Running after a loss?

What is the general opinion on making your team run after losing a game. Is this a common thing? What is the desired result that a coach is expecting to achieve by sending his team for a run after losing?

A few weeks back DD's rec team (#1 seeded team at the time, currently at #2 still fighting to get back on top) played the #6 seed team who has a lot of younger players and has been really struggling all season. DD's team came out flat, they expected to just walk over this team. We fell behind early and really struggled to get back in the game. It wasn't until late in the game (we were visiting team) that we were able to tie the game. At this point we expected the opposing HC to try to slow the game and have the game revert back to the previous inning score that had them ahead but he didn't. We played a super hurry up defense and got the quick 3 outs, new inning starts. 2 batters in we get the lead and DD's HC sends the next 3 girls swinging for the fences resulting in a quick 3 outs for us. Now at this point I'm expecting the other HC to try to slow the game and settle for tie but he doesn't. In the end we win the game and felt the other HC mismanaged the clock and cost them the game. I felt like that team played hard and gave us a challenge. So during the post game team meeting I see the other coach send his team runningto the ffence and back (approx. 350 feet) and I felt really bad for those girls. It just didn't sit well with me. Well a couple weeks go by and this Saturday the same team is playing our #7 and last place team and ended up losing badly. We kept an eye on the game during our pregame warm-ups because we were playing on the same field after that game. So as DD's team is doing there cheer before the game out of the corner of my eye I see that same team off and running to the fence and back again. I just don't get it and I wonder if this is a common thing or is it just this particular coach?

I am not in favor of running as punishment. But, do we know that is what it was? I don't think it hurts girls to run to the fence and back.

We did something similar a few years ago. If we lost the coaches needed to run, if we won the players needed to run. Was just a way to get everyone to relax after the game.

In general, I don't like running as punishment. Running shouldn't be viewed as a bad thing.

At the beginning of the season, DD's 12U travel ball coaches would make them run poles for every error they made during the game. A few months into the season, they stopped that nonsense without an explanation. It's counterproductive IMO.

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.

Not a fan of it. It's an issue that's been discussed a bunch here, and I won't re-hash my arguments against it.

However, that said, my DD's 2014 team ran after about 4-5 losses, or maybe 2 losses and 2 ''y'all-played-like-crap'' games.

But the coach was so lovable (otherwise) that my DD didn't care. She likes to run and is mature enough now to ignore the 'punishment' part. It got to be a joke between DD and me because the coach, before each running session, would say, 'All right, ya'll know what we're fixing' to do.'' And they'd line up to run. So now, any time my DD's team loses or she does something bone-headed, I'll say that line and it gets a smile out of her.

I think that punishing (and that is what it is) girls after a loss is really, really stupid. Maybe every girl played the very best that she could that game and do you want to punish them for just not being as good as the other team? What if your 12U A team played the Florida Gators (college) and lost by one run in 8 innings? How much should they be punished for that loss?

I've always taken the attitude that we are all there to have some fun, play our best, and support everyone on the team whether they made an error, struck out or had a bad day in the circle. Punishing girls is a very bad idea.

RetiredCoach said:

I think that punishing (and that is what it is) girls after a loss is really, really stupid. Maybe every girl played the very best that she could that game and do you want to punish them for just not being as good as the other team? What if your 12U A team played the Florida Gators (college) and lost by one run in 8 innings? How much should they be punished for that loss?

I've always taken the attitude that we are all there to have some fun, play our best, and support everyone on the team whether they made an error, struck out or had a bad day in the circle. Punishing girls is a very bad idea.

Click to expand...

agreed, sort of.....the OP stated they ran like 700' which is hardly severe punishment but was still a form of public shaming....and not a fan of.....but there could have other reasons (like stuff inside the dugout or ignored directives)....but at the REC level does seem un-necessary.....but I wouldn't say its "stupid"

now in college, I can tell you it is a very effective way to get your teams attention, motivate and to eliminate issues. In my playing days, I worst case I ever witnessed was at the University of Iowa. Their baseball team start running after dropping a DH to us and begin to run after the second game....we got cleaned up, had a few snacks (before to leave for dinner) and on the way to the bus the dudes were still running almost an hour later in the dark....most of them looked like they were going to die....of course those days are over (thank god)....

I've seen it done too and am not a fan of it. I don't think anyone learns anything from that, except maybe to not like the game.

That said, if they run a couple of sprints or take a jog after every game, win or lose, I have no problem with that. But then it's not being done as a punishment or result of something. It's being done for some other purpose, such as part of a cool-down routine, or as a way of officially ending that outing.

From my view it looked like a punishment but I have no idea what was said in their post team meeting. I've seen this team play about 6 games and haven't seen them run after every game, only on these 2 losses. I just imagine how bad those girls felt and then they have to run.

When I played sports in High school and college we dredded the next practice after a bad game but i was never punished right after a game. I was a lot older too and understood better, these girls are only 9 and 10