Youth football coach banned for life after assaulting player on camera

[left-of-center2012]

A youth football organization has banned a coach for life after video surfaced this week of him assaulting a player during a game. The incident occurred Monday during the Savannah Gators’ opening game at the American Youth Football (AYF) national championships in Kissimmee, Florida.

The video shows a coach of a 9-and-under team from Savannah, Georgia, twice striking one of his players in the helmet. Both an incident report obtained by Yahoo Sports and the coach’s now-former employer identified him as Gerrel Williams.

The incident occurred as the Gators were walking to their sideline at halftime. Williams approached an unidentified player and struck him in the helmet hard enough to knock him off balance. After turning away for a few moments, Williams struck the same player again and sent him sprawling to the ground. Williams then screamed in the player’s face for several seconds before grabbing him by the helmet and shoving him off the field.

AYF called Williams' actions a “complete breach” of its code of conduct, and said it had expelled him from all future events. Williams also lost his job. The Chatham County (Ga.) Sheriff’s Office, where Williams was employed as a counselor in the detention center, terminated him after being made aware of the video.

Williams apologized:

“At the end of the day, I am a man, and I’m not gon’ make no excuses for what I did,” he said in the video.
“I was wrong. I shouldn’t have disciplined him in public — I shoulda waited ‘til he got back — for doing what he did.
“At the end of the day, I apologize to him, the kids, the city … and my family back at home. I do apologize. There’s no excuse for my actions. I hope he forgive me, and his parents have forgiven me.”

https://sports.yahoo.com/youth-football-coach-caught-on-video-assaulting-player-banned-for-life-from-league-210318028.html

[MaryMagdaline]

1. God what a monster

How chilling that he thinks he should have hit him in private.

[nykym]

2. This part of his alleged apology

shows he has no remorse for what he did only that he got caught.

"I shouldn’t have disciplined him in public — I shoulda waited ‘til he got back — for doing what he did".

[left-of-center2012]

4. He's blaming the kid

despicable

[Soxfan58]

3. Here's a idea

Instead of striking the player for a mistake, use the opportunity to instruct the player on proper techniques, you know like a coach or a human would do.

[Chainfire]

5. I would hope he would be facing criminal charges

for two counts of child abuse. He needs to be caged.

[Ferrets are Cool]

6. He would be in jail if that was my kid.

God Damned MFer should be in fucking jail!!!!!!!!!!

[gay texan]

7. Fuck football

Stupid fucking sport attracts these types of power hungry bullies.

[ArizonaLib]

8. No indication of coach's ejection from the game by the officials

If there really was no ejection, the officials should also be banned for life from any officiating in any sport.

That kid's primary football memory for the rest of his life will be what was caught on this clip.