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Some people forget that it is about the kids. This subject opens so many doors of discussion it's hard to know where to begin. Many are frustrated by this time of the season because they are not seeing enough positive results. Everyone made a conscious decision to join the team you?re on for the season. Let me remind you of a few certain facts:
For whatever the circumstances, as a coach you have a roster of young ladies looking up to you for guidance. Maybe you analyzed the there potential incorrectly, or maybe a girl or 2 has other issues she could use some counseling about. Maybe for the first time you've realized you have a kid that simply doesn't learn the game at the same speed as others due to a learning disability. Perhaps a player or 2 are having a change of heart about playing softball. For whatever the reason, you owe it to each girl to help them thru the tough times and continue to mentor the entire team.
A quick fix by many coaches is to replace weaker players with somebody else's talent. Is this truly what you signed up to do? Many coaches are parents with sugarplums dancing in their heads as they dream of their daughter on the ultimate team with them at the reigns. Everyone wants to win and compete like ASU did this year. Just remember, they were not the top dog last year nor did they go during the off-season to 'Bama or Fla. to get players. They developed their own from their own talent pool. Ask yourself the question: ?Am I doing this for the right reasons and is the entire team wrong or is it my coaching abilities?? A good rule for coaches to remember is for every finger you point at someone for being the problem there?s a thumb pointing back at you. Make sure you dissect your involvement as to why the team is having issues before casting any blame.
As for parents that are not coaches; you chose the team at some point for a reason. Perhaps the results up till now have not met your expectations. Before you judge the team and its leaders, be sure you look deep inside yourself and make an honest assessment of your own involvement as well as your child. Have you been supportive of the program or are you constantly belittling the methods being used by the coaching staff? Don?t you see what kind of negative effect this has on your daughter if you are constantly judging the coach anywhere that your child can hear or see? If you are so sure you?re right and they are wrong, why didn?t you host tryouts and commit to lead a team and their families? Maybe your attitude supporting a staff of volunteers that hopefully have your daughter?s best interest at heart would change her attitude towards the entire experience.
Watch out what you hope for because it might leave you out instead of in. Every team has a depth chart of talent. Some have it on paper while others simply file it in their minds. There is always somebody better somewhere out there. If you believe everyone would benefit from replacing a few weak links on your roster, watch out that your daughter doesn?t become the girl at the bottom of the list and expendable.
If you are questioning your playing time, be sure to practice away from the team. Earn the right----don?t buy it. Perhaps you?ve realized that in the big picture your daughter simply doesn?t have the same level of talent as the teammates around her. You can either work harder to improve or know next season to shop for a team she has a better opportunity to play with. Running away with a bad attitude will not teach your child how to deal with real life. Changing your perspective and attitude will help everyone accept realistic expectations.
Very well stated.