Chapter 24; Facility Policies, Procedures and legal issue's part three: Discipline

     Much like the past few posts this information comes from Chapter 24 from the Essentials of Strength Training and Conditioning. This particular post covers the NSCA's hierarchy when it comes to disciplining athletes.

    Much like any gym across America when you get a membership you are presented with a list of rules and policies that you have to sign acknowledging that you have read them and will adhere to them. Often times these are posted throughout the gym. Many of the gyms that I have visited recently have a few of the rules posted on several locations. More often it pertains to a dress code and unauthorized personal training then disciplinary action is posted as well. A have been to a few commercial gyms where unauthorized personal training is banned-no questions asked. This one is iffy to me; for example, in one of my previous duty stations a group of ladies were consistently in the gym performing workouts designed by someone else. The gym manager saw this and kicked out the whole group. I never saw them at that location again. On one hand rules are rules, but on the other hand I think I would have hired her to keep the other five members to increase income. The membership fees were cheap, but six memberships would have brought in additional income. 

    Any who. Back to the information. Once you have the participants sign the rules then discipline actions can arise. To note-it is not a good idea to include physical conditioning as punishment. For one it looks silly to have grown adults doing push-ups or burpees has a punishment, and two it can cause legal problems down the road. Adding additional exercises to an already heavy load in the gym potentially cause injury or exhaustion and in extreme cases-death. In 2018 Maryland football player Jordan McNair died from heat exhaustion from overly physical practice in the August heat. That is an extreme example but the head coach and strength coach both lost their jobs and left with tarnished reputations. A tied discipline standard is much better. Obviously, the tiered system must be shared with sport coaches and Athletiec directors to ensure full and complete understanding of the rules and disciplinary actions. Support from sport coaches and AD's is needed to enforce these punishments.  

1st offense: Verbal warning and explanation of rule broken

2nd offense: Dismissal from facility for one day, documented offense and notification to athlete's sport coach.         

3rd offense: Dismissal from facility for one-week, documented offense and notification to athlete's sport coach

4th offense: Dismissal from facility for reminder of the year, documented offense and notification to sport coach and Athletiec Director.

5th offense: Permanent dismissal from facility, documented offense and notification to sport coach and Athletiec Director.

    Often times the sport coach will handle majority of the discipline after the second offense. Keep in mind that the sport coaches want their athletes to get better (their job and paycheck depend on athletes playing well).