In New York, a Commack High School football player’s parents say an assistant coach hit their son in the face with a helmet during practice. Suffolk County police are now investigating the incident.
The parents of the 16-year-old football player claim that an assistant coach took a helmet and hurled it in their son’s direction while he was seated on a bench. The helmet then struck the player in the face as he stood up.
“He saw the coach grab his helmet, running up to him… and threw the helmet, he said overhand, I guess like a dart, really hard…” said Laura Werner, the boy’s mother, told News 12. “The facemask hit him and cut him. He was bleeding all over the place.”
The parents brought the teen to the hospital, and he received three stitches under his right eye. According to his parents, doctors also deemed an evaluation for a potential concussion to be necessary.
“My son had somebody that was not a certified coach or trainer, a volunteer, and his health, well-being and safety was put at risk,” the boy’s father, Cary Werner, said. “And I think there were some things that slipped through the cracks.”
The teen’s parents claim that although the assistant coach is the head coach’s son, he does not work for the Commack School District. The Commack School District said that the board appointed the coach as a volunteer.
Police are now investigating the alleged helmet toss
In a statement, the school district said it is actively collaborating with Suffolk County police and takes concerns about students’ safety and well-being seriously. As of Monday, the police have made no arrests.
Suffolk County police have acknowledged that they are looking into an incident between a football player and a coach at Commack High School, but they have not disclosed any further information or named either individual. As police continue their investigation, they will try to determine the circumstances surrounding the incident, including exactly what happened during the practice.
The New York Post reported that several football players said they saw the helmet toss but couldn’t tell whether the coach meant to throw it at the player.
“My son’s been playing football since he’s 7-years-old. He has never had any issues… I’ve never seen this before. I don’t know what to say,” said Laura Werner. “I’m very shocked at this whole thing. This cannot go on ever again. This cannot happen. You’re working with children.”