Parents of East Burwood Rams Footy Club Members Complain of Naked Runs of Kids as Punishment for Poor Performance
Athletes are used to seeing each other's naked bodies, and it isn't a big deal for sportsmen to strip all their clothes off and take a shower together in an common shower area after a game.
However, it is a different thing if young athletes are made to strip down to their birthday suit and run butt naked around a public oval as punishment for poor performance.
One such incident allegedly happened on Thursday, May 22, during the training session of the East Burwood Rams football club, prompting the parents of the kids to complain, reported Fairfax. The Eastern Football League (EFL) is investigating the incident.
EFL Chief Executive Phil Murton said after the probe is completed, details will be assessed and there would be penalties or sanctions based on the findings and in line with EFL procedures and rules.
The Rams are the cellar dwellers with zero win in the first round of the season. After the naked run punishment, they again lost to the Doncaster East by 61 points, indicating the punishment wasn't effective or could have further deflated their fighting spirit.
Club President Sue Bailey declined to comment on the incident.
However, readers of Ninesman gave their piece of mind on the incident.
Clayton Gabel, who played rugby league and other sports, said the nude run is not new. "Every league team I played for had a rule that if you didn't score a try during the season, you had to do a 'nudie run.' This was a rule made up and enforced by the players, not the coaching staff and it was all in good fun."
However, he acknowledged that the coach seems to be using the naked run as a means to punish or embarrass the players, which he doubted would help improve their confidence in the coach or themselves.
Moon Beamzz agreed with Clayton that it was a great coaching approach and he questioned why it is being made a big deal. "Was it freezing, did anyone suffer bruised knees, was anyone injured?" he asked.
But Raylene Wilson though there should be an investigation is the coach is a potential pedophile which explains why he wants his wards punished without their clothes on and in a public area.