High School Weight Room Safety

Abstract

Joseph Pruitt was a cross-country athlete who participated at Los Lunas High School. The team would use a school-furnished weight room with the understanding that the athletes would use a spotter for any free weights, benches, and/or machines. Pruitt was performing sit-ups, while holding a twenty-five-pound weight, on a bench without a spotter. After completing the exercise, Pruitt slipped while attempting to get off the bench, which caused the weight to fall onto, and crush, one of his fingers. After multiple surgeries, Pruitt filed suit, claiming that the defendants had an unwritten rule of not providing spotters for athletes completing exercises within the weight room.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Mike Stocz

Mike Stocz ([email protected]) is an assistant professor in the Sport and Recreation Management Program at the University of North Alabama in Florence, AL.

William R. Holt

William R. Holt is a graduate student in the Sport and Recreation Management Program at the University of North Alabama in Florence, AL.