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Post by jjkuenzel on Apr 17, 2007 1:36:44 GMT -6
I have been thinking about this question for quite some time and in some ways I feel as though we do. As I have reflected back on my own playing experience as well as thought about what type of experience I left the seniors who were a part of my first varsity team, I can't help but feel as though I owe certain kids more. Those kids who busted their balls and gave everything they had and wanted to be a part of something special.
There are certain kids with whom you share such a strong common experience with. When you have kids with whom you are battling with on Friday nights and some who do it for you for multiple years, aren't your experiences so intertwined that those kids in some ways have earned more from you. Hasn't your 3 year 2 way starter earned a little something more from you than your part time special teamer?
Now I am not saying that some kids don't deserve your respect or anything of the such. Every player is owed a certain basic base line of things from their coach. In the back of my mind, I can't help but feel as if I have a stronger loyalty to certain kids. That loyalty isn't always earned through play on the field, but also for all of those intangibles as well.
Part of the reason why I feel this way is due to my personality as well. I am an intensely loyal person who doesn't let a lot of people in, but if you are in, you are in forever. People who are able to get in are ones who I will bend over backward for. I can't help it, it is just part of who I am.
I can't help but be affected by how my own playing career ended. The long and the short of it is that I got hurt midway through my senior year. I missed 3 games and when I got healthy, I never got the chance to earn my starting spot on offense back. I was a 2 year, 2 way starter and captain and I will never forget what the HC said to me when I asked him if I would get the opportunity to earn my starting spot back. He said point blank, "We haven't written you off yet, but we are going to go with (other kid)." I still wonder to this day if he really meant it or he just said that to placate me. I was far from perfect and not even a star, but in my mind, he still owed me more and he owed me better.
If you are still reading, I guess my question is, for whatever reason, are some kids owed more?
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Post by coachmoore42 on Apr 17, 2007 1:58:33 GMT -6
I think we do.
In our MS program I make it a point to recognize the three year players. They are each given a trophy at the end of their eighth grade year and recognized for their commitment at our banquet. It takes a lot to make that long of a commitment. It takes sweat, heart, and sacrifice. Most anyone can do it for one or two years, but those who go the whole way are somewhat rare. I am motivated to learn and study and work for those kids who have done what I have asked as long as I have asked them to. When one of those guys needs something from me down the road, you bet your house I'll jump on that opportunity.
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Post by sls on Apr 17, 2007 7:35:31 GMT -6
I have a big poster (10 feet long 3 feet tall) in out weightroom with the following John Wooden quote on it...
"We don't treat all of our players the same, we treat them how they deserve to be treated!"
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Deleted
Deleted Member
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Post by Deleted on Apr 17, 2007 7:49:12 GMT -6
Yep. I always tell my guys "there's nothing more unequal than the equal treatment of unequal people."
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Post by cqmiller on Apr 17, 2007 7:49:46 GMT -6
At our school, all the Seniors who stuck it out get their own blanket paid for by the booster club with the players Name, Position, Number, and our school ensigna. I played for the HC when I was in school, and I still have mine...
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Post by kboyd on Apr 17, 2007 8:55:27 GMT -6
Tough question...I know we're not supposed to but we all have our favorites on our teams. That being said, we as coaches have an obligation to be loyal to our players and treat them equally or at least give them equal opportunities. I'm a big believer that if a kid isn't getting it or seems to be lacking in motivation, etc. then I have failed him as a coach. I have to find a way to make that kid understand what's going on or find a way to get him motivated, whatever the problem may be. This at times may take away a bit of attention from those kids that are a little more advanced but at least you can say you've given everybody the same opportunity to succeed. In the end though, it's those kids that put in the most work and are best at their position who get the start on our team.
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Post by brophy on Apr 17, 2007 9:06:52 GMT -6
Tough question... I know we're not supposed to but we all have our favorites on our teams. That being said, we as coaches have an obligation to be loyal to our players and treat them equally or at least give them equal opportunities. I'm a big believer that if a kid isn't getting it or seems to be lacking in motivation, etc. then I have failed him as a coach. I have to find a way to make that kid understand what's going on or find a way to get him motivated, whatever the problem may be. This at times may take away a bit of attention from those kids that are a little more advanced but at least you can say you've given everybody the same opportunity to succeed. In the end though, it's those kids that put in the most work and are best at their position who get the start on our team. ditto. |
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nabber
Freshmen Member
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Post by nabber on Apr 17, 2007 9:17:41 GMT -6
I agree and disagree. I agree there are kids that I owe more and feel a stronger bond with. I disagree that it is going to be a 3 year starter versus a part time special teamer. I guess it is because I am at a small school where we have some good athletes that play but do not necessarily work that hard. But we have lots of guys that put the time in during the summer, never miss practice, and work their tails off but yet just are not that good. Many times they are just happy to get on the field and they appreciate the opportunity rather than take it for granted like some of the starters. Those are the guys that I appreciate the most.
I realize that my post raises some other issues as to what we are doing as a coaching staff.
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Post by Yash on Apr 17, 2007 10:31:42 GMT -6
I think there are kids that you do owe a bit more too. when I was playing, I made every workout, led the team for 2 years in the weight room. I didn't lead them in strength, but I was the leader and motivated everyone to do their best. I was by no means an all conference player, but the coaches found spots to get me in. They respected me for the effort I put into it. AFter one game the coach game up an apologized for not getting me in much. I told him that it was fine because he was doing what he had to do to win the game. But I belive that those kids that give us a Rudy effort deserve a chance when we can give it to them.
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Post by jjkuenzel on Apr 17, 2007 10:32:36 GMT -6
Maybe the 3 year starter vs the special teamer is a bad example. I know what you are saying about those athletic kids who just get by on talent alone as we have our fair share of those as well.
My thing is, for whatever reason, haven't some kids earned a little bit more respect, loyalty, and honesty than other kids. This is just me, but I kind of feel as though the players feel the same way. Certain coaches earn more respect, loyalty, and honesty than others for various reasons.
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Post by CVBears on Apr 17, 2007 11:59:20 GMT -6
There are definitely kids that do special things that earn a little bit more than other players. There are a variety of ways that a kid could earn the "little bit more" as well. Usually for me it is a good kid that does extra "little things" to help the program. Could be a 3rd stringer, could be a 3 year 2 way starter or anything in between. Any way that a kid has gone out of his way to help the program in a positive light and I didn't have to talk to him for doing stupid things at any point along the way, I feel I owe that kid more.
The two way starter that misses summer workouts...I don't necessarily owe him more
The kid that hauls waterbottles because they were sitting there, asks if his technique is right, the first to jump in line during a drill or conditioning, helps out a younger player learning the system that may be more talented...I owe him more.
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Post by groundchuck on Apr 17, 2007 17:09:48 GMT -6
I have a big poster (10 feet long 3 feet tall) in out weightroom with the following John Wooden quote on it... "We don't treat all of our players the same, we treat them how they deserve to be treated!" When I was a HC I often had players ask me for letters of recomendation for colleges and scholarships (academic in nature, I never had a scholarship athlete). I have told some kids "no" because I did not feel like I could do it in good conscious because of thier lack of work ethic or they got in trouble with the team rules a bunch etc. Then I have also written some glowing letters for kids who have busted thier humps and been well...deserving of the praise. |
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Post by coachsky on Apr 17, 2007 17:52:09 GMT -6
I have a big poster (10 feet long 3 feet tall) in out weightroom with the following John Wooden quote on it... "We don't treat all of our players the same, we treat them how they deserve to be treated!" To me this quote says it all! And it's not whether your a 2 year starter, star player, bench filler. It's your commitment to the team and to the program. I've had a lot kids that never started that I have really enjoyed and invested a lot time with. Why because they were committed and gave everything they had. I've also coached very talented kids that were very selfish and I couldn't wait for them to be done. I think it's like the parable of the Widow's Mite. Did you give a good effort based on what skills and talent you were born with. It's hard to bond with those that are'nt committed and easy to bond with those who do. The Chicken and Pig both give something to your breakfast. The Chicken is a 'contributor" and the Pig is "committed". The Pig earns a lot more in my book. |
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Post by phantom on Apr 17, 2007 18:16:50 GMT -6
It's all about the team so it's all about who makes the team better. Every year there are kids who aren't very talented but have worked their butts off. They will get every opportunity to play and I'm (secretly) pulling for them. Sometimes it works and they become players. Sometimes it doesn't. For the good of the team the best player plays. The rest of the team has worked hard, too, and they deserve the best chance to succeed. If it was a question of a workout warrior vs. a complete turd then you'd have a discussion. It's rarely that cut and dry. Usually it's an extremely hard worker vs. a kid who wasn't quite at that level but still worked pretty hard. Then you do what's best for the team.
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Post by PSS on Apr 17, 2007 18:39:52 GMT -6
Greatest thing in the world for me to see is when a kid works hard for two years on the JV, getting better technique wise. Gets stronger and faster in offseason. Then beats out the 2 year starter his senior year for the starting position.
Do I pull for these guys? Put it this way, I pull for the guys that put in the time and effort to do things that make themselves and the team better. Probably don't have to tell most of you this, but team-mates feed off of these kind of work habits.
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Post by shotgun321 on Apr 20, 2007 15:51:21 GMT -6
I like the quote sls used from John Wooden, it couldn't be farther from the truth. I always tell the kids when its all over it was nothing personal, just respect the program and your coaches and teammates that put in all this hard work. Sometimes I want to hold a grudge, but in the end their just young kids finding there way to manhood. Oh! by the way any kid that makes it to the end of the season good or bad they've earned some respect, I always tell them the easiest thing to do in ilife is to quit and give up, we got enough of those around.
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Post by wingman on Apr 20, 2007 21:24:03 GMT -6
If anything I always bend over backwards to do what I can for the kid who's always there, has worked hard for 4 years and never gets to play. We have ineligible numbers on our wing men on the XP so I can put them there ( that and I have never seen a botched Xp completed on a "FIRE FIRE call to one of those spots in 30+ years anyway. ) They put in a ton and get very little back. When we have a blowout, we put in a 'senior offense' of those guys. I won't risk getting beat for them but I always try to make sure they feel part of what we have. I think the hardest thing in sports is trying your hardest every day with a great attitude when you never get to play. Takes more character than I had. I wrote that on a college recommendation that I was later told was one of the decisive factors on a kid getting into the college of his choice.
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