Player's Mother, Football Coach Involved In Angry Encounter At St. Joe's

MONTVALE, N.J. (CBSNewYork) -- St. Joseph Regional High School is a football powerhouse, but this week the action took place off the field and pitted a coach against a player's mother.

The scuffle between the assistant coach and a 40-year-old mother from Elizabeth started during practice.

As CBS2's Tony Aiello reported, the angry encounter reportedly happened Tuesday, at the football field behind the Catholic school.

According to NorthJersey.com, an assistant football coach told police he heard a player's mother arguing loudly with another coach.

When he asked her to calm down she "got in his face, screaming, and spitting. She slapped him across the face with keys in her hand and he pushed her away to protect himself."

But the mother said the coach "spit at her, she smacked him in the head with an open palm and he retaliated by punching her and knocking her to the ground."

Both versions were disappointing, but not surprising to one retired teacher.

"Parents sometimes get overwhelmed and they're very passionate about their kids, and want to protect their kids. But I also find coaches are something a little too aggressive towards the children, but it gets me upset that they can't work it out," Rosemary Myers said.

"I do have children in sports and it was always something for parents, you have to make sure you're in the right place and also the coaches," Helen Lodge said.

The St. Joe's Athletic Director released a brief statement.

"We had an altercation between two adults. Both parties are extremely embarrassed."