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Post by coachdawhip on Apr 12, 2009 8:01:46 GMT -6
Has anyone ever done something where they let the guy stick around after a suspension or something (not that I would have done that), but I'm wondering how it may have impacted the team later on. And I'm not questioning my decision at all, just looking to see what happens. We had a player something similar at a game this year, not to the full extreme we put him off the team, basically we were getting back bad by our rival and eventual state champion, 51-0 in the 3rd Quarter. About a week and a half later, he came and asked for a second chance. He is a Special Services kid as well. Our Coach let the seniors decide, they said yes, but he had to do such and such and such and such. The punishment should have taken him a week to do before he could suit up and he then would have then had to practice a full week without problem to have a chance at playing. He did it and he was a better teammate than expected, when others had extra conditioning after practice, he would stay and run it with them and encourage them. He was the 1st one at practice and the last one to leave. But I caution again he was a special case, with other home issues. He ended up being a great kid and is now on my captain's council for track and field as voted on by his teammates. So we went against what should have been done and got a once and a lifetime result for a kid.
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Post by davishfc on Apr 12, 2009 8:26:18 GMT -6
I don't disagree at all with how the situation was handled from the start of official practices to his departure. I would've handled it the same way. I've only had 1 kid storm off the field like that where he's taking equipment off every step of the way. We don't have a deep coaching staff and at that point he's worthless. I'm not wasting my time on him. I've got kids that are still dedicated to the cause out here working their butts off trying to get better. I stay out and coach those players. I let the kid go in the locker room and I collect his stuff after practice. Not all of it was accounted for so I slipped him a bill to make up the difference which becomes a school obligation that he must pay. They love that! LOL.
Anyway, Coach...there is one thing I think I would've handled differently. If it was a surprise to anyone that this kid was not out during the summer I would've contacted home or visited the home and found him. His family could've been going through a divorce, Dad abusing Mom, Dad abusing the kid...these seem like extremes but in our community they are regular occurrences. Not even saying it had to be one of these specific situations either. Trust me, I'm just like you and the rest of the coaches on here. I am concerned with football and the team. I do think, however, that everyone should check on their players periodically especially over the summer when are kinds of issues can come up and distractions present themselves. If it turns out he's just been messing around not doing anything then you've heard all you need. But I would not feel comfortable knowing that there is a possible line of communication I left open that could've turned this kid around. Not saying you did...don't misinterpret this please. I'm just saying that you're word personally one on one is very powerful to those players. I wonder what would've happened if you would've showed up on his door step asking for an explanation.
But ultimately, he might have just been a "turd"...totally unreliable & delusional...about his ability and place on the team. I would've handled the time from the start of practice to when he quit exactly the same except, like I said, I would've kept coaching rather than following him in. During the summer, I think I would've tried to find him in person or at least make several phone calls especially if he was going to be a huge factor.
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Post by coachorr on Apr 12, 2009 9:23:18 GMT -6
Davis, Great post. It would have never ocurred to me to visit the kid's home in the summer time. Great comment.
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