My daughter isnt getting a chance to warm up!

Question
My daughter plays high school volleyball. She seems to be only playing if an injured player can't play any longer. The problem is she gets put in the game only at a moments notice and has no warm up time. Last time her shoulder started to bother her. This coach is very accomplished why is he risking injury to her.  When she approached him on the subject, she was benched completely. He's been coaching for 17 years why risk another injured player.  Or what can my daughter do to stay loose while sitting on the bench?  Thank you for any advice you can give.

Answer
Good evening and thank you for visiting me at www.allexperts.com.  

I'm sorry that I haven't been more prompt in answering.  Refereeing, teaching high school math, making reservations for lessons, etc.  Takes a lot of time.  

What your coach is doing is normal.  I'm sure you know that.  It happens in bball, sball, soccer, etc.  What you're doing is also normal:  Being an "OH MY BABY!!" mom.  You've probably been to athletic events since you were 10 years old.  The situation you described was happening then as well.  

It is extremely rare for a girl to lose her "looseness" after 30 or 60 minutes, then hurt her arm going into the game.  I've never heard of it in 25 years.  Hamstring, maybe.  Armswing, never heard of it. (Of course, maybe my players just don't tell me!  haha) Trying to hurt his players?  Then I guess I do it every week I coach also, b/c I've been doing it for all these years.  

I see 4 things the coach can do:
* Allow your daughter to play some, but that's not good b/c she may get hurt.
* Don't let her play so she doesn't get hurt. But that's not unacceptable to you or to your daughter.  
* Kick her off the team now.  Nope.
* Cut her at tryouts.  Too late.  

But, then you say something that's not normal!  You asked, "What can she do?"  Now I know you're a thoughtful mom as well!  :)  She can swing her arms during timeouts and between games.  Sometimes the rule book allows the girls to even pepper between games.  (I'm not sure if my NFHS rule book does or not.  huh.  I don't think there is a rule against it, do I guess it's legal.)  Maybe between games, with Coach's permission, she could go down a hallway, or into an adjacent gym and warm up her arm.  

She's so fortunate to be on a team.  She's SO lucky to be getting any playing time at all.  If your coach didn't like your daughter, and wanted to hurt her, (a) he wouldn't have lasted 17 years and (b) he would have just cut her to begin with.  

I hope the rest of your season goes GREAT!  Please follow up if I didn't answer your question or if you have more.  

And, finally, please visit me at www.coachhouser.com!  Club tryouts are about to start.  I can't WAIT!!

Coach Houser