Can we stop putting athletes through "punishment" or pointless "toughen" them up workouts. They don't help at all. And they can put kids lives in danger. This poor kid is in a coma because of it. It's so so sad because it's so easily preventable. Just stop doing stupid shit for workouts. Like, literally that's it. You don't have to stop working hard. You just have to stop doing endless exercises that they aren't prepared for, have had no progression or build-up towards, and have no real connection to the sport itself. We've seen this movie far too many times. In many higher-profile cases, the cause was extreme workouts performed at the beginning of the season. Endless pushups, squats, burpees, and other exercises designed not to improve fitness, but to "test" their athletes. That's what you see here, a workout of planks, calisthentics, and so forth with a "run" carrying a 10lb med ball to cap it off where they poor athlete collapsed. The attorney describes the rule: "Miss a count, your group runs again." It's just disheartening to see this. My thoughts are with the young man. But as coaches, trainers, practitioners, we have to do better. I mean, the entire point of the sport of running that I love so much is to push all the way to your physical and mental limits. It's literally what we do during really hard workouts. But we do it in a way where it's progressive, athletes are prepared, in control, and never out of punishment. Real toughness is experiencing discomfort or distress, leaning in, paying attention, and creating space to take thoughtful action. Discipline is a teaching moment. Punishment is what coaches do when they've stopped teaching. We're teachers. Don't forget that.