A 16‑year‑old varsity football player at Commack High School on Long Island was hit in the face by a helmet hurled by an assistant coach during a summer practice on Aug. 26.
A Troubling Episode on the Practice Field
The impact left cuts beneath his right eye that required three stitches and prompted an immediate evaluation for a possible concussion.
Witnesses said the coach, a volunteer who is also the head coach’s son, launched the helmet "like a dart" toward the teenager, an act that shocked teammates and onlookers.
The player’s parents, including Laura Werner and Cary Werner, publicly criticized the coach’s lack of proper certification and questioned how such behavior could be allowed on the field.
Suffolk County police have opened an investigation into the incident, though no arrests have been made, and the episode has reignited broader discussions about safety protocols and coaching standards in high school sports.