The well-worn practice of coaches ordering extra running as punishment for bad behavior or poor performance may soon fade from Iowa’s high school athletic fields and courts.

The disciplinary practice may face new scrutiny after an investigative report made public Thursday stated that the Des Moines school district believes that a coach who makes an athlete run at practice could be guilty of inflicting corporal punishment on the student.

The report examined actions by suspended Des Moines Lincoln High School football coach Tom Mihalovich, who is accused of violating school bullying and corporal punishment policies. Among Mihalovich’s offenses, according to the report: requiring a sophomore player to run sprints and laps as punishment for making derogatory comments about the school’s varsity squad.

MORE: http://www.desmoinesregister.com/article/20121006/NEWS/310060051/1024/ent02/?odyssey=nav%7Chead