I simply need a little help here from the high school parents. Nobody at the school will listen to me, but comments and calls by the parents will make a difference.
I know that gym class at FC is a little different than what I grew up with. The kids get to pick out what activities they engage in, I suppose to keep their interest up. I know that its impossible to keep them from trying out things they find fun, usually in-line skating or something of the sort. My problem seems to be with the supervision of the class.
Twice this winter, there have been accidents in gym that have sent one of my oarsmen to the ER. Last winter saw the same rate of injury. Each rower has lost between a week to a month of training. I can't understand how this rate of injury is acceptable in gym class. Somebody isn't thinking. Doors shouldn't be left open during skating for people to run into. The skates need to be inspected so the brakes work and the bearings are in good order. Dodgeball needs soft balls, not soccerballs.
I know the guys have a responsibility to protect themselves, but the instructor has the same duty, and the injury rate just doesn't suggest that is happening. The ski outings are bad enough (and are finally done this week!), but getting hurt in gym is adding insult to the injury.
Categories: FC, Safety, Rowing
9 comments:
I've been waiting for this post
"pilfz"
Dodgeball sucks with nerf balls.
People get hurt in gym class. It happens. Maybe if the rest of the country weren't so overweight, we wouldn't have to have a mandatory gym class and could compete in athletics in place of one.
I know that injury does happen, but does anyone think two trips to the ER for x-Rays in the space of three weeks is normal? That never happened in my school, and we climbed those ropes to the ceiling and back.
I remember those ropes from elementary school. They were sweet. We should do more gym classes like the elementary school ones, with obstacle courses and games like spider dodgeball. Nobody ever really got hurt in those.
Maybe injuries are a reason why I got put into the "safe" gym class this year...aka "Personal Fitness". Aaaah! It sucks! Help me!
Can't you give them notes or something to opt them out of the more "injury" prone activities. During my basketball season (many moons ago) my coach used to talk to the AD ang gym teacher and get us out of stuff if need be.
Queen,
Problem with that is, we are a club sport, we aren't at part of the FC Athletic Department. So the school doesn't really care that we exist.
Aside from the $5k they give us every year...
All that the ER trips prove is that you have really agressive guys on your team. or maybe that you have really stupid guys, but I'd take the first one and run with it...
Personally, I f***ing hated not being able to play dodgeball because some kid got hurt and had his parents file a lawsuit that got it banned. Same thing with hockey. Broom-ball is not hockey. I'm glad to have both of these sports back. It's a lot sweeter than playing badminton (not that badminton is not sweet). All we have to do is not try as hard... as hard as that may sound.
The principal called me back today, and some of the guys are meeting with him tomorrow to discuss what's been happening. Surprisingly, he was totally unaware of the injuries going on because nobody had reported to the school nurse what had happened. Everyone has been suffering through the day then going to the ER for X-Rays later. We'll see if this gets any action, but I'd be doing something if I was this guy; the school is in an "actionable" position if they are unaware of injuries sustained on school property.
The only reason I didn't go to the nurse was because it was 4th period at like 2, so I figured if it still hurt by the time I got home, something was wrong.
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