I totally agree with you, Dr. Hoedel!! I have coached basketball for the last 16 years and wonder what the future may hold should this case be upheld in New Jersey. To participate in sports, there are sometimes injuries that occur. To sue a coach for an injury that is considered a “normal” part of the sport is absurd. So, because the coach directed him to slide, he is being sued for negligence and reckless behavior. If the player had laid out to catch a fly ball and was hurt upon landing, would that be the coaches’ fault as well? This is why it is becoming more and more difficult to retain and hire quality coaches and positive role models in youth sports.

I think it is ridiculous that a baseball coach is being sued for telling a player to slide. The injury was an accident and there is the nothing the coach could have done about it. The fact that the coach told the player to slide did not cause him to roll his ankle. Coaches may become nervous now to do their jobs in fear of being sued over something that is out of their control. If less people volunteer their time to coach, there will be less opportunities for youth to participate in sports.

The baseball player’s father shouldn’t have sued the coach for the injury. Things like this are going to happen all of the time in every sport.