Did my coach do something illegal?

Question

Well.. One day at practice my coach had threatened to punch me in the face if i did not do this move right. AND..I know she wasn't joking about it because she had made it clear in front of the team that she was serious. So would that threat be an illegal action of my coach?

REMEMBER it's only a threat that im talking about, not physical assault, yet.

Answer 1

A verbal threat of physical harm is considered an assault in the eyes of the law.

Answer 2

Technically, it's possible assault. Coaches tend to get more leeway than the average person cuz of the environment it was said in. Sports are physical activities. Doesn't excuse it, but the coach is likely to get more leeway.

If she's never hit anyone tho and makes threats like this before, it's not the greatest case. High school coaches and below often don't have the greatest motivational skills in the world.

I'm a little conflicted. Coaches should learn to motivate without the threat of them physically attacking you (threatening to work you to death is fine). However, your feelings being hurt and looking to attack the coach lean towards a bad habit of the American public (being lawsuit happy and looking for someone to blame). In this case, if it's high school or below, I'd say you should talk to the coach about it (she might have just lost her temper. It happens. She didn't hit you. So get over it.).

Answer 3

You should have gone immediately to the Athletic Director, if you have one, and then to the principal and then to your parents. It is completely illegal to make a threat of physical violence anywhere, let alone in a school by a coach! A person can be arrested for that kind of threat in the public arena ... it's no different in a school!

Your coach should be disciplined, forced to attend anger management classes and be removed from her coaching position.

You need to follow through with this, even if it means going to the school board. If you don't pursue this now, perhaps if and when you actually do get punched, you'll be made out to be the aggressor. You need to get this incident on the coaches permanent record now!

Answer 4

if you felt legitimate fear that your coach would actually hurt you and believed her to be serious, then its still assault and yes that threat is an illegal action. whether u want to pursue some legal action is up to you, i suggest you just tell someone above the coach about the obviously improper situation, especially if your still in middle school or high school.

Answer 5

tell your parents and tell your principle of the school and seek legal help for a lawsuit against the school coach for threatening you. that is mental harassment which could turn physical if you don't take action right away!

Answer 6

ANYBODY who strikes another person is doing something illegal...it's called assault!
P.S. If your a minor and your coach is an adult it's even more serious!

Answer 7

I think that she would actually have to assault you for you to press charges. I would at definitely tell your parents and someone in charge. I don't know how old you are, but an adult should never speak that way to anyone.

Answer 8

This falls under terroristic threatening in most school conduct books. Report it to an authority figure.

Answer 9

coaches say a lot of things to get you motivated, now if you were to get punched in the face, then you might have a problem.

Answer 10

Your coach could definitely get in trouble for doing what she did. It is unacceptable to threaten students, and she should be reported and reprimanded.