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Post by coachcb on Aug 25, 2007 15:13:33 GMT -6
Here's the situation fellas-
Have a VERY good G/DE on our squad this year; athletic, fast, strong and tougher than nails. (Nice problem to have eh) Anywho; he broke his finger a few weeks back but is still playing on it; the doc says he can have surgery after the season and just splint it until then. I praised the kid's toughness up and down after it happened; now our team knows the difference between "hurt" and "injured".
Here's the issue; the kid has developed a MONSTER EGO because of all the praise. He's gotten very, very cocky and has become a discipline issue.
At the scrimmage last night, he interrupted the OC in the middle of calling a play; TO ASK WHEN HE WAS PLAYING DEFENSE. We sat him for the rest of the #1 reps on offense and most of them on defense. I talked to him after the game and I thought we had everything settled. Not the case; HE WAS A PAIN IN BUTT AT PRACTICE THIS MORNING. Not paying attention, being argumentative; I had to send his butt off of the field twice; TO NO AVAIL.
Now, I know how I am going to deal with this; but I'd like to hear what you guys would do in the same situation.
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Post by ajreaper on Aug 25, 2007 17:24:19 GMT -6
How does he get sent off twice? Because you let him back on the field and how does that help to deflate his ego? You control what he wants- playing time. Take it away and I'd guess his attitude will start adjusting itself.
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Post by dubber on Aug 25, 2007 17:50:13 GMT -6
Here's the situation fellas- Have a VERY good G/DE on our squad this year; athletic, fast, strong and tougher than nails. (Nice problem to have eh) Anywho; he broke his finger a few weeks back but is still playing on it; the doc says he can have surgery after the season and just splint it until then. I praised the kid's toughness up and down after it happened; now our team knows the difference between "hurt" and "injured". Here's the issue; the kid has developed a MONSTER EGO because of all the praise. He's gotten very, very cocky and has become a discipline issue. At the scrimmage last night, he interrupted the OC in the middle of calling a play; TO ASK WHEN HE WAS PLAYING DEFENSE. We sat him for the rest of the #1 reps on offense and most of them on defense. I talked to him after the game and I thought we had everything settled. Not the case; HE WAS A PAIN IN BUTT AT PRACTICE THIS MORNING. Not paying attention, being argumentative; I had to send his butt off of the field twice; TO NO AVAIL. Now, I know how I am going to deal with this; but I'd like to hear what you guys would do in the same situation. Praising kids is always dangerous.........I typically only praise kids who need it (ie. less gifted kids, kids down on themselves). The good players I berate or calmly challenge (depending on their personality) to make them want to be better. You raised him up, you need to knock him back down. Let him know he is letting down the team. I think the best way to do this is whenever he is a "PAIN IN THE BUTT", stop practice and make the REST of the team condition. Let him know that his insubordination lets the team down. The good news: IF you get him to respond to this new challenge, he'll be better than he was before. IF  |
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Post by fbdoc on Aug 25, 2007 19:55:32 GMT -6
Try and figure out what he repsonds to. Some kids shut down when they get yelled at while others thrive on it. You definitely don't want to take any crap from him (big head, bad attitude) but maybe sitting him down and saying something like "You are a great player, and I need you to have a great ATTITUDE to help this team because the other guys don't have your talent." I had that very converstation with a kid who was a great game player but loafed during practice. I told him I needed him to work hard to help inspire the kids who didn't have his talent. He never became a "great" practice player, but he did improve quite a bit. Try different methods and see what works, but don't let him run the show!
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Post by coachcoyote on Aug 25, 2007 22:47:59 GMT -6
Sit him down, show him the difference in the player he was before to the player he is now. Explain to him how important he could be to the team, but he won't be if he doesn't straighten up. Let him make the decision, then follow through with lack of playing time or dismissal.
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Post by schultbear74 on Aug 25, 2007 23:40:41 GMT -6
I agree with coyote. When he is sent off the field it should mean playing time. If the kid becomes a cancer though, cut it out.
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Post by coachjim on Aug 25, 2007 23:47:32 GMT -6
Sounds like a leader to me. You can't buy or train that. Make him a captain of the D and turn all those negative traits into positive ones. I find the most vocal to have the biggest heart and most potential to excel.
Sorry, as usual my view contradicts the consensus but that's what I would do. This also takes a load off of you. With a heightened responsibility to more than his own actions his focus will be more on the success of the D, rather than his own personal accolades.
I don't have the kids or time to waste with disciplinary issues on the field. I make the kids responsible for their actions and allow the most vocal, to be the most vocal. They eventually learn to keep their mouth shut when everything begins to rest on their shoulders and will rise to the challenge. Yep, sounds like your next defensive captain, get him off the bench and start utilizing his talents rather than suppressing them.
Again, just my opinion and sorry Dubber, I usually wholeheartedly agree with you. On this, I have a different perspective and philosophy which hasn't failed me yet, despite the majority belief that discipline works best (i'm not talking about when it affects safety, of course). Being as layed back as I am, as a HC, I don't micromanage personalities. I mold the ones that stand out, for better or worse, into what I need for the team and let it all ride on them, if they think they are good enough to live up to it. Sounds like this kid thinks he's a star. I say, let him loose, ignore the small disciplinary issues, and enjoy the ride.
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Post by schultbear74 on Aug 25, 2007 23:58:50 GMT -6
Jim, you obviously must have a magic touch. Turning a problem into al leader is a special skill.
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Post by coachbdud on Aug 26, 2007 2:06:34 GMT -6
a team mate of mine (DE) played the last 4 games of his senior year with a broken arm.
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Post by coachjim on Aug 26, 2007 2:43:45 GMT -6
Thanks SBear, it's just redirecting their energy into something positive. It takes it off of my shoulders and places the responsibility back onto them. My only gift is recognizing emotion for what it is, be it positive or negative. The greater the emotion, the greater the passion, or heart. Those are the kids that should be leading the team, the ones with those qualities, and not necessarily the most talent.
Their expectations on themselves and others are usually even greater than our own. The will to excel almost compulsively.
Example: I had a very outspoken young man who was not afraid to question the staff decisions, complain about not getting the ball, and tended to berate his team mates when they erred. Rather than sit him on the bench, I taught him how to be outspoken in a positive manner to the other players. But regarding the other facets of his behavior, instead of seeing it as a slight to us, I took it as a yearning to do more and have a greater control over his own (and the team's destiny). We gave him the ball more, let him be a leader, and asked his opinion a lot, regardless of whether or not it mattered.
Now, he is a team leader and when he gets the ball, he's the one that breaks five tackles toward that end zone when it matters. He has to. He's made the bed that he now sleeps in and has no choice but to live up to his own standards and results, and it's contagious.
I see the most problematic kids as the ones with the most potential. They usually have the most character too, despite how bad they can irk you sometimes. People, in life, tend to push away those that care for them the most when they are down. But they really don't want to be without you, they just want the attention and will get it through both negative and positive means. Turn those negatives into positives and you have yourself a leader with the heart of a lion, a better team, and will have been a true role model to them in their lives.
That's being a true coach and not just a football coach, imho.
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Post by coachcb on Aug 26, 2007 9:07:58 GMT -6
How does he get sent off twice? Because you let him back on the field and how does that help to deflate his ego? You control what he wants- playing time. Take it away and I'd guess his attitude will start adjusting itself. I sent him off and then had a talk with him 45 minutes later during a water break. I thought we had squared things away; he apologized for being a pain. But, 15 minutes later, he was screwin around again. |
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Post by ajreaper on Aug 26, 2007 18:34:08 GMT -6
Sounds like a leader to me. You can't buy or train that. Make him a captain of the D and turn all those negative traits into positive ones. 1st quality a leader must have is the ability to follow- pretty clear this kid right now cannot seem to do that. And by far the best leadership is by example and he's failing there in the worst way as well. What kind of message does it send to the others to "promote" this kid to captain of the defense? Develop a poor attitude and we'll reward you? |
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Post by wildcat on Aug 26, 2007 18:38:42 GMT -6
You praised a kid for toughness because he's playing with a broken finger? Gee whiz, Is the whole finger broke or just part of it? That's where you're problem started, playing with a broken finger for a guard/DE should be exected. Coach - That's nothing...back in high school, I played a whole season with a broken heart and a college buddy of mine managed to suck it up even though he had hurt feelings...  |
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Post by coachcb on Aug 26, 2007 19:23:56 GMT -6
He's already been talked to twice by our HC; if he screws around this week, he's going to lose his starting spot for this first game. He is very good, but I have several guys that I can plug in there and still get the job done.
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Post by coachcb on Aug 26, 2007 19:28:16 GMT -6
Try and figure out what he repsonds to. Some kids shut down when they get yelled at while others thrive on it. You definitely don't want to take any crap from him (big head, bad attitude) but maybe sitting him down and saying something like "You are a great player, and I need you to have a great ATTITUDE to help this team because the other guys don't have your talent." I had that very converstation with a kid who was a great game player but loafed during practice. I told him I needed him to work hard to help inspire the kids who didn't have his talent. He never became a "great" practice player, but he did improve quite a bit. Try different methods and see what works, but don't let him run the show! Yeah, I tried that with him initially; very calmly discussed the situation with him and asked him to focus and ditch the attitude. Calmed him down for a little while, but he was back in full bullsh-t swing during the scrimmage. Then he got the fire and brimstone from me. That's the way I always deal with these kinds of things; good cop first and establish a clam understanding. Bad cop when they break that understanding. |
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Post by phantom on Aug 26, 2007 19:32:37 GMT -6
Sounds like a leader to me. You can't buy or train that. Make him a captain of the D and turn all those negative traits into positive ones. 1st quality a leader must have is the ability to follow- pretty clear this kid right now cannot seem to do that. And by far the best leadership is by example and he's failing there in the worst way as well. What kind of message does it send to the others to "promote" this kid to captain of the defense? Develop a poor attitude and we'll reward you? I'm with AJ. Our guys are tough and we, players and coaches, expect it. Playing with a broken finger might get them a "Good job". |
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Post by coachcb on Aug 26, 2007 19:37:24 GMT -6
1st quality a leader must have is the ability to follow- pretty clear this kid right now cannot seem to do that. And by far the best leadership is by example and he's failing there in the worst way as well. What kind of message does it send to the others to "promote" this kid to captain of the defense? Develop a poor attitude and we'll reward you? I'm with AJ. Our guys are tough and we, players and coaches, expect it. Playing with a broken finger might get them a "Good job". Well, I had an opportunity and I took it; the kids were having a tough time understanding the difference between "hurt" and "injured". We had a pretty good little "Club Med" contingent growing; I used his broken finger as an example as what it means to play hurt. Normally, I wouldn't have tossed out that kind of praised; like you guys said, toughness is just expected. BUT, freshman football player + 1st August of 2-a-days= whining that needed to be put down. |
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Post by wingman on Aug 26, 2007 20:56:52 GMT -6
We always say linemen don't have hand injuries. Play with anything short of bones sticking out of the skin.
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Post by ajreaper on Aug 26, 2007 21:03:45 GMT -6
The message I preach is that strong teams have one quality other teams lack- it's members are willing to hurt for each other. Many kid will endure for themselves but when they move beyond that and will "hurt" for each other you'll have something pretty special. You endure for those around you and not for yourself.
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Post by Coach Huey on Aug 27, 2007 13:02:13 GMT -6
Ask him "Who's the best football player in the world?" ... He likely to answer some NFL guy or whoever, doesn't really matter
You reply, "We've won X number of games without so&so (player he names). We can probably win that many more without you. We win because of our committment to the team, so if you wish to be a part of that success - and we wish for you to be - then you must make that committment. Otherwise, we'll move on without you."
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Post by coachcb on Aug 27, 2007 16:07:39 GMT -6
Thats friggin awesome, Huey- THANKS!
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