sc runner wrote:
Like others have said, the decision is subjective depending on how good of a runner he is. If he is a semi-pro elite runner entering a large race with really good prize money, then you let him race and keep him on staff as not many high schools have elite coaches. However, if he is a 20+ minute 5k runner entering a local fun run, he should be cut from the team, especially if it is a pattern.
Agreed.
I also think it depends on the level of staffing of the team. Some high school coaching staffs consist of a head coach and one assistant. Other teams have a head coach, a distance coach, a hurdle coach, a pole vault coach, a throws coach, a jumps coach, and a few volunteers to help out.
If the absence of one coach means that you'll have 6 coaches instead of 7, it's really no big deal. If the absence of one coach means that the head coach is going to have to run the whole show himself, then it's a bigger issue.