Fight by Kevin Flood, Staten Island Advance (SILive.com).

Wilson, N.C., May 12, 2008 - Prep Soccer Fight Involves Players, Coach by Nick Stevens and Dane Huffman, WRAL

Bakersfield, CA - February 22, 2008 - Fight After Soccer Game Sends One Student To Hospital, One To Jail, Bakersfield Californian. For tv coverage see, Bakersfield Student Arrest After Soccer Fight, ABC 30 Bakersfield, CA.

San Diego, CA - Feb. 1, 2008 - Soccer Coach Allegedly Chokes Player, Punches Spectator During Huge San Diego HS Soccer Melee! See Walk-On Coach Jailed After Allegedly Provoking Brawl by Kristina Davis, San Diego Union-Tribune, February 2, 2008. No Charges Filed Against Coach In Soccer Brawl, Channel 10 News San Diego, February 5, 2008. Coach Says he was just trying to stop the fights at soccer game!! See Choking Accusations Bogus, Suspended Coach Says by Chris Moran, Feb. 7, 2008, San Diego Union-Tribune. Click here for video of the fight.

Windsor, CA - October 28, 2007 - Soccer Coach Exposes Buttocks To Opposing Girls' Team, San Jose Mercury News, October 28, 2007 (an angry adult coach allegedly moons the opposing team after a heated youth soccer game); Also see Coach Accused of Exposing Buttocks, Yahoo News, October 29, 2007.

Canada, Player, Coach Suspended After Attack On Soccer Referee, CBC News, Canada, July 12, 2007.

Utah, June 20, 2007 - Utah soccer players spit on one official, shove another in state tournament - State imposes probation on entire sport. See Boys' Soccer Teams On Probation, ksl.com, June 20, 2007; Penalty Kick by Michael Popke, Athletic Business, October 2007; Soccer Teams Get Probation by Amy Donaldson, Deseret Morning News, June 19, 2007. For original publication click here.

Morris, IL - October 16, 2007 - Felony Charge Filed After Soccer Game Altercation: Morris man grabbed referee by throat during soccer game by Michael Farrell, Morris Daily Herald, Oct. 16, 2007.

Canada, July 24, 2007 - Irate Soccer Mom Brings Game to Screeching Halt by Nick Kyonka, Toronto Star, July 24, 2007 (soccer mom attacks 14 year old female ref).

Chattanooga, TN - May 13, 2007 - Tennessee Secondary School Athletic Association Takes Tough Stand Where Soccer Fans Attack Official. See Beware of Behavior by Jaime Lackey, Chattanooga Times Free Press, May 13, 2007.

Atlanta, GA. - April 25, 2007 - Numerous Unsportsmanlike Incidents From Players, Coaches, and Spectators Create Problems In Georgia. The GHSA takes strong countermeasures, granting officials power to terminate matches due to spectator misconduct. See Foul Language, Dirty Play Stain Soccer by John Manasso, Atlanta Journal-Constitution, April 25, 2007 page A1 (reprinted on Heart of Georgia Soccer Officials Association website).

Milwaukee, WI - April 23, 2007 - Police Have Tough Solution For Fighting Soccer Fan - Taser Stops Fighting Soccer Fan, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, April 23, 2007.

Concord, NH - December 2006 - The New Hampshire Interscholastic Athletic Association places Pittsfield High School on probation following a state soccer championship game where Pittsfield had three players ejected, engaged in rough play resulting in severe injuries to opponents, received numerous yellow cards, and had fans who taunted an injured player, booed the refereees, and swore at their opponent's mascot. Pittsfield residents had the usual answer to their lack of class: they blamed the refs. See Pittsfield Appoints New Athletic Director by Kate Davidson, Concord Monitor December 1, 2006. See also Pittsfield Soccer Team Put on Year's Probation, WCAX TV, and New Hampshire: NHIAA Suspends Pittsfield Program by Roger Brown, Maxpreps.com December 28, 2006.

Barre, VT , Oct. 18, 2006 - Spaulding Soccer Game Disrupted by Melee by Anna Grearson, The Barre Montepelier Times Argus, October 18, 2006

Rockford, Illinois - Nov. 10, 2005 - Players Spit on Referee in High School Soccer Match.

Springfield, Indiana, October 26, 2005 - Martin Smith, an upset father, allegedly sucker punches soccer referee Jeffrey Rousseau following a high school soccer game between Indiana's Central and Westfield High Schools. Rousseau says he never saw the punch coming. Rousseau was knocked unconscious and suffered a dislocated jaw.

Denver, CO, Oct. 3, 2006 - Youth Soccer Leaders Fight, by Bianca Prieto, Rocky Mountain News.

Oakland, CA - Feb. 28, 2006 - Mob Scares Off Top High School Soccer Official by Dennis Miller, Oakland Tribune.

Softball

Colorado Springs, CO - June 29, 2009 - Girls Softball Game Ends In Parking Lot Brawl, KKTV. This summer league high school softball game was called after an in-game fight. The fight then resumed in the parking lot after the game. 4 people got arrested after this ugly incident, and some of those people swung bats. This one was ugly and dangerous.

Wheaton, IL - July 13, 2008 - Spectator Michael Beck Curses, Threatens Umpire and Spits on Sheriff's Deputy In Foolish Tirade Over His Daughter's Softball Game. You may get away with cursing out the umpire, but spitting on the sheriff's deputy is not smart! Beck ends up with a conviction for misdemeanor battery and assault, serves five days in jail and has to apologize to the official and the sheriff's deputy. See Father Jailed Five Days For Softball Tirade, Associated Press Wire in Chicago Tribune, January 7, 2009.

Parma, N.Y., June 30, 2008 - Post-Game Handshake Attack Kills Adult Softball Player. See Hilton Man Dies After Assault At Parma Softball Game by Claudia Vargas, Rochester Democrat and Chronicle. For more on this story see Hilton Ballplayer Dies After Punch To Head In Parma Softball Game by John Boccacino and Claudia Vargas, Rochester Democrat and Chronicle, July 1, 2008 and Upstate Man Dies After Softball Game Altercation, WNBC TV New York, N.Y, July 1, 2008, and Police: NY Man Dies After Assault At Softball Game by Ben Dobbin, Associated Press Wire Service in San Francisco Chronicle, July 1, 2008, and Athlete Accused of Fatally Punching man Spent Time in Prison Washington Post, July 2, 2008 page E02. version. This game was marred by trash talk. Sadly that trash talk spilled over into a post-game handshake line attack. Worse, Sean Sanders, the man accused of delivering the fatal blow, punched the victim, Daniel Andrews, in the back of the head. A lot of bad elements combined here. First, trash talk is something that athletic administrators constantly work to quash. Often athletes say it's harmless fun. It's not. Trash talk often leads to retaliation, and sometimes that retaliation is physical. Second, post-game handshakes may be an excellent and traditional display of sportsmanship, but they also offer angry people a free cheap shot at opponents. There are a lot of post-game handshake line incidents. In heated games, post-game handshake lines need to be monitored closely. There's no harm in suspending a post-game handshake where conditions warrant - although if one looks at the post-game handshake line incidents on the sportsmanship page of this site one will see that any sports administrator who tries to eliminate post-game handshakes - even temporarily - will come under an immediate media assault (remember, the local press isn't responsible for actually running the games and they have no idea of some of the problems that may occur in someone's leagues - in other words, they're uninformed). Third, blows to the back of the head are cowardly and they're also extremely dangerous.

Tampa, FL. - February 16, 2007 - Dad Escorted Off Field By Sheriff Says He Wasn't Going To Attack Coach - He Just Wanted To Curse Her Out. See Father Says He Never Tried To Attack Coach by Anwar S. Richardson, Tampa Tribune's TBO.Com Blog, Feb. 16, 2007.

Special Cases

Kansas City, MO - March 24, 2009 - We’ve seen lots of violence in sports, but violence at a track meet is rare. Unfortunately, schools are not generally prepared for acts that don’t occur often. When four Kansas City schools brawled at a track meet, nobody was ready and the brawl quickly got out of hand. See Dozens Involved In Brawl At Ruskin High Track Meet, Kansas City Star, March 24, 2009.

Wichita, KS - August 22, 2008 - We Thought Sportsmanship Bottomed Out When A Youth Baseball Coach Mooned The Umpire in Pittsburgh last week (See Coach Charged With 'Mooning' Umpire, Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, August 15, 2008) now we know better. A debate coach mooned his opponent at Fort Hays State University. We have truly stooped to a new low. See Kansas University Fires Mooning Debate Coach, by Roxana Hegeman, Associated Press on yahoo.com, August 22, 2008. Click here for NPR coverage (In an interesting addition to the story, NPR says Coach William Shanahan argued with and mooned the opposing coach because he respected her). Click here for Fox News coverage.

Montgomery County, MD - January 12, 2008 - Coach Admits He Assaults Official: The Coach admits pushing official's face out of anger where his athlete was disqualified from a track meet because her uniform didn't meet NFHS standards. The coach was reacting to an incident that made national headlines as the Muslim athlete claimed religious discrimination. Details of the incident can be found on the officials page at the officials and the law link. The key point to note is that all coaches who attack contest officials feel that an injustice has been committed, but the way to resolve a matter is not, should not be, and cannot be to attack the official. For details on the controvery see When The Rules Run Up Against Faith: Prep Athlete Wearing Muslim Clothing Disqualified From Meet by Alan Goldenbach, Washington Post, January 16, 2008 page A01. For the coach's admission see Hate Mail Follows Controversy Over Muslim Track Star, WUSA 9 Washington, D.C., January 16, 2008. For a rules explanation: Click here for the National Federation of High School's Explanation of The Rules and see Officials: Religion Not Issue In Runners Exclusion by Chay Rao and Stephanie Siegel, Montgomery County Gazette Net, January 30, 2008.

Half Moon Bay High School, CA - Half Moon Bay High School Fans Have A Tradition of Streaking During High School Football Games and Allegedly Have Used Racial or Homophobic Epithets Against Visiting Teams On More Than One Occasion. See Racial Slurs Spark Fury by Heather Murtagh, San Mateo Daily Journal, Nov. 9, 2007; and Sequoia Threatens Penalty In Football Melee by Jason Goldman-Hall, San Francisco Examiner, Nov. 9, 2007, and No Proof About Who Taunted Sequoia High Players, Fans by Jill Tucker, San Francisco Chronicle, Nov. 9, 2007 page B8. Streaking, Racial and Homophobic Slurs, and Overall Poor Sportsmanship At Half Moon Bay High School Football Games Sparks Civil Grand Jury Investigation. See Grand Jury Questions HMB High School Plans, San Mateo Daily Journal, July 15, 2008. See San Mateo County Grand Jury Report of 2008 on Addressing Unacceptable Behavior At Half Moon Bay High School Sporting Events..

Camden High School, New Jersey - Camden High School Has Been Removed From the New Jersey State Tournament Three Times In The Past Thirty Years For Unsportsmanlike Incidents, Lack of Crowd Control, and Other Problems. For A Description of These Problems See Athletes Must Learn Violence Is Not Okay, New Jersey Courier-Post, March 11, 2006.

ONGOING PROBLEMS AT RICH SOUTH H.S. IN ILLINOIS: Rich South High School has been beset by sportsmanship problems over the last year. They have had difficulty solving them, and not all their attempts to do so have been well received.

Dec. 21, 2005: Click here for report on 100 students fighting at a Rich South basketball game - and Rich South's poorly received plan to address student violence at sports contests by requiring all students to attend games accompanied by a parent or guardian.

March 2005: Racial Overtones as white schools want to leave Rich South's Athletic Conference.

Houston, TX Nov. 18, 2005 - High School Cheats and Still Loses: School Uses Adult Ringers In High School Football Game.

Daytona Beach, FL. July 29, 2005 - Woman Accused of Slamming Girl At Putt Putt Course, Local 6 News (In this rather odd incident, a grown woman body slammed a 5 year old girl in a fit of rage at a putt putt course).

STUDENT PRANKS

Hilliard, OH - August 30, 2007 - Ohio High School Fans Tricks Opposing Fans Into Displaying "We Suck" Signs. Student Gets Suspended From School. See Student Pays For Football Game Prank, cbsnews.com, Aug. 30, 2007. Also see, Senior Pays for 'Legendary' Prank by Alayna Demartini, Columbus Dispatch, August 30, 2007. This prank was inspired by the famous Harvard vs. Yale, "We Suck" prank. Click here for photo.

Closed Gyms

Oakland, CA - February 4, 2010 - Oakland Takes Proactive Approach When Faced With Threat of Spectator Violence. See OAL Basketball Games Between Oakland High and McClymonds Postponed Because of Concerns About Potential Violence by Jimmy Durkin, Oakland Tribune, February 4, 2010. Oakland did more than close the gym to spectators, they postponed the game to let spectator tension and the threat of gang violence dissipate.

2010 - Central, South Carolina school officials take proactive steps, playing the Seneca HS vs. Daniel HS basketball doubleheader in a closed gym, open only to school administrators and the media. See No Fans Allowed At South Carolina Prep Games Over Safety Concerns, Associated Press Wire in USA Today, January 28, 2010.

Conduct Codes

Judicial Reviews

Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio, July 2005 - Black eye for umpire in dustup with coach. Charges against coach dropped (this coach got away with his attack on the umpire - a black eye for sportsmanship).

Seaside, CA. 2005 - High School Assistant Principal assaulted trying to break up fight at basketball game. The men who attacked the assistant principal were ultimately convicted.

Officials Attacked

Attacks From 2005 - Present are Listed on the officials information page. Attacks prior to 2005 are in the Bad Acts Archives Prior To 2005.

Parents and Relatives

Rancho Murieta, CA - July 7, 2009 - Out of Control Parents Launch Post-Game Fisticuffs. See Fight at Little League Game Brings Deputies To Stonehouse Park, RanchoMurieta.com, July 8, 2009.

New Zealand - July 24, 2008 - Pushy Sports Parents: It's An International Problem, Too. 8 Year Old Ukranian Girl Banned From Tennis Tournament After Being Caught Getting Coaching Advice From Dad Through Hidden Earpiece. Dad Says He's Not A Pushy Sports Parent. Sound Familiar! See Earpiece Sees Tennis Youngster Banned, TV One News, New Zealand.

Omaha, NB - July 15, 2008 - Ump Attacked, Fans Cheer. See Assault on Umpire 'Sickening', Fans Say by Kevin Cole and Susan Szalewski, Omaha World-Herald (Umpire Charles Andersen attacked, alleged assailant, Jeffrey Johnson, was father of one of the players).

Jersey City, N.J. - July 5, 2008 - New Jersey Umpire Attack May Lead To Sports Rage Legislation. After New Jersey Parole Officer Thomas Lambert was charged with assaulting a 14 year old youth baseball umpire, New Jersey Assemblyman Ruben Ramos decided to work on sports rage legislation, mandating signage and public service announcements at all ball fields throughout the state reminding spectators about existing statutes that guard against sports rage at children's events.. Will it pass? We'll keep track of it. For details on the attack click here Also, see Covering All The Bases - Melinda Vickerman's Jersey Mom Column, The Jersey Journal, July 24, 2008.

Enid, OK, May 19, 2008 - Highway Patrol Officer Allegedly Attacks Coach Who Cut Son From Baseball Team. See Enid Baseball Coach Claims Assault by Off-Duty Trooper, The Oklahoman, May 21, 2008.

Sparta, TN - April 3, 2008 - Three Arrested After Altercation on Baseball Field: High School Coach Assaulted by Jody Sliger, Sparta Expositor.

Southington, CT - July 3, 2007 - Adults Fight at Youth Baseball Game, WFSB.Com (story and photo of injured man).

Arlee, Montana, March 11, 2007 - Ball Player's Father Banned From Events, Billings Gazette.com (school board votes to ban parent from all school activities after alleged assault on basketball coach in a post-season game).

Memphis, TN. February 26, 2007 - Mad Dad Threatens To Shoot Coach At Church Basketball Game, WMCTV.Com.

Covington, Ohio February 25, 2007 - Football Coach Attacks Opposing Fan At His Daughter's Basketball Game. See Covington Football Coach Arrested by Greg Billing, Dayton Daily News.

San Jose, CA - February 23, 2007 - High School Wrestler Attacked By Opponent's Brother in State Sectional Match. For news and video, see Police: Brothers Arrested After South Bay H.S. Wrestling Attack, NBC11.com, San Jose.

Chicago, IL. - February 12, 2007 - Lunatic Dad Caught On Tape Attacking 11 Year Old Wrestler: Click here for video. There's always an excuse. See: Wrestler's Dad Was Just Looking Out For His Son's Safety, Friends Say by Robert Sanchez, Dupage County Daily Herald, February 17, 2007. For more see, Dad Jumps Into Wrestling Match, Tosses Son's Opponent, ABC Channel 7 Chicago, February 16, 2007.

Philadelphia, PA - October 24, 2006 - Dad pulls gun on coach at youth football game: his son didn't get enough playing time. Referee tries to separate the dad's brother, the dad and the coach, and ends up getting arrested for punching the dad's brother. Crazy scene in Philadelphia pee-wee football game played by 7 year olds. See A Dad and The Ref Are Charged by David Gambacorta and Christine Olley, Philadelphia Daily News, October 24, 2006. See Also Police: Dad Pulls Gun Because Son Sat Bench, WNBC, October 24, 2006.

New Castle, PA. October 2, 2006 - Shenango 'practice cam' Incident Earns Mention In Sports Illustrated, New Castle News Online (dad poses as college scout and tapes rival team's practice). See Also, Coach on Ball; Dad Off Wall by Barry Temkin, Chicago Tribune, September 24, 2006.

Opelika, AL. - Baseball Parent Charged With Assault on Son's Coach at Game, Decatur Daily, March 24, 2006.

Parsippany, NJ September 2005 - Parent makes terrorist threat against son's high school football coach.

Newark, NJ 2005 - Father attacks 15 year old umpire in Little League game.

Renton, WA - August 1, 1994 - Little League Father Dies After Fight At Championship Game by Wayne Wurzer, Dee Norton, Seattle Times, August 1, 1994.

Pepper Spray and Police Actions

Nashville, TN - February 13, 2010 - Sometimes the absence of police is the problem. Poor Sportsmanship, Rivalry Game, No Security, No Police, and a Controversial Ending - A Recipe For Post-Game Trouble: Timing Dispute Launches Attack in Tennessee High School Game. Nashville's Maplewood High lost a game on a buzzer beater so they not only blamed the timer, they confronted her, one girl hit her, and the gym went crazy. Host Stratford High School and Maplewood received TSSAA sanctions: Maplewood for their lack of sportsmanship and Stratford for not meeting a state requirement of providing security at all games. A school district security officer noted that this was a rivalry game that also required police. The combination of people who lack inherent grace in accepting a frustrating result (i.e. they lack sportsmanship), combined with a propensity to violence and a lack of security led to the inevitable here. See Metro Schools Sanctioned After Game Melee: No Security, Police At Game Between Maplewood, Stratford, WSMV TV 4, Nashville, reported by Jonathan Martin, February 17, 2010.

Los Angeles, CA - October 17, 2009 - 5 Arrested in Brawl At Fairfax High School Football Game, CBS2 Los Angeles, CA.

St. Paul, MN - March 9, 2009 - 20 St. Paul Officers Break Up Melee At Basketball Game; 1 Arrested by Anthony Lonetree, Star Tribune, March 9, 2009.

Lansing, MI - January 15, 2009 - Spectator Fight Leads To Police Pepper Spray and Game Suspension. See Fight Disrupts High School Basketball Game, WILX TV (Lansing, MI), January 16, 2009.

Westchester, CA - November 3, 2006 - Police Officer Injured, Pepper Spray Used to Control Crowd. See Football Fight At Westchester High Injures Officer, ABC7 Los Angeles, Nov. 3, 2006.

Rochester, N.Y. - Dec. 2005 - Fans brawl, police use pepper spray at high school basketball game.

Pittsburgh, PA. - Dec. 18, 2005 - Gym cleared, fans pepper sprayed when two out of control spectators ruin Sto-Rox High School's basketball game.

School officials close gym for three games after spectator fights.

This isn't the first time Sto-Rox has had problems. Click here for report on Sto-Rox's players and fans touching off a wild melee at the 2003 Pennsylvania State Championships.

Prattville, Alabama February 2005 - Riot at high school basketball games. Police fire tasers to clear gym. Game cancelled.

Post-Game Handshakes

For a detailed listing of post-game handshake incidents, see the post-game handshakes bookmark on the Sportsmanship

page.

Shootings/Stabbings, etc... (click here for a listing of school associated violent deaths and school shootings).

Omaha, NE - December 4, 2009 - Gunshots Fly at Omaha Basketball Game. See Violence Sparks Increased Tournament Security by Jodi Baker, WOWT, Dec. 4, 2009.

Houston, TX - September 6, 2008 - Fight at High School Football Game Leads To Freeway Shooting, Fox 26 TV Houston.

Philadelphia, PA - July 21, 2008 - Referee Gets Shot - Youth League Cancelled. See Shooting Victim Had Been Target Before by Kia Gregory, Philadelphia Inquirer, July 23, 2008.

Oklahoma City, OK - July 14, 2008 - Church Men's League Basketball Game Interrupted by Gunfire. See Shot Fired In Memorial Road Church Parking Lot by Matt Dinger, newsok.com, July 14, 2008.

Detroit Man Takes The Game Too Seriously - Shoots Opposing Fan. See Detroit Man Charged In Shooting Death Following Youth Football Game by David Josar, Detroit News, June 20, 2008.

Warr Acres, OK - January 15, 2008 - Gun Violence Hits Basketball Game at Oklahoma's Putnam City High School. See Police Link Area Gangs To Shooting by Robert Medley, newsok.com, January 17, 2008.

Indianapolis, IN - January 12, 2008 - 2 Shot As Fight Spills From High School Game Into Streets, IndyChannel.com, January 12, 2008.

Duncanville, TX October 2005 - Student Dead Others Injured In Football Postgame Shootings.

Canton, TX. April 2005 - Parent shoots son's high school football coach. Jan.12, 2006 - Good News - Gary Joe Kinne, the coach who was shot, recovered and was hired as linebackers coach at Baylor University. Click here for more on Gary Joe Kinne.

Specific Schools, Leagues, Organizations, and Others

San Diego, CA - October 2009 - State association rules kids ineligible and penalizes schools for recruiting; parents and schools fight back by playing the race card. Click here for details.

Samoa - April 2, 2009 - In 2009, the principal of St. Joseph's College High School took a stand and shut his school's sports program down due to violence. See Samoan College Pulls Out of Inter-School Sports Because of Violence, Radio Australia (Interview With St. Joseph's College Principal, Brother Stephen Filipo), April 2, 2009. Click here for The Samoa News's Reaction to the Wave of Violence. This wave of violence is nothing new in Samoa. In 2008, interscholastic sports in Samoa were shut down in the wake of violent spectator brawls. In one attack, spectators threw Molotov Cocktails and attacked their rivals with metal bars. See Samoan Government Bans School Sports After Violence, Actualdot.com, May 6, 2008. There have also been rock throwing incidents. See More Violence Disrupts American Samoa High School Sports, Radio New Zealand, February 21, 2008. The government reinstated high school sports for 2009, but it's still violent.

San Diego, CA 2005 - Huge Brawl Leads To Tough New Policies (CIF San Diego Section sends right message with strict, new suspension policy on fighting).

Return to Home Page