Prep Voices : Today’s Topic: Profanity on the Playing Field

In a newspaper, profanity looks harmless, if not comical.

“%$&+*$*(**!!!”

In public, it’s another matter. In particular, few would argue that profanity has any place in high schools.

But on many high school athletic fields, you’ll hear a “$%--*!!” here and a “?!* 5/8%!!” there, without any repercussions.

In an era of political correctness, profanity’s foothold in high school sports has all but escaped scrutiny. Although profanity is rarely approved of, it is often ignored. Although most complaints are addressed quickly, the complaints themselves come sporadically.

Because of this latitude, there is no consensus on how profanity should be addressed. Policies can vary from school to school.

“These kids are 14, 15, 16 years of age,” CIF Commissioner Thomas Byrnes said, “and I think it’s inappropriate to use that type of language.”

Perhaps it is the no-harm-intended aspect of some profanity that makes it seem less offensive.

One area of debate is whether to distinguish between profanity that is directed at a turn of events, rather than at a person.

But isn’t profanity against the rules? Besides an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty or a technical foul, it’s hard to say. Policies vary on how profanity is addressed. Coaches and administrators have their own policies, and evidence indicates schools do a pretty good job of controlling it.

On Campus

Q: How does a coach’s use of profanity affect your play or the play of your team?

“Our coaches don’t use it, it’s not allowed on the field. We have words like firetrucker and stuff like that, that we use instead. (Profanity) is not Baron mentality. Sometimes it can be used as a motivator, but I don’t think that’s good. Coaches will get on a player and he’ll respond just because he wants to please the coach.”

Jeremy Nicholson, Fountain Valley senior Football

“I don’t think it affects me that much. You have to get focused before a game, and I think the coach sometimes needs to use it to get people’s attention. I don’t think it affects the team’s play that much. If it affects the team in a good way, then it’s for the best. He shouldn’t use it publicly, but it’s OK if he uses it in the locker room. It’s a coach’s job to do what he needs to do to motivate the team.”

Colleen Hudson, Brea-Olinda senior Basketball

“I refrain from using it. I don’t think it’s appropriate especially because our group is co-ed. It might be more appropriate if it’s just guys like in football.”

Earl Towner, Laguna Beach Co-cross-country coach

“When my coach uses profanity it scares us because then we know that we really pushed her over the line.”

Lisa Serrano, Western senior Volleyball, softball

“Sometimes there is a double standard. There shouldn’t be. I realize you have a win or lose situation and sometimes tempers come into play. But we need to set an example for the kids. If we conduct ourselves in such a way that the kids think it’s OK (to use profanity), then you will see that conduct on the field or court.”

Peggy Mahfood, Garden Grove principal

“It’s OK that coaches use profanity as long as they don’t use it in an abusive manner. If they use profanity to encourage their players, there’s no problem with it, I think it’s just fine. But when they start using it to abuse their players, verbally, I think there’s seriously a problem going on.”

Kyle Bunch, University sophomore Basketball

“It’s a form of extrinsic motivation. Believe it or not, kids do tend to play harder at times, and though I don’t take it lightly, I do use it as a form of motivation in extreme situations. When I do use it, it is directed at their action or lack of action, and not at the player. That’s the difference between degradation and motivation.”

Karen Wolfe, Kennedy Girls’ basketball coach

“It degrades the team. The coach cusses us out all the time. It gets to them (the players) and they start to use it too because they think it’s OK.”

John Cullings, Laguna Beach freshman Football

“The kids react to it more so than if a coach gave a general response. It stresses a sense of urgency and I think kids react to that. People who object to profanity are naive to what goes on in the day-to-day culture of our kids. It gets their attention. I don’t think there’s an intent to degrade, it just stresses a sense of urgency, and football is an intense game and sometimes you have to get kids’ attention.”

Doug Bell, President Western Quarterback Club

“Our coaches don’t use (profanity) at all, they’re all Christians. It’s happened a couple of times, when they were really mad, but they’re pretty mellow. I like it that way. It’s better to keep it positive.”

Ryan Klaasen, San Clemente senior Football, track

“(Coaches) are teachers first. The things necessary to be a teacher should govern them while they are coaching. That means, they must maintain the type of environment appropriate for young athletes.”

Tom Triggs, Buena Park principal

“My coach never uses profanity. I think we use it more around him than he does around us.”

Amanda Cooper, Western junior Water polo, swimming

“It tends to be very distracting to us where we’ve seen it coming from players. I think it’s not necessary at all. I don’t see any place for it. I know there are times that are extremely frustrating and I can see how people do it, but we don’t allow it on our team or anywhere.”

Garth Flint, Corona del Mar Girls’ basketball coach

“Our coaches have a good sense of humor, they use (profanity) that way. When they say something, they say it to motivate you. I don’t think it’s a big deal, I don’t mind hearing it. It’s all part of the game. But the refs make a big deal out of it; they don’t like to hear it.”

Matt Denny, Mission Viejo senior Football

“Here’s a few tidbits for all the spineless and weak-kneed that blush at the thought of the use of profanity by high school coaches. Dateline 1973-1988: Five CIF track gold medals; seven current Newport Harbor High School track records; a member of Newport Harbor’s famed 3:15 1975 mile relay team; two Sunset League track and field championships; 1978 NCAA championship as member of UCLA track and field team; team captain of 1980 UCLA track and field team; two Sunset League football titles, and two-time All-Sunset League tailback.

“I owe all of the above to the coaches that kicked my butt, screamed a few well-deserved four-letter words in my direction, and taught me to perform. Life isn’t easy, so you better get tough quick. Say what you want, coaches, you are America’s last hope for teaching discipline.”

Brian Theriot, Newport Harbor graduate Class of 1975

“It makes us work harder because he’s telling us how much better we can do.”

Isabelle Rojas, Western senior Basketball

“I met with all the coaches pertaining to player participation, the number kids in programs and what I call sideline maturity. All inappropriate conversations (coaches) have that fans can hear will not be tolerated. We’re also taking a look at developing a coach’s handbook, especially for the walk-on coaches. We don’t have much contact with them other than to certify them. We need to give them the proper insight and training, because we are the ones who are liable. We have never trained them to deal with parents and players. At times they make inappropriate comments.”

Tom Anthony, Assistant Superintendent Capistrano Unified School District

“It makes them bear down more and work harder and start thinking. I think it’s silly today’s prudish parents are upset at this. This is ridiculous.”

Mark Johnson, Katella graduate Class of 1974

“One thing that really bothers me is the profanity of the kids. I have a freshman (as well as a senior) that plays, and it just seems like the kids on the field use a lot of profanity. I couldn’t believe the language of the freshman team. I guess I disapprove of it coming from the coaches if that’s where it comes from, because it’s offensive to hear kids at that age using that language.”

Vicki Craft, President Tustin Touchdown Club

“When we’re not focused, it makes us think and wake up.”

Jason Covarrubias, Western senior Football, soccer, track

“Nobody in a position of authority has the right to use profanity: no coach, no senior athlete or any assistant. We don’t permit it on our team; it affects their attitude, their play and their pride. If we find a team that continually uses profanity during a game, we find they focus too much on us personally and not on what they’re supposed to do during the game. I’ve never been around a really good player, boy or girl, who uses profanity in an athletic environment. Oddly enough, the teams that we hear more profanity from is the parochial schools--maybe it’s more shocking because we don’t expect to hear it.”

Nick Bartlett, Huntington Beach Girls’ basketball coach

“Our coaches don’t use (profanity) too much, but when they do, they use it as an attention-getter, not because they’re trash-mouthers. They don’t use it just to use it, they’re very careful. It can get out of hand, but basically they try to control it.”

Sam Gaines, Capistrano Valley senior Football

“There’s no room for profanity on anyone’s part. There’s no place for it at all. There are other exclamations that can be used.”

Michael Lombardi, Pacifica principal

“It gets me pumped up.”

Justin Starkey, Western junior Football