Running after a loss?

It's not the distance of the run that is at issue, it's the fact that a loss is punished at all. Running is just a symbol or symptom. You know what I'm going to say:

Wooden didn't make his guys run as punishment, who the heck are we to disagree?

Running for losing, making errors, and/or striking out is all stupid. Maybe the team missed signs, or disrespected the coach(es) or each other. Things along those lines, at that age, I can see arguments for running

Little Angels Softball said:

The fence-and-back run isn't bad at all and hardly qualifies as "punishment." It sounds like this might just be a post-game ritual for this team, win or lose. I have no issue if that is the case.

Coaches who really make their team run after a loss (I mean, wind sprints until they're ready to collapse) usually end up having trouble keeping girls coming back year after year. And while I feel for the girls, whenever I see a coach run his team hard after we've just beaten them, I kind of know that we'll probably beat them the next time we play them, as well.

Click to expand...

DD1's college coach once made the team run two miles through campus the day after a loss as punishment for 'embarrassing her.'
Her rear. Coach (also her significant other) made the catchers run it in their gear (no helmet).

There are good reasons to run or do most any other kind of exercise during a softball practice, but punishment isn't one of them. There are better ways of holding people accountable while keeping it positive. Physical activity should be focused on whatever it is you want fixed. If we don't run the bases well, then we'll do a special baserunning session. If we look tired (or flat) during a games, we'll do conditioning work. If we make bad throws during a game or forget how to catch, we'll focus on that during practice. If we make bad throws or miss balls in practice, I'll have them chase it.

No need to characterize it as punishment, just call it what it is...training.

BaldNBeautiful said:

DD1's college coach once made the team run two miles through campus the day after a loss as punishment for 'embarrassing her.'
Her rear. Coach (also her significant other) made the catchers run it in their gear (no helmet).

Click to expand...

College is different. I'm talking about young girls. The college girls don't have much of a choice for next year if they're on scholarship, and not much of one even if they're not.

Little Angels Softball said:

College is different. I'm talking about young girls. The college girls don't have much of a choice for next year if they're on scholarship, and not much of one even if they're not.

Click to expand...

Which is why I have generally only seen two main types of coaches make kids run for making errors or losing....school coaches, and rec coaches. In both instances, girls don't have much of a choice. It's quit or run. I've seen it very occasionally in travel ball. Generally, that coach doesn't coach for long. And if he does, it's with a new set of girls almost yearly.

CJ D said:

Which is why I have generally only seen two main types of coaches make kids run for making errors or losing....school coaches, and rec coaches. In both instances, girls don't have much of a choice. It's quit or run. I've seen it very occasionally in travel ball. Generally, that coach doesn't coach for long. And if he does, it's with a new set of girls almost yearly.

Click to expand...

Absolutely.

Did the coaching staff run as well or are they only blaming loses on kids. Are they the best prepared coaching staff or are they punishing the kids because the kids can't over come their coaching? Not a fan of it. As I have said many times, whenever I punished my teams, I ran with them regardless of reason. I was a part of all of the teams I coached.

If they played their hearts out and lost that is all you can ask...but if they gave a lack luster effort by all means let the horses run they need to know it will not be tolerated. ....asking for a better effort will never produce anything. Just my $.02

My girls run every practice and before every game....as a form of pt and warm up. Never as punishment. In fact, I really don't punish them at all. I simply remind them of what they did well and what needs improved upon. Most of them are crying anyway after a loss.... punishment after a loss is counterproductive IMO. It's like pouring salt in the fresh wound. What's that prove?