AIBU to question press ups being used as punishment at my son's sports club?

[CyanCrow]

Wondering if I am unreasonable to be concerned about this or if it is normal. At an extra curricular sports club today in 30 degree heat my son, was tidying up kit. He did it in a way one of the leaders felt could damage the kit (I think rolling something up before unplugging something) which I am sure they would have been told about before and, therefore, he, quite rightly, was told off. However the coach made him do 40 press ups as a punishment as he said "he didn't want anyone else doing it that way" and "wanted to make an example of him". My son is a good kid, superb school reports, not a trouble maker, did not want me to mention it, but I am a secondary school teacher and we wouldn't be allowed to do this in school nowadays. The head coach was away - apparently they don't do this type of thing when the head coach is there which makes me wonder.... Is it ok to do this or does it cross a line into physical punishment/abuse of power? Please advise!

It's not normal and it stinks of someone abusing their authority, especially if the head coach is away and it is not done when the head coach is there. That alone would be worth a conversation with the head coach. What else is happening when they are absent.

Glad it's not just me.

I don't think I could even do 20 pushups 😅

I don't know, like someone said up thread I feel like it was a pretty minor thing and didnt really warrant punishing.

People mentioning snowflakes, I think some adults have the perspective that it's okay to treat kids a certain way but they wouldn't want to be treat the same way. If my boss made me do 40 push ups for a mistake I wouldn't be happy about that, so I don't see why it's alright to do it to kids.

I would hazard a guess that 90% of people posting here couldn’t even do one full press-up. I am pretty fit and do some lifting and 40 push-ups in a row would be impossible for me. That’s an absurd number out of nowhere.

They do laps or burpees or whatever as PE punishments at my DS's school - and there's a general punishment that involves going between two buildings x number of times getting signed in each time before you can go to lunch (thus guaranteeing you're last in the queue - which is the most terrible of punishments to a growing teen!)

BUT they do keep an eye - my eldest has been pulled early because he was clearly struggling following the class messing about and being sent to run around the field a few times, and they use the running back and forth punishment only on pupils it will have the right affect on.

surely you just tell the child that x must be done in thus way for y reason. I don’t see there needs to be any form of punishment or to make an example if anyone. If I make a mistake a work there’s no public flogging to ensure the mistake is not made again.

Why are so many PE teachers and sports coaches so fucking WEIRD?!

No idea @JoyousWriter
It’s even weirder that some parents think it’s fine.

my 5 year does MMA, Thai and wrestling. Late on the mat 10 burpees, not listening 20 push, doing something disrespectful 30 push ups.

it’s all about Respect. Especially any form of martial arts they take the respect for the coaches and equipment seriously someone was banned for 1 month from the gym my kids go too for leaving empty water bottles!

you might think it’s harsh but rules are their to teach respect and to stop it being spoiled for others doing the activities.

presuming your son is fit and healthy and Had fluids he was perfectly fine

Depends on the age but if into the teens then yes, pretty acceptable. DH is a coach and a volunteer, kids voluntary attend the sport and it has rules for the kids to follow, if they don’t, there is an age related punishment. If the kid or parent doesn’t like it, they are free to leave.

This.
this is one of reasons sports are good for kids .
See also ‘ cant means won’t means press-ups’ let it go.

The head coach wasn’t there. This sanction wouldn’t happen if the head coach was there. That’s an issue.

Mmm. Push ups or laps as consequences is very normal for sport, this would be better than laps and if he does them as badly as most of the ones I see for punishment won’t be much exercise at all. I think 40 is a lot if he’s 10 or 11, if he’s a fit 17yo then couldn’t get worked up about this.

Mums net is just full of cruel parents I keep seeing, it’s completely and utterly disgusting that the coach made your son do this there’s many ways to discipline and teach respect but this wasn’t it

I think she is really relevant here. At my son’s old football team, children would need to run a lap for every minute they were late. I was very in favour of this. So if your son is 10+ this seems on the ok end of the spectrum. If he’s quite young maybe not great.

The pushup themselves could be normal depending on the age and sport, but the 'making an example' part is gross.