Award-winning hockey coach banned after ‘making youngsters cry and shouting an excessive amount of’
Duncan Parnis, who has autism, has been coaching seven to 18-year-olds at Knole Park Hockey Club in Sevenoaks, Kent, for six years but England Hockey has now banned him for five years
Duncan Parnis loves coaching hockey
A ‘fantastic’ children’s hockey coach has spoken of his ‘devastation’ after being driven out of the sport he adores following complaints from parents that he shouted too much.
England Hockey has imposed a five-year ban on Duncan Parnis, who was previously recognised as coach of the year. The governing body described it as a ‘permanent exclusion’ from England Hockey affiliated activities involving anyone under 18.
Allegations against him include refusing to shake hands with a child and reducing others to tears in the dugout. Yet numerous supporters at Knole Park Hockey Club in Sevenoaks, Kent, where he had been coaching youngsters aged seven to 18 for six years, have rallied behind the embattled coach.
They claim he has brought ‘joy’ to the sport and has been treated ‘grotesquely’ with insufficient consideration for his autism.
However, the complainants – totalling 22 – alleged he ‘belittled’ the children’s performances, yelled at them from the touchline, was disparaging towards players, provided harsh criticism and caused players to retreat to the dugout in tears after being berated. Seven witnesses provided testimony at his tribunal, including two youngsters, reports the Mirror.
Duncan was suspended last June and received his ban from England Hockey in January following a hearing by their Child Protection and Welfare Disciplinary panel. The panel concluded the coach posed a ‘potential risk of harm to the safety and or welfare of a young person in hockey’.
However, club members allege that the panel has overlooked the 100 emails of support, amounting to 30,000 words. Supporters of Duncan have lauded the coach, attributing their 22 national titles in six years to his talent.
Duncan revealed his plans to appeal the decision and pursue legal action. The 41-year-old, who has trained around 10,000 individuals over the years, including at least ten Olympians, expressed: “I’m devastated. It’s emotionally been impossible to deal with. But my well-being is of no interest to England Hockey.”
He added: “This is just a very small handful of disgruntled parents either with me or with my selection decisions. It’s nothing to do with the kids.
“I think the autism is a massive factor too. I think this is a character assassination, fundamentally. My brain wasn’t telling me to do things a different way to fit in. I don’t enjoy small talk.”
He added that he doesn’t like shaking anyone’s hand.
He told of his “frustration and sadness” that he has been forced to stop coaching. But stressed: “No one ever wants anyone to be upset. I’m sad that it’s happened and I’m sad that I haven’t been given a fair opportunity to defend myself. There were probably 100 emails that all supported me and I think they named 22 emails that didn’t support me, and a number of them were dug up from the past, some left two years ago. “
He said he didn’t give evidence at this hearing because of the ‘lack of transparency’ about how they pick the panel he was judged by.
“I’d say two thirds to three quarters of those who complained because they weren’t picked for something. I think the picture that they wanted to paint was we’re talking 20, 30 years ago, when a teacher shouts at you in your face. And that was normal back then. Well, that just never happened, ever. “
Talking about the impact it has had on him, he said: “Hockey was everything in my life. I was hockey 24-7. I was probably doing between 60 and 70 hours a week coaching 200-250 people a week with upwards of four to six hockey matches a weekend. Now I’m left twiddling my thumbs.
“I’ve been doing that you know for 20 years. There’s been 22 complaints out of 10,000 people I’ve coached. It’s been very difficult, mental health-wise.
“If they come and watch me once a month, once a fortnight in a random hockey match, they’re not going to see the relationship I have with their son or daughter that I see four or five times a week, where three, four, five other sessions have been super positive. It’s not in my interest to have favorites or to bully someone,” he said.
And about claims he had a bad attitude to referees, he said: “I’m not going to sit here and say I am an angel but I have not been sin binned for two years or something like that, which is quite remarkable. I am a vocal hockey coach, I talk to players, I shout across the pitch, I may be appealing for a decision. “
Backing the coach, Michael Brown, 46, whose two daughters have been members of Knole Park HC for three years, told us: “I have attended almost all of their training sessions and matches. He is a fantastic coach.
“Duncan is very focused on detail and just wants children to fulfil their potential. I would say there is an approach to coaching, where communication rests too much on telling all players that they are brilliant but then sometimes in order for children to improve you need to point out areas they can work on. Unfortunately some parents haven’t liked that despite it being a very necessary part of improvement.”
Michael, a former professional county cricketer and former Chairman of Burnley Cricket Club, is no stranger to different coaching styles after many years in professional sport.
“It is important to combine both praise and constructive comments as part of any player’s development whether young or old. It builds knowledge, skills and most importantly resilience.”
He said: “Duncan is a wonderful hockey coach who has been instrumental in my eldest daughter’s development as both a hockey player and person. My daughters both love their hockey and have made so many new friends whilst also becoming so much more confident in themselves, and stronger, more resilient people.”
He described England Hockey’s decision as “unfair and unjustified” and claimed that if parents had known or or been aware of Duncan’s autism, they may perhaps have been more sympathetic to his way of communicating.
“The vast majority of parents understood this and helped their children learn how to react to this in a positive and respectful way which will help them throughout life.”
Mum Aynur Ates, a solicitor whose two children were coached by Duncan, said: “I am saddened to see how England Hockey has treated Duncan. What they’ve done feels not just unfair, but cruel, discriminatory, and deeply abusive.
“England Hockey actively reached out to former members, soliciting complaints. Duncan is one of the most extraordinary coaches I’ve ever seen. He makes hockey feel joyful, alive. The results speak for themselves: rapid progress, confident play, genuine love for the game.
“To watch England Hockey tear that away leaves me angry, heartbroken, and profoundly sad. The children deserve better. Duncan deserves better.”
Duncan stressed: “I am not saying I am a perfect hockey coach. I’m not a perfect person either. But I’ve never, ever wanted to upset anyone or not give my best to any player I’ve ever coached I’ve just tried to give them an environment where they’re demanding of themselves. And try and make it as enjoyable as possible.”
England Hockey said: “The process is still on-going, and we won’t be commenting on this while it’s live.”
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