First I want to wish everyone Happy Thanksgiving! We all have so much to be thankful for. I really hope that the day was great and the food was even better!
In my previous blog I stated that I would talk about how I would have handle this situation as being the head coach. Here's a little background about my coaching journey. I started coaching soccer when I was 19 as a volunteer at my high school. I did that for a couple of years for both the boys and girls teams. I eventually got certified so I could become a head coach or a coach that could get paid....take on more responsibility in other words. My last semester in college I coached my college's jv soccer team. In 2008 I was a head coach at one of our local high schools for 3 years until I had to resign due to my job at the time. Time become available this past spring for me to help out at the same high school when I could. And finally this past summer I have picked up coaching a U-11 girls traveling team. I have many great experiences mixed within these years with lots of great memories, and I have some that weren't so great. But that is the job and comes with the terrority.
I think many people think coaching is easy and that just anybody can do it. Well they are very wrong and that is farther from the truth. Coaching is demanding physically, mentally, and emotionally! You may not be the one training but you have to be the one to find the right things to make your team click and be successful. Not only that but you have parents that you have to deal with....refs that drive you crazy on the field or court....all the extra hours you put in when not in front of the team. But win or lose....it is all worth it.
Now how I would have handled my situation my freshamn year (FYI this coach knew that I was coming to that school and that I was attending camp)
If I was in the middle of talking to my girls before our first day of camp...coming into high school and a new person came strolling in late I would have made eye contact with them and their parents. Perhaps a nod with a smile so that they knew I saw them. I am pretty good at reading body language...and I am sure that on that day mine was crazy.....I would make it a point to talk to that person before she got started with the team.
Lets say she finally made her way to the group and took a seat....I would have probably introduced her to everyone so she didn't feel like such an outsider. Once we had broke into our stations I would have pulled her aside and walked with her to her parents standing by the stairs. i would have introduced myself and stated how excited we are to have them join us this summer and for the season. Bascially I would try to calm the nerves down and gain her trust. Not to be her friend, but to be there for her. In my opinion the more you communicate with your players about the sport or other interests they like...the more they will respect you. This girl would have only been 14! Why scare the crap out of her more?
Now we move on to actual coaching at the station. It is her turn....and she doesn't quite do it the way I would like her to. She fumbles around a little. I would ask her to try it again or I would let the first time go and watch for the second time to see if it was just nerves. Lets say it happened again. I would for sure correct her, but in a manner that is not degrading but useful. I would ask if she understand and we would go thru it slow once and then game speed. Okay and she still kinda screws it up....I AM NOT AND WOULD NOT EVER YELL AT SOMEONE ON THE FIRST DAY. I would correct her again...try again and she what happens. The drill would be played out and eventually we would have a water break. I would pull her aside and review it on a one on one bases or maybe after camp where it is not in front of all these new peers. The only time I ever yell is when it is something that I have said from day one......and we are still not doing it right 2 months later. By that time we should have a clue what we are doing. If I saw that at any moment she was getting worked up I as a coach would calm her down. Why tear any kid down for trying?
And that is how I would have handled the situation.
I have had kids come from different cities to play....different schools...and kids brand new to the sport but go to school with the kids. Being new is being new whether it is completely new enivroment like a new city or a new sport. You may have Algebra with these girls and rock at it, but you are going out for a sport that you have never really done and those girls rock at that.....as a coach I have to find that common ground of respect for them to find within each other. I do not make a big deal out of someone being new...I do not baby them...but I keep my eye on them and their transition. Maybe they aren't the best player I have ever seen.....I will still coach to the best of my ability to make them the best they can be as long as they are trying their hardest. We can't fail in that situation. Those coaches at Alleman wanted respect, but did a very poor job at giving it back to their players....even their best players on varsity. I have vowed that I would never become a coach like them or some others that I have had in my past. I never want to make a player of mine feel not welcomed or uncomfortable...then I am not doing my job. Playing sports is about having fun and learning.
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