Are High School Coaches Becoming Wimps? (military, elect, state, Georgia)

[KevK]

Originally Posted by ovcatto

What an utterly cro-magnon view point. In 2007, 13 kids died as a result of heat related illness, kids! Not cops, not fire fighters, kids. A coaches job is to teach kids to play a sport to their best potential while not endangering their lives. IT'S A GAME!

Please relive your Vince Lombari fantasies with your own kids and leave everyone else's alone.

As sad as it is, probably a good amount of those kids would have passed away anyway- whether or not they were on the football team because I suspect they had underlying conditions that caused them to die. But it has become fashionable to blame football or blame the coach for it. If practice was that bad or dangerous, the whole team would be dropping dead on the field. Kids who are 14 to 18 are usually more then physically fit to workout in the heat and the cold. At 18 you can elect to join the U.S. Marine Corps and, if you think high school football practice is hard, just try summer basic training in Paris Island South Carolina!
I am sure we lose a few good men in basic training for the Army and Marines but I do not hear people blaming the military for that. They are not telling the Marines that they must not have any outdoor training when the temperature is 95 degrees. But yet these same people will curse coach for it. I don't get it. And Vince Lombarti was a great coach. One of the best ever. Because he brought out the BEST in those who played for him.

[KevK]

Originally Posted by Katiana

Yes, I was talking to you. I'd guess 8 is old enough to learn about scoring, but much younger than that they don't and they can be such boors is they win. One of my kids started competitive gymnastics at 7; in retrospect, it was a little young.

It is not important for 7 or 8 year olds but high school kids are different. They are pre adults and they have to start learning charactor and discipline.

[Katiana]

Originally Posted by KevK

As sad as it is, probably a good amount of those kids would have passed away anyway- whether or not they were on the football team because I suspect they had underlying conditions that caused them to die. But it has become fashionable to blame football or blame the coach for it. If practice was that bad or dangerous, the whole team would be dropping dead on the field. Kids who are 14 to 18 are usually more then physically fit to workout in the heat and the cold. At 18 you can elect to join the U.S. Marine Corps and, if you think high school football practice is hard, just try summer basic training in Paris Island South Carolina!
I am sure we lose a few good men in basic training for the Army and Marines but I do not hear people blaming the military for that. They are not telling the Marines that they must not have any outdoor training when the temperature is 95 degrees. But yet these same people will curse coach for it. I don't get it. And Vince Lombarti was a great coach. One of the best ever. Because he brought out the BEST in those who played for him.

This is why they have to have a physical. I have never heard of requiring EKGs, X-rays, etc, but here in Colorado, you have to be cleared by a doctor to do sports in the Colorado High School Activities Assn. One thing the dr. asks if if there is any family history of sudden death. Every now and then some professional athlete dies suddenly of cardiac arrest.

Originally Posted by KevK

It is not important for 7 or 8 year olds but high school kids are different. They are pre adults and they have to start learning charactor and discipline.

I certainly agree with that. But the poster was talking about 8 year olds. I evolved in my thinking on this subject over the years. When my kids started doing gymnastics, I was very much in the camp that said kids had to learn to win/lose early, etc, but as time went on, I changed my thinking and thought the younger ones ought to be doing it more for fun, skill development, etc. There is plenty of time to compete. BTW, I had a kid doing competitive gymnastics for about 12 years.

[KevK]

Originally Posted by Katiana

This is why they have to have a physical. I have never heard of requiring EKGs, X-rays, etc, but here in Colorado, you have to be cleared by a doctor to do sports in the Colorado High School Activities Assn. One thing the dr. asks if if there is any family history of sudden death. Every now and then some professional athlete dies suddenly of cardiac arrest.




I certainly agree with that. But the poster was talking about 8 year olds. I evolved in my thinking on this subject over the years. When my kids started doing gymnastics, I was very much in the camp that said kids had to learn to win/lose early, etc, but as time went on, I changed my thinking and thought the younger ones ought to be doing it more for fun, skill development, etc. There is plenty of time to compete. BTW, I had a kid doing competitive gymnastics for about 12 years.

I know. I was just pointing out- as the title of the thread says HIGH SCHOOL. Little kids are a different thing. With them, everybody can be a winner and nobody has to be a loser. But when you get to high school, you have to learn that there are winners and there are losers. Both on and off the field.

[malamute]

Originally Posted by PITTSTON2SARASOTA

I don't think the Coaches are being wimps but are wary of unfavorable litigation. I feel so old saying...We walked in the snow to school...etc....but it was true. I do feel that some parents and society in general "coddle" their children too much.....partly evidenced by the increase in obesity in today's children. You do not see kids playing outside like years ago....when we were kids(60's) our parents would have to drag us into the house, even on a cold winter's day; the exact opposite of many of today's children. "Go outside and play" as my parents used to say...LOL....and try and come home for supper.

Kids today will drop dead if they go outdoors, they've become so used to sitting in 65 degree air condioned rooms that if they go outside when it's over 80, they'll die. Same as in the winter, they sit in rooms heated to 82 degrees and the blast of cold air outdoors will injure their lungs.

Schools keep kids indoors so many of the days now, it has to be a perfect day for them to see an outdoor recess.

[allydriver]

Originally Posted by malamute

Kids today will drop dead if they go outdoors, they've become so used to sitting in 65 degree air condioned rooms that if they go outside when it's over 80, they'll die. Same as in the winter, they sit in rooms heated to 82 degrees and the blast of cold air outdoors will injure their lungs.

Schools keep kids indoors so many of the days now, it has to be a perfect day for them to see an outdoor recess.

A couple more generations and we should have individuality and competitiveness completely bread out of our society.
Right about that same time, China will be coming into it's own as a capitalist democracy.

[North Beach Person]

Originally Posted by allydriver

A couple more generations and we should have individuality and competitiveness completely bread out of our society.
Right about that same time, China will be coming into it's own as a capitalist democracy.

Don't judge all of today's kids by the ones you see in this forum complaining about competition for jobs, or whining because they got disciplined at work, or in a tizzy because they're 25 and still pure as the driven snow, or so lacking in self-confidence they're afraid to answer the phone or think they have all the answers after one Philosophy class and wish all Republicans/Democrats/conservatives/liberals should die. All kids aren't like the ones that spend their time here.

[ovcatto]

Originally Posted by KevK

As sad as it is, probably a good amount of those kids would have passed away anyway

Ah, Darwin joins Vice Lombardi! GMAFB!

I am sure we lose a few good men in basic training for the Army and Marines but I do not hear people blaming the military for that.

Safety Change Made After Ranger Deaths - The New York Times

Staff sergeant faces charges in recruit's death [Archive] - Marine Corps Community for USMC Marine Veterans

Marines investigate boot camp drowning - Nightly News with Brian Williams- msnbc.com

Neanderthals Lead the Way! Hoohah!

[the one]

coaching kids sports now was not like it was in the 70's 80's or even the 90's. the level of competition and the urge to succeed are a lot greater.

more is on the line ($). remember, it was big news the first time an athlete got paid more than 1 million dollars for a contract.

times change. people need to change.

coaches aint wimps, just getting smarter.

[stan4]

Originally Posted by KevK

I know. I was just pointing out- as the title of the thread says HIGH SCHOOL. Little kids are a different thing. With them, everybody can be a winner and nobody has to be a loser. But when you get to high school, you have to learn that there are winners and there are losers. Both on and off the field.

Sorry. I think high school is way too late to learn about competition and real drive. It's been proven over and over that time spent practicing and in serious competition cannot be 'caught up' with in high school. Those kids who have been hitting it hard since they were little have a huge advantage that often can never be caught up to. The same is true of education, social skills, etc.