To try and bring this back in line with the question, perhaps a good question would be:
What should constitute functional conditioning at a given age for a given athlete? And what should the training priorities be along the way?
I agree with you wholeheartedly CFKA. In my very short time of coaching (8 years), I have gorwn disgusted at how other coaches sacrifice DEVELOPMENT and PROGRESSION for winning. This thread has already become one of my all time favorites on this site. Please, lend me your two cents on these two threads.
https://elitetrack.com/forums/viewthread/7790/
https://elitetrack.com/forums/viewthread/7710/
They are both very similar to what we have here, and I think insightful threads as this one (and mine) should continue to be brought to the light by all of us.