Lacrosse coach in hot water over photograph

DARIEN, Conn. (WTNH) -- A lacrosse coach is at the center of a heated controversy after she literally got in the face of another athlete.

Darien High lacrosse coach, Lisa Lindley was photographed during a May 25th game grabbing one of her players by the helmet and screaming at her.

Her antics on the field are now getting some negative attention. The photograph has outraged some parents and sparked a debate about how far is too far when it comes to how a coach interacts with her team.

"It's always a tough balance between being a tough coach and an encouraging coach," explained Kristen Zimmerman, a Darien parent, "I think touching people is probably off limits."

"The picture seemed a little ridiculous, [she] took it too far," said Lucy, Zimmerman's daughter, a student from Darien High School.

"As a parent would you be upset if this was your daughter?" asked Zimmerman, "Sure, absolutely," she responded.

"It happens sometimes, in the heat of the moment. A coach and players, they'll do that to each other," said Tigran Badalian of Darien. "Maybe because it's high school, that's why people are outraged a little bit more."

Lindley was suspended from her post as head coach. Some say it's an overreaction to an incident that's not so over the top when it comes to sports.

"It's sports, there needs to be a little passion and enthusiasm," said Matthew Faulkner of Darien. "It doesn't seem like she got hurt, right?"

Matthew was asked if he thought this was too much and he replied, "I don't think so at all."

"I have kids who have been on football teams and football coaches are tough too, they can be mean and tough, but I think you have to physically restrain yourself," said Zimmerman, "I think that's kind of the line, at least one of the lines."

NEWS 8 reached out to the Darien superintendent's office, but they did not return our phone calls. We did talk to one parent who knows the lacrosse coach. She did not want to go on camera but she did say the lacrosse coach is a fabulous coach and she said this is an isolated incident.

See more of the images at CTpost.com