HS Football Coach Under Fire For Punching Player on Sideline

Football, especially high school football in the South, can be pretty competitive, but an Atlanta-based high school head coach crossed the line and was arrested after punching one of his players during a game over the weekend.

On Saturday, in the first quarter between Mays High School and Douglas County, the coach for Mays was seen screaming at a player before ultimately striking him in the stomach.

According to Atlanta News First, the coach was removed from the sideline and placed into custody. A spokesperson also told the news outlet that the coach is a "lay coach," a term used to describe a coach who isn't a teacher at the school.

"A lay coach for Mays High School, who is not a classroom instructor, is in police custody after an incident that occurred on the sideline during the school's game this afternoon against Douglas County High School," Atlanta Public Schools spokesman Seth Coleman told the outlet. "The lay coach will be charged with simple battery and face administrative charges from the district."

TAKE A LOOK: A football coach at Benjamin E. Mays High School punches a player in the stomach during game Saturday against Douglas County. The happened live on Atlanta News First affiliate Peachtree TV.

An Atlanta Public Schools spokesperson tells @ATLNewsFirst the coach was? pic.twitter.com/Sl391kgmWX

— Joshua Skinner (@JoshuaSkinnerTV) August 26, 2023

As you can see in the video above, the coach is obviously heated at the player, No .24, as they're up 12-0 and hits him in a way where he tries to be discreet but fails. You can see the player in visible pain.

He chose to do this at a time when the game, live from Eddie S. Henderson Stadium at Midtown High School in Atlanta, was broadcast live on PeachtreeTV.

This comes after several brawls at the high school broke out during a scrimmage two weeks ago, per Fox 5 Atlanta.

"The safety and well-being of all APS students remains a high priority for the district and all APS employees are held to the highest standard of conduct and professionalism," the statement continued.

It's unclear what the result of this situation will be, but we can assume that coach won't be on a sideline again any time soon.

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