California youth basketball coach captured grabbing referee by the neck

A California youth basketball coach was fired after he was seen grabbing a referee by the neck at a game in front of players under the age of 10. 

Video footage captured the moment the unnamed coach lunged for the referee as spectators attempted to interfere between the two men at a Saturday tournament at the Sports Academy in Thousand Oaks.

Another referee at the game was then seen punching the coach to break his colleague from the chokehold. 

The altercation ensued after the coach became angry with the referee after he was slammed with two technical fouls.

Darryl McDonald, who founded Cavs Youth Basketball, spoke out about the incident and says the organization is launching an investigation.

The coach was fired from his position on Sunday but it is unclear if he will be facing charges.

DailyMail.com reached out to Cavs.org for comment.

The altercation began after the referee slammed the coach with two technical fouls

Another referee then punched the coach out in an attempt to break his colleague free from the chokehold

‘It was unfortunate,’ McDonald said in an interview with TMZ Sports. ‘Our program has been around for over 30 years and before it even went viral, the coach was no longer part of our program.

‘It’s completely unacceptable to behave that way in front of our youth. There’s no excuse, I don’t care what someone says to you. 

‘You have to find a better way to handle that particular situation.’

Social media users have since called out the coach for mishandling the situation and setting a poor example for the young players. 

‘Role modeling starts at home. I don’t let others raise my kids I raise ’em myself,’ @egbhoops, who posted the video on Twitter, commented.

‘Looks like a 5th grade boys game man not the example trying to be set for the youth. Again it’s a youth event- that is stuff that stays with you mentally, also there are zero coaches watching kids at those events. Food for thought,’ @wcswbb commented.

‘I don’t know what started this, but totally unacceptable. Assault on referee….and you wonder why there is a shortage!,’ @Olive68063078 commented. 

‘Unacceptable…what example are we showing these kids with this kind of behavior? As adults we must lead by example. Not escalate a situation. Just sad…blue shirt was cool as a cucumber tho!,’ @TAZRAY8 commented.

 ‘This is (not) youth sports anymore. Also why there will be no sports before long because no one will be willing to referee it,’ @DanFaircloth5 commented. 

Social media users called out the coach for mishandling the situation and setting a poor example for the young players

This is not the first violent altercation to happen at a youth sporting event in the past year.

An Iowa high school player faced a felony charge of willful injury in December after he knocked out a player on the opposing team.

The senior player from Carlisle High School punched an opponent from Nevada High School during the final lineup to shake hands.

The incident was captured on video with team members attempting to intervene between the two players.

The opposing player suffered a concussion and cut to the lip that required four stitches.       

In December, a basketball player from Carlisle High School in Iowa punched an opponent from Nevada High School during the final lineup to shake hands

The incident was captured on video with team members attempting to intervene between the two players