Running Poles after a game ?

Is'nt it to get the lactic acid out of the system? That's what I have always understood.

I think the coach is kinda crazy myself.

I pulled this off another site and researched this a lot lately. I don't care what anyone says, no one should run after playing that many games in that type heat. They next day, you may need to run, but all that Lactic acid stuff I believe is just myth.


Quote:
Next, running cannot possibly help healing in regards to pitching because pitching is NOT anaerobic. It is thought that pitching produces lactic acid because of the pain that can result after pitching. This cannot be though. Only anaerobic exercise creates lactate which is caused by fermentation after glycolysis if there is an oxygen debt. This oxygen "debt" comes from the rest interval not being great enough in relation to the work. In pitching, the work interval is far less than 1 second and usually around .2 of a second. The rest interval is usually somewhere in the neighborhood of usually around 12 seconds, but can be even greater or lesser, it depends on how fast the pitcher works. Rest to work inteval of 12 to 1 is NOT anaerobic. If the work interval is less than 1 second, like closer to .2, then you can see that the rest to work interval gets increased. Again, NOT anaerobic So as you can see, pitching is NOT and cannot be anaerobic and CANNOT produce lactate.

He is correct. Lactate also does not affect acidosis, which is one of the most commonly quoted ideas that cause Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness/Fatigue (DOMS), for various biological reasons that are boring to write/read about. Acidosis probably has some effect on DOMS, but scientists are not sure.

I think guidelines should be used as such and thrown away in extenuating circumstances. Extereme heat is an extenuating circumstance. Also, he most likely won't throw until next weekend, so why the need to run THAT day?

Mike,
This wasn't NM was it?

I'm not sure what state you are in, but here is a thought... we had a friend through another team suffer a "Heat Stroke", not heat exhaustian, or cramps but a "real stroke". He was 14 years old. We are in Texas and we were in a tournament. The player had played many games that weekend, temps were over 100 and when the coach had the boys running poles after the last game, he collaspsed on the field. He was in ICU for 8 days. This was a player that was in good physical condition, and the doctors said that is probably what saved his life.

This player was also doing football strength and conditioning camp as well during the week.

The heat, especially in Texas is not something to mess with when it comes to the well-being of the player. If you are in a lot of heat, make sure the players stay hydrated if you plan on running them or not, know the signs for heat related problems, and don't push them to the point of a more serious condition. If I was the parent, I would take control of that situation. My guess, is that coach is not very knowledgeable on heat related illness'

For hydration, we mix pedialyte (unflavored) and Gatorade (blue tastes best) together. It gives them extra electrolytes and helps with cramping. The Dallas Cowboys do this in their camp. You can also use on towels - Mineral Spirits (smelling salt), mixed with water to rub on skin (Don't drink!)- it opens up pores and gives them a feeling of being refreshed - Pro umpires use this stuff.

Most of all - using your 'gut' instinct is always best. Remember they are only kids, there is not any professional trainer out there that would make a kid run if he was physically having trouble. Parents need to stay in control of that situation as well. I wouldn't give a rats _______ what the pros do, he is 14!

quote:

Originally posted by Mikeau:
Question for all you 14U coaches out there. Opinions needed. Played this weekend in 100 degree weather, very humid. Playing in the championship game and kid comes into pitch in the 2nd innings and goes the rest of the game. He has played in all the games and has been on base running all day. Last inning he is laboring and you know he's cramping. He finishes the game and the coach tells him he has to run poles. The parent steps up and tells him he has to be at football workouts at 6:30 in the morning and will get a ton of running in tomorrow and asks if he can just take him home and ice. The coach gets smart and says he is running because the do it in the pros all after every game.

What would all you coaches do? Its 8:30 at night and the kid looks like he could pass out. Do you run him knowing he has to run in the morning? Do pro pitchers like a Tim Hudson, run poles that same night after pitching 7 innings?

As a travel coach who deals with the heat in tournament ball, I think the coach is nuts. As a parent I would have left with my son and dealt with the consequences later. As far as I'm concerned the coach was messing with the kid's health and safety. That's where I would draw the line as a parent.

I am not sure if many understand what heat stroke is---I had it when I was a teen and as my doctor described it " your heart is pumping like the pistons in a car. With heat stroke the pistons seize and you heart stops pumping (beating)"

I was lucky I survived---I simply passed out on the bench --and this was not from running poles--it was during the game---I came in after singling and then stealing 2nd and 3rd and then scoring on a hit--simply playing baseball in 100 degree heat


This coach is a lunatic

I have never been a fan of running polls. Especially in tournaments where you play 5 and up games. But my son usually swims after a tournament and that probably does the same thing and isn't near as hot.

The coach is playing with the kids life in that heat. I live in Cali and man the heat can be brutal,
but I travel all over and happened to have been in
southern Alabama in July.While there I went to several tournaments, I liken the heat there to sticking wet cotten balls in your nose and standing
in front of a pizza oven with the door open.IF a
coach did that to my son he would be pulling teeth
out of his **** for a while.

Coach is a joke. Plain and simple.

Running after pitching does nothing to doms. Its damaged tissue that is pain sensitive. Lactic acid build up is a wives tail by the way.

Pitching is anaerobic btw. It does not require oxygen to recover.

Its running on the phosphocreatine energy system.