Who's wrong, me (1st year HS coach) or angry parent?

High School Running Distance

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8 years ago 05/02/2015 9:25pm EDT

Short version: 4x8 qualified for state, a faster runner coming back from injury didn't run the relay at conference when they qualified, but is ready so I subbed him back in for state. The parents of the kid that I took are upset and think he deserves to run at state because he ran when they qualified.

Long version: We recently qualified our 4x800 boys team for state. Our top runner was out for the season with an injury, our #3 runner missed a week with a minor injury but was nearly in race shape at the time of the conference meet. Our #5 missed conference due to a death in the family. Because of this, our team at conference was our # 2, 7, 4, and 6 runners , in that order, though we almost put our #3 guy in. We came in 2nd, though #6 almost lost a huge lead over the 3rd place team. Later, in heats of the 800, #7 ran faster than #6 has all year. Also in the heats, #3, in his first race back from injury, ran faster than #6 has all year. Because of that, we that #3 will run in place of #6 (who is now 7th best) at state. #6's parents are mad that he is not running at state (he is a senior who has likely run more races for our school than anyone else ever, but never made it to state), and think that he deserves it because he was on the team that qualified. We told them that our job is to field the best team we can and that it does not include him, though he can come as the alternate. They said he will not be coming to state if he won't be running.

This runner (who was on our JH team when I ran there in HS) should have been one of our best runner but senioritis has set in and he has made a habit of not training hard and missing weekend practices this year. I do not think it would set a good precedent for our younger kids (3 sophs and a freshman that are running at state) to show favoritism and pick a senior when there are faster runners than him available. Ideally he wouldn't have even been on the team that qualified, but we just weren't sure if the other runner was ready yet, and we needed to make sure we qualified, knowing we could switch later.

8 years ago 05/02/2015 9:30pm EDT

re: i chose D2

Short answer: you are right.

Long answer: I've faced this same situation. I always told the kids ahead of time that I reserved the right to sub in anyone at any time. Communication is key.

8 years ago 05/02/2015 9:36pm EDT

re: i chose D2

You're right, but it sucks for the kid and his parents and I can't blame them for being disappointed.

8 years ago 05/02/2015 9:40pm EDT

re: i chose D2

Yeah you made the right decision. Tell the parents that the team comes first.

8 years ago 05/02/2015 10:43pm EDT

re: elephino

elephino wrote:
You're right, but it sucks for the kid and his parents and I can't blame them for being disappointed.

This. It sucks, and I'm sure they are disappointed, but you take your best team to state, not your seniors.

8 years ago 05/02/2015 11:15pm EDT

re: i chose D2

This is your bad.

Your decision to run the fastest team is correct. Your lack of communication to the athlete and parents that he is an alternate and if the faster runner is healthy to return (the faster runner) will run state and he will again be an alternate is where you went wrong.

8 years ago 05/02/2015 11:16pm EDT

re: i chose D2

are you sure the guy coming off of injury is capable of beating the kid right now or are you going off of history?

8 years ago 05/03/2015 12:03am EDT

re: i chose D2

You are right - fastest team goes. But why isn't your#1 runner on the team?

8 years ago 05/03/2015 12:07am EDT

re: i chose D2

The mistake you made was not making your selection criteria known earlier. Making selections based upon secret criteria is not going to make your popular.

8 years ago 05/03/2015 2:11am EDT

re: i chose D2

i chose D2 wrote:
Short version: 4x8 qualified for state, a faster runner coming back from injury didn't run the relay at conference when they qualified, but is ready so I subbed him back in for state. The parents of the kid that I took are upset and think he deserves to run at state because he ran when they qualified.
Long version: We recently qualified our 4x800 boys team for state. Our top runner was out for the season with an injury, our #3 runner missed a week with a minor injury but was nearly in race shape at the time of the conference meet. Our #5 missed conference due to a death in the family. Because of this, our team at conference was our # 2, 7, 4, and 6 runners , in that order, though we almost put our #3 guy in. We came in 2nd, though #6 almost lost a huge lead over the 3rd place team. Later, in heats of the 800, #7 ran faster than #6 has all year. Also in the heats, #3, in his first race back from injury, ran faster than #6 has all year. Because of that, we that #3 will run in place of #6 (who is now 7th best) at state. #6's parents are mad that he is not running at state (he is a senior who has likely run more races for our school than anyone else ever, but never made it to state), and think that he deserves it because he was on the team that qualified. We told them that our job is to field the best team we can and that it does not include him, though he can come as the alternate. They said he will not be coming to state if he won't be running.
This runner (who was on our JH team when I ran there in HS) should have been one of our best runner but senioritis has set in and he has made a habit of not training hard and missing weekend practices this year. I do not think it would set a good precedent for our younger kids (3 sophs and a freshman that are running at state) to show favoritism and pick a senior when there are faster runners than him available. Ideally he wouldn't have even been on the team that qualified, but we just weren't sure if the other runner was ready yet, and we needed to make sure we qualified, knowing we could switch later.

You made the right choice, but holy hell that was hard to read. You are borderline illiterate.

8 years ago 05/03/2015 2:15am EDT

re: i chose D2

The angry parents are wrong.

Same as NFL, you can't lose your starting position because of injury 90% of the time.

And, it wouldn't be fair to the other kids to not run the best squad the school can field.

8 years ago 05/03/2015 2:53am EDT

re: i chose D2

I don't think either party is right or wrong as you can make a case for either option. That being said, I think you made the right call. I also agree with a couple of the other posters that in hindsight better up front communication might have helped (unless you left that part out). These are always tough calls.

8 years ago 05/03/2015 3:33am EDT

re: i chose D2

To an outsider, neither is wrong. Coach makes the decision he thinks his best, parents are disappointed. That happens everyday. Though, as a global-analysis, for asking the question, "Who's wrong?", the coach is wrong. People can disagree without being wrong. The coach trying to assign blame to the parents is the most wrong thing in this situation.

Just as a devil's advocate, why mention anything about your #1 runner? Is it because in your mind your argument sounds better when you are saying you are dropping the '7th best' runner when in actuality the #3,#6, and #7 runner are all 'equal third' runners.

Also, why mention your #5 runner? Is your proposed team at state 2,3,4,5 or 2,3,4,7?

Since runners are peaking at the end of the season and have the most meaningful competition, who is to say that the #6 runner if he had run the individual 800 without a leg of the 4x8, would not have run faster than the #3 and #7 runners.

How can you fault #6 for almost losing a huge lead? He maintained his position vs. likely the strongest runners of the opposing teams. He ran smart. Would it have been better if he tried to stay with the leader who was far better than him, cratered, and finished fifth missing a qualifying spot?

8 years ago 05/03/2015 3:36am EDT

re: Phil Fondacaro

Also, I might guess at the answer because of the omission, but for completion who ran faster in the 4x8, the #6 or #7 runner?

8 years ago 05/03/2015 3:58am EDT

re: Phil Fondacaro

8 years ago 05/03/2015 5:06am EDT

re: Shuttery

Shuttery wrote:
Short answer: you are right.
Long answer: I've faced this same situation. I always told the kids ahead of time that I reserved the right to sub in anyone at any time. Communication is key.

Yes- I also told the kids in advance that the sub would be happening and talked about how they are all on the same team, etc.

But, yes, you are right, the parent is wrong.

8 years ago 05/03/2015 7:29am EDT

re: runn

600m race off. All 5 or 6 potential runners for the squad.

8 years ago 05/03/2015 7:29am EDT

re: runn

Times don't lie.

That is what is great about running.

The fastest kids run the relay.

8 years ago 05/03/2015 8:20am EDT

re: i chose D2

What other events are these athletes running? Regardless of parents, it often makes sense to run an alternate or two in the prelim round to avoid killing your top guys with too many races. We usually take six athletes for the 4X800, and they usually all run at least one of the two races (prelims and/or finals).

8 years ago 05/03/2015 8:54am EDT

re: 4X800 coach

There are teams out there with seven-deep state qualifying relay teams that let people miss practice?

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