Tennessee —
When FFRF informed the Tipton County Schools superintendent of sports team coaches forcing their players to pray, the district took action to see the practice come to an end.
A local parent informed FFRF that at middle school softball games, the coaches of both teams were leading their teams in the Lord’s Prayer in a prayer circle. Additionally, the coach told the parent’s child directly to participate in the prayer circle, and that coach-led prayer is common across sports teams in the district.
FFRF Patrick O’Reiley Legal Fellow Charlotte R. Gude wrote to the district, and Superintendent John Combs emailed FFRF, stating that he spoke with district principals, and reminded them of their expectation of adhering to the Constitution. Combs additionally wrote that his office would be open to the complainant’s family in the future if incidents were to occur again.
