Due to recent incidents in postseason soccer competitions, North Coast Section (NCS) has placed all DVHS athletic programs on probation for the 2025-26 school year. This probation means that any future unsportsmanlike behaviors from athletes, coaches, and parents could result in team suspension or the inability for DVHS to host NCS post season playoffs.
As a response to the incidents, Principal Lauren Falkner’s email to all student athletes, coaches, and parents of athletes states that a thorough review of athletic supervision and sportsmanship procedures is being conducted, and a new action plan including increased supervision and new protocols is being implemented. The DVHS administration has declined to comment on the specifics. This plan will then be submitted to the NCS and the league as part of their probation compliance.
This probation has had serious consequences for student athletes who are continuing into the next school year.
Senior Ayaan Vijayakar, a varsity mens soccer player, explained, “We have to make sure that in the future, our program doesn’t have any sportsmanship problems, as in taunting or yelling, and we have to make sure we don’t get into any conflicts.”
Vijayakar adds that student athletes need to be extra careful for the next year as a result.
“We definitely have a target on our back due to the probation,” Vijayakar stated.
In her email, Falkner states that coaches must “model impressionism” and “hold athletes accountable for their behavior,” and that parents must “respect the roles of coaches, players, and referees.”
The reminders and expectations defined in the email act as a warning to all members of the athletic community to be on their best behavior and ensure that further incidents and conflicts are prevented.
