Disciplining A new Team

It depends on what the goals of your team/organization are. We have won 3 national tournaments over the last 4 years. When we choose a player we sit down with player and parents to discuss our expectations from them. And also what they expect from us as coaches. We have a written statement of guidelines that must be read and signed. So both parties are very clear about what is expected in terms of being on time for practices/games, complaining, backbiting, (you get the picture). Placing the team ahead of any other team other than school teams. We support middle school/high school programs. We believe strongly that "teaching" the fundamentals of the game in practice is our highest priority.

If if becomes clear at any point in time that the player/parents have decided not to adhere to the policy, we part ways. We decided several years ago that we were not going to be miserable as coaches and as a team. Everyone must be on the same page. This is just how we go about it. Hope it may help.

 

parents

its hard to punish kids for the parents not getting them there on time. I always used push ups as punishment. That way I was atleast building their power and bat speed.

If it was a continuing problem then I would simply replace them. I would rather lose with kids that are committed to being on time and following my rules that are average players than to win with good players that do not respect you. To make this work you have to be a good enough coach to develope talent. Anyone can win with good players but it takes a real coach to take players, make them better and then win games.

Breaking team rules constantly is a sign of disrespect. If they respected you as a coach they would do what was asked of them regardless.

 

JMHO

If you lay out a plan in the beginning to the players / parents then if they don't follow it then yes, you need to make changes,but make sure you tell all parties up front that this is how it is going to be. We make our kids / parents sign an agreement so that it is in writing, and not a verbal committment only. No buts here is where you signed !!


Guru