Not so sure of HS ball...

My DD plays softball for one of the area HS. Game was cancelled for this week due to rain out. I made her a Dr. Appt for hip pain she had been having, and was told by the HS coach that they were going to practice indoors and that she needed to be there even if she could not participate. Against my better judgement, I cancelled her appt. and took her to practice where I ASSUMED her coach would look after her. She was made to do the entire hour long strength and agility training. When I picked her up she was in excrutiating pain and I had to get her an emergency appt. Now she is not able to play! Needless to say I am furious!! Instead of resting that hip and getting better, now we are looking at numerous Dr. Appts!! Please tell me that most HS coaches do not look after their players that way!!!

 

Coaches really are not qualified to . . . .

'look out for their players' if that means making decisions about whether a particular injury warrants exclusion from practice. That's why HS need real certified athletic trainers. Unfortunately, even in the wake of heat-related and head-injury related deaths many schools still don't have REAL professional trainers. I would suggest that having a trainer (or two) is more important than having eight football coaches or maybe even two softball coaches. This will not happen until parents demand it.

At Alabama (and all college programs in all sports) Nick Saban doesn't decide whether the QB can re-enter the game after getting his bell rung . . . he's not qualified to make that judgement . . . the AT decides. This is how it should be.

 

IMO, doctor appointments concerning health issues (hip pain in this case) have priority over sports.

Parents know (or should know) their kids better than the coach. Put your kid's health first.

Better to be on the "sit" list than on the disabled list.

Most coaches are going to push their players to get the most they can from the players. But most won't knowingly jeopardize a kid's health. The kid has to make the coach aware of her pain, though.

 

As a coach I will say this, health of 'my' girls comes before anything else. I tell the girls that there is no way I can know their bodies better than they do. We run, sprint, slide, dive, etc. If they are in pain, stop, walk, tell me something. If they have a Dr.'s appointment for an injury, I don't care if it's on a Game day, do the appointment. If it's just some type of check up, I ask them to reschedule if they can, if they can't, do the appointment. I also tell them that if they 'always' seem to be the first to walk, 'always' have something else they need to do instead of practice, then they need to decide if they really want to play. If anyone coaches long enough, you will have to deal with injuries. To me the worst thing I can do is make it last longer than it needs to. Winning is important. If it wasn't, they wouldn't keep score. But, nothing is more important than the players. I have a hard enough time dealing with 'normal' stuff (boyfriends, driver's ed, upset about something, don't feel well, etc) injuries are too easy to deal with. Maybe I'll never be a 'good coach', but I hope I'll always be a good leader who puts the welfare of 'my' girls first.

 

Get a note

All you had to do is take her to the and orthopedic doctor, using your insurance, recommended by the AD, during school hours if need be , and get a note saying she was hurt during a game or practice. Also, there is a form for the trainer to fill out and signed by him/her for the school system to cover any additional medical costs associated with the injury, including a % of co-pay costs. The school system will cover a portion of the costs, if it took place during a school function. If the coach knew she was injured and still made her practice, the coach is incompetent and should be disciplined.

 

Mom, you made a bad decision!!!!!

What were you thinking??? I suggest you turn important decision-making over to your husband before you really regret it!!

 

You can't be serious! I suspect you're just baiting someone to make the same kind of ignorant comment. No one is this far behind!

 

You sound a little stressed out.