This post is not to blame the witnesses or to sound the alarm on a potential epidemic when there isn't one. I see kids running in my neighborhood and throughout the city everyday and think nothing of it. The blame lies where it should. Savannah's grandmother and stepmother had no business making that child run for three hours. My intention in writing this post is to warn coaches and parents about using excessive exercise as punishment. Granted, this is the first time I've heard of a kid dying from excessive running. However, the fact that a healthy activity all of a sudden became a life-threatening one is worth taking a look at.
Like many of you reading this, I had coaches who made me run when I messed up. Others had me do push-ups. Exercise has always been used as a form of punishment. The point is to get you in better shape while you learn your lesson. Maybe we need to re-examine our methods. I'm not saying kids should never run or do push-ups again. I am saying we need to know why they're doing it. If you're just angry with them, pick something else. Coaches can take away playing time. Parents can take away a whole host of other things (games, time with friends, allowance, etc.).
The adults in charge of Savannah Hardin had no idea what they were doing and she paid the ultimate price for their ignorance. We have to know what we're doing when it comes to our kids. Even when they're being punished, they trust us to know when enough is enough. We need to validate that trust and know for ourselves. Until next time...
Be a Good Sport!
-Sol
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