Coaches Conduct: CUE Basketball-Valpreda et al

2018-19 Season 

October 31, 2018

Facts:

This ruling relates to allegedly inappropriate conduct by CUE WBB Head Coach Robbie Valpreda and Assistant Coach Stacey Buddle arising out of an October 13, 2018 Women’s Basketball game against UAA. The allegations against Ms. Buddle were contained in the game report while ACAC officials were informed of the issue arising from Mr. Valpreda’s conduct by the Alberta Basketball Officials Association.

According to the referee, during the third quarter of the game, Mr. Valpreda insinuated to the referee that he felt the game officials were favouring UAA because the UAA coach was involved in a relationship with the ABOA Assignor.

The game report makes reference to a sexual gesture made by the CUE Assistant Coach, Ms. Buddle. The referee stated that, at the conclusion of the game, Ms. Buddle made a motion with her hand he refers to as an “air-jerk” that he clearly interpreted as an obscene sexual gesture. The referee then told Ms. Buddle that she would regret her actions and that the gesture was going into his report.

The other two game officials did not witness either Mr. Valpreda’s comments or Ms. Buddle’s alleged gesture.

Both Mr. Valpreda and Ms. Buddle have provided detailed responses to the allegations raised by the referee.

Mr. Valpreda has stated that the referee misinterpreted his comments, indicating that he told the referee that he was “biased to the call” given that a similar situation earlier in the game had resulted in a call in UAA’s favour. Mr. Valpreda is adamant that he was in no way referencing the relationship between the ABOA Assigner and the UAA Coach in his comments nor was he suggesting that the referee was biased in favour of UAA. He has also stressed that the referee said nothing to him in response to his comments and issued no technical foul. The first time Mr. Valpreda heard anything about a concern from the officials came when he was advised of this investigation.

Ms. Buddle is adamant that she made no sexual gesture toward the referee, stating that the referee has clearly made an inaccurate assumption in response to her actions, which she states involved her joking around with Mr. Valpreda after the game when she made what she refers to as an “up-down” gesture with her closed hand toward Mr. Valpreda that the referee mistakenly interpreted as a sexual gesture directed toward him.

Both Ms. Buddle and Amy McColl, another CUE Assistant Coach, indicate that they were confused by the referee’s comments that, in their words, Ms. Buddle “would pay for that” and they brought up the referee’s comments with Mr. Valpreda immediately after the game. Ms. Buddle told the other coaches that she felt threatened and confused by the exchange with the referee as she did not understand its context, having had nothing to do with the referee during the game.

There was neither video evidence of the incident nor could the minor officials corroborate the allegations made by the game officials about inappropriate comments or gestures made by the CUE coaching staff.

Ruling:

Article I Section 3 Rule 3.1 of the ACAC Operating Code states as follows:

Coaches have a responsibility to:

3.1.3 Consistently display high personal standards and project a favourable image of their sport and of coaching.

3.1.7 Treat opponents and officials with due respect both in victory and defeat and encourage student-athletes to act accordingly. Actively encourage student-athletes to uphold the rules of their sport and the spirit of such rules.

In this case, if I was convinced that the version of events described by the referee in relation to either Mr. Valpreda or Ms. Buddle had occurred exactly as described by the referee then Rule 3.1 above would apply and I would be disciplining both individuals. However, under the circumstances, without a mechanism by which to test credibility, it is impossible for me to reconcile the disparate explanations provided by the parties involved, particularly in relation to the allegations made against Ms. Buddle.

Given the potential seriousness of these allegations, I am not prepared to move ahead with sanctions against either Mr. Valpreda or Ms. Buddle but they, along with all of our ACAC coaches, should be reminded of their obligation to act as role models by demonstrating professional, respectful conduct towards game officials at all times. In addition, they must ensure that they do not put themselves in a position, through either their words or their actions, where their intentions can be misconstrued in potential violation of their ethical obligations under the ACAC Operating Code.

Sincerely, 

Bill Hendsbee
ACAC Commissioner