No staff member, student or parent should feel threatened or endangered by the activities or athletics within the school. The dispute between head football coach Arnold Martinez and team parents demonstrated that the situation was beyond their control. The meeting with parents and players was meant to discuss moving some junior varsity members up to the varsity level. A confrontation between Coach Martinez and a parent, which triggered the cancellation of the remainder of the football season at the hands of administration, raised questions about the safety of both students and staff.
Principal Justin Mew’s decision to cancel the season was necessary to prevent additional conflicts, which would have continued to put more people in danger.
The safety and well-being of students and athletes should always be the top priority. Moving JV players up to the varsity level in order to have enough students to compete does not meet that criteria.
Bumping up athletes to an entirely different caliber of play increases their risk of injury, a reason that left Coach Martinez reluctant to do so.
For a program to be successful, some structure or form of organization is necessary for the team to function. While adjusting to administrative changes is often difficult, players are expected to abide by the rules of their coach irrespective of how inexperienced or experienced the coach may be. Coach Martinez was heavily criticized for requiring players to attend tryouts and pre-season practices during the summer.
As a result of not attending these practices, many players were frustrated and angered upon hearing that they weren’t allowed to play on the team.
Not only was this stated in the team policy, but it was also communicated through reminders sent via the school’s email newsletter. The structured nature of Coach Martinez’s coaching was intentional as the Kaiser administration was looking for a way to create a self-sustaining, organized football program.
Pre-season practices are necessary to ensure that players bond, instill teamwork, and understand the plays and each player’s role. By neglecting these practices, players jeopardize the team’s success because of their lack of experience and in game knowledge. It is much too late to develop strategies and practice just a month or a few weeks before the season starts.
Ending the season was the only way to move forward without putting any more students or staff at risk. Although the decision disappointed many at school and around the community, continuing the season would have equated to compromising the safety of students and staff.
Tara Morisato and Chelsea Chang are Kaiser High students, Class of 2020 and 2019, respectively.
