HS track coach fired for allowing runners to train topless.

[si_blakely]

@brendon_small

I suppose it is different for me because I’ve been part of all of it since as long as I can remember. Even after I graduated I ran with the team in the summer when I was home. I run triathlons and road races now, and there is plenty of shirtless-ness. I did a tri this past weekend that involved an indoor swim, which is probably a perfectly acceptable place for me to be shirtless, but I had to run across campus about a quarter mile to the transition area before I got to my shirt and bike. Should I have covered myself up more? I don’t know, but there were 200+ other swimmers that made the same run in their pool attire. Track practice is very much like this. It has been as long as I remember, and I don’t understand why it is even such a big deal.

From the Swim to Transition 1 is acceptable. However (certainly under British Triathlon Association rules), from that point on shirts are mandatory, and nothing more than torsos are allowed to be exposed in transition areas. All the running events I have entered have mandated shirts, as well. It’s a rule for competing, so it is reasonable to apply it as a discipline to training as well. And a proper workout shirt should be as cool (and safer sun-wise) than bare skin.

Si

[running_coach]

@si_blakely

From the Swim to Transition 1 is acceptable. However (certainly under British Triathlon Association rules), from that point on shirts are mandatory, and nothing more than torsos are allowed to be exposed in transition areas. All the running events I have entered have mandated shirts, as well. It’s a rule for competing, so it is reasonable to apply it as a discipline to training as well. And a proper workout shirt should be as cool (and safer sun-wise) than bare skin.

Si

National high school rules(track) forbid the removal of any part of the uniform while in the competition area.

However, don’t forget the whole ruckus involves a training run, not at a meet.

Where I coach, the kids often run shirtless(cost, not everyone can afford technical fiber shirts) and even the girls often run in sports bras. At meets, the kids often change in the stands(remove or put on undershirts) with no complaints.

[SecondJudith]

@Kaio

Either way, I still think being considerate is a nice thing to do, if some people mention being uncomfortable. I do think that if you leave 'em alone, talk openly/educate well about bodies and sex, and don’t push, the awkward uncomfortable 14-year-olds will become 16-year-olds who don’t really care. That’s not a reason to be insensitive to the 14-year-olds, though. I imagine 14-year-old boys would feel a little weird about seeing topless classmates, too. And seriously, puberty is already awkward, we can certainly be nice enough to give kids space to work through that stuff without just dropping them in the deep end.

And I still think it’s ridiculous to punish the coach for something the student did.

Yes, thank you for putting this so well. That’s what I was trying to communicate, especially the bolded part.