High School Coach Suspends Entire Team For Cyber Bullying, Teaches Lesson in Character

A Utah high school football coach suspended his entire team for cyber bullying. Players were told they had to earn the privilege to play again. And not one parent complained. They all supported the coaches decision and showed their gratitude for addressing the issue.

Coach Matt Labrum tells the Deseret News, 'We weren’t reaching the young men like we wanted.  We wanted to take a stand.'  So the coaches laid out a plan on how players could get back on the field.

Coach Matt wrote this letter to his players and reads:

Union Football Character

Gentlemen, we are not pleased with how our football brothers are representing our family, school, community, alumni, family and yourselves. It is a privilege to play this wonderful game! We must earn the opportunity, to have the honor to put on our high schools jersey! The lack of character we are showing off the field is outshining what we are achieving on the field. We want student-athletes that are humble to learn and grow through adversity and success on and off the field. We want a team that others want to associate themselves with and support; winning isn’t the most important criteria for that to happen.

Humbleness, thankfulness, humility, respect, courage and honor are much more important than winning ballgames! We can achieve both if we start to act with others’ feelings in mind and focus on how we can make someone else’s day instead of just wrapped up in ourselves. WHEN WE ARE WORKING ON THIS AND ACHIEVING THIS WE WILL BE MOLDING OUR CHARACTER IN A POSITIVE WAY!  We want change and are going to make changes now.

TURN YOUR JERSEYS IN NOW!

Saturday: 7:00 a.m. electing captains “Attitude Reflects Leadership” — Remember the Titans.

Monday: 3:30 we will be doing a service project during practice time, come prepared to work, then we are all required to attend the Cougar Legend Banquet. Find ways to serve during this event.

Tuesday: We will be performing more service in lieu of practice.

Wednesday: Study Hall begins at 3:30 and we better have specific items to work on. You must have enough work for 2 hours.

Criteria to EARN jersey back for Friday’s Game

1) Attend all practices that we have planned and any others that may come up.

2) Be on time and totally prepared

3) No F’s or discipline problems

4) Do an individual service project for your family, give me a typed report of it and pictures and have your parents sign it. (Due Wed. before study hall)

5) Memorize and pass this quote off to one of the coaches at some point during study hall

“Good character is more to be praised than outstanding talent. Most talents are, to some extent, a gift. Good character, by contrast is not given to us. We have to build it, piece by piece — by thought, by choice, courage, and determination.”

If you meet ALL criteria by Wednesday night, you will have earned the privilege to play in the games on Thursday and Friday. If you fail then you will miss this week’s game.

Signed,

your coaches

The team's community service has already begun.

Utah coach suspends entire team for cyberbullying and more http://t.co/lZSgpPt6bz

— Paige Williams (@williams_paige) September 26, 2013

This plan should be implemented for ALL teams who disrespect their elders and bully their classmates.  This man deserves a large round of applause for taking a stand against cyber bullying and teaching his boy was true character really is all about. Do you agree with how the coaches are handling the issue? You can voice your opinion below and show your support for coach Matt on the school's Facebook page.

Source: Deseret News, High School Football America