A Deadly Impact
Posted by VeRonda Wicks August 31st, 2009This isn’t a professional sports’ story, but one of relevance none the less… What do you make of this?
High school, death, a coach possibly going to jail…
As I understand it, a 15-year-old lineman, Maxwell Gilpin, collapsed on a high school practice football field from a heat stroke and later died. Gilpin’s body temperature reached 107 degrees. David Stinson, the Pleasure Ridge Park coach with a reckless homicide charge, may be on his way to jail for alleged not giving students water on this day where temperatures reached 94 degrees. If convicted, the coach could face 5 years behind bars.
I wish I could get all the facts because there has been so much lost already. I know of many young people who find themselves in back-breaking practices and only want to appease their coaches to ensure playing time and personal growth. Well, then you ask a kid how they’re feeling and they say they’re fine. There are so many questions… Where were the other coaches? Is this normal? Where were the parents? A boy’s life is gone and for what (This isn’t a sarcastic or rhetorical question.)? It definitely stirs questions and emotions. What is the future impact?
September 1st, 2009 at 9:31 am
Wow,
This is wrong on so many levels… Again, all the facts need to come out, but how do you not allow the athletes any hydration (water, gatoraide, something) during summer practice. If this is true then the coach does need to do some time becuase he did have a hand in that childs death.
The coaches should be trained to spot when athletes are in trouble and get them cooled down.
Parents need to instill in their children that any sport is not worth their life. Speak up if your not feeling well.
Back in my day… yeah that was a long time ago.. when we had summer football practices, the coaches would force us all in small groups to take water breaks and would dog the hell out of you if they caught you not drinking.
This makes no sense what so ever… I cant wait until the facts do come out.. because if its the coaches fault he should do some serious time and be banned from coaching forever…
Ok I went on a tirade for a min.. but lets say we are innocent until proven guilty in this country (most of the time). If the coaches did provide hydration to the kids, then this just points out that maybe coaches need to be trained more to spot at risk athletes or looking at moving practices earlier during the day or later in evening.. I mean its high school not the NFL.. and neither is worth anyones life…
September 1st, 2009 at 11:27 am
David, I think I’m in agreement with you. I’m not sure what went on. I do know the coach is retaining his innocence and the jury doesn’t think his actions were malicious… so, we will just have to see all that happens. Its just a hard thing to know a boy is dead.
September 1st, 2009 at 9:25 pm
There is too much emphasis put on being the best at sports. This story alone, doesn’t just speak of the negligence of the coach, but also the pressure the young man felt to be the best, not only to please his coach, but to prove to himself he wasn’t weak. It can be hard for a young person to admit weakness, especially one playing sports. As parents, coaches, and friends we have to make sure there is a balance in a young person’s life. We cannot put too much focus on the sport, just as we should not put too much focus on academic life. Young people are under a lot of pressure, future choices/options, peer pressure to do wrong things, and physiological changes to their bodies to name a few. It is so important as adults that we understand and take that into consideration. It is disheartening that this coach was blinded by his want to win and lost the focus of the life he was hurting and eventually took from that young man.
September 1st, 2009 at 10:36 pm
It’s true, JayDub… The mindset is all messed up when the goal is just to make it to the NFL or NBA and NHL. You really captured what people have been discussing around this topic. See you soon…
September 2nd, 2009 at 5:59 am
This happens every single year and it’s such an unncessessary thing. There are SO many prevents that could be put in place. It’s coaching stupidity.
One of our local high schools uses many plastic kiddie pools under their bleachers where the boys can cool off and there is even a health professional there from a local hospital. Now that’s a model for some programs.
September 2nd, 2009 at 8:46 am
Hey Sheila, this is a very unfortunate and unnecessary thing. I mean, a boy’s life was taken. So, I’m not sure of all the details, but I’m not sure how much it matters. Some older coaches were even saying that 20 years ago they didn’t even have water out on the practice field. I’m not sure about that, but things are different today… the size of the young people, what they’re eating, the ozone, and all the other variables that are in play here. Man, what a sad thing.
Sheila, it’s always nice to read your input.
September 22nd, 2009 at 11:32 pm
I agree that we need all the facts. There are always three sides to a story: yours, mine and the truth. I also agree with David that coaches need to be trained and more sensitive to dehydrated, or otherwise ill athletes. Parents can’t always be there to protect their child and they entrust the coaches with that responsibility as accountable adults.
September 23rd, 2009 at 4:17 pm
Well, Mike, you know the coach was since found not guilty on all charges… Now, that isn’t to say that now are the facts are in, but it shows waht 12 people must have thought about the situation. Awareness is the only thing now that can come out of all of this so the boy’s life isn’t in vain. Thanks for the visit!