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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.
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.
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).
Video Shows Corpus Christi Coach Attacking Referee, Houston Chronicle, Nov. 15, 2006. For more, visit the CBS Early Show, November 15, 2006.
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.
Hudson Valley, N.Y., November 2, 2006 - Cops Arrest Girl After Post-Game Attack by Justin Rodriguez, Times Herald-Record (post-game handshake attack), Nov. 2, 2006. For follow up, see Girl Heads To Trial For Felony Charges In Post-Soccer Game Punch by Justin Rodriguez and Oliver Mackson, Times Herald-Record, March 31, 2007. The charges were later reduced to a misdemeanor. See Judge: No Felony for Soccer Punch, The Cornwall Local, August 31, 2007.
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.
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.
Barre, VT , Oct. 18, 2006 - Spaulding Soccer Game Disrupted by Melee by Anna Grearson, The Barre Montepelier Times Argus, October 18, 2006
Denver, CO, Oct. 3, 2006 - Youth Soccer Leaders Fight, by Bianca Prieto, Rocky Mountain News.
St. Charles, MO Oct. 2, 2006 - St. Charles County Deputy Uses Stun Gun on Parent At Youth Football Game by Sharon Stevens, KSDK Channel 5 St. Louis (the parent and his brother were allegedly screaming obscenities at players and coaches in an age-group football game for 7 year olds; the officer tasered them when they allegedly became aggressive toward him). 2007 Update - Brothers Charged In O'Fallon Football Fight Miss Court Appearance, KSDK Channel 5 St. Louis, MO, August 14, 2007. One of the brothers finally showed up in court a few days later. See Brother Charged In Football Fracas Shows Up In Court by Shane Anthony, St. Louis Post-Dispatch, August 17, 2007.
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.
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.
Salt Lake City, Utah September 24, 2006 - Player puts thumbtacks in his gloves to prick opponents in post-game handshake line. See Layton Player Arrested In Postgame Incident by Pat Reavy, Salt Lake City Deseret Morning News, September 24, 2006.
Malden, MA 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.
Charlotte, NC September 22, 2006 - Man Hit In Head With Metal Object After High School Football Game. See Fight After High School Football Game Sends Two People To The Hospital, WSOC TV Channel 9 Charlotte.
Detroit, MI. September 21, 2006 - 27 Year Basketball Rivalry Between Saginaw HS and Buena Vista HS Ended Due to Spectator Gang Violence. See Maxpreps for details.
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.
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.
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). In this rather shocking and highly publicized incident, a parent dashes out of the stands and onto the field to deliver a blow against an opposing team's player. The parent appears to be retaliating because the opposing player committed a late hit against his son during a football game. Talk about taking matters into your own hands. Sportsmanship breakdowns often occur when people stray from their role. Players are the only people who belong on the field. Spectators are to cheer positively. Officials are to officiate. Problems occur where people stray. Here, the parent assumed the role of an angry player, and decided to play "official" by meting out his own penalty. 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; and Charges To Be Reduced Against Out-Of-Control Coach, KGO San Francisco, September 15, 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.
Bountiful, UT. August 11, 2006 - When Youth Baseball Goes Bad ... Really Bad (Pony League Coaches Did Unthinkable - Setting Up Cancer Victim To Fail), MSNBC Commentary by Bob Cook (Pony League Coaches win 9 year old championship by ordering intentional walk so they can face brain cancer victim). For more, see Youth Team Pays High Price In Win-At-All-Costs Game, ESPN.Com, August 15, 2006 by Greg Garber.
Greenwood, IN. August 6, 2006 - Police: Center Grove Teen Assaulted In Locker Room, Indianapolis Star, August 6, 2006 by Paul Bird.
Daytona Beach, FL. July 29, 2006 - 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).
Moline, IL., July 26, 2006 - Coach Arrested For Slapping Umpire, WHBF Eyewitness 4 by Sloane Heller (To make matters worse, the coach was an adult slapping a teen umpire).
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.
New York, N.Y., May 21, 2006 - 43 Year Old Softball Coach Allegedly Taunts 11 Year Old From Other Team and Then Gives Her a Hard Slap in Post-game Handshake Line. (New York Newsday, May 21, 2006 by Susana Enriquez).
Chicago, Il., May 11, 2006 - Four Players Hospitalized After High School Soccer Fight (Chicago Sun Times, May 11, 2006 by Joe Trost).
Woodland, Washington, May 9, 2006 - Angry Dad Arrested For Head Butting Little League Softball Coach After Line Up Change. (KTVZ Central Oregon News Channel 21, by Teresa Bell).
Cincinnati, Ohio, May 5, 2006 - Post-Game Handshake Turns Into Fight Between Teams and Parents In Fifth Grade Girls Basketball Game. (Channel 5 News Cincinnati).
April 22, 2006, Manson, WA. - Angry Soccer Player Shoves Referee and Sheriff's Deputy - Three of His Teammates Also Ejected For Misconduct. KGW Television Channel 8.
Port St. Lucie, Fl., April 5, 2006 - Top Florida High School Star Beaten and Injured In Post-Game Fracas. (South Florida Sun - Sentinel, April 5 & 6, by Shandel Richardson).
Opelika, AL. - Baseball Parent Charged With Assault on Son's Coach at Game, Decatur Daily, March 24, 2006.
Louisville, KY. - Feuding Officials Delay State Basketball Tournament After Their Halftime Altercation In State Playoffs (this involves lawsuits and racial slurs and is a black mark for the men and women in the black and white stripes). See State Supreme Court Rules Against Referee, Louisville Courier-Journal, March 14, 2006 by Andrew Wolfson. The sad thing about this story is that one of the feuding referees caused a delay in the State Tournament, inconveniencing players and over 1,500 spectators when he got an injunction. The injunction was later reversed by the State Supreme Court. Click here for story on initial injunction. See 7th Regional Final Halted After Injunction Issued, Cincinnati Post, March 13, 2006.
Camden, NJ, March 7, 2006 - Camden High Player Breaks Opponents' Nose With A PostGame Handshake Punch After Playoff Loss: See Violence Mars Game, Walt Burrows, New Jersey Courier-Post, March 8, 2006. Also, See Athletes Must Learn Violence Is Not Okay, New Jersey Courier-Post, March 11, 2006. Final Straw: Coach Forcibly Removed From Job After Latest Incident. See Turner Out As Camden Coach, Phil Anastasia, New Jersey Courier-Post, March 11, 2006. On May 21, MacArthur Mason, the Camden player who threw the punch was convicted of assault, and sentenced to two years probation and anger management counseling. See Fighting To Win: School Basketball Takes It To Another Level, Rob Parent, Jeff McLane, and Rick O'Brien, Philadelphia Inquirer, June 21, 2006.
Worcester, MA., March 5, 2006 - Black Coach Calls White Officials "Racists" After Loss. Coach's Racism Remarks Censured, Worcester Telegram and Gazette March 7, 2006 by Dave Nordman and Jim Wilson. Coach Who Accused Refs of Racism Gets Four Game Suspension, Associated Press May 22, 2006. See Also, Coach Gets Four-Game Penalty for Racism Claims, Referee Magazine July, 2006 page 10. For more on this incident click here.
Philadelphia, PA. - March 4, 2006 - Melee At High School Basketball Game, WPVI-TV Channel 6 Website, Philadelphia, PA. This incident was, in many ways, the perfect storm. You have a big game (City Catholic League finals), a close game, a game decided by a three pointer at the buzzer, a verbal taunt after the three pointer, a player who taunted fans after the game, and ultimately a spectator riot.
Salt Lake City, Utah - March 2, 2006 - Woman Kicks Pregnant Referee For Unfair Officiating In a League For 10 Year Olds. Click here for coverage from Deseret Morning News, March 2, 2006, Anger Over Referee's Call Triggers A Bigger Foul After Game by Ben Winslow.
Oakland, CA - Feb. 28, 2006 - Mob Scares Off Top High School Soccer Official by Dennis Miller, Oakland Tribune.
Knoxville Tennessee, Feb. 4, 2006 - Bruce Pearl Ejected From His Son's High School Game.
Calaveras County, CA - Feb. 4, 2006 - Middle School Basketball Parents Fight - County Sheriffs Called In.
South Bend, Indiana - Jan. 27, 2006 - Multiple Fights at Riley H.S. Basketball Contests Lead To Strict New Spectator Rules.
Davis, CA. - Jan. 21, 2006 - Poor Sportsmanship In Competitive Cheerleading? Out of Control Parents In Stands. Click here for report on unsportsmanlike cheerleading parent in Wyoming.
Cincinnati, Ohio - Jan. 21, 2006 - Coach Attacked By Opposing Coach's Husband and Son After Complaining About Opposing Team Running Up The Score. This incident has a lot of elements of poor sportsmanship. First, one team appears to have been pressing while they held a substantial lead on a vastly inferior opponent. Second, the losing coach decided that it was her role to instruct the winning coach on how to coach (she may have been right, but it wasn't her role). Third, the winning coach's family refused to accept their role as spectators, and stepped well beyond the bounds of basic decency.
Anne Arundel, MD - Jan. 16, 2006 - Shootings After Football Games and Post-Game Basketball Incidents Mar 2005-06 High School Sports.
Portland, Maine - Jan. 14, 2006 - Students Argument At Game Turns Into Fight Two Days Later. Spectator Taunting At Rivalry Game Sparks This Conflict.
Wilmington, Delaware - Jan. 12, 2006 - Spectators fight, 16 year old boy shot after jayvee basketball game. Principal eliminates night games.
Berkeley, CA. - Jan. 2006 - Soccer players curse and push game official. Disciplinary hearings are pending - 18 month suspension looms.
Rich Township, Illinois - December 2005 - 100 person brawl in stands and racial problems in conference beset Rich South High School.
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.
Albany, N.Y. - Dec. 13, 2005 - Court refuses to reverse official's call: unsportsmanlike conduct penalty decides state wrestling championship - another case of a loser on the field trying to go to court to avoid the consequences of his misconduct. The 2004-05 championship is finally resolved in New York just in time for the 2005-06 championship to be held..
Oklahoma - December 2005 - Oklahoma Supreme Court upholds Oklahoma QB's Suspension. Playoffs will resume. The Tucker Brown case was a classic case of a modern day athlete lacking the composure to comport himself in a sportsmanlike manner and then complaining and suing when he received his penalty. Brown got ejected from a playoff game for kicking an opponent. He then went to court and argued that the Oklahoma high school code's suspension language shouldn't apply to playoff games and that the officials weren't good so he had no choice except to kick the opponent. When all else fails, sue and blame the officials Read the Oklahoma Supreme Court's Opinion here.
Click here for earlier reports on this story.
Niagara Falls, NY - Dec. 2005 - Tournament Final Played In Closed Gym After Fans' Postgame Fight.
Richmond, Ca. - Dec. 2005 - 6'10" Center shoves basketball official - gets ejected. 18 month suspension imposed under California athletic rules.
Nov. 2005 - Journal of Research In Character Education Published Study on Bad Behavior In Youth Sports - 2005
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.
Houma, Louisiana - Nov. 15, 2005 - 16 people faced charges after a huge spectator brawl following a high school basketball game.
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.
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.
New Castle, PA, September 30, 2005 - Arrests Follow Youth Football Melee, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, September 30, 2005 by Moustafa Ayad.
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.
Cumberland County, NJ September 2005 - Youth Coach Charged With Assaulting Official (the coach may be the first person charged under a recent statute enhancing penalties for assault at youth athletic events)
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).
Newark, NJ 2005 - Father attacks 15 year old umpire in Little League game.
Pittsburgh, PA July 15, 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. September 15, 2006 - Jury Convicts T-ball Coach Of Beaning: Coach Ordered 8-year-old To Thow Ball At Autistic Teammate, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, by Moustafa Ayad.
Hamden, CT June 28, 2005 - As Stakes Rise, More Parents Are Directing Rage at Coaches by Bill Pennington, New York Times (Mark Picard, a parent, clubs his daughter's coach after he suspends her for one game for missing a practice).
Los Angeles, CA - May 24, 2005 - Most people would think that an ejected coach shouldn't be watching his team's game. Arcadia High School of California's baseball coach Sean McCorry thought he'd found a loophole by sitting outside the ballpark and watching the game. Well, McCorry was too clever for his own good. California's CIF Southern Section made McCorry's team forfeit its game due to McCorry's clever actions. See Arcadia Pays Big Penalty by Eric Sondheimer, Los Angeles Times, May 24, 2005.
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Rohnert Park, CA 2005 - A rugby coach and multiple parents attack referee, and kick and beat coach who tries to protect him.
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.
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.
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).
Odessa, TX - April 15, 2005 - Four Allegedly Attack Softball Umpires, Associated Press Report, Odessa American.
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.
Honolulu, Hawaii, Feb. 16, 2005 - Ejected Basketball Player Tries To Tackle Ref. (Waiakea-Konawaena Fight Leaves BIIF With a Bad Taste by Paul Honda, Feb. 16, 2005 Honolulu Star Bulletin). For more see Tumult Doesn't Stop Kona by Paul Honda, Honolulu Star Bulletin, February 20, 2005.
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.
Boston, MA - January 7, 2005 - Father Banned In Youth Hockey Incident by Mac Daniel and Stephanie Ebbert, Boston Globe, Jan. 7, 2005 (incident is a polite description here - the father grabbed an eight year old youth hockey player by the neck).