Too Much

This weekend I witnessed a situation which absolutely got my blood boiling.
Everyone is well aware how hot it was in Rock Hill. At the end of the day on Sunday (over 100 degrees). There was a team which had been playing all weekend (and all day) and when they lost their last game, the coach made them run sprints in the hot sun afterward - on the other side of the fence in the outfield - for approximately 15 - 20 minutes. He then proceeded to have a meeting for another 10 minutes or so, obviously to critique them and point out their faults.
all while the other teams had taken the field and were warming up. All in the sweltering heat.

The girls then came off the field, obviously hot, exhausted, spent. But worse, demoralized and confused.

There is no substitute for common sense. But when you start messing around with the athletes health, someone should step in. The parents of these athletes were obviously quite upset, and were verbalizing it to me.
Others seemed afraid to say anything.......... why? I will tell you that if it was my child out there, that coach would have had a very serious problem on his hands.

This Coach is obviously an exception to the rule based on my 9 years experience - I have been told that his team is always looking for players. Perhaps he should take a look at his methods, or perhaps get out of coaching all together - somewhere along the line, he has forgotten the reason and purpose of this game. Somewhere along the line it appears as if it has become all about him and has lost sight of his players.

Perhaps my perception is unfounded, but I have shared this story in greater detail with several people and they all seemed to be aware of this particular teams fate. Too bad......

 

The Only Thing I Would Warn You About !!

I agree what you are saying, but trust me it will be worse in college !!! I'm a verbal person also ,but have been warned get it out now because in college you complain or run your mouth in the college realm your kid will sit the bench. I've learned to except some things that I don't agree with over the years just to get practiced up for the future !!! Footnote: just over the past year a kid lost a full scholarship because of a meddling parent, I think i would shoot myself if I caused that !!!

Guru

 

Guru, I have been to a ton of college games and NEVER have I seen or even heard of a college coach running their players on the field after a loss. (not saying it never happened)
If play was sloppy and attitude poor then they may have received a tongue lashing in the outfield and had an extra long (hard) practice next day but I dont know of a college coach that would demoralise their players that way.
I do agree that at the college level parents are wise to stay out of it as far as playing time or on field matters are concerned, but if and when your child is treated in a way that could harm them you should be at their side in a heartbeat. If they play for a coach like that at ANY level, I thik they would be well served in the long run to leave the program.

Ray

 

College ball is also over before these major heatwaves hit. I also haven't seen a college team running after games. We do run after regular games at our high school. It is for conditioning purposes and not punishment. We never run during a tournament unless that is the only game of the day. If it were 100 degrees the running probably wouldn't happen at all. Was this a NC or SC team?

 

You Misunderstood Me !!!

I'm not talking about the punishment I'm talking about the intense conditioning of college players...maybe I misled you and others, I wasn't even talking about after a loss or win, I'm saying that college level workouts are tougher than give me 10 pushups !!! How do we even know that was the reason they were running sprints, it may have been part of their ritual, I don't know, sorry for the misunderstanding..I was actually just trying to say get all your verbage out now, because it want be travel ball in college, and all of us in control want be then !!!

Guru

 

Conditioning and just about everything else gets turned up a notch or two. I think the original point was it was unreasonable on that day. Not to mention you are holding the next team up next from starting their warm ups. Using college football as an example because they practice in hot summer. They do everything they can to avoid the heat. They practice early morning and late evening.

 

Guru,
Please don't confuse what I wrote with objection to conditioning. Thats not what was happening there. THATS THE POINT.
Also, you know that I probably know more than most about college sports and conditioning pertaining to it.
That's not what i saw.
Heck, if you want to run your kids, if that's a part of the program then, fine. Do it at the next practice, do it the next day. Don't use it as a form of punishment - or at least be flexible enough to take the athletes health and well being into consideration. No, No, No, there was alot more going on there than excercise and critiquing of the game.

If your child is fortunate enough to be able to play at the college level, you will certainly do your homework about the program, etc... and hopefully have a choice to pick the program which suits them best.
But remember this, once your child goes and plays for a college team, they are now "on the payroll" and are also assets to the college. No college coach would ever jeapordize the health of a player - that's like running your car with no oil in it. why destroy your investment?

Here's something else for ya - once they go off to college, they are in adulthood training - time for mommy and daddy to stand back and let them start making some decisions for themselves. You don't call the coach - you don't interfere, thats your young adults job.......

 

I Agree With You !! I Like The Last Part Especially !!

You can ask my DD, I don't cut her no slack, after the Showcase Sunday, we went to the closest field hit 100 basketballs, that's like hitting a punching bag,and we will continue this until her upper body strength is maxium for her build. But also in your statement there are kids that want make it because mommy and daddy do everything for them. I know some of these All-District kids that mommy's and daddy's want let them be young adults. I'm with you, my kid knows how to sweat,and works hard. Come to think of it we will be back on the field today hitting another 100 basketballs. Also I haven't called any coaches, but I bet alot have, I told my DD if she wants it get out there and get it...just ask her..she thinks I'm mean because 50% of the parents baby or hold their kids hand, not me, I've given my 11 years it's time like you said for her to do it, that's why I'm not coaching anymore...Daddy Ball can never be worn on my back !! The only time I interfered is when it effects the whole family only then will I step in !!!

Guru

 

Why does it allways get back to what will happen in college. The majority of the girls playing travelball aren't playing to get to play in college their playing to have fun. As it should be. As one on here said many mant times I hear and see coaches joking and laughing about how he really jump his girls butts or made them run till they nearly dropped. They think it makes tham look big to be able to control a group of young girls but it just makes them look very small to me. Yes you do need some disipline but more importantly you need to let the kids have fun that is what it is all about, or at least should be

 

I agree!

I hope that the coach of this team reads TBR. It was absolutely absurd for these young ladies to be running in the intense heat that we were ALL so miserable in on Saturday. Had it been my DD I would have taken her off of the team right that moment.

I am just sorry that I did not go over to say something to the coach while it was taking place. These girls had just been in the 100+ heat for 2 hours and were made to run sprints immediatley afterwards- ridiculous!

I hope for the girls that they can find somewhere else to play ball! And for the coach I hope you understand that while conditioning is very important that abusing these young ladies was completely inappropriate. I lost a lot of respect for your program and I know that all other parents in attendance did as well.