Post by itsthe90s on Aug 27, 2023 10:16:20 GMT -6
First, I would like to apologize to other members on the Class A thread of district predictions. I went way off in the weeds and voiced my disdain for Coach Koons down in Ringling. It seems that I am in the minority which is crazy to me. Never did I intend for the comments to get carried away. Just trying to start a conversation thread directed at what are we okay with when it comes to "motivation" for our young men. I do feel that I should explain myself.
Yes, I do not think Coach Koons is a good person. My reasons are not just what I've heard in the news. I honestly have some ties to the Ringling area. Those ties being friends who have kids that attended Ringling Public Schools and some family that live around the area. People that I know, and that I trust. Take that how you will.
With that being said How far is too far for a Coach? And what would allow a coach to do to your son? The majority of us played before. The majority of us played when, well Coaches were pretty vocal with their motivation. Played in era where Freshmen initiation was a real thing. Played in a time where certain things went above and beyond 'playing football.' It's pretty easy to say that 'I turned out fine and I was better for it." In certain cases this could be true but it isn't true for everyone. And if you didn't get with the program well then you're labeled a p*ssy and other insults. A good chance you were in a few extra fights at school.
I am not knocking an in your face, old school style of coaching. After all it is football. It's aggressive. It's violent. It's fierce. It's harsh and in order to survive you need to be a savage. To get players to be a savage, there probably needs to be some added intensity in your coaching style.
However, I am not on board with bullying kids. Is it okay to take one of the kids who isn't as aggressive as maybe your star players and put him in the middle while the other players circle him and then call out a number and let the other players just get a free hit at him? All the while, the coach tells him he needs to "f-word toughen up Smalls. Stop being a p*ssy." Is this okay?
What would you do if your son comes home and is clearly distraught and he confides in you and tells you that Coach John Doe made him do burpees with only a towel on? Your son tells you that this coach calls him a "p*ssy, gay, and other insults and says he is afraid of telling someone because if he does it will only get worse? The coach tells your kid that he doesn't fit the mold. After all this is Class A football and not D-1 College or Pro. What would you do as a parent? Would you tell your son that he needs to toughen up and that it is football. What if this coach was a Hall of Fame coach who has won multiple titles but does have a history of being verbally abusive and crossing that line (what is the line)? What do you tell your son? Do you tell him its okay that the coach calls him a "F-word P*ssy" and that is normal. Do you tell your son that its perfectly normal for you to be in the circle and other kids get to hit you so you can toughen up a bit? Do you tell him that Coach John Doe has won a lot of games and he's a winner and he'll make you into a winner too? What do you do? Do you make your son quit football because he can't handle it. After all it is at a small school and the majority of kids won't go play in college. Everyone plays football in a small town. Do you move? Do you transfer?
Is it okay if a coach is verbally abusive? Calls your son a wimp? A coward? A woman's private part? Is it okay for this same coach to verbally abuse him through out his day? After all, the coach calls him words so why can't the players? How far is too far? When do you as a parent, a teach, the school board, the superintendent step in and say that's enough.
Is winning more important that a young 17 year olds mental well being? Are we so caught up in defending coaches who are successful because they are successful? Out in the public and on the surface the coach gives out a good vibe. He speaks well and intelligently. He is well educated. Heck, you like him a lot. He is inspirational and motivational when he speaks but under the surface, in the arena he is a bully. Verbally attacks your son. Aggressively attacks your son. Makes him do push ups naked in the locker room after practice for not being "tough" as your son changes out of his pads.
Then think about this....this type of behavior from the coach doesn't happen with all the players. It only happens to the weaker one. The not as aggressive players. The players that are not as strong. The players that are playing football because they love the sport and the live in a small town where everybody plays but their coach has singled them out because of their inabilities.
The scenarios do not have to do with any one school. Just scenarios to think about. I mean there have been coaches fired for making their players run too much. Some of this stuff goes beyond conditioning.
I know this is a tough conversation. I know my opinion apparently is unpopular but I'm curious to know what ya'll are okay with? How far would you allow coach push your son? At what point do you step in and say, I'm not okay with this. I'm not creating this thread to argue about what is happening in Ringling. Or what is going on in Kingfisher or what happens in any other town. Truly, I'm starting a conversation because we should talk about. Many of our experiences playing football at the high school level was memorable. Some of it was cruel and it was hard. I truly am grateful for my coaches that I had. They pushed us, challenged us, and motivated us. They encouraged us. Listened to us. Gave advice.
Yes, I do not think Coach Koons is a good person. My reasons are not just what I've heard in the news. I honestly have some ties to the Ringling area. Those ties being friends who have kids that attended Ringling Public Schools and some family that live around the area. People that I know, and that I trust. Take that how you will.
With that being said How far is too far for a Coach? And what would allow a coach to do to your son? The majority of us played before. The majority of us played when, well Coaches were pretty vocal with their motivation. Played in era where Freshmen initiation was a real thing. Played in a time where certain things went above and beyond 'playing football.' It's pretty easy to say that 'I turned out fine and I was better for it." In certain cases this could be true but it isn't true for everyone. And if you didn't get with the program well then you're labeled a p*ssy and other insults. A good chance you were in a few extra fights at school.
I am not knocking an in your face, old school style of coaching. After all it is football. It's aggressive. It's violent. It's fierce. It's harsh and in order to survive you need to be a savage. To get players to be a savage, there probably needs to be some added intensity in your coaching style.
However, I am not on board with bullying kids. Is it okay to take one of the kids who isn't as aggressive as maybe your star players and put him in the middle while the other players circle him and then call out a number and let the other players just get a free hit at him? All the while, the coach tells him he needs to "f-word toughen up Smalls. Stop being a p*ssy." Is this okay?
What would you do if your son comes home and is clearly distraught and he confides in you and tells you that Coach John Doe made him do burpees with only a towel on? Your son tells you that this coach calls him a "p*ssy, gay, and other insults and says he is afraid of telling someone because if he does it will only get worse? The coach tells your kid that he doesn't fit the mold. After all this is Class A football and not D-1 College or Pro. What would you do as a parent? Would you tell your son that he needs to toughen up and that it is football. What if this coach was a Hall of Fame coach who has won multiple titles but does have a history of being verbally abusive and crossing that line (what is the line)? What do you tell your son? Do you tell him its okay that the coach calls him a "F-word P*ssy" and that is normal. Do you tell your son that its perfectly normal for you to be in the circle and other kids get to hit you so you can toughen up a bit? Do you tell him that Coach John Doe has won a lot of games and he's a winner and he'll make you into a winner too? What do you do? Do you make your son quit football because he can't handle it. After all it is at a small school and the majority of kids won't go play in college. Everyone plays football in a small town. Do you move? Do you transfer?
Is it okay if a coach is verbally abusive? Calls your son a wimp? A coward? A woman's private part? Is it okay for this same coach to verbally abuse him through out his day? After all, the coach calls him words so why can't the players? How far is too far? When do you as a parent, a teach, the school board, the superintendent step in and say that's enough.
Is winning more important that a young 17 year olds mental well being? Are we so caught up in defending coaches who are successful because they are successful? Out in the public and on the surface the coach gives out a good vibe. He speaks well and intelligently. He is well educated. Heck, you like him a lot. He is inspirational and motivational when he speaks but under the surface, in the arena he is a bully. Verbally attacks your son. Aggressively attacks your son. Makes him do push ups naked in the locker room after practice for not being "tough" as your son changes out of his pads.
Then think about this....this type of behavior from the coach doesn't happen with all the players. It only happens to the weaker one. The not as aggressive players. The players that are not as strong. The players that are playing football because they love the sport and the live in a small town where everybody plays but their coach has singled them out because of their inabilities.
The scenarios do not have to do with any one school. Just scenarios to think about. I mean there have been coaches fired for making their players run too much. Some of this stuff goes beyond conditioning.
I know this is a tough conversation. I know my opinion apparently is unpopular but I'm curious to know what ya'll are okay with? How far would you allow coach push your son? At what point do you step in and say, I'm not okay with this. I'm not creating this thread to argue about what is happening in Ringling. Or what is going on in Kingfisher or what happens in any other town. Truly, I'm starting a conversation because we should talk about. Many of our experiences playing football at the high school level was memorable. Some of it was cruel and it was hard. I truly am grateful for my coaches that I had. They pushed us, challenged us, and motivated us. They encouraged us. Listened to us. Gave advice.