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Post by coachwilley on Feb 5, 2009 19:01:47 GMT -6
I could use some help with this one:
I found out today that several of my starters (small school) will be missing the 8th (final) week of the season next year to go to an FFA event. The event isn't even a contest but FFA National Assembly.
Just when I thought we were all buying into something big they dropped the bombshell on me. So 5-8 Juniors will be gone the final week of the season on a 35 man roster.
Besides the final game this will also be disastrous to our playoff run as we would play the next Wednesday and the players wouldn't even be back in town until late Sunday Night...
I worked very hard not to explode today but I'm totally frustrated, especially when I heard one of them whisper that "football is not our life." I will talk to each and every one of them about the situation they're puting their team in.
Will I start reducing/eliminate their playing time around the 5th game to get the rest of the kids ready for the final game? Do I raise a big stink with their parents? If we're not in the playoff hunt that is one thing...but they have to pay the $700 or whatever well before the season and it's non refundable.
Your thoughts would be appreciated...
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Post by tog on Feb 5, 2009 19:07:38 GMT -6
kill your ffa guy
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Post by phantom on Feb 5, 2009 19:09:40 GMT -6
I could use some help with this one: I found out today that several of my starters (small school) will be missing the 8th (final) week of the season next year to go to an FFA event. The event isn't even a contest but FFA National Assembly. Just when I thought we were all buying into something big they dropped the bombshell on me. So 5-8 Juniors will be gone the final week of the season on a 35 man roster. Besides the final game this will also be disastrous to our playoff run as we would play the next Wednesday and the players wouldn't even be back in town until late Sunday Night... I worked very hard not to explode today but I'm totally frustrated, especially when I heard one of them whisper that "football is not our life." I will talk to each and every one of them about the situation they're puting their team in. Will I start reducing/eliminate their playing time around the 5th game to get the rest of the kids ready for the final game? Do I raise a big stink with their parents? If we're not in the playoff hunt that is one thing...but they have to pay the $700 or whatever well before the season and it's non refundable. Your thoughts would be appreciated... Don't wait until the 5th game to reduce playing time. Reduce it now. If they can't play in the games why be on the team at all? |
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Post by coachd5085 on Feb 5, 2009 19:11:41 GMT -6
My thoughts... they are right. Football is not their lives.
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Post by 44dlcoach on Feb 5, 2009 19:32:58 GMT -6
Sorry for the ignorance, what's ffa?
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Post by coachwilley on Feb 5, 2009 19:41:32 GMT -6
TOG: Ha, I'm not sure that's an option. The FFA guy does do a great job with his program..
PHANTOM: thanks for responding...I've thought about that...2 of them are among my top three players....Now it becomes philisophical....do I hurt the rest of the team by not playing them as much for those 7 games...Who am I punishing more? Good thoughts...
coachd5085: thanks for your thoughts. Maybe they are right about football is not life. But I don't think that making 8/8 games during the season is asking too much. Do you accept the excuse "football is not our lives" when kids don't participate in summer lifting...or practice for that matter? I don't think the statement is the major problem...missing the last seven days of the regular season as well as 2 practices before the first playoff game is.
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Post by coachwilley on Feb 5, 2009 19:42:40 GMT -6
It's an Ag program...it used to stand for Future Farmers of America.
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Post by jgordon1 on Feb 5, 2009 19:48:42 GMT -6
Is it possible that the other team has a bunch of FFA's? Maybe the game can be rescheduled. They used moved the starting times for SAT's at my old school in MA.
How about this we used to have kids miss games because they were going to a mandatory? church retreat. The pastor said if they didn't go they wouldn't get ______? I am not Catholic so I don't know what they weren't getting but it seemed important. maybe it was a ticket to heaven
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Post by rideanddecide on Feb 5, 2009 19:53:57 GMT -6
I had that same issue last year until I talked to my kid that was going. I told him that he can make whatever decision he'd like, but he needs to understand what he's doing to his team. His response? "Coach, I'm not missing football to judge chickens".
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Post by coachwilley on Feb 5, 2009 19:55:26 GMT -6
Yeah, you feel bad saying anything about missing a religious activity. I wonder what they got?  |
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Post by coachwilley on Feb 5, 2009 19:58:13 GMT -6
I had that same issue last year until I talked to my kid that was going. I told him that he can make whatever decision he'd like, but he needs to understand what he's doing to his team. His response? "Coach, I'm not missing football to judge chickens". Beardc...that's classic. I'll see how that works with the other juniors. I already talked to our best WR about letting down the team and his response was "Would you rather I missed my senior year?" |
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Post by poorbob on Feb 5, 2009 20:03:47 GMT -6
I don't know how important the FFA thing is, but if they absolutely have to attend, then just don't get on them that hard. They are kids after all. They have lives. And while it screws you, you need to make adjustments to the circumstances. If that means rotating players throughout the games leading up to the last one, fine. If that means just trying to prepare the backups for that one week of PT, then that's alright too. I don't know how important this is, but if they have to attend, there is no sense in busting their balls over it.
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Post by coachcathey on Feb 5, 2009 20:03:56 GMT -6
I may have come unglued on this one...It's a "not my responsibility approach."
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Post by airraider on Feb 5, 2009 20:16:45 GMT -6
Thats a tough one no doubt.
I would say cut your losses now.
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Post by coachwilley on Feb 5, 2009 20:17:58 GMT -6
I don't know how important the FFA thing is, but if they absolutely have to attend, then just don't get on them that hard. They are kids after all. They have lives. And while it screws you, you need to make adjustments to the circumstances. If that means rotating players throughout the games leading up to the last one, fine. If that means just trying to prepare the backups for that one week of PT, then that's alright too. I don't know how important this is, but if they have to attend, there is no sense in busting their balls over it. Poorbob: Well I talked to the FFA sponsor today and he told me it's not required. "It's totally up to the kids and their parents." He said it's more of a reward for being in the program and they don't compete in any of the contests. So basically it's just a fun thing...Does that change your reaction, or would you still just move on as normal? |
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Post by rip60zgo on Feb 5, 2009 20:56:30 GMT -6
To me, this is a team chemistry issue. What do your non-FFA team leaders think about this situation? Would they rather the FFA kids play the entire season, and we just do the best we can for that 8th game? Do they feel like the FFA kids have a different set of rules? What is their threshold for what is equitable for the individual and the team? I think there isn't a hard and fast right/wrong in this situation, and I would want to know the opinion of some of my team leaders. If your team leaders are the guys going to FFA, I'd pry try to fake my own death.
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Post by coachmoore42 on Feb 5, 2009 21:14:52 GMT -6
I don't know how important the FFA thing is, but if they absolutely have to attend, then just don't get on them that hard. They are kids after all. They have lives. And while it screws you, you need to make adjustments to the circumstances. If that means rotating players throughout the games leading up to the last one, fine. If that means just trying to prepare the backups for that one week of PT, then that's alright too. I don't know how important this is, but if they have to attend, there is no sense in busting their balls over it. Poorbob: Well I talked to the FFA sponsor today and he told me it's not required. "It's totally up to the kids and their parents." He said it's more of a reward for being in the program and they don't compete in any of the contests. So basically it's just a fun thing...Does that change your reaction, or would you still just move on as normal? Not required!?! I was on the fence until that. They make a choice, the game is a requirement, the FFA event isn't. If they choose FFA, they are out, but I'd thank them for the heads up. |
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taker
Freshmen Member
Posts: 28
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Post by taker on Feb 5, 2009 21:46:24 GMT -6
Quote:
Would you rather I missed my senior year?"
I admit, I sometimes over-react and say something without thinking about it first, but if a kid said this directly to me and was being serious I would tell him I heard the cheerleading squad wouldn't mind if he took the week off so he could join them for the fall season!
Not in those exact words, but you know what I mean.
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Post by ajreaper on Feb 5, 2009 22:07:18 GMT -6
What they are saying is football is not our lives but apparently FFA is. They are making a choice to take a voluntary trip strictly for "fun" and abandoning thier teammates to do it. I'm afraid I'd be inclined to encourage them to embrace FFA all season and have fun doing so.
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Post by touchdownmaker on Feb 6, 2009 4:20:28 GMT -6
One thing I have taken to, and this was learned from coaching Junior high kids, is to ask up front " I need to know right now if any of you will be missing games for any reason"- and when I find out what those reasons are I make my decision on the kids role for the season.
AAU basketball, fall ball baseball and other things will mean season long benching. Religious or academic events will not hurt a kid one bit because we put faith and academics above football.
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Post by olinecoach61 on Feb 6, 2009 9:08:47 GMT -6
I have a slightly different take, and I may be being too soft, being in a similar school, it would be tough to lose 2 of your top 3 guys with a roster of 35. I would explain to the young men that there are expectations and consequences for your actions. Coach em up and try to win with your best 11. When they miss the game, then deal with it as a disciplnary issue. Lose playing time, benching, whatever your policies are. This allows you to make an example of these players to the youngsters and still let you be competitive.
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Post by phantom on Feb 6, 2009 9:26:14 GMT -6
I had that same issue last year until I talked to my kid that was going. I told him that he can make whatever decision he'd like, but he needs to understand what he's doing to his team. His response? "Coach, I'm not missing football to judge chickens". Beardc...that's classic. I'll see how that works with the other juniors. I already talked to our best WR about letting down the team and his response was "Would you rather I missed my senior year?" I don't know. How many games is he planning to be at that year? |
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Post by phantom on Feb 6, 2009 9:28:01 GMT -6
One thing I have taken to, and this was learned from coaching Junior high kids, is to ask up front " I need to know right now if any of you will be missing games for any reason"- and when I find out what those reasons are I make my decision on the kids role for the season. AAU basketball, fall ball baseball and other things will mean season long benching. Religious or academic events will not hurt a kid one bit because we put faith and academics above football. Academics isn't an issue here. This trip isn't for a grade. |
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sbv
Sophomore Member
Posts: 171
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Post by sbv on Feb 6, 2009 9:29:59 GMT -6
Compromise, offer to pick the kids up on Wed. night.
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Post by kcfootballwv on Feb 6, 2009 9:33:00 GMT -6
I had a similiar issue a few seasons ago with 12 players. I started the season without ever bringing it up until the first day of practice. Then.......I made the whole teams life miserable and while making them miserable I would ask one of them "are you going to be here everyday?" At first they would say something like "all except the Oct 24th". I did not give one of them a starting position either. Little by little all 12 came around. I would make it clear they were not be punished for attending but rather we all needed to be stronger because of it. Once I had ther word they would be at the game on the 24th, I eased up.
My left guard put up a fight for awhile but I think ultimately peer pressure not my torment got to him.
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Post by mitch on Feb 6, 2009 9:37:43 GMT -6
I have a slightly different take, and I may be being too soft, being in a similar school, it would be tough to lose 2 of your top 3 guys with a roster of 35. I would explain to the young men that there are expectations and consequences for your actions. Coach em up and try to win with your best 11. When they miss the game, then deal with it as a disciplnary issue. Lose playing time, benching, whatever your policies are. This allows you to make an example of these players to the youngsters and still let you be competitive. IMO, there are more important issues here than being competitive, i.e. winning. Reliability, responsibility, and accountability come to mind. Just take off to have fun when the oppurtunity arises and leave the rest of your team to fend for themselves? = Selfish. There is no room for selfishness on a football team. |
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Post by spartancoach on Feb 6, 2009 9:42:30 GMT -6
Not required for FFA? Then it is easy:
1. Family emergencies.
2. School work.
3. Football.
4. Everything else.
(Not even sure about #2.)
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Post by bleefb on Feb 6, 2009 10:36:40 GMT -6
FFA practically runs our school and we are very small (22 players) and I have to deal with it quite a bit. I've compromised on an occasional practice for State Fair. The only game issue that came up was when my senior captain missed a game for National Competition, and I OK'ed that because of the nature of the event. I've had other kids who wanted to go for fun. I didn't kick them off, but let them know that someone else would be playing in their spot. They didn't go.
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Post by casec11 on Feb 6, 2009 10:42:24 GMT -6
If you are in the season trying to make the playoffs and become a tight knit group they probably wont want to go to the FFA thing.... and if they do they are done...off the team.
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Post by cjamerson on Feb 6, 2009 11:16:43 GMT -6
I would cut down on the playing time. If football isn't their life, then they won't mind not playing as much. If an athlete asked me, "Would you rather I missed my senior year?"...I would have sent him packing right there. I feel like that he is placing an unfair ultimatum on me and the program. The kids have selfish attitude..."I would rather not deal with selfish attitudes"
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