Parents tell Farmersville school board coaches are belittling volleyball players; board discussed training

Parents of Farmersville High School volleyball players told the Farmersville Unified School District board on Sept. 9 that coaches have been verbally harsh toward student-athletes, leaving several players in tears and prompting at least one team to forfeit a league game.

"The coach is mentally and emotionally breaking me," parent Stephanie Alvarez said she heard a player tell her after an away match. Alvarez urged the board to act quickly, saying she and other parents had followed district complaint channels and that the coach had been reprimanded by school staff, but that students had not been told what, if anything, had been done.

The concern was echoed by parent Crystal Rodriguez Lopez, who said numerous players have been "constantly belittled, embarrassed, and left in tears" and that some athletes were told they could not speak to their parents after games. Rodriguez Lopez said several teammates have told her they want to quit and that "the JV was forced to forfeit their first league game."

Why it matters: Parents told the board the alleged treatment affects students' mental well‑being and participation in school sports. Alvarez and Rodriguez Lopez said players missed practices and felt unsafe speaking up; Alvarez warned she would contact a news outlet if the district did not follow up.

What parents said happened: Alvarez described an incident at an away volleyball match in which a player arrived crying and later told Alvarez she could no longer play because of the coach's conduct. Alvarez said she and other parents met with the principal and athletic director and were told the coach had been reprimanded, but that the students had not been informed and attendance at subsequent practices dropped.

Rodriguez Lopez said a volunteer JV coach was being undermined and that the varsity coach was running JV practices and disciplining JV players in ways Rodriguez Lopez described as punitive, including preventing athletes from communicating with parents. "No coach has the authority to silence athletes in that way or interfere with communication between a child and their parent," she said.

District response at the meeting: The public comment period recorded no formal board vote or disciplinary action taken at the Sept. 9 meeting. Parents said they had already reported the matter to the principal and athletic director and were told a reprimand had occurred; that statement came from parents' public comments and was not presented as a formal board action in the meeting minutes.

Board discussion and next steps: During later board business, members raised the need for coach training and certification and for better mental‑health supports for student‑athletes. Board members discussed reinstating or requiring state coach certification and providing mental‑health and leadership training for coaches; the transcript shows those subjects were discussed but does not record a formal direction, motion, or vote to adopt a specific training program.

What was not decided: The board did not take a formal disciplinary action on any coach during the meeting, nor did the board record a motion to change coaching assignments or policies at that session. Parents called for faster, clearer communication to students about outcomes of complaints and for immediate steps to safeguard athletes.

Context and background: Commenters said similar problems occurred last year and that they persisted into the current season. The parents named the athletic director and the district principal as having been involved in follow‑up meetings; the district also fields volunteer coaches and multiple staff who oversee athletics. The comments referenced an away game at Lindsay and local JV and varsity teams at Farmersville High School.

What to watch for: Parents asked the board to act promptly and requested follow‑up; board members requested more information about coach certification and mental‑health supports. The transcript indicates the district will follow up with more information but does not include a publicly recorded timeline for corrective steps.