2 Mass. Coaches Suspended After Players Suffer 5 Concussions In One Game
SOUTHBRIDGE (CBS) - Two helmets colliding on a football field is not a pleasant scene for parents and coaches in a Pop Warner Pee Wee football game.
Last month there were five concussions in one single game that has led to the suspension of two head coaches.
According to the Central Mass Pop Warner League, head coaches Erik Iller of Tantasqua and Scott Lazo of Southbridge have been suspended for the year and placed on probation for not protecting the kids during a football game last month.
"There were three concussions early and then two more at the end of the game," coach Iller said. Iller says some of his star players who got hurt may have been targeted by the Southbridge team, in a game in which they were outmatched 52-0.
The Southbridge coach says there is no way he was encouraging his players to tackle dirty.
"One concussion is too many and the coach on the opposing team should've known what to do and teach his kids how to run and tackle correctly," Lazo said.
Three referees who worked the game have been suspended by the league permanently for not stopping the game.
The kids who suffered concussions are expected to be okay.
"The kids got hurt because of the lack of knowledge on how to coach on the opposite of the field and our kids have to pay a heavy price," Lazo said.
