Edit to add:

Subsequently 3 or 4 girls were unjustly removed from the team which led to 3 others quitting because they no longer wanted to be apart of such an unfair and toxic environment. They were left with a JV team that could no longer even be considered a team and could not compete due to the small number left. A few of the varsity members were never held accountable for their involvement in this and are currently still competing on the team. 

Hi everyone,

I wanted to take a moment to share some important details regarding my daughter’s removal from the team. My goal is to clarify the situation and provide the facts, especially for those who may be unsure of what to believe or who have been misled by false narratives.

First and foremost, Maliyah should never have been removed from the team—something the athletic director himself acknowledged.

There was absolutely no justification for this decision. Maliyah was never given a verbal warning, a written warning, or even a suspension. Instead, she was abruptly told there was no longer a place for her on the team this season, without any valid explanation. When she asked for a reason, the head coach simply stated that she had “violated” the code of conduct but refused to specify how. No clear reasoning, no substantial evidence—just a sudden and unjust decision.

To be clear, the proper steps were not taken. No one spoke with Maliyah beforehand, no attempt was made to reach out to me, and there was no due process in handling this situation.

Here’s how everything unfolded:

1. A JV team group chat was created for the girls to communicate about practices, games, conditioning, and other team-related matters. It also served as a safe space for them to express their feelings, which they have every right to do.

2. Two varsity cheerleaders approached the JV squad, saying they felt closer to them than to their own teammates and asked to be added to the group chat.

3. The JV team agreed and allowed them to join.

4. The varsity cheerleaders initiated a conversation that led to them speaking negatively about both former and current varsity teammates. The JV girls, including Maliyah, did not participate in this conversation—most simply reacted in shock.

5. Word got back to the coaches, and in an attempt to protect themselves, the two varsity girls selectively shared snippets from the group chat, showing only parts where JV members had expressed frustrations about their treatment on the team.

6. The only thing Maliyah had said—months ago—was that she felt some teammates were babied and shown favoritism. That was the full extent of her involvement. Yet, because a coach couldn’t handle a teenager’s honest feelings, she was removed from a team she has dedicated years of her life to.

Here’s what happened next:

1. Maliyah received a text from the head coach telling her to stay home from the first basketball game of the season. She was given no explanation, and I was never contacted.

2. Respecting the 24-hour rule about questioning a coach’s decision, Maliyah waited until the next day to ask why she was benched.

3. By 9:30 PM the next night, she still hadn’t heard back. She sent a respectful message:

“Hello coach, I’m going to bed soon, but I can’t seem to wrap my head around what exactly is happening to me with this team right now. I haven’t gotten any closure or any explanation of what I did or a chance to explain myself, so I’m wondering if I can receive that?”

4. The coach finally responded the following morning at 7:50 AM, saying they would discuss it that day—yet by the afternoon, Maliyah still had no answers.

5. That evening, they finally spoke, and Maliyah was told she had been removed from the team for violating the code of conduct—but still, no specific reason was given.

6. Through tears of frustration, Maliyah pleaded for clarity during their 30-minute phone call. The coach refused to provide details.

7. The coach said she would send Maliyah the reason for her removal in writing later that night.

8. Maliyah followed up, requesting:

“Please send me the screenshots of everything I did to violate the code of conduct that led to my removal. Thank you.”

9. She never received a response. No screenshots, no reasoning—just the repeated claim that she had violated the code of conduct.

Why I Started This Petition

Now, I know my child isn’t perfect. She has made mistakes along the way, just like we all have. But to have something she so passionately loves ripped away from her—not because of her actions, but because of a coach’s inability to handle the truth and do what’s right for these athletes—is unacceptable.

This is exactly why I started this petition. That person doesn’t deserve to be in a position of authority over teenagers if she can’t nurture, protect, and ensure they all feel respected and treated equally.