Too Much

If you never lose you have no idea how much fun winning really is!!

I think quite a few coaches do not understand that winning is not always controlled by how you play. All the players can play their absolute best and still lose to a team with far less talent.

I believe one of the worst things that can happen is for a coach to beat down a player who was trying her best just because they didn't win!

 

Since everyone is commenting on me, I would like to weigh in. Whether you agree or disagree with me having my players run after the game this past Sunday is your choice and opinion. I do want to say though that for all those people that think they were running for punishment or to beat them down you are mistaken. We condition at the end of tournament days when we win or lose through most of the summer and the players know that. Majority of the parents know that as well. There were two parents that were upset at the time, one was mentioned in the original thread, but it was only because like you he thought it was for punishment. He is new to the team. Since that time we have spoken and he found out from others that it was not for punishment and he has no problems with it. Same with the other new parent as well. Since we lost I’m sure that’s why everyone thought it was punishment. I did not give my players a chewing out as was stated and they are not confused and bewildered. Most of them have called me this week and are more upset because they’ve heard about the posts on the message board than about anything that happened over the weekend. You disagree with running/conditioning after games or because it was in the heat, I have no problem with that. Just don’t assume you know the motive behind it. My players know that I care about them and want them to be successful and know I’m committed to that.

Robert Powell
Team TFS 18u

 

There is a time & place for all training, but I think running in 100 degree heat is not a wise decision. What would you have done if one of those girls fallout with a heat stroke, & possibly die !!! Glad my DD does not play for you. Our coach had his girls in AC as much as possible, maybe that is why they were playing in championship game.

 

I have to weigh in...

I was not there, I can only go on what has been said in this thread!
Do I think extra running for conditioning after some tournament games in extreme heat, NOT A WELL THOUGHT OUT PLAN!! IMO On a normal day with average heat conditions, ok if that is the way you do things! But when they are on the news, reporting that anyone doing anything outside, in these conditions, should be very careful and adjust accordingly, maybe you should follow those instructions!
As far as the parents stepping in, TBR posters are so confusing at times, for the following reason:
You post on here all the time that parents should keep their comments to themselves, let the players grow up and learn to handle things for themselves! Well we are talking about 18U players! Not 10U, 12U or 14U! So don't you think that you might be sending mixed messages to the parents reading TBR? As parents do you think we should be there, as a voice, for our DD's or not?
And coach, if this is a conditioning ritual that happens at every tournament, then why would all the players/parents not be informed of this? Just asking!

 

All of this makes my brain hurt. This is not a team operational issue, not a meddlesome outsider issue, not even a perception issue. It's about an athletes health and safety. Especially about whether it was something which could have been prevented.
Robert, the "punishment" factor came from your own players and their parents who when asked what was going on, informed several in attendance that that is what your team does when they lose. Call it motivation, conditioning, excercise or just good old fashion calesthenics -
Whatever your philosophy, methods, rituals, may be - it's ok. You run your team in the manner which you deem successful. But the info came from your own team - not just an observation.
The whole point to this was and is, perhaps you should have used some common sense.
It's nice that you have tried to justify your actions, make excuses - but probably alot easier to have admitted that it was a bad call. For your players sakes, hopefully in the future you will reconsider - or not. But, if something was to happen to one of them, if you care as you say you do, then you certainly will feel very, very bad.
I'd be the last one to suggest taking it easy on any athlete. I'm a firm believer in "what don't kill you, makes you stronger" - but there is a point where some things just dont make sense. So, maybe once in a while, when the conditions are right, you'll make an exception to the rule.
Maybe not.
Its your call.

 

My name is Janna and I play on the Team TFS 18&U team for Coach Robert and I have something to say.

This man has been my coach for 4 years and is a wonderful person and the best coach I have ever had. If he abused us or hurt us in any way, I dont think I would have played for him this long. We, as his players, know what to expect from him at the end of the day. We ran on Friday, not on Saturday because we had played four games, and yes we did run on Sunday. But guess what, we knew we were going to! we have worked harder than most of the other teams out there over the winter and since we began tournament play. This past weekend we did not show what we can do as a team or as individuals but you watch as we continue our season and show everyone who we are and what we can do! Do not tell me that my team is going to fail because our coach pushes us harder than most. Coach Robert wants us to be the best that we can be, and that means extra conditioning. So when its hot and we dont think we can go any farther, he pushes us there. He lets us know that we can make it that extra inning, that extra base, that extra pitch, we KNOW that we can because of the conditioning we do. Know the facts and talk to the players before you begin to ruin an organization that has worked hard to get where they are. If you walk past us during our conditioning you will hear our players saying "We love to run", or something along those lines. We do that because we know it will only make us better and we want to be excited about getting better. We are trained to know our limits and if we cant do it, we dont. He has never told a player to run any way after they have said that they physically cant. He has NEVER put us in harms way, and he never will. If all of you at the tournament were so concerned about our well-being, why didnt you come to Coach and say something?! He is not unreasonable, he will answer your question and will let you in on his thoughts. Besides, we only ran about 20 sprints. None of us were confused or hurt by that, we knew what it was for and yes we were exhausted, but we are getting better while everyone else is saying, "It's too hot to run."

I believe that I speak for the 18&U Team TFS team in saying that we are extremely hurt and upset by a lot of people on here putting us and our coach down. We are going to be THE BEST there is, and no ones words are going to stop us.

 

dido... just look at Mcdowell and AC in the state playoffs this year.

 

Nicely done, Janna...

Janna, nice post.....speaks very well to your commitment to your team, your superb team chemistry, and the respect that you have for your coach. A well thought-out post such as yours deserves a response:

I think on any other weekend, most folks would agree with you. However, last weekend was the hottest on record for that weekend, dating back to before 1899 (109 years).

Even football teams try to work around extreme heat conditions such as those to avoid potential fatalities due to heat stroke. Unfortunately, tragedies happen....and a best effort needs to be made to ensure that everyone does their best to stay safe and play safe.

Good Luck to you and your team this season!!!!