Coach grabbed and yanked 7 yr old

[Anonymous]

I have a situation I’m not yet decided on how to handle.

My second grader is in an after school basketball club. Today he came home crying, saying that his basketball coach grabbed him by the arm and yanked him, then punched him. I think the punch was a male way of expressing positive emotions. Like a high five.

My husband, who picked up my son, asked the coach about the grab. The coach said he thought my son was falling. Isn’t it normal for kids to fall down in basketball? I see it a lot in soccer and baseball for the same age group (7 yr olds).

I don’t like that an adult grabbed my son. He’s a big guy and probably in his 30s. It just doesn’t feel right to me, and I thought about emailing the person in charge to see if they could remind adults to not touch kids. I’m not sure.

[Anonymous]

Tomorrow you go and watch and the next day until you are comfortable

Wth is wrong with you your child is telling you something listen!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have a situation I’m not yet decided on how to handle.

My second grader is in an after school basketball club. Today he came home crying, saying that his basketball coach grabbed him by the arm and yanked him, then punched him. I think the punch was a male way of expressing positive emotions. Like a high five.

My husband, who picked up my son, asked the coach about the grab. The coach said he thought my son was falling. Isn’t it normal for kids to fall down in basketball? I see it a lot in soccer and baseball for the same age group (7 yr olds).

I don’t like that an adult grabbed my son. He’s a big guy and probably in his 30s. It just doesn’t feel right to me, and I thought about emailing the person in charge to see if they could remind adults to not touch kids. I’m not sure.

Then take your little cry-baby out of contact sports or you volunteer to coach. If your precious snowflake had fallen and broken his arm you would be yelling about this big man letting your baby fall and now his arm is broken.

[Anonymous]

It sounds like you’re missing a lot of details. Asking again for clarification or watching practice are both good options. I personally wouldn’t email because it doesn’t sound like you really know what happened.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have a situation I’m not yet decided on how to handle.

My second grader is in an after school basketball club. Today he came home crying, saying that his basketball coach grabbed him by the arm and yanked him, then punched him. I think the punch was a male way of expressing positive emotions. Like a high five.

My husband, who picked up my son, asked the coach about the grab. The coach said he thought my son was falling. Isn’t it normal for kids to fall down in basketball? I see it a lot in soccer and baseball for the same age group (7 yr olds).

I don’t like that an adult grabbed my son. He’s a big guy and probably in his 30s. It just doesn’t feel right to me, and I thought about emailing the person in charge to see if they could remind adults to not touch kids. I’m not sure.

Then take your little cry-baby out of contact sports or you volunteer to coach. If your precious snowflake had fallen and broken his arm you would be yelling about this big man letting your baby fall and now his arm is broken.

Well, aren't you a total a##hole! OP pay no attention to this dimwit. Just feel sorry for his/her kids.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have a situation I’m not yet decided on how to handle.

My second grader is in an after school basketball club. Today he came home crying, saying that his basketball coach grabbed him by the arm and yanked him, then punched him. I think the punch was a male way of expressing positive emotions. Like a high five.

My husband, who picked up my son, asked the coach about the grab. The coach said he thought my son was falling. Isn’t it normal for kids to fall down in basketball? I see it a lot in soccer and baseball for the same age group (7 yr olds).

I don’t like that an adult grabbed my son. He’s a big guy and probably in his 30s. It just doesn’t feel right to me, and I thought about emailing the person in charge to see if they could remind adults to not touch kids. I’m not sure.

Then take your little cry-baby out of contact sports or you volunteer to coach. If your precious snowflake had fallen and broken his arm you would be yelling about this big man letting your baby fall and now his arm is broken.

This isn't fair! Coaches should have a hands off approach to the kids. Maybe a high five but that's it. If my kid said a 30 year old man grabbed them, you better bet I would be investigating. I'd start by finding out which other parents were at the practice and what they saw. It could indeed be an over exaggeration from your kid, only you will know that. On the other hand it could be something more serious, which you should know that too.

[Anonymous]

This doesn’t sound overly concerning to me, TBH, particularly if there have been no concerns up until now. Coach’s explanation makes general sense.

I might go and watch a few practices to get a general sense of the coach’s style. May also help your DS feel more comfortable. If I had a parent friend who was present at practice, I might ask if they saw what happened- but I imagine you’d have done that already if so.

I am very surprised by the responses saying things like “a coach should never physically touch your child for any reason” etc. In most youth sports that is not at all realistic and definitely would not be my expectation.

[Anonymous]

Does your kid want to go back? It's ok to let him decide. If he goes back, I would show up at every practice and game and basically helicopter my kid

[Anonymous]

Stop sending your kid. Neither if you is ready for sports.

[Anonymous]

I love OPs description of a fist bump as a male way of showing emotion like this is some exotic mammal she has recently studied and learned about its social habits.

[Anonymous]

What did your DH say? What does he think? Is he concerned?

[Anonymous]

You asked the adult what happened, they gave you a reasonable answer, you need to accept it and move on or quit sports entirely. If you don’t trust the person working with your kids they shouldn’t be with them. Sometimes adults have to make physical contact with children when working with them, thinking any contact at all is off limits just isn’t realistic.

[Anonymous]

So the coach grabs your kid’s arm, gives him a yank and then PUNCHES him? That’s abusive and I would be having a talk with that jerk tomorrow.

[Anonymous]

The old “they fell” excuse. Don’t you think your kid would have mentioned it if it happened?

[Anonymous]

I wouldn’t send my kid to these practices and games unless DH and I could attend.