Push-ups during the game???

[socdoc]

Strange but true real life scenario. U-13 boys premier division early season game. The coach of one team would yell "Drop and give me ten" at his own player when the kid made a bad play. The kid would then proceed to drop prone and do ten pushups as the game proceeded around him. Happened five or six times. Obviously reprehensible coaching behavior, but should the referee take action?

[AAGunner3]

Is he guilty of unsportsmanlike conduct? I don't think so. I also don't think it's bringing the game into disrepute.

Maybe only if the push up player is 'playing in a dangerous manner', but that's "pushing it".

I agree that it's unorthodox to do it during the run of play. But I bet the coach is trying to instantly reinforce (negatively) that player's in game decision making.

When I played as a youth, I had a coach that made us do push ups for shooting the ball over the goal. I still believe that shooting the ball over the goal is a cardinal sin. 'Course we were doing that while the ball was out of play.

[fuentga]

I think it is silly..the coach who does this should be let go immediately..all you are going to do is make a kid think that he can't do something creative because it may not work..suppose the kid tries a sublime backheel that does not work..is that a stupid play?..

IT is even worse when you think it is happening at the junior level..

just another example of a weekend warrior coach who thinks he is SAF

[Claymore]

If it's happening during the run of play, I'd tell the coach to leave it out until the next practice, as it may create a dangerous situation.

What a moron, though.

[ProfZodiac]

Originally posted by Claymore
If it's happening during the run of play, I'd tell the coach to leave it out until the next practice, as it may create a dangerous situation.

What a moron, though.

Indeed. I can think of no loophole to make the coach stop though. Only if the ball goes near the player.

[Statesman]

Coaches are allowed to relay "tactical information" only, from within the technical area. I'd like to hear his argument on how doing pushups is tactical. It's irresponsible behavior and I'd probably kick him out.

[rcleopard]

Ouch.

I wouldn't touch this with a ten foot pole. The coach can argue that it is a tactical instruction.. a rather odd one, but one nonetheless. It can be argued that a player, having done ten pushups, would be more wary of repeating that mistake, and therefore the pushups by preventing future occurances was a tactical decision. I almost gurantee you that booting a coach will result in this kind of defense from the coach when he faces the competition committee on his dismissal.

Ignore it. Absolute best thing to do. It's not infringing on the laws, it's not bringing the game into disrepute, and even if it was dangerous play, it'd be dangerous play on the player doing the pushups for putting himself in that position. The coach would be, as it were, untouchable... unless he insisted that the player continue doing pushups in a situation that was dangerous.

Make a note of it in your misconduct report, per law 5. Let the league handle it.

redcard leopard

[nsa]

Originally posted by socdoc
Strange but true real life scenario. U-13 boys premier division early season game. The coach of one team would yell "Drop and give me ten" at his own player when the kid made a bad play. I'm thinking child abuse. To think that folks are paying beaucoup bucks for this. :(

This is the players' game and what happens on the field is under the referee's purview. If the push-ups are distracting from the game, then please put a stop to it. A quiet word with the coach should suffice. If he continues, invite him to leave.

[Claymore]

Originally posted by socdoc
The coach of one team would yell "Drop and give me ten" at his own player when the kid made a bad play.

Is that a PLEDGE PIN???!!!!! ON YOUR UNIFORM???!!! :)

[house18]

Originally posted by nsa
I'm thinking child abuse. To think that folks are paying beaucoup bucks for this. :(


As a coach I think that making the kids do pushups during play is stupid, but child abuse????? Give me a break. Making a kid do pushups for making a mistake is not child abuse and if you think it is you have some serious issues!

[IASocFan]

Originally posted by Claymore
Is that a PLEDGE PIN???!!!!! ON YOUR UNIFORM???!!! :)

Great Quote. We just re-watched Animal House this weekend. Definitely a reminder of my college days in the 60s. :)

As far as the pushups go, as a referee, I don't think I would do much unless it was delaying the game. As a player or parent, I might be assessing this coaches methods and my commitment to his team.

[rcleopard]

I'm somewhat confused myself. How exactly is a conditioning exercise abusive?


Redcard Leopard

[jacathcart]

Originally posted by house18
As a coach I think that making the kids do pushups during play is stupid, but child abuse????? Give me a break. Making a kid do pushups for making a mistake is not child abuse and if you think it is you have some serious issues!

One of the curses of email is the inability to transmit tone of voice, body language, etc. I believe this was simply exaggeration for effect - don't go postal.

Jim

[seanT]

Wow

I think I would have to make a "for the good of the
game" call here and not allow it.

Hey, the ref could trip on the kid doing the pushups, so its dangerous.

Moslty though it would blow my concentration cause I would be thinking about what an idiot this coach was.

I once asked a U-11 coach to stop yelling
"Who wants it" every 15 seconds. (I at least did it at halftime and privately) the guy was making me crazy.

He cut it down to one per minute in the 2nd half.

[amymac]

Originally posted by ProfZodiac
Indeed. I can think of no loophole to make the coach stop though. Only if the ball goes near the player.

In AYSO you would be able to take the coach aside and tell him to stop because they (supposedly) aren't to be allowed to embarrass/humiliate the players. Also, it is creating dangerous play...

[amymac]

Originally posted by rcleopard
Ouch.

and even if it was dangerous play, it'd be dangerous play on the player doing the pushups for putting himself in that position. The coach would be, as it were, untouchable... unless he insisted that the player continue doing pushups in a situation that was dangerous.

redcard leopard

Maybe if you gave one of the kids a card for dangerous play, the coach would get the idea and stop.......

[amymac]

Originally posted by rcleopard
I'm somewhat confused myself. How exactly is a conditioning exercise abusive?


Redcard Leopard

It's not being used as a conditioning excercise--unless you are talking about behavior modification when using the word conditioning.

Using sit ups for mistakes should be used during practice--I have no problem with that. But during a game it is humiliating to the players and can create a dangerous situation

[whistleblowerusa]

Originally posted by Statesman
Coaches are allowed to relay "tactical information" only, from within the technical area. I'd like to hear his argument on how doing pushups is tactical. It's irresponsible behavior and I'd probably kick him out.
Totally agree with Statesman. Tell the coach to stop.