Lake-Lehman Suspends Elementary Basketball After Incident
By: Andy Mehalshick
Updated: February 15, 2012
Lake Township, Luzerne County -- The Lake-Lehman School District suspended elementary basketball games
after two coaches got into a violent argument during a game.
Parents say they have never seen anything quite like it before. "Out of control," one parent described.
During a game last week, the two coaches argued so violently that it stunned the players, who were just 9 and 10 years old. The two coaches got face to face and had to be separated by other parents.
It happened at Lake-Noxen Elementary School in Harveys Lake last Thursday night. The game was being played between two teams from nearby Ross Elementary.
Lake-Lehman Superintendent Jim McGovern said, "We will not tolerate this kind of behavior. We have to sit down and talk about the goal of youth sports, what is our mission? We cannot allow this kind of thing to happen again. If we do, then it will only get worse as the kids get older and move on in life. What kind of example are we setting?"
McGovern suspended all elementary boys and girls basketball games and called a special meeting for Wednesday night at the Lake-Lehman High School for 6 p.m.
He said, "I had to get their attention. If we called a meeting and everything was in as usual, then I think very few people would have attended. But now they have to attend to find out what is going on."
Many parents told Eyewitness News they feel the kids, ages 9, 10, and 11, are being unfairly punished because of the coaches.
But others like Jill Hoyt, who is President of the Lehman-Jackson Elementary School P.T.A said, "I can see both sides of this. The bottom line is what is best for our children in the end."
Parents say they have never seen anything quite like it before. "Out of control," one parent described.
During a game last week, the two coaches argued so violently that it stunned the players, who were just 9 and 10 years old. The two coaches got face to face and had to be separated by other parents.
It happened at Lake-Noxen Elementary School in Harveys Lake last Thursday night. The game was being played between two teams from nearby Ross Elementary.
Lake-Lehman Superintendent Jim McGovern said, "We will not tolerate this kind of behavior. We have to sit down and talk about the goal of youth sports, what is our mission? We cannot allow this kind of thing to happen again. If we do, then it will only get worse as the kids get older and move on in life. What kind of example are we setting?"
McGovern suspended all elementary boys and girls basketball games and called a special meeting for Wednesday night at the Lake-Lehman High School for 6 p.m.
He said, "I had to get their attention. If we called a meeting and everything was in as usual, then I think very few people would have attended. But now they have to attend to find out what is going on."
Many parents told Eyewitness News they feel the kids, ages 9, 10, and 11, are being unfairly punished because of the coaches.
But others like Jill Hoyt, who is President of the Lehman-Jackson Elementary School P.T.A said, "I can see both sides of this. The bottom line is what is best for our children in the end."
