HS Student sues over pink cleats after cut by coach-Wore to honor Family Breast Cancer Survivors

[RamboLiberal]

A Mississippi high school student has sued his school district, claiming his football coach dismissed him from the team for wearing pink cleats during October's Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

According to the suit, filed last week in Simpson County Chancery Court, Mendenhall High School football coach Chris Peterson dressed down Coy Sheppard, a 17-year-old senior kicker, during an Oct. 8 football game for wearing the cleats.

When Sheppard arrived at practice the next week wearing the shoes, Peterson cut him from the squad, says Oliver Diaz, a former state Supreme Court justice representing Coy.

-----

The shoes were a present from Coy's 82-year-old great-grandmother, and he wore them in honor of his grandmother and step-grandmother, both cancer survivors, said his mother, JoAnne Sheppard. She said her son, who also plays soccer and works part time, has never been in trouble before.

http://www.usatoday.com/sports/preps/football/2010-11-10-pinkcleats10_ST_N.htm

IMHO the coach & other school officials ought to be visited by a few NFL'ers in their pink gear.

[AndrewP]

1. Not only the NFL, but the big English soccer league is doing some of it as well

But yeah, as you said every NFL team has some pink in their uniforms this year.

[proud2BlibKansan]

40. And NFL players are fined for wearing the wrong socks

or the wrong color arm bands.

[KittyWampus]

2. He was told not to wear them. Coach's call. It's a team sport.

[Viking12]

10. So if the coach tells 18 year old players who to vote for, it's his call? Team sport and all.

[KittyWampus]

13. That makes no sense. Team members wearing a uniform during practice and games

does not in anyway correlate to what those individual team members do off the field.

Except maybe grades and overall conduct (not getting arrested, doing drugs).

[cleanhippie]

14. False analogy.

This isn't voting, its sports equipment. Not that I agree with the coach.

[Lance_Boyle]

15. That's a bit ridiulous. The coach *does* have the final say over uniforms on the field.

The coach doesn't have a lot of say (but does have some) over attire and behaviors off the field.

[OneTenthofOnePercent]

16. How will the coach know?

Our coach in high school told us "no dipping our noodles" the night before big games.
What coach don't know won't bother him. ;)

[Ikonoklast]

30. Straw man, and completely irrelevant.

School league sports of every kind have very stringent rule books covering all aspects of the sport, including uniforms, what type, what colors are allowed, types of numbering and lettering, the size of numbers and letters, what type of shoe, color of shoe...the lists are comprehensive, changes voted on before the start of the season and agreed to by all participants representing their schools, and are rigorously enforced by league officials.


If there are to be any variations, they must be previously approved by the league before play, or the offending team that even unintentionally broke a uniform rule risks forfeiture of wins at any and all events the violations were found to be present, and banning from future competition until they rectify the problem.


Professional sports are the same way. Those you see that are wearing other than league-approved colors have previous permission from the league to do so. There are big fines doled out to players that knowingly break the rules.

A participant cannot unilaterally decide which rules of a team sport he wishes to follow. The article doesn't show if he approached the league to wear those color shoes as a show of support, but that he didn't even ask permission from his coach; he just showed up with them on, and was told not to do it again.


His behavior put the entire team's standings at risk. His teammates would all have suffered for his refusal to follow the rules, which he agreed to follow before he became a player.

Selfish.

[MedicalAdmin]

91. That's exactly my point. Only it's not.

Show us the rule in the league regarding cleats. You will find that most of the ones I've seen (and I've seen a lot) will talk about size, etc of the cleats, but NOT color.

So, unless we hear otherwise, then we should assume that the cleats were regulation. It' seems to me that the coach is worried about all those times he's had a wide stance at the airport and someone finding out about it.

[proud2BlibKansan]

41. What does voting have to do with regulation uniforms?

Not a thing.

Bad analogy.

[proud2BlibKansan]

39. Pesky little rules

Can't change them just cause you don't like them. A good lesson for this kid to learn.

[MedicalAdmin]

90. FAIL. If it is within the guidelines of the league ...

then it is NOT the coaches call. If there is no league rule against it then the coach is WAY out of line.

But go ahead and defend a rabid homophobe.

[OneTenthofOnePercent]

3. While I understand the student's position, I'm not sure what he expects from a lawsuit.

Technically, no constitutional rights were violated and wearing pink or supporting breast cancer is not a protected class... doesn't the coach have a right to cut whomever he pleases? It may not be the right thing for the coach to do (and it isn't) but he has that power.

[Lindsey]

6. I still think it was a really f' up'd thing for the coach to do....

what a jerk.

[proud2BlibKansan]

43. It's probably a league rule and the coach doesn't make those rules

My dad was a high school coach and also officiated college football and in the NFL.

Dress codes are mandated by the league, not the coach.

[Lyric]

20. No Constitutional rights were violated? How about the 1st Amendment?

The coach is a government employee. He violated this student's constitutional right to express himself. I'm sure that the coach will try to defend himself by claiming that the pink cleats were "distracting" and "inappropriate", but since (1) they really AREN'T inappropriate, and (2) whatever small distraction they might pose is not likely to be judged as immediately dangerous enough to justify the suppression of this kid's rights, I predict that the kid wins. The coach will probably also try to frame this as "There's no constitutional right to play football", but that's right-wing thinking--it's not about football. It's about not being singled out and punished by a government entity solely due to an expression of speech that's neither offensive nor inappropriate for school-age kids.

I wish the coach good luck trying to explain to a judge why wearing corporate apparel and footwear logos (Nike, Adidas, etc.) is appropriate speech, but wearing pink cleats to support breast cancer survivors and honor breast cancer victims is not.

[OneTenthofOnePercent]

24. The coach can't violate the kids rights...

The BoR is a restriction against government powers.
Rules and individuals cand infringe on a number of your rights.
I wouldn't say the coach is a "government entity"... that'd be a tough sell, I think.

For example, if you talk in a movie theatre you can be removed.
If you post unpopular views on DU your comments can be squelched and you can be banned.
You can refuse to allow someone onto your property if you don't like them wearing a gun.

Would you feel any differently if the kid wore socks with republican logos on them and was removed from the team for not removing them?

In high shcool, we painted our shoes gold before each game (team colors were gold/blue).
A kid once refused to paint his cleats and was benched. Pink cleats are no different.

[Lyric]

32. Why would it be a "tough sell"?

Who issues his paychecks? Frankly, I find it rather strange that anyone would NOT see the coach as a government entity, since he was hired by the government, he is paid by the government, and he does his job according to government-issued guidelines and standards. :shrug:

And yes, pink cleats ARE different. The "kid who refused to paint his cleats" that you posited is not a good example. Firstly, if that kid had sued, he'd have won. The school cannot force you to damage expensive property unless they're also willing to pay for that property. Did you school buy everyone new cleats after forcing you to paint them? Secondly, was the kid trying to make a political point? Was he protesting against the school requiring students to vandalize expensive personal property with no recompense? Or did he do it for no particular reason at all? The motive behind the refusal is key to deciding whether or not it should be protected under the 1st Amendment. If he did it to protest a school policy, then it was protected speech, and your schoolmate could have sued and won. Just because he didn't, doesn't meant that he COULDN'T. For every one successful speech lawsuit, there are probably twenty that nobody cared enough to file.

And what on EARTH would make you think that any decent liberal would "feel differently" if it were Republican speech being suppressed? I support ALL free speech in schools unless it presents an actual, serious hazard to either the student making the speech, or other students around him. Wearing a Nazi logo would be wrong because such a thing is emotionally hazardous to students whose social/religious/ethnic groups were murdered by the Nazis. Wearing a Democratic or Republican logo, however, is protected speech. Wearing a shirt made of razor blades to protest the hypothetical conditions in a Gillette factory in Indonesia is speech, but it's not protected speech for school kids because razor blades are a safety violation. But wearing pink? Contrary to what the right-wing thinks, guys wearing pink are NOT a danger to society.

[Ginto]

44. What if he wanted to wear a #82 jersey because his grandmother was 82?

?

[Lyric]

48. Not a good comparison--is there greater significance to his grandmother's age?

Breast cancer awareness is a complex, nuanced, and even contentious issue. Someone's age usually isn't. It's just a politically neutral fact.

[Ginto]

49. What if his grandmother had just died at the age of 82?

Or he had been given 82 months to live.

[Lyric]

52. Still not seeing how that has anything to do with a relevant social issue.

What's the "speech" supposed to be? If you wear pink cleats, people "get" that you're making a statement about breast cancer awareness. Is anyone going to "get" that your #82 is significant? Is there some politically-relevant significance to the number 82? Has anyone been socially punished or ostracized for supporting the number 82? Does wearing the number 82 cause a disruption significant enough to induce a coach to ban it in the first place? Would anyone actually CARE if you wore the number 82?

You're really not very good at this.

:shrug:

[Ginto]

53. What if he wanted to change his name to Prostate Cancer on the back of his jersey.

To make a statement.

You don't know football do you? Obviously, you do not know how jersey #'s work.

[Lyric]

59. If a major game disruption would occur if the "wrong" number is worn

then your example was invalid to begin with. The school can ban speech that's significantly disruptive, and that would harm the other students who are participating. If the other students on his team (and on the opposing team) expect that someone with "82" would be a certain position player (and the rules are different for high school than for college or the NFL), then wearing that number as a different position player would disrupt the game enough to compromise THEIR rights. If I were a judge, I'd have thrown out that case before it ever got to court. If the numbers are significant to the basic rules of the game, then that's enough of a disruption to justify suppressing speech via your jersey number.

However, that is NOT the case with this kid. Wearing pink shoes has no effect, one way or another, on the game. In fact, I'd bet that there's an argument to be made that the color of shoes shouldn't even be considered part of the "uniform" for high-school kids. Kids choose their own shoes, don't they? If the school colors are blue and gold, and a kid is wearing black shoes...well, black isn't a school color any more than pink is. But I bet nobody has a problem with black shoes. I'm sure some will say, "But black is a 'neutral' color!" Except that it ISN'T. There are teams out there that have black as one of their "official" school colors--therefore, it's not neutral.

Similarly, "Nike" is probably NOT an official sponsor of the high school team, but I bet that nobody has a problem with the Nike logo on shoes. And this was a one-time thing--a special and temporary statement with social and political significance--not a pattern of behavior. Do you honestly think that a judge is going to agree that throwing him off the team was the appropriate response? When a judge is considering a case like this, they look for any and all reasons to dismiss it with a minor technicality ruling BEFORE trying to tackle any big Constitutional questions. If I were a judge, I'd rule in the kid's favor first and foremost because the punishment was not proportional to the offense. I wouldn't even get INTO the free speech question unless and until there were no other peripheral reasons to end the case.

:shrug:

You might know more than I do about football, but you certainly don't know very much about the judicial branch.

[Ginto]

60. What if players complained that the pink shoes were a distraction?

What other uniform modifications would you support? Seems that your approval is very narrow.

[uppityperson]

83. what if flying monkeys.... Yes, playing the "what if" game can be fun and can ignore the issue

of wtf does colored cleats have to do with anything anyway?

[MedicalAdmin]

94. Two words. League rules.

There is either a rule against colored cleats or specifying which color cleats can be, or there isn't .

If there is then we can all just go home. If there isn't (which I happen to think likely) then the coach is not on a good legal foundation because he doesn't have a rule to back him up. It was just his whim. Who cares about what other uniform modification someone supports or doesn't support. It's irrelevant to the legal issues.

[MedicalAdmin]

93. Put down the shovel and step away from the hole.

You've dug deep enough already.

[JoePhilly]

37. Publicly demostrates the the coach is a jerk who should not have authority over kids.

If the coach had a BRAIN, he'd have praised the kid and allowed other players to emulate their NFL counterparts.

That would have sent a positive message. The message this coach sent is ... "I am a jerk, with too much power." He could have used his position as an authority figure in a positive way, hey chose to instead, use his "power" selfishly.

[Fla_Democrat]

70. "allowed other players to emulate their NFL counterparts"

That include the alcohol, drugs and prostitutes as well? :evilgrin:

:smoke:

[Ikonoklast]

73. Don't forget dog fighting.

:hide: :popcorn:

[JoePhilly]

78. I enjoy the sarcasim ... I really do ...

Being from Philly, relocated to NC years ago, I wanted to send my 11 year old daughter out on Halloween in our neighborhood, wearing a pink #7 Michael Vick jersey, along with a dog leash (one of the "invisible dog" leashes), and a hat that said "Dog Walker" ... mom decided that wasn't appropriate ... :rofl:

Anyway ... in this case, the NFL players sent a positive message by wearing pink ... and this coach could have built on that with his own team.

Its a shame he didn't.

[MedicalAdmin]

95. You've obviously never watched high school football in America.

Do you think those things AREN'T going on?

[MedicalAdmin]

92. It depends on whether or not the school accepts federal funds

and uses them on the team or on the facilities the team uses. He could have a suit here. Especially if he can show that, a) damages in terms of lost sports scholarships, b) that the coach was NOT following league rules (if the league doesn't have rules regarding the color of cleats).

[jayfish]

4. The comments on the story are truly disheartening.

What a bunch of livestock we've become. :cry:

ON EDIT: Seems as though we're infected here as well.

[KittyWampus]

7. It's a football team, not an art class.

[RaleighNCDUer]

11. And football is a religion, not a sport. nt

[KittyWampus]

17. It sure seems to be, it's a shame Americans don't spend more of our collective sports $ on the Arts.

[jayfish]

19. Your kidding right?

First, from the article, "Because students in the Simpson County School District earn academic credit for sports, Diaz said, Coy's "graduation may be in jeopardy." So yeah it kinda is.

Secondly, don't talk to me about football. I played football for thirteen years from rocket to college. I was All Conference, All Area, All State and played in a college bowl game. You know what? It was a fucking waste of time. I'd take this kid over just about any of the ones I played with.

[luvspeas]

5. some of the comments on that page are appalling...

Most people see nothing wrong with discouraging boys from expressing themselves or supporting their female family members. Hell, it's football after all, nothing like preparing children for good old fashioned blind militaristic obedience.

[jayfish]

8. I think the NFL and the Susan G. Komen organization should get involved...

and make and example of these backwater tools.

[KittyWampus]

9. Self expression= art, music, dance. Sports= subordination and teamwork

There are elements of subordination in band, choreography etc.

But my point stands.

[nyc 4 Biden]

22. You should inform...

All the profession athletes who where pink for breast cancer awareness about these rules. They must not have gotten the memo.

Tom Brady: ?w=550

Drew Brees: http://t1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:FUeV-VjP_E0lPM:&t=1

[Ikonoklast]

47. They are only allowed to do so with previous permission from the league.

No player can unilaterally change his uniform.

These players ALL HAD PERMISSION FROM THEIR RESPECTIVE GOVERNING BODIES.


See the huge, glaring, obvious difference?

[MedicalAdmin]

96. re:"See the huge, glaring, obvious difference?"

Do you? Is there a rule regulating the color of cleats in this league.

Since you seem to be an expert on all things league and sport, perhaps you would be so kind as to post the link that backs up your (non) point.

[KittyWampus]

51. Apparently their coach-owners approve of the practice. How hard is that to understand?

[nyc 4 Biden]

61. You can prove that in every instance I've shown,

The players have had prior approval from their team?

[Goblinmonger]

74. If they didn't, they were fined.

Guaranteed.

[grace0418]

23. Some of the comments on this page are pretty appalling.

Same attitude expressed.

[Stevenmarc]

12. The coach has the authority to be a big douchbag, but since this story has been posted here

it's fairly obvious that this lawsuit, which has no reasonable expectation of winning, is getting the intended results, a lot of bad publicity for a coach that will inevitably be on the wrong side of a pissing match.

[Fla_Democrat]

29. Authority? Hell, when I played

it was a requirement. :evilgrin:



:smoke:

[Angry Dragon]

18. It is nothing more than a violation of the First Amendment

The coach is guilty of a civil rights violation and a violation of the First Amendment regarding the young man's freedom of speech.
Hey people, if the courts consider that money is speech then why can not shoes also be speech??

[Rebubula]

21. Ahhh...this again

Please educate yourself on the 1st Amendment and what constitutes a civil rights violation

This young man was cut from the team, ostensibly, for wearing something other than the required uniform. He was not arrested, beaten, fined or in any real way harmed.

Only the government can violate the 1st Amendment by enacting laws.

[jayfish]

25. Educate yourself.

This is a publicly funded school and academic credits are earned for sports there.

Because students in the Simpson County School District earn academic credit for sports, Diaz said, Coy's "graduation may be in jeopardy."

So there's the government connection and there's the harm. Once the Republicans get done privatizing everything in this country where will you turn to have your rights protected?

[Fla_Democrat]

27. Yea

District Deputy Superintendent Tom Duncan said the problem isn't the color of Coy's shoes but that the student ignored the orders of his coaches to take off the shoes.

"It had absolutely nothing to do with lack of support for breast cancer awareness," he said. Duncan also said the coach told Coy he would be allowed to make up his lost PE credit and graduate on time.

The kid was probably in what we use to call "Advanced Phys Ed", which means instead of being in the normal class, he was with the team doing their weightlifting/conditioning, and running plays while the other P.E. classes were bouncing balls, or playing T-ball. So, the student gets cut, he takes a normal P.E. class, and graduates... it's not like if he don't kick in next weeks game, he ends up on skid row. :eyes:



:smoke:

[jayfish]

31. Deity, I just don't get this place sometimes.

So, in your view harm can only be shown if a censure results in the worst possible outcome?

[Fla_Democrat]

42. Wasn't that the harm..

you clipped from the story? Let me look....


This is a publicly funded school and academic credits are earned for sports there.

<snip quote>
Because students in the Simpson County School District earn academic credit for sports, Diaz said, Coy's "graduation may be in jeopardy."
</snip quote>

So there's the government connection and there's the harm. Once the Republicans get done privatizing everything in this country where will you turn to have your rights protected?

Yea, that was the harm you had concern with......

I offered a remedy, one, it would seem was offered in the original story, I just explained how it works for the armchair quarterbacks.

[Ikonoklast]

50. Libraries are publicly funded.

Talk too loudly, and they throw you out.

Does not violate your first amendment rights...Teabaggers think it does, though. They don't understand the Constitution, either.


Take that to the ACLU, and they will patiently explain that the First Amendment does not apply in this instance, or any others you have brought up, and please stop wasting their time.

Playing football is a VOLUNTARY behavior. You agree to the rules beforehand.

Kid could have taken regular PE, and if he didn't follow the rules in those classes, either, they would throw him out of there, too.

[jayfish]

76. Your example is so incorrect that I have a hard time believing...

you would comment my or the tea-baggers understanding of the Constitution. Did you think that out before you typed it out? May I also suggest you read:

http://www.firstamendmentschools.org/freedoms/faq.aspx?id=12991

[Rebubula]

87. Nice try

Still does not rise to a 1st Amendment Violation.

You sign on to team sports - you play as a team or you do not play. Sports are not a democracy.

Kid was told of the consequences of his actions. Suck it up. The world is not fair and this is not a big deal. He was offered other options to complete course work.

[jayfish]

88. Very solid legal analysis.

"It's that way because I said so" :eyes:

From another article:

District Deputy Superintendent Tom Duncan said the problem isn't the color of Coy's shoes but that the student ignored the orders of his coaches to take off the shoes.

http://ktar.com/category/local-news-articles/20101110/Kid-kicked-off-team-for-wearing-pink-cleats,-lawsuit-follows/

Also, from post #85

At the first football practice after the game, the lawsuit says, Peterson demanded that Sheppard remove the pink cleats. Sheppard, who had no other shoes, promised he would not wear the pink cleats to the next practice. Peterson, the suit says, made Sheppard turn in his helmet and leave the field. In tears the next day, Sheppard apologized to the coach, staff and players for wearing the pink cleats, according to the lawsuit. He promised never to wear them again.

Just for fun I found picture of Mendenhall football players that documents multiple shoe colors.



This doesn't have anything to do with any rules. So is it just a pink thing? ...perhaps a little homophobia shining through?

[Renew Deal]

34. Ummmm, no

Although I think he should be permitted to wear them, schools and sports have rule codes about equipment. If pink isn't a team color, then it might be an issue.

[Ginto]

45. Once again, what if he wanted to wear a #82 jersey because his grandmother was 82.

?

[Fla_Democrat]

58. 82 is alright, 88...

is a Hate Crime.





:smoke:

[Renew Deal]

64. lol

:rofl:

[kctim]

26. It is called a uniform for a reason

and somehow I don't believe most on here would be so defensive of him for ignoring his coach and violating team rules if he had 'Tit-Lover' put on the back of his jersey.

[Fla_Democrat]

28. Or....

What if he wanted to wear camouflage, in support of the military?

It's not the what, it's the who.



:smoke:

[PRETZEL]

33. I know when I was in HS

we had to buy our own cleats (I played baseball) so everyone had their own choice.

About the only way I can see where the coach and school district may even have a toe to stand on would be if they provided the shoes to all players in advance and that any deviation would result in removal from the team.

[ProudToBeBlueInRhody]

35. He likely would have been chucked from the game by the officials anyway

Many governing bodies of high school sports require notification of any change to a team's uniform before a game.

[Renew Deal]

38. No he wouldn't

There isn't a rule about the color of equipment except that he may not wear ball colored helmets, jersey's, patches, pads, or gloves (brown). There are rules about contrasting colors between jerseys and numbers, but that's it.

[Ginto]

46. Once again, what if he wanted to wear a #82 jersey because his grandmother was 82.

?

[Renew Deal]

54. That's not against the rules.

As long as he's not a lineman.

[Ginto]

56. What about a QB?

Why are you trying to limit his free speech by telling him what # he can wear?

[Renew Deal]

62. A quarterback can wear any number he wants between 1-99.

You just need 7 linemen, five of which have ineligible numbers (50-79).

[Ginto]

65. I guess you lose some of your rights when you join the NFL

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Uniform_number_(American_football)

[Renew Deal]

67. They aren't governing numbers for quarterbacks in that way in the NFL.

The NFL has established a trend in numbering which all levels generally follow. But guys wearing a number in the 50's play tackle. Guys with with a number in the 70's play center. Guys with high numbers are permitted to play quarterback, etc. There are rules about who can catch a pass. Ends with ineligible numbers can catch a pass in the NFL if they report to the refs. You can't do that in HS.

[Ginto]

71. Sounds like they are restricting free speech and expression.

:)

[Ikonoklast]

57. It is if there already is a number 82 issued.

[Renew Deal]

63. Two players on the same team can be issued the same number

They just can't be on the field together on the same play.

[Ikonoklast]

68. Someone did that, and I can't remember, think it was a college team.

They screwed up, though, on a special teams play, punt I think, had both guys on the field at the same time and gave the punting team a first down on the penalty, and they lost the game because of it.

[Renew Deal]

69. That's correct

They can't be on the field at the same time. I believe the foul is for illegal numbering.

[Renew Deal]

36. It has become accepted to wear pink gear in football

I have seen lots of it this season in HS games. It really shouldn't be an issue.

[Ikonoklast]

55. Yes, and they all get league permission to do so.

Get permission to wear different color from governing body?

No Problem.


Just show up different uniform colors in violation of rule book?


Problem.

[Renew Deal]

66. I think we're mixing up issues.

Yes, governing bodies at various levels have rules for various conduct. The NFHS governs football in most states (except TX and MA). The rulebook doesn't say anything about what color can be worn other than no "ball colored" items and there needs to be certain patterns and contrasts in jersey colors.

So when you say that a player is wearing a "different uniform" that's doubtful. The color of shoes, gloves, socks, etc. other than brown isn't goverened in HS football by the national rulesmakers. There may be local rules and coaches rules, but the "Fed" as it's known isn't involved which means the refs aren't involved.

[Ikonoklast]

72. I see what the kid doing as a violation of team rules

Coach said 'no', and that should have been the end of it.

In one of the local high school leagues a couple years ago, there was a dust-up over, get this, the allowable width of the colored stripe on an opposing team's away uniform.

Color was correct, but the player had to change into an older jersey with a skinnier stripe on it before being allowed to continue playing.

[bluedigger]

75. Coach is a jack ass.

And the kid should have petitioned the league for permission. With his coach's and school administration's support. Part of participating in team sports is learning to play by the rules.

[proud2BlibKansan]

77. My dad officiated in the NFL

He also coached and officiated at the high school and college levels.

League rules dictate how players and officials dress. I can remember my dad measuring the length of his socks and then putting a hem in them because they were too long. If a player shows up out of uniform, league rules allow the officials to bench him or his team can forfeit the game, depending on the severity of the violation.

I remember several situations where a team was given special permission to wear a black armband when someone died. In the examples cited above where NFL players are wearing pink for breast cancer, I can guarantee the league granted them permission to do so.

For all of you disparaging this coach, I am also quite certain he is merely abiding by league rules. You can call this petty or authoritian or even draconian, but your beef is not with the coach. It's with the league.

[Dr. Strange]

79. That could very well be the case.

I don't know if it is here, but given the kinds of things that have happened involving clothing in sports, I'll wait until we find out.
http://highschool.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=1008142
http://content.usatoday.com/communities/gameon/post/2010/05/prep-team-loses-title-because-of-bracelet/1

[jayfish]

80. The league rules dictated that the player be kicked off the team?

When I played ball shoes were not considered part of the uniform. We had players with different brands styles and colors.

ON EDIT: Sheppard was kicked off the team for wearing the cleats to practice. Is proper practice attire spelled out in the league rules?

[proud2BlibKansan]

81. That would depend on the league

It wouldn't surprise me though.

[RamboLiberal]

84. The coach didn't need to get in the kid's face

Calmly talk to him at practice. Find out why he wanted to wear the cleats. Should be no biggie to wear at practice. If there's a league rule against wearing in a game then calmly explain that to the kid & the ramifications for the team. Maybe call the league officials to see if there is any way the kid can wear in October. It's not like the pros haven't set a standard of doing this in October & maybe a league official might even find this a good idea.

[jayfish]

86. Well, I've combed the MHSAA website and can't find any...

rules pertaining to footwear. It did find this however:

http://www.misshsaa.com/coaches_code_of_ethicsathle.htm

The coach shall respect and support contest officials. The coach shall not indulge in conduct which would incite players or spectators against the officials. Public criticism of officials or players is unethical.

[RedCloud]

82. What color do they wear for cancer of the balls?

[MedicalAdmin]

97. Blue? Off green?

Puce?

[RamboLiberal]

85. Story from the local paper

Kicker Coy Sheppard played in pink cleats Oct. 8 in a game against Richland High School, says the lawsuit, filed Thursday in Chancery Court against Mendehall High School, the Simpson County School Board and Coach Chris Peterson.

“At halftime Coach (Chris) Peterson made it clear that he did not approve of Coy’s new cleats,” the lawsuit says. “He began to berate the kicker in front of the team for wearing the pink cleats. Despite this verbal abuse from the coach, Coy proudly finished the game wearing the cleats purchased for him by his great-grandmother, kicking several additional extra points. Coy’s family was proud of his accomplishments, and for having the courage to honor his family and take this public stand.”

At the first football practice after the game, the lawsuit says, Peterson demanded that Sheppard remove the pink cleats. Sheppard, who had no other shoes, promised he would not wear the pink cleats to the next practice. Peterson, the suit says, made Sheppard turn in his helmet and leave the field. In tears the next day, Sheppard apologized to the coach, staff and players for wearing the pink cleats, according to the lawsuit. He promised never to wear them again.

“Stubbornly,” the lawsuit says, “Coach Peterson refused the apology and refused to reinstate Coy to the football team. As a result, Coy was kicked off the football team in his senior year, with graduation put at risk if he loses the school credits he receives for playing football.”



Read more: http://www.sunherald.com/2010/11/04/2614758/mendenhall-kicker-booted-for-wearing.html#ixzz14uxWV28N

IMHO if the story is true as written the coach acted like an *ss.

[jayfish]

89. Well it looks like sanity has prevailed.

http://www.usatoday.com/sports/preps/football/2010-11-11-pink-cleats_N.htm

By Elizabeth Crisp, The (Jackson, Miss.) Clarion-Ledger
MENDENHALL, Miss. — Coy Sheppard will be back on the football field Friday night, but his pink cleats will stay home.
Sheppard, who was dismissed from the Mendenhall High School football team last month after wearing the brightly colored shoes for a game and practice, was reinstated Thursday during a meeting with school officials.

The 17-year-old placekicker, who also plays on the school's soccer team, filed a lawsuit against the school district last week to protest his dismissal from the team Oct. 11. The suit has been dropped as part of Thursday's agreement, said his attorney Oliver Diaz of Jackson.

MORE: Student sues after being cut over pink cleats
Sheppard said he was surprised by the national attention the case has drawn. "I wasn't doing it for the attention on me," he said. "I really want to help people out."

Excellent decision! ...don'cha think?

[MedicalAdmin]

98. Hopefully the school is looking for a new coach.

One without a wide stance and closet issues.