Suffolk County police are investigating an incident in which a volunteer assistant football coach at Commack High School allegedly threw a helmet at a 16-year-old player's face. The player's family claims the unprovoked action left the teen bloodied, requiring stitches, and potentially concussed.
The alleged incident occurred during a summer practice on Aug. 26. According to the player's parents, the assistant coach, who is the son of the head coach and a school board-approved volunteer, picked up a helmet and threw it at the player as he was getting up from the bench.
"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," the player's mother told News 12. "The face mask hit him and cut him. He was bleeding all over the place."
The injured player was taken to the hospital, where he received three stitches under his right eye. He is also undergoing evaluation for a potential concussion, according to the report. No arrests have been made.
The player's parents have raised concerns about the coach's qualifications, stating that he was not a certified coach or trainer. "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 teen's father told News 12, adding that he believes "some things that slipped through the cracks."
Several football players who witnessed the event reportedly could not confirm whether the coach intended to strike the teenager with the helmet. Commack School District officials had not yet responded to requests for comment. The Post also reached out to the boy's parents, who did not respond as of Monday afternoon.