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Post by coachbiggers on Apr 28, 2009 6:03:06 GMT -6
Hey Fellas,
We had a meeting last night regarding one of our "star" players threatning to transfer. He was "ALL COUNTY" and his head is even bigger than that. So we are picking kids to participate in a 4 day camp and we only get 23 slots. Our OC is new a long with me and a one of my assistants from last year. Well, the OC wants this kid to go because he is "ALL COUNTY" and going to contribute a lot for the "team"...
The problem is this kid workout attendence is spotty and one week he is in and the next he's transferring. So I suggested the kid not go and we send a kid who deserves it. Now mind you this "ALL COUNTY" kid "STARRED" for a 1-9 team last year. Well to me 4 td's all season doesn't justify greatness, especially when you are allergic to the "team" concept. Well I got accused of being a hard a$$ and taking the wrong approach and since this is my first season of highschool I got the "this is a little different than youth"... So tell me, am I wrong for thinking that way... But the kid just really rubs me the wrong way.
Just last week I ran conditioning and he got upset because he couldn't handle the inensity and and started complaining. So after the workout I told the kids that it wasn't a big deal if they couldn't handle the intensity because football wasn't made for everyone and I went of into how it takes a special person to play this game. I guess its the GA in me trying to manifest in MD!!! LOL!!
Sorry for the rant just really frustrated.
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Post by touchdownmaker on Apr 28, 2009 7:33:45 GMT -6
Send the kids who deserve to go.
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Post by fbcoach74 on Apr 28, 2009 7:37:23 GMT -6
Coach,
I beleive no one is bigger than the team. You do not have to have the most talented players to have a great team. I know it helps. But last year we had a lot of talent and no team. We finished 3-7. Coming into this year I have changed my approach, It is now all about the team, and i know some of our better players who think it is all about them will not buy in or may not play. However, I think we will be a better team and have a better record. So my advice would be to talk with him, tell him the Team is first and no on is bigger than the team, and that you hope he gets on board, if not plan on not having him. As far as the camp, I would send the kids you know you will have and build around those that work hard and that care about the TEAM.
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Post by phantom on Apr 28, 2009 7:40:51 GMT -6
"team" concept. Well I got accused of being a hard a$$ . Accused? I'd take that as a compliment.
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Post by kylem56 on Apr 28, 2009 9:05:40 GMT -6
You did the right thing. Stick to your guns. Like Bo Schembechler once said, no one is more important than the team, the team, the team
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Post by dubber on Apr 28, 2009 9:45:14 GMT -6
Accused? I'd take that as a compliment. Yea, no chit. I'd wear that like a badge of honor. They were 1-9, something needs to change and if All County isn't with the program then he can hit the phuking road. and...now this is just me...I don't deal well with this "transfering" BS. It was rumored that one of our LB's was transfering last year, so I went and asked him. He said "no". I said "alright." end of story...almost. I dropped something off by his house and his dad somehow gets the conversation to him transferring to a rival team in our league and for some reason I said "well then take him. We aren't going to cancel our season because your son isn't there. Good Luck to you, we'll see you game 10." and I left. Now the kid didn't transfer and thank god he didn't (LOL) but chit, it's not like the sun revolves around any one person, he's an injury away from us not having him anyway, so phuk him, he needs to pick his side of the fence and stick with it cause there ain't no comin back. ***awww hell, now I've got my blood up and I don't even have a kid transfering or threatening to... I will always read what this guy writes.
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Post by chuge325 on Apr 28, 2009 10:00:27 GMT -6
I would take the kids you want to take. You are the coach. If you want your team to play like a harda**es then coach them. If the kids is on board then he's on board. If he's not showing up, and he's yapping about leaving, then you can't depend on him. We have had similar issues, and I finally sent the parents a rather blunt email, follwed up with calls to a select few vocal problem areas, and let the team know, that the kids I can depend on Friday nights are the kids I can depend on to be there Tuesday, going full speed, whether it is Tuesday in September or Tuesday in April. AND THOSE KIDS ARE THE TEAM. We lost a few, but now a year and a half later, and a rotten year on the field, we are bringing back more kids than we had then. So stick to your guns, and if you can't depend on him to show up for offseason, then you can't depend on him in season. And if you can't then why waste the camp spot, or more meetings, or more energy on him. And sometimes, the prima donnas stop acting like that when they discover that the world moves on w/o them. Leave him home until he wants to be with you!
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Post by reader on Apr 28, 2009 10:02:24 GMT -6
Talent always teases you.....it makes you want to make decisions that you normally wouldn't make unless the kid is talentd....if the kid won't be committed then take one who is.....don't let him play you.
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Post by rolltide52 on Apr 28, 2009 10:16:03 GMT -6
Dont take the kid. If he is on the team then he will get on board. If he is not then he will transfer and become someone else's problem. The rest of the kids will respect you more and help the long term development of the program. What the worse that can happen you go 0-10 thats only one game worse and you will sleep better at night.
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JMC
Sophomore Member
Posts: 108
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Post by JMC on Apr 28, 2009 10:25:03 GMT -6
I agree with what the other coaches are saying. Let him go you may end up better of and passing this "star" and all his baggage to another team.
Similar thing happened in our area last year. Player was thrown off of a team because he failed a drug test for the 2nd time. Kid was on Probation and the school system kept up with them. County policy says kid fails drug test second time he must sit out a sport. What does the kid do transfers to a city school only about 4 miles from his high school. The city coach goes to bat for him, principal goes before district principals trying to get him eligible after much hesitation they approve it, they hold him out for first 4 games to get practices in and let him get approved by High School League. Kid who was a problem is yes sir, no sir to the coaches at his new school walks a straight line, except for getting caught spray painting a rival school night before their game which he still was not eligible to play in. Week 5 comes and they start him against his former team. He has a heck of a game and they crush his former team. Next week he no shows at school and practice and is never seen there again. The coach who took a chance on him lost face and a lot of the respect he had earned over the years.
So why am I telling this story. Well because I think its a good one a lot of people can learn from and plus no matter how good he is if he is not a part of the team there is nothing you can do, but let him go. As one coach who won a couple state championships and 200 games said. "If they can't swim, they bound to drown sooner or later."
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Post by bigm0073 on Apr 28, 2009 10:36:31 GMT -6
Let him go... Big freaking deal... 4 TDs.. Hell that is only four more TDs than my wife scored in high school As always I am with Ohio on this one. Ask him face to face and squash. If he does not want to workout then move on. Work with the kid that does want to get better. 1-9... We went 1-9 last year. Started 15 9th grade and 10 graders.. Got our heads beat in a few games. OUr weight room is packed, our two deep is competetive and our players are out for revenge and blood. They are bigger, stronger and hungry... I tell you this - If my players saw me chasing some kid who was not coming and "Selling my Soul" they would look at me kind of funny and start to question me... When you go 1-9 and do the things you guys are doing like caving into a whiny, snot nose kid without a good work ethic you are doomed for failure.
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Post by cnunley on Apr 28, 2009 10:50:50 GMT -6
Yea, no chit. I'd wear that like a badge of honor. They were 1-9, something needs to change and if All County isn't with the program then he can hit the phuking road. and...now this is just me...I don't deal well with this "transfering" BS. It was rumored that one of our LB's was transfering last year, so I went and asked him. He said "no". I said "alright." end of story...almost. I dropped something off by his house and his dad somehow gets the conversation to him transferring to a rival team in our league and for some reason I said "well then take him. We aren't going to cancel our season because your son isn't there. Good Luck to you, we'll see you game 10." and I left. Now the kid didn't transfer and thank god he didn't (LOL) but chit, it's not like the sun revolves around any one person, he's an injury away from us not having him anyway, so phuk him, he needs to pick his side of the fence and stick with it cause there ain't no comin back. ***awww hell, now I've got my blood up and I don't even have a kid transfering or threatening to... I will always read what this guy writes. I Double the WILL ALWAYS READ when it comes to Dcohio. Great Post
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Post by cnunley on Apr 28, 2009 10:58:22 GMT -6
But my own two cents worth....
we had some tranfers last season (4 to be exact) and this year thats apparently the 'cool' rumor to get started. Every other day I hear little johnny is tranfering blahblahblah. My typical response to the students is. We only need 11. If someone is even on the fence they might as well leave because their not committed to us.
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Post by docbrown on Apr 28, 2009 11:06:09 GMT -6
I totally agree, no ONE is bigger than the TEAM. I would rather NOT have a kid with that attitude, so him tranferring might be a blessing. I don't care how good he is, he needs to change his attitude or be told where soccer tryouts are being held. Sounds like a bigger problem might be with the OC endorsing this kid's behavior (and may explain the 1-9 season).
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Post by CoachMikeJudy on Apr 28, 2009 11:07:22 GMT -6
I don't take kindly to newcomers or sellouts- it just gets under my skin...
DCohio has it right-
"Are you transferring or even thinking about it?"
"Well coach they have better academics..."
"Alright- turn your chit in and beat it- I'll see you after we kick your new team's a$$."
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Post by superpower on Apr 28, 2009 11:26:13 GMT -6
Man, I hope someone at our school starts a rumor about one of our players transferring. I want to use some of the comebacks in this thread! Awesome stuff, and right on target.
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Post by fbdoc on Apr 28, 2009 11:27:45 GMT -6
These are the battles that everyone faces (or will face) at one time or another. This is a teachable moment, for the kid and for the rest of the team - who is watching to see what you are going to do. Communicate the expectation to all county and then follow through. Once again, EVERYTHING you see in your program is either Taught, or it is Allowed. Which one is it for you?
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Post by Coach N on Apr 28, 2009 12:59:17 GMT -6
Sit him in your office and ask him where he wants to transfer to and tell him you'll help him. If he is on one of the days where he is "not transferring" then tell him exactly what your expectations are. Do not take him to camp until he lives up to your expectations. Team first - check the ego at the door.
Remember the star might help you win a game - but his attitude will never let you build a program!
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Post by khalfie on Apr 28, 2009 17:02:59 GMT -6
I had this stud running back tell me he was transferring during the beginning of summer session... I called up the school he was transferring to, told the coach how much of a stud he was getting... and wished the kid best wishes... He went on to have a great season for them...
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Post by fbdoc on Apr 28, 2009 17:13:38 GMT -6
If this kid doesn't want to do what the other members of the Team are doing, he's making his choice. Allow him to make his choice and leave the team. You will gain so much more from those who stay than you're losing my him choosing to leave the team.
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burn
Sophomore Member
Posts: 181
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Post by burn on Apr 28, 2009 20:16:31 GMT -6
You can not compromise on principle. If you do the kids will see it, the parents will see it and worst of all you know it. Not much of a lesson or value to teach to a bunch of young men who will some day be teaching their values to their kids or worse to a group of young men. We always talk about society and where this generation of young people are at now is the time to model what truly should be valued, hard work, dedication, service to others.
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tarrant
Sophomore Member
Posts: 117
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Post by tarrant on Apr 28, 2009 20:45:35 GMT -6
Do you want to continue to deal with prima donna mentalities? If so by all means keep coddling him. If not become the hard ass and get it done.
We have a rule you buy in or ship out. Last year the HC, waffled on that rule, the team suffered because of a few cancers. He's out and new coach is in and the new rule is adding value to the team by subtracting all the naysayers and troublemakers.
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Post by coachorr on Apr 28, 2009 21:03:07 GMT -6
Him "I ain't doing this it's too hard".
You "Well son, that's your choice, you can chose to do whatever you want."
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Post by coach4life on Apr 28, 2009 21:17:38 GMT -6
Great comments by all, especially the philosophy that no one is bigger than the team. Another way of looking at it is you aren't doing this kid any favors should you buy into his BS. I've seen coaches blinded by talent, let a kid get by with stuff like jogging across the goal line, antics to draw attention to himself, etc. and then the kid is in for a rude awakening if he goes to the next level. The best thing for him and you is to go with your gut, coach him and all your other guys the way you do it and he'll be a better player for it. Or not, his decision. Only he can decide he is mentally tough enough to set aside his precious ego and be treated as a member of a team.
I guess I repeated some of what others said, my main point is you'll help the kid and his teammates more by sticking to your guns - send him a message and see how he responds. If he responds, he'll be a better young man for it. If he gives up, you and more importantly your team will be better off without TO poison in your locker room and on the field.
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Post by fbdoc on Apr 29, 2009 7:17:34 GMT -6
This is another reason why coachhuey.com is such a valuable resource - it allows coaches, both young and not as young, to see that there are many other coaches who share the same ideas and philosophies. A coach may feel he's being too hard on a "quitter" but this forum allows the topic to get input from all sides. Thanks again Huey and to all the great coaches for their input.
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Post by PIGSKIN11 on Apr 29, 2009 10:30:29 GMT -6
I am in total agreement with you guys in all regards. My approach is call him in and talk to him, and have his transfer papers filled out. If he tries to be jerk, pull then out and have him sign and throw up a peace sign.
Call his bluff and squash the rumors, which true or not, are not good for your program because it brings doubt.
I want to win but I have no problem being 5-5 with a great group of guys instead of 6-4 or 7-3 and miserable...
My foremost mission is to create champions, and THEN try to win championships.
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