Coaching Youth Basketball - Chapter 4

CHAPTER 4 - The Ultimate Solution or Tylenol for coaches
Imagine a migraine so severe that you out into the middle of traffic, ask your friend to beat you with a golf club, and then run over you with their car. If you think I am joking, wait a while. These migraines don't come because of a loss, or the refs, or the other team. Headache Godzilla comes from your own team. This is the kid who is more cancerous than a prostrate. Able to leap all training with a single word. Can cause the rest of your team to crumble faster than the Demolition Man. This is your very own player with the ATTITUDE FROM HELL! This kid will talk bad about you and every player on your team behind your back, and be the most polite, courteous individual to your face. I call them KWBA - kid with bad attitude.

To go along with this, comes the main attraction, THE PARENTS FROM HELL! You aren't playing my kid enough! Why did Johnny play more than my Jimmy? If I were coach this is what I would do ...! Why didn't you play a zone against that team? These parents are enough to make you want to puke on your shoes!!! You will lose your hair, die of ulcers, or be a candidate for Frank's Funny Farm, if you don't solve these problems up front, before the season even begins. I have seen some of the best coaches quit because of these folks.

So how do you avoid these problems? Repeat after me, SIMPLE IS GOOD! If you don't want these problems, then solve them before they become a problem. If you don't want to deal with KWBA's and their parents, then don't let them become this way.

I have all my players and their parents sign a contract that states what is expected of them. It also spells out what will happen if they don't live up to these expectations. There are no surprises. Everything is out in the open for everyone to see. Here is my contract.

THE ULTIMATE SOLUTION - THE CONTRACT

1. SCHOOL COMES FIRST Your grades and true class work come before basketball. I am not talking about extra-curricular activities. I am only referring to circumstances that will affect your grades. Do your homework and studying when you should. If you don't wait till the last day to do your homework or studying, school will rarely interfere with basketball.

2. ALL LEARNING SESSIONS ARE REQUIRED. We know that circumstances may arise where you must miss a learning session, (vacations, illnesses, etc.) When this occurs the player is to :

A. Inform their coach in advance, when possible B. Bring a note signed by their parent stating why

When "A" and "B" are completed, the absence MAY be excused. The first unexcused TARDY will be taken care of in our learning sessions, and parents making excuses don't work. The second unexcused tardy will be treated as an unexcused absence. Being grounded by your parents will be treated as an unexcused absence. Just don't do anything to get grounded. You are responsible for your own actions. A. the 1st unexcused absence will result in the player being benched the next game B. the 2nd unexcused absence may result in the player being dismissed from the team

3. All players are to treat teammates and coaches WITH RESPECT AND COURTESY. Behavior that puts other players or coaches down, results in profanity, or demonstrates lack of self-control, WILL NOT BE TOLERATED.

Any instance of this behavior will result in being asked to leave the learning session or the game. Such a request will be treated as an unexcused absence.

4. We know that being a part of this demanding basketball experience will require sacrifices, adjustments, and extra-ordinary commitment on the part of the players, their families, and the coaches. However we are working to achieve an extra-ordinary team and individual success, which demands extra-ordinary efforts on all of our parts. As they said in the movie, The Blues Brothers, "We are on a mission from God!" Your goal and our goal is to learn enough to win the state championship in the years 2004 and 2005.

5. Players will be constantly evaluated on their demonstration of coachability, hustle, mental and physical toughness, LOYALTY to the team, unselfishness, and the desire to improve their skills. Our goal is to have a team that constantly demands more of themselves than is demanded by the coaching staff.

6. The members of this team are expected to work harder than any other basketball team in the state. This is not a goal, this is an expectation.

7. Our job as coaches is to teach you enough so that you can be the very best you can be. Your job is to learn.

I agree to abide by the expectations described on this sheet. signed by PLAYER________________

My child has shared with me the expectations described on this sheet, and I will give them all the possible help and support needed to meet them successfully. signed by Parents ______________

Now you have experienced Tylenol For Coaches. Change the goals to fit you, ok! But don't change the meat of it. The real problem is that it has to apply to everyone, even your own child, no one slides. If you do follow this, you will have eliminated over 90% of all future problems. Life can be simple!!