I'm sure if the kid had claimed he was tired Mtn Dew would have let him cut the workout as well. He didn't ask because it is not that he physically or mentally has a problem running just that he craves attention and thinks he will get kids or the coach to pay attention to him if he cuts. If he is enough of a clown, he may love running circles around the coach but still the miles are getting put in.
prob a troll - in multiple definitions
why would you post on here asking for help and asking if you're crazy. Then get feedback only to defend your misguided coaching philosophy and practice.
You are so wrong. Sad part, as said, is you demonstrably portray it and you continue to preach it. Shouldn't ask questions if you don't want answers, especially on here.
7 mile repeats? - you believe that?
You need ECT. Gheez.
this is my humble feedback for you
M Dew
I'm one of the few people here who actually coaches the age group you talk about. I would not have the policies you do but at the same time do not think it's ridiculous that you have them. Kids need accountability in their life more than anything else and although 200 push ups seems extreme you have clarified that you allow knee push ups etc so it's more about the effort (and even a little constructive embarrassment) than the push ups themselves. Stick to your policy. If the administration backs you up, which they wouldn't where I coach , good for you and for them, and the kids. You're a regular here so I'm not sure why you thought you'd get a decent response from the letsrun peanut gallery but I figured you should get one response from someone who actually works with the same age group and gets similar results. Good luck.
I did not realize that the South was that bad at running. Why does Mississippi have 6 classes? Their population isn't that big, and it certainly isn't a competitive state.
It is sad how many posters on this board and this thread in particular confuse a competitive school team and a school club.
Mtn Dew, you are doing just fine. Keep at it and keep producing good runners ready for the next level.
whatajoke wrote:
I did not realize that the South was that bad at running.
Why would Mississippi be any better at running than they are at anything else?
whatajoke wrote:
I did not realize that the South was that bad at running. Why does Mississippi have 6 classes? Their population isn't that big, and it certainly isn't a competitive state.
TN has many different classes, it's not due to a huge population it's due to football. Football in the south is a religion, I know other places like football, but in the south it's just beyond the pale.
HS fball coaches realized that the more divisions they create the more "championships" they can claim, and therefore remain employed. We have so many divisions that fball teams with a losing record go to the playoffs.
So a coach can tell his AD, even if he was 4-6 that they were a "playoff team"...
whatajoke wrote:
I did not realize that the South was that bad at running. Why does Mississippi have 6 classes? Their population isn't that big, and it certainly isn't a competitive state.
Yeah, it's not too competitive. Every small country high school in Mississippi is trying to get a chance at South Panola High School on the football field (nation's #1 H.S. football team last fall).
The reason MS has 6 divisions instead of 5 is to give the 5A schools a competitive chance in football and basketball. When 5A was the cap, a few schools with (relatively) gigantic student populations won convincingly in every sport. Now, they have been kicked up into their own division, 6A.
Nobody cares about H.S. running in Mississippi except a few kids and their parents. Really, nobody. Last week at XC practice at the local H.S., the football coach (and AD) walked by, took a look at the team, and dropped this great pearl of wisdom to his assistants, deliberately loud enough to be heard:
Those who can, play football. Those who can't, play basketball. And those who really can't, run XC.
Around here, it is more prestigious to be a football 3rd stringer who functions as a tackling dummy in practice than to be a top 5 XC runner. When the kids don't get positive feedback from their peers, classmates, the girls, local media, etc, most of em think "what's the point."
Punishment is less influential in producing results as is shame. I wouldn't make him do push ups. I'd make him walk the next race. No running. Then he'll have to deal with people saying, "Come on, you can do it!" Or "Just try to jog to that tree, and then walk again if you'r too tired!" Or even, "Why is that guy walking already, must be in terible shape."
He'll learn. That will be the longest race of his life.
Mtn Dew, you need to stay away from children in general, and coaching specifically. You have zero talent for coaching.
Just pointing out that malmo has never coached a team of any age to anything. This is post number three that has been or will be deleted.
'I emailed his mom but haven't gotten a response yet.'
What for, to tell her what a jerk you are
I lol'ed.
I realize you are a troll and a very good one at that but I am going to tell you something that was told to me when I went to a coaching certification course. There was one thing that was said that I will never forget. One lady guest speaker said " I don't ever want to find out one kid quit the sport because I made it miserable for them". Middle school should be an introduction to the sport. Even a good high school has to make it fun. The old football coach mentality is a thing of the past.
Talked to the mom tonight. She apologized for him arguing and not doing what was expected. He'll do his 70 push ups before the meet tomorrow morning. Had been a bit worried she'd make a fuss, but luckily she's a teacher herself and understands her kid well enough to know he shouldn't be screwing around at practice and wasting people's time.
Nothing wrong with making a lazy kid uncomfortable. I don't want to make kids quit, but I'd much rather a kid quit because he realizes he doesn't want to put forth the required effort than to keep a kid around that can be a bad influence.
Not sure why folks think I'm a troll. I've been posting under this handle for a decade on letsrun.com
Then I have to agree with Malmo. You should not be involved with any coaching. I wouldn't let me kids within 100 yards of you.
The wussification of America continues. I can't imagine a kid walking off a football/soccer/lacrosse/baseball field and sitting in the stands during practice without permission would be tolerated like it seems to be in cross country.
I think you guys are blowing this way out of proportion.
200 pushups is less than 30 a day.
He is not doing them all at one time.
My opinion would be to find out why he walked, and adjust accordingly as well.
I would probably have him run a little extra as well.
There are benefits to negative reinforcement as well.
In a society where people mostly believe in positive reinforcement at ALL times, and not hurting peoples feelings, and all that shit, he probably needs a little of this.
What would I do? I would straight up tell the kid that walking is not okay, and to try not to next time. If he can't, that's fine. He'll do more pushups or whatever until he can run. The extra conditioning will help.
It's like homework. You can't tell a kid that gets F's that it is ok, and that he should try harder. You make him sit down, and study his ass off until his grades improve, and punish him until it is accomplished by taking away TV or grounding, or whatever.
Same goes with athletics.
He's the kids coach. That gives him the right, as I see it, to punish one of his athletes accordingly, and within the parameters of that sport.
Kudos to the coach for not patting these kids on the back and saying good job, when they really aren't doing a good job.
Mtn Dew wrote:
Talked to the mom tonight. She apologized for him arguing and not doing what was expected. He'll do his 70 push ups before the meet tomorrow morning. Had been a bit worried she'd make a fuss, but luckily she's a teacher herself and understands her kid well enough to know he shouldn't be screwing around at practice and wasting people's time.
Nothing wrong with making a lazy kid uncomfortable. I don't want to make kids quit, but I'd much rather a kid quit because he realizes he doesn't want to put forth the required effort than to keep a kid around that can be a bad influence.
Not sure why folks think I'm a troll. I've been posting under this handle for a decade on letsrun.com
I'd rather one kid quit who had no respect for the sport than to have ten kids never turn out because they think the sport is just a joke when they see everyone walking. Good job. You might be the first person to ever teach this kid respect for himself.
Mtn Dew wrote:
The wussification of America continues. I can't imagine a kid walking off a football/soccer/lacrosse/baseball field and sitting in the stands during practice without permission would be tolerated like it seems to be in cross country.
.......One flaw in that there argument. First of all, would you get mad if some of the best kids were sitting back jogging 8 min miles? They aren't walking, they arent breaking rules. They dont get punished yet you punish the less talented kids. My coach just tells us to run more if you do something bad. More running=works as a punishment and actually helps you not hurts. u think dem Kenyans are out dere doing pushups and situps? I highly doubt it. This kind of the stuff that pops up on a google search when I search Ms XC when Im bored has no point tbh...The sport isn't about "wussification" your not trying to make them tougher(unless itll help races) your trying to make them better. So yeah