littlegirlsdream
Proud Parent
So something that’s has been implemented at DD gym recently is just not sitting well with me. DD is training for level 9, at her gym about 3/4 they way through the season the coaches decided they had enough of their athletes getting visibly upset when practice or meets did not go well. So, They implemented a “pout board” . The intent of this board is that if you, the athlete, shows any amount of frustration, negative emotion or being upset at any point during practice you must write your name on the “pout board” there is no punishment attached to the board other than you have to be embarrassed and have your name up there in the gym until the next day. Well this is horrifying to DD, she is a pretty intense kid and does get upset with herself from time to time. Lately the pressure to never show she is upset seems to be adding considerable stress to her. The kids have to write their name on the board if they give any visible sign of being frustrated, over whelmed or upset. This can include sighs, “angry” faces, body language ..pretty much anything. If the kid writes their name small it’s erased and written in bigger. It seems to me this boards intent is to shame kids into behaving a certain way and it just does not seem healthy to me. Am I wrong in my thought on this? Does any one else have this type of thing at the gyms you go to? Is it reasonable or healthy to expect an athlete to never show frustration? Thoughts please.