How to Talk to Daughter's High School Track Coach

Tell her to sandbag it at practice and then beat girls who normally beat her at the meet. That's your ammo for when you meet.

I suggest email, phone, or talk to him in person.

Running the 400 & 800 in the SMR? So she runs a double leg? Hands off to herself?

I think he means she runs the following events 1. 1600m2. 800m3. 400m in SMR

The coach of things wrote:

I suggest email, phone, or talk to him in person.

Running the 400 & 800 in the SMR? So she runs a double leg? Hands off to herself?

Running the 400 & 800 in the SMR? So she runs a double leg? Hands off to herself?[/quote]

Who gives a f*ck about an Oxford comma? You should.

Well how fast is she running ? That makes all the difference . If she is some state contender it makes a big difference compared to if she is a middle of the packer.

Point the coach to this thread, and how every serious responder will agree the training is absolutely idiotic. There are intelligent justifications for many different training styles, but none for the above.

Realistically, a coach this far off the deep end in training has likely had people complain in the past, and are still doing this stuff, unless this is one of their first years coaching. If you have track/xc experience as a coach or athlete (particularly past high-school) use this as a foundation. Any good coach will have reasoning for why they do the training they do. Say you have some experience with running, note that the training here is a lot different from what you've seen in your experiences, and ask for their explanation for why they do the things they do. Do your best to frame this as general curiosity, rather than skepticism, but expect to be brushed off as a helicopter parent.

Tough one.

I'm not sure how the coach is and whether or not people are able to approach him?

But, this is your daughter and I think it's important that you ask to talk to him alone. Make sure it's alone. There is nothing worse than calling someone out in front of a crowd.

Just talk about your daughter, not training theory, or other members of the team. Let him know that between hard sessions your daughter responds well to more rest and your specifically concerned about her shin splints. If you're not getting anywhere kindly ask for a meeting with the AD. Keep your intelligence over emotion.

Anon wrote:

My daughter run's the 1600, 800, and 400 in the sprint medley.

She run's three separate legs of a medley?

run's????

moran

Visit him and have a little chat. Wear a pair of brass knuckles. Explain to him, in a very low voice, how he doesn't understand one of the basic fundamentals of training and explain it to him.

Here is your script:

You: I would like to volunteer as a coach.

End of script. If you deviate from the script, you don't have the right to complain about poor coaching.

What does the coach say when she communicates how much her shins hurt? Has she asked to sit out a meet?

I think you already know the answer. Talk to the coach. Express your concerns. If you get resistance, pull her.

Talk WITH the coach. It is unlikely that you are getting the full story from your daughter, even if she's the most honest kid in the world.

Express any remaining concerns after this discussion.

Pull her only if you feel her health is really in jeopardy, not because the coach doesn't agree with your approach to training. Quitting when you don't get your way isn't a life lesson you want to teach your daughter.

Coaches...sorry, let me take that back; I should not use that term because "Coach" is a term of respect...like this guy give our sport a bad rap. If you daughter is good, or this is her sport, I would look to get the guy removed or look to transfer, preferably the former because we should not allow this guy to continue "coaching".

Pull your daughter if it is too bad but NEVER talk to the coach.

U. B. U. wrote:

Pull your daughter if it is too bad but NEVER talk to the coach.

Why would you never talk to the coach?

I encourage parents to talk to me if they have an issue with what I am doing instead of pulling their child and going around town telling everyone that I don't know what I am doing.

Part of coaching at the high school level involves communication with the parents. If the guy can't handle that then that is the bigger issue here.

Just as long as the parent keep their cool and doesn't call out the coach in front of a group things should be ok. If not, then it should be brought to the AD. If the AD has an issue you bring it to the principal. Then the superintendent. I doubt it will go that far because someone will be willing to listen as long as you don't come off as a crazy person.

Does your daughter have three meets this week? Is the strategy to race their way to fitness?

Tuesday 1600m

Wednesday 800m and 400m relay leg

Saturday 1600m, 800m and relay leg

Tread very carefully. If this has been going on for awhile others know about it. We had a similar but different situation with a high school coach (35 mile weeks beginning day 1 with over 75% of kids injured in the first three weeks). Trying to talk to the coach was a disaster. I called and spoke to him during the day. The coach bragged about his own running exploits, blamed the kids for being out of shape and not telling him about their injuries. At practice that night he singled out our son who doesn't want to speak to us anymore about his team. A friend at the school told us multiple parents call every year.

Read it closely wrote:

Tell her to sandbag it at practice and then beat girls who normally beat her at the meet. That's your ammo for when you meet.

You have found your answer.

Oxford Comma wrote:

Running the 400 & 800 in the SMR? So she runs a double leg? Hands off to herself?

Who gives a f*ck about an Oxford comma? You should.[/quote]

Thank you! Excellent point.