Girls' HS basketball coach suspended --- What a PAIN as team is in PLAYOFFS

Okay, a coach can't tell a kid to come to WESTINGHOUSE. And, if the coach does -- he/she can't coach for a year.

Show me the trascripts to this case.

This is so wrong.

Girls' coach suspended: "Girls' coach suspended

Sunday, March 12, 2006
By Mike White, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

One of the most successful coaches in City League girls' basketball history has been suspended from coaching for a year because of allegedly recruiting a player.

Westinghouse's Phyllis Jones did not coach yesterday in the Bulldogs' 49-39 victory against Kittanning in a PIAA Class AAA first-round game at Allderdice.

The win moves Westinghouse into the second round Wednesday, but Jones cannot coach the Bulldogs the rest of this season and will not be allowed to coach again until March 8, 2007.

A seven-member City League (District 8) athletic committee suspended Jones Wednesday for allegedly recruiting a player. The allegation came to light at some point this season. Recruiting is illegal in Pennsylvania high school athletics.

Jones could not be reached for comment. She can appeal the ruling to the PIAA."

Here is the long and short of it. Kids are in gangs. Gangs work with kids. Gangs recruit. Organizations, companies, colleges and nonprofits and religions recruit too.

I want the kids in gangs that are a good influence -- like the girls basketball team at Westinghouse High School. Go Bulldogs. Of course, I don't want them in a street gang.

But, we make rules for excellent educators like Phyllis Jones that prevent her from being an excellent educator. I want her to be honest with the kids and do everything she can to have an excellent gang with excellent kids. And, to a teacher and a coach, that means talking, communication, and building relationships.

So now what? The team is in the playoffs and the coach that goes out of her way to interact with kids has a big part of her life and JOB taken away. That sucks for the kids, the team, the person. Once again, 'nobody wins' -- except the street gangs. They don't have rules.