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Post by coachcb on Oct 25, 2012 14:29:47 GMT -6
We lost our last game (fist loss of the year) last week because we have slowly but steadily becoming less and less disciplined and focused. The game started at 5:30pm and I showed up at 5:15pm as I have an hour commute to deal with. I showed up to the game and the kids weren't going through our normal pregame routine. They were running around without their pads on, talking to girls on the sideline, yacking with their friends, etc.. The HC told me that they finished their warm-up routine so he let the kids "have fun". The opposing team ran a crisp, tight pregame routine and then beat the hell out of us.
Last night's practice was the worst we have had yet and we aren't getting better. The kids were off-task, not paying attention, walking through things, being lazy etc... The rest of the staff doesn't have a good grasp on practice management so I am always the bad guy.
Now, I have gone through my bag of motivation tricks along with practicing what I feel to be fair consistent and discipline but it's just a circus. This is my first year back at the youth level in a long time so I'm looking for opinions fro youth coaches. I need suggestions quick because we've hit play-off season.
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Post by CS on Oct 25, 2012 16:50:57 GMT -6
We lost our last game (fist loss of the year) last week because we have slowly but steadily becoming less and less disciplined and focused. The game started at 5:30pm and I showed up at 5:15pm as I have an hour commute to deal with. I showed up to the game and the kids weren't going through our normal pregame routine. They were running around without their pads on, talking to girls on the sideline, yacking with their friends, etc.. The HC told me that they finished their warm-up routine so he let the kids "have fun". The opposing team ran a crisp, tight pregame routine and then beat the hell out of us. Last night's practice was the worst we have had yet and we aren't getting better. The kids were off-task, not paying attention, walking through things, being lazy etc... The rest of the staff doesn't have a good grasp on practice management so I am always the bad guy. Now, I have gone through my bag of motivation tricks along with practicing what I feel to be fair consistent and discipline but it's just a circus. This is my first year back at the youth level in a long time so I'm looking for opinions fro youth coaches. I need suggestions quick because we've hit play-off season. You wont until the HC keeps discipline. I have the same situation here where I feel like I am the bad guy all the time. It gets old having to be that I know, but you cant go against how you believe the program should be running. It sounds to me like your HC has given up a little if he figured he would let them "have fun" before a game in that manner. Plus the lack of organization in practice proves that he has thrown in the towel. |
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Post by utchuckd on Oct 25, 2012 19:52:53 GMT -6
Dude you can't do it all. If your header is gonna walk around with his head up his ass and refuse to see what's happening the best you can do is tough the year out and get as far away from them as possible. From the few things I've read it seems like you've been as stand up about it as you can, but now that it cost the team a loss I'd prolly turn into an ass around the other coaches (but I can be petty like that around stupid people, especially ones that cost me an embarrassing loss). Doesn't matter what motivation/discipline tricks you have if the other coaches don't use them too.
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Post by CS on Oct 26, 2012 11:37:06 GMT -6
Again I completely know how you feel. It sucks but you will be better for it. Maybe you will get through to the other coaches eventually. If you don't I would just quit at the end of the season because it won't get any better and you will be miserable
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Post by utchuckd on Oct 26, 2012 19:50:45 GMT -6
The first two principles in 'Good to Great' are having a great (his term is Level 5) leader, and getting the right people on the bus. Sounds like you've got about a level 2 leader and the wrong people on the bus, can't do much about that except get off the bus when the ride is over.
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Post by coachd5085 on Oct 28, 2012 10:36:53 GMT -6
CB--- I think you learned a pretty valuable lesson. Trying to be a "professional" coach in an unprofessional environment is about the most frustrating thing anyone can experience as a coach.
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Post by mariettablue on Oct 28, 2012 13:59:51 GMT -6
Are you the new guy on a staff that has been together? that was the case for me where I am now. My first year with them they welcomed me in with open arms and then ignored most of my attempts at building the team. These coaches were together since they won their last championship but were working with a group of kids that actually needs more coaching than the teams they had in the past. The other coaches including the HC had given up on the kids and it was a rough year because they stopped being productive in coaching at practice or games. After the year they asked was I coming back next year?  ... That was puzzling to me because how they treated me so I explained the reasons I had to think about it and they told me the reason they didn't listen more to my suggestions was because "We really didn't know you"!!! That was BS to me but I had to consider that they were being truthful but I told them that's how you can miss out on something good. Well, I came back and this year it was rough but I spoke up and fought for everything that I wanted to bring to the mix. Youth is usually the worst for staff's to be more buddies versus the new guy instead of an all inclusive welcome aboard. |
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Post by bobgoodman on Oct 28, 2012 23:11:39 GMT -6
Are you the new guy on a staff that has been together? that was the case for me where I am now. My first year with them they welcomed me in with open arms and then ignored most of my attempts at building the team. These coaches were together since they won their last championship but were working with a group of kids that actually needs more coaching than the teams they had in the past. The other coaches including the HC had given up on the kids and it was a rough year because they stopped being productive in coaching at practice or games. After the year they asked was I coming back next year? ... That was puzzling to me because how they treated me so I explained the reasons I had to think about it and they told me the reason they didn't listen more to my suggestions was because "We really didn't know you"!!! That was BS to me but I had to consider that they were being truthful but I told them that's how you can miss out on something good. Well, I came back and this year it was rough but I spoke up and fought for everything that I wanted to bring to the mix. Youth is usually the worst for staff's to be more buddies versus the new guy instead of an all inclusive welcome aboard. I experienced that when after a year of being AC of a team in 2010, and assuming I'd be their HC in 2011 when the other 3 coaches left, the club admin. instead assigned a pair of brothers-in-law who'd been coaching other teams to be the HC and other AC of my team. I found exactly that it did take until the following year for them to pay me much att'n, and even in 2012 I'm distinctly #3, although I do get a lot more att'n. |
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... That was puzzling to me because how they treated me so I explained the reasons I had to think about it and they told me the reason they didn't listen more to my suggestions was because "We really didn't know you"!!!