High School head coach has favorites and also might let private coach girl on 4x800 relay

Drama sucks, sorry about that.

My only suggestion is that the season just started and anyone who wants on the relay should run fast enough in the opens there is question they belong.

Letting the privately coached girl fully participate if she’s fast enough isn’t a problem for me. She’s on the team or she isn’t. Her teammates should fully embrace her when she’s there.

How about going directly to the head coach and voicing your concerns? If that doesn't work maybe talk to the AD. And lastly if this truly goes against all you believe in step down as coach.

Exactly - this is an issue for the OP, the head coach (perhaps the AD) and the athletes involved. No one else's opinion matters, certainly not on this site. Sounds like the OP is looking for drama - why is the girl getting private coaching? Obviously she and her parents don't have a lot of faith in the school coaching. As long as she attends the minimum number of practices established by the head coach there shouldn't be an issue. I am not a fan of kids doing this kind of thing, but I don't let it become about me and my ego - there are lots of other kids who want and need my attention - if they run well, then these others will want to be a part of that attention as well. If not, then that is on me for not doing a better job. We are talking 2.24 here, not 2.04.

My rule with relays for high school, to avoid drama, is top 4 fastest times. I might take out an individual here and there but I start with who is faster in the open. Takes the thinking out of it.

I think having five viable members of a pretty good 4*800m is only a problem if the coaches allow it to become one. Since it's only March, maybe it's worth doing what you can to help your athletes see this as a process of earning their way onto the team by the time you've reached the more meaningful part of your schedule? Practically, I think that means de-emphasizing the 4*800m as a set group of four by messing around with relay order and periodically dipping into whatever depth you've got beyond those five girls. But if your early-season schedule is so competitive or crucial to later-season qualifying that you can't afford to do this, then I've got nothing except a "good luck."

First of all: you need to directly confront the head coach about this issue. If you're the distance coach, it is your decision, not his. A micro-managing head coach can be a pain, but you won't get anything done without voicing your opinions and putting your foot down.

Second: the privately coached girl is still part of the team. It's a bad idea to try to isolate her because her parents choose to pay for another coach. However, you should be actively trying to work with her private coach to give her the best combined opportunities and experience. And if she's 2nd or 3rd fastest, she needs to be on the relay, unless she has a serious attitude issue.

Third: rewarding the 5th fastest for working hard is a good idea! However, you should always prioritize the 4 fastest runners for a relay, especially if there is a clear distinction. The best way to reward that 5th is to bring them everywhere as an alternate. It's a good idea to have an alternate at big meets anyways, and it will make her feel included and valued. Have her warm up with the A team, all the way until they're getting on the start line, just in case someone gets injured on race day (I've seen it happen).

Finally: If the 3rd/4th girl just had a great race, that also needs to be rewarded. More reason to keep her on the team. Rewarding good performances is crucial to getting athletes on board. You need to be firm on this; don't be a pushover for the head coach now, and he'll be less likely to try to force his opinions on you in the future.

Like others have said, the season is young. Lots of time for this to sort itself out.

About the last indoor meet. Kids can just be done by those later meets but revitalized by running outside.

This is incorrect. Head coach makes all final decisions on entries for the team. Good head coaches will consult with their assistants and most likely trust their decisions most of the time, but the head coach makes the final decision, period.

^^^^THIS.

I always change the legs and orders for the 4x8 throughout the season. You want to get everyone experience as well as find out what everyone is capable of. The year that our girls set our school record, the state meet was the only meet where those 4 girls ran together as the team. The rest of the season was varying combinations of those girls with a couple of other decent girls.