oncecoolcoachnowmom
Bestest Newbie '14
- Mar 2, 2014
- 7,310
- 19,423
Thanks for this. I've avoided this thread for self-preservation because my opinion wouldn't be popular. But, you know me...I'm not likely to keep it to myself forever.
There is such a thing as a kid to big to fly.
It doesn't mean they're overweight or unhealthy. Mine is built like me. I don't think either of us are overweight (yeah I could lose 15) but it still wouldn't make me a feasible flyer. I'm 5-9 and 160. She's built like me. I knew she'd come out of the air eventually when I recognized she could only fly on an older age group. Sooner or later there is no older age group.
So, while I don't understand the context of the coaches comment to weigh in here specifically, my reflection is that coaches are generally in a lose lose situation.
Either they have a conversation in some manner about why a flyer may not continue to fly (and get the "you're calling my kid fat/building bad body image/how dare you") reaction, or they stay silent and eventually take the flyer down and get the "I don't understand why you won't let her fly anymore" reaction.
When a flyer comes down because of their size (and that is legitimate and happens) a coach basically has to decide if they're going to be in insensitive a$$hole or the aloof, non-communicative evader. I think that's a bad position for all parties involved.
YES.
I coach a J3. That's a big "growth spurt" age range.
Some of those kids flew on their Youth teams.
Then they hit puberty and are now a foot taller than everyone else and totally solid muscle.
Are they fat? No. But no one stays Youth flyer sized forever.
When you are a foot taller than everyone else and now 20 lbs heavier as well (not saying you are fat by any means but you are not the itty bitty that you once were when you were on youth, because you were a little kid and now you're a tween) I. need. you. as. a backspot. or base. I NEED IT.
Another angle to this that people fail to understand is that if Girl Who is Now Bigger Than Everyone Else is still in the air, WHAT AM I SUPPOSED TO DO WITH THE 4'9 AND 80 lb GIRL IN HER GROUP?
She hasn't got a prayer in the world of basing her and I'm not making her a nugget.