California —
FFRF learned that American Canyon High school’s head football coach seemed to be leading student athletes in a locker room prayer prior to the team’s Dec. 14, 2024, game. FFRF’s complainant provided a photo that showed players gathered around the coach with their heads bowed, while the coach stood in the middle of the players’ huddle.
“When a coach leads the team in prayer, students will no doubt feel that participating in that prayer is essential to pleasing their coach and being viewed as a team player,” FFRF Staff Attorney Sammi Lawrence wrote.
FFRF heard back from the district’s legal representative Rebecca Nelson. Nelson investigated the district’s conduct and confirmed that the coach did indeed lead the team in a prayer before the game. “Because the coach prayed aloud with the football team during the pregame huddle, his actions could be found inconsistent with the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution despite his best intentions,” Nelson wrote. Nelson confirmed that corrective action had been taken, and that the district had ensured that the coach had guidance and information needed to comply with the relevant First Amendment requirements.
