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Post by eaglemountie on May 20, 2013 17:29:18 GMT -6
My best player is thinking of hanging it up for his senior year. He is an excellent young man, hard worker, respectable, polite and a nasty OL/DL. I just got the job 4 months ago and the star player (trust me, I watched film and he is by far the best) came to me today and said "Coach, I'm not sure I want to play this year, my head is in a lot of different places." His mother died in January and is struggling greatly with this situation. He was extremely tight with her and the kids on the team were as well.
I feel I'm not in a position to say things I feel I could say to him since the relationship I have built with him is only 4 months old. What to you feel, as a coach, would be the best route to try and reach this young man so that he does not regret sitting out his senior year?
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Post by groundchuck on May 20, 2013 17:51:03 GMT -6
Tell him that.
That he will regret not playing.
Also after that conversation I'd give him some space too.
Just my two cents.
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Post by kylem56 on May 20, 2013 18:05:50 GMT -6
I don't have a phD but I do have a degree in psychology.
He is obviously going through a very very difficult time in his life. Losing a mother at that age would be traumatic. More than likely he doesn't want to quit football, he is just depressed about life. At this point, I think you should care for him as a person and football 2nd. He most likely just needs adults in his life that care for him. I recommend just checking on him, maybe even exchanging numbers with him just as a support line.
The other thing I would do is find out what free counseling your school offers. He is in need of a professional to talk to. Im not just saying this in hopes he plays for you in the fall. I think one thing you can stress is that football can be his outlet. For the hours of 3-whenever, and every Friday night he can let go of everything else and just do what he likes to do.
Invite him over for dinner with you and your family once some time has passed. Obviously you can't replace what he has lossed but you can be a line of support. As you know, coaching is about developing relationships.
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Post by fantom on May 20, 2013 19:27:33 GMT -6
My best player is thinking of hanging it up for his senior year. He is an excellent young man, hard worker, respectable, polite and a nasty OL/DL. I just got the job 4 months ago and the star player (trust me, I watched film and he is by far the best) came to me today and said "Coach, I'm not sure I want to play this year, my head is in a lot of different places." His mother died in January and is struggling greatly with this situation. He was extremely tight with her and the kids on the team were as well. I feel I'm not in a position to say things I feel I could say to him since the relationship I have built with him is only 4 months old. What to you feel, as a coach, would be the best route to try and reach this young man so that he does not regret sitting out his senior year? Is his problem that he's depressed or does his family need the money from his job? |
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Post by fballcoachg on May 21, 2013 16:14:51 GMT -6
My best player is thinking of hanging it up for his senior year. He is an excellent young man, hard worker, respectable, polite and a nasty OL/DL. I just got the job 4 months ago and the star player (trust me, I watched film and he is by far the best) came to me today and said "Coach, I'm not sure I want to play this year, my head is in a lot of different places." His mother died in January and is struggling greatly with this situation. He was extremely tight with her and the kids on the team were as well. I feel I'm not in a position to say things I feel I could say to him since the relationship I have built with him is only 4 months old. What to you feel, as a coach, would be the best route to try and reach this young man so that he does not regret sitting out his senior year? Is his problem that he's depressed or does his family need the money from his job? That's a great question to answer. If it is a need unfortunately not much you can do. If it is depression you can offer to be there and let him know the team supports him. He will most likely need the support and want to be around you guys. |
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