Am I the only 1 who thinks this is more nonsense? There’s been a more then 1 topic that’s total BS on this board.
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Looking for some opinions of how to handle a situation...
- Thread starter YourPittDanceTeam
- Start date
Yep, like one of those letters in the old Penthouse magazines, "You guys are never going to believe what happened to me on my last trip to the laundromat! There I was minding my own business waiting for my clothes to dry when this knockout 10 with a Swedish accent came up to me and asked me if I had any extra quarters, well one thing led to another and ...................."
Schools have been playing in 7 on 7 tournaments all month. Whether they are officially sanctioned or not, they're being played.
Not sure about PA, but HS teams are able to hold a certain number of practices in June & July. But no pads. Just helmets, t-shirts and shorts. Some teams sprinkle them out through the summer, some stack them all at the end of July and use some as their "conditioning" days so that they can get to full pads and hitting as soon as allowed (after 8/1). Our season starts earlier here than in PA I believe. We start on 8/18 with the first scrimmage (alternate 10 play possessions, then do special teams at the end) on 8/5 and the "preview" game on 8/11. So the summer practices are pretty important.
Reading OP’s post again, the way it’s phrased it almost sounds as though the “meeting” earlier this week was with school officials, who are in favor of allowing the girl to use the locker room, and at the meeting the school officials informed the coach of the girl and parents’ preference, and also informed the coach that the school didn’t want to become a news story.
If that’s the case, and the purpose of OP’s post is to find support to justify opposing the school’s decision on personal grounds, then I think the tenor of my advice is very different.
If that’s the case, OP, delete this post and stop digging the hole that you’ve already dug. It’s never too late to put down the shovel.
If that’s the case, and the purpose of OP’s post is to find support to justify opposing the school’s decision on personal grounds, then I think the tenor of my advice is very different.
If that’s the case, OP, delete this post and stop digging the hole that you’ve already dug. It’s never too late to put down the shovel.
I have no reason to believe the OP has fabricated this.
I don’t think the OP was stupid for asking for thoughts/opinions.
No, he did NOT leak any info which could create legal liability.
Yes he should have immediately escalated the issue (and we don’t know that he didn’t).
Lay off guys - it’s an internet message board. People ask questions. He never said he was going to take action based on responses in this thread.
Don’t know why that irritates me. But it apparently did.
I don’t think the OP was stupid for asking for thoughts/opinions.
No, he did NOT leak any info which could create legal liability.
Yes he should have immediately escalated the issue (and we don’t know that he didn’t).
Lay off guys - it’s an internet message board. People ask questions. He never said he was going to take action based on responses in this thread.
Don’t know why that irritates me. But it apparently did.
I would have kicked this upstairs immediately.
So would anyone else-because that's what any school employee anywhere is required to do, and there is literally nobody that works at any school that would even have to ask for advise on this. The last place anyone would ever seek counsel for this issue would be from a couple hundred anonymous strangers on a Pitt football message board. And as other have pointed out, school is out for the summer, there are no school-sanctioned sports in progress now. And this poster has a demonstrated history of being an agitator on this particular topic. 1+1 = 2.
We all need to be better at spotting and calling out the B.S. that flows so freely and easily on internet forums.
What we really need to call into question is the motive for a poster to put something like this on this football message board. Weird, sick S.O.B. IMO.
Ask the boys what they think. If they are comfortable , why not? Some sort of screen can be set up so the actual showering can be private. I’m surprised her parents are down with it.
It’s almost July. Football heat acclimation starts on August 7. The end of June doesn’t seem like an unreasonable time for these discussions to be had in anticipation of summer practice starting in about a month or so. Especially if the girl’s parents have already contacted the school about it.
This isn't about sticking with your principles, it's about sticking to the policy or policies of the school/district. Like many have stated - kick this upstairs and let the powers to be figure it out.
This is actually one of the few off topic threads where I am seeing political division clearly involved. I think you missed the mark on this comment
With no coaches permitted and no access to school locker rooms and indoor facilities. I've seen 7 on sevens conducted by team captains or dads. It's against the rules for a coach to conduct any type of practice before August 1. And it doesn't happen on school property. The OP is a crock.
FOOTBALL – 6 classes
Heat Acclimatization August 8
First Practice Date August 15
Minimum Length of Preseason Practice 3 weeks
First Inter-School Practice or Scrimmage Date August 20
Maximum Number of Regular Season Inter-School Practices or Scrimmages 2
First Regular Season Contest Date August 26
Maximum Length of Regular Season 10 weeks
Maximum Number of Regular Season Contests 10
Last Regular Season Contest Date November 7
District Deadline November 12
First Round November 18 & 19
Quarterfinals November 25 & 26
Semi-Finals December 2 & 3
PIAA Football Championships December 8, 9 & 10
Out-of-Season Participation
All PIAA sports have a defined season. If your school Team conducts Practice and/or participates in Inter-School Practices, Scrimmages, and/or Contests outside that PIAA defined season, your school will be penalized
pittdan77
Athletic Director
Almost every HS sport has some "voluntary" offseason program going on, right now and for certain sports, it's not that uncommon for a girl to be on a boys team. Wrestling comes to mind.
I think putting it in writing and kicking it upstairs is appropriate. It can be handled well if the administration chooses to do so. We had a situation like this at our redneck rural school that was more gender based and it was handled very well, IMO, with very little objection from anyone.
I have very mixed feelings about something like this but I also know that a lot of it depends on how expectations are set and how willing adults are to enforce them.
I think putting it in writing and kicking it upstairs is appropriate. It can be handled well if the administration chooses to do so. We had a situation like this at our redneck rural school that was more gender based and it was handled very well, IMO, with very little objection from anyone.
I have very mixed feelings about something like this but I also know that a lot of it depends on how expectations are set and how willing adults are to enforce them.
I’m pretty sure all Fall sports like football, soccer, Vball, cross country, and even hockey has summer long non mandatory conditioning which means they’re in their locker rooms before August and as early as the first week of June. Hockey isn’t PIAA sanctioned of course but the other sports are.
pittdan77
Athletic Director
Come on. Illegal practices and scrimmages have been going on for decades and with very rare exceptions, everyone just ignores it. They even report on the basketball leagues in the paper. Taking my kid to practice this afternoon. It's all done as "optional" and open to any student.
Pretty sure coaches are permitted all summer long, but just can’t run formal drills and make thing’s mandatory.
I have thought about quite a bit over the last 24 hours or so and have just decided to resign. I have contacted the appropriate person and made them aware of my decision. What happens beyond that is not my concern. All of the other folks involved can work out the remaining issues between them. Hopefully this issue will work itself out in a manner that satisfies all involved.
I do thank those of you who offered your opinions on the subject. I had pretty much made my decision that night but I wanted to just see what other people not involved would say to see if I was being to "old school". Thanks for your opinions.
H2P!!!
I do thank those of you who offered your opinions on the subject. I had pretty much made my decision that night but I wanted to just see what other people not involved would say to see if I was being to "old school". Thanks for your opinions.
H2P!!!
pittdan77
Athletic Director
Wouldn't be my choice but I cannot fault you for doing what you feel is right for yourself.
pittdan77
Athletic Director
LOL, that doesn't shock me. Coaches even prevent kids from playing another sport now.
Ultimately, the parents who would be impacted by this are the ones who should make the decision, not a school board. The parents can escalate it upstairs and voice their views, if they're so inclined. Then the powers that be will abide by what the parents say. This isn't a school board or administration decision. It's up to the parents.
pittdan77
Athletic Director
They can choose to keep their kid out of the sport. The admin and school board are tasked with considering every student's needs and deciding on what they feel is best. There isn't enough information here to determine why this request is being made or if there isn't an underlying agenda. Not sure the fact that this is a girl asking increases the potential for stupidity in the locker room given some of the crap we read about every year between kids of the same gender. There has to be a reasonable solution.
I'm sorry you were forced to make a decision like that and resigned. It's a sad day when good people are lost because the desires of a very small minority (one person) are even being remotely considered over the desires of the vast majority. All while a valued coach is forced to leave.
Good luck to you and don't let this deter you. Hold to your principles.
But how many head coaches would be dumb enough to voluntarily admit to doing that on a message board, unprompted, by starting a thread mentioning it?
pittdan77
Athletic Director
I'd say it's pretty anonymous, here. Then again, Duzz was tweeting about the 7v7 tournaments held at Pitt over the weekend. The local one was promoted by the HS coach on the teams Facebook page. There is an article in the Altoona Mirror today talking about all the HS girls teams that are rivals that are meeting in the summer league. If these things aren't really legal, nobody actually cares.
What??? So you’re saying that those ”Letters to Penthouse” weren’t true?!?
Only mineWhat??? So you’re saying that those ”Letters to Penthouse” weren’t true?!?
You seriously don't believe fall sports teams practice for one week before starting the season do you? Just about everyone has voluntary workouts during the summer. Heck, basketball teams practice and play tournaments all summer.
You coach. That is your job. Let your employer set and define the parameters of your job. Follow those rules and have the superintendent on speed dial if they direct you to proceed.
If you really don't want the bullshit of these crazy parents, resigning is a good idea. You aren't quitting, you're avoiding a costly and potentially very damaging situation to yourself.
If you really don't want the bullshit of these crazy parents, resigning is a good idea. You aren't quitting, you're avoiding a costly and potentially very damaging situation to yourself.
pittdan77
Athletic Director
No way I'd resign, that's quitting ultimately. I do agree, let the district define parameters and you coach. Report in writing any and all issues, no matter how trivial.
Commonsense prevailed and girls and boys will change in different locker rooms. Glad I got away from that whole situation. This country is so screwed up right now, you can never tell what's going to happen next.
