An Idaho soccer coach and his wife have been banned from all Idaho High School Activities Association sporting events for the next year, following an altercation at an Oct. 17 soccer game between American Falls and Sugar-Salem.
The Oct. 17 game, which the Sugar-Salem Digger won, was called off after American Falls High School head coach Brett Reed was ejected. Later, Reed’s wife Lacey, was involved in a scuffle with spectators, including some parents of the players.
Reed was ejected by head referee Jake McRae for tossing his hat on the field in frustration.
As Reed left the field, his wife met him on the sidelines to “calm him down” but apparently also told McRae, “You suck.”
A Sugar-Salem player apparently thought the remark from Lacey Reed was directed at her, and replied in kind, which prompted Lacey to confront the player. Brett Reed then went to pull his wife back, which triggered several other parents and spectators to enter the fray.
After officials from Blackfoot High School, which was hosting the game, broke up the scuffle, the game was called and Sugar-Salem was handed the win.
“It was pretty poor sportsmanship,” IHSAA executive director Ty Jones told the Idaho State Journal. “That’s one of the things we try and push. There could truly be a danger factor anytime you’re allowing spectators out right next to the playing surface. It’s disappointing and, honestly, very sad…. Anytime you take away the focus from a kid, it’s really disappointing.”
Outside of their involvement with the American Falls High School girls soccer team, neither of the Reeds is employed by the American Falls School District.
Brett Reed was in his first season as head coach at American Falls High School. A replacement has not yet been found. When asked if Reed could return, American Falls athletic director Bryan Flake didn’t rule it out.
“I guess at that time if he wanted to come back, he would have to see if the school board would allow him to or allow him to apply again,” Flake said. “I’ve been honest and up front with him: I’ve never had something like this happen to me."
