Discipline

As a coach, I completely expect our players to behave, to set a positive example in the classroom, in the hallways and in the community.  I held them to a higher standard and our handbook of rules does so also.  I fully expect for teachers to approach me and tell me about situations that our players are involved in and if they are doing something that needs my attention.  But....

I did get tired of being a "back up" discipline plan.  It got to the point with some teachers that were common offenders, I would just say "write them up".  I guess it really is like being in administration, if the same teachers are writing people up all of the time they can often be over looked.  If you write someone up once every 3-5 years, it gets dealt with...immediately.  In coaching, I would say the same thing happens, if a teacher comes to me who never does, I take it much more serious than those I feel make me 4th on their discipline list.

1. Verbal warning
2. Verbal warning
3. Some kind of in class punishment
4. Talk to Coach Hunter
5. Write them up.

#4 is quite flexibly moved from 1-4.

One Huge Sign of a Bad Coach

I am a coaches advocate.  I will defend many coaches to people just because of my experiences and what I have dealt with.  Usually, it is in discussing something with someone who hasn't been in those situations before such as a fan or student.  That doesn't mean they are wrong or that the coach is right, but I am trying to get them to see the situation from a different view point.  Sometimes the situation is too emotional and I refrain, then I just listen.

However, if a coach does one thing, they automatically lose any credibility with me and that is taking something they are going through out on the players on their team.  I am talking about some situation that involves parents, students, or fans of the team and of individuals on the team. It is really hard to decide if what the coach is doing because of that off the court incident with a parent, adult, or fan of a team, but they (the coach) knows why they do what they do.

If it does come out that a coach doesn't intentionally play a player or disciplines them because of their parent; that is wrong and the sign of a bad coach.  Often the kids cannot control their parents and even sometimes they don't agree with how their parents are behaving or what they are saying.  In my opinion by doing this, and it can be easy sometimes in some situations to consider it, you are falling or diving down to the same level of the person who is causing an unnecessary problem.

It is important, I believe, as a coach to remember that when dealing with difficult situations it isn't about you...or the person combatting you.  It is about helping the individual involved (player) and the team all together. You must set aside your personal feelings (really, really, really hard) and deal with the player as if nothing else is going on.  We are expected to do this anyway, but coaches are people and it is human nature to strike back, either verbally or in a more passive-aggressive way by taking it out on their child.

By doing something as ridiculous as holding something against a player because of the words or actions of a parent or fan, probably makes you into what they think you are anyway.  You have to rise above your perceptions and remember you are dealing with kids, sometimes those on the team, and sometimes those that are....not on the team.

How Much Do We Take Our Health For Granted?

Last week, I was sick with some kind of flu like thing for one total week.  I mean...the whole week.  From wanting to sleep all the time, to not having strength to walk, to just wanting to crawl in a hole until I felt better...it was bad.  I won't go into all of the details, but I was dehydrated.  Probably to the point I should have gotten an IV. 

I was cramping, not thinking clearly, and one day I even felt my speech slurring, but it wasn't convenient for me to be sick last week.  We had to finish out our regular season, we had sectional meetings and practice and we were preparing for tomorrow (Tuesday) our first round of the state tournament.

How many times do we complain about feeling not quite right?  I think most of us know when we are blessed by not having some serious disease, but how often do we whine and complain about, really, nothing.  Spoiled and in need of comfort all of the time, we complain about feeling not the way we should usually because of things we have done to ourselves (too much to drink, not enough sleep, etc.).

I am at school today and feeling like I did before last week and I feel like I could fly if I jumped off the school roof.  Now...if I only could get into some kind of shape (need to walk into running) how would I feel?

Coaching While Down and Out Sick

(Campers in Macedonia...I am on the right side wearing blue)

If you coach long enough, you will coach a game or two when you are sick.  And I don't mean the little sniffles or congestion, but full blown, shouldn't be there sick.

I have done it a couple of times and I actually sorta like it.  First, leading up to the game you are miserable and wondering if you should be there or not, but once the game gets going, you forget about it.  Somewhat.

For me, being so weak actually calms me down which I need...I know that.  I don't have to be told that, I know.  I am able to talk to officials differently and to my players differently.  It is more of how I coach as an assistant.  Gone are the antics and ridiculousness and I coach, if I don't, I might pass out.

Parents = Leaders

We recently had an accountability meeting at our school about what some think are low test scores.  I don't disagree with that at all.  In fact, we can always strive to be better.  But we had that meeting, over 30 faculty members attended and around 5 parents attended.  Every student's parent/s of over 500 students were invited.  It was on our marquee for a week.

I could not believe it.  Then I thought about if my child were doing okay and I was happy with the school would I have attended...probably not.  But then I realized that is when I needed to attend.  But I couldn't believe only a few parents attended.

Now, in defense of our parents.  The type on the progress report was rather small, but it was on every one.  It was on our marquee, but only one side.  And really, they may not have understood what the meeting was about or if they were invited.

But I hear it a lot, negative comments directed at our administration and teachers.  Lack of leadership, lack of effort, lack of (fill in the blank).  Honestly, where does leadership begin when it comes to schools and teams?  It starts in the home and we deal with the ramifications of what goes on there.  As a teacher and coach I can hear parents speaking through their children.  Wether it be verbally or physically, you can see it.

I think it is our responsibility as men, as parents, to want to see our leaders be successful.  If they are successful, it can only help all of us.  Now, of course, if they are phsycially or verbally abusive, if they do something illegal or immoral, we should fight to have them removed, but anything short of that is no excuse to undermine authority. 

I fully accept responsibility as a parent in teaching my kids the basics before they get to school.  I fully accept teaching my children not to undermine authority unless absolutely necessary.  And I fully accept my responsibility as a coach as a leader within the confines in which we find ourselves. 

This is just another thought that entered my mind last week and got me to thinking due to the lack of participation of our parents at that one meeting.  I really do believe two things: This problem is indicative of all of society, but I think more parents, if aware, would have shown up.  I also believe that we have many, many, many GREAT parents who are doing the right things and it is much appreciated.  But "Respect Authority" is one of the resolutions in The Resolution for Men....great book.

To Have a Successful Basketball Program

In being around a few different varsity basketball programs through the years and then running one for 7 years, here are some things, I believe, are needed to have a successful program.

1. It is imperative that there is an elementary P.E. teacher who is willing to play sports and teach the rules of those sports in their class.  This is where the kids learn their first rules of basketball and all other sports.  If a P.E. teacher isn't doing these things (and to be fair, I don't know the state standards of elementary P.E.), it sets your sports programs back.

2. The varsity basketball coach should hire the elementary and jr. high coaches if they find it necessary to be involved on such decisions.  The varsity coach is who will be held accountable for varsity games and the feeder system is where they will get their players.  The varsity coach should be allowed to pick who he wants to coach or be involved in picking them.  The varsity coach is the person who should decide if the person is doing a good job as a coach, or not, and should be allowed to "fire" anyone who he deems not doing what will help the overall program.

3. Elementary and Jr. High coaches must do what the varsity coach asks.  If they are not building on fundamentals, they should be let go if that is what the varsity coach deems necessary.  Winning and losing is important at these age groups, but only within the confines of doing things the right way (your way).  Practice should be 90% fundamentals and 10% trying to win.

4. The feeder program must be worked with through intramurals as early as possible (pre-K or kindergarten).  You must get kids involved early and try to keep them around as long as possible.

5. The varsity coach must be professional and hard working.

6.  The varsity coach must create relationships with kids all the way down through the system.  We live in a time where kids form relationships more with the coach than with the program.  Especially if you have many people moving into your school and they are not from that area and know the history of your school.  The kids must want to play for you at best, at worst, they are not repulsed by it.

7.  The varsity coach must create positive relationship with the parents all the way down if possible.  Same as #6.  Parents must feel comfortable in having their child play for you.  Unfortunately, the loyalty will be more to you than a program which has changed over the last few years.

8.  The community should expect success out of the coach.  For sure, the definition of success must be held to a high standard by the community.  Success has many definitions when it comes to coaching high school sports, but there must be some standards.

9.  The community should expect success out of the players (individually and as a team).  However, as in #8, the community should push, scold, pat on the back, and compliment the players for representing their school and town.

10. The administration must expect success and be willing to help in ensuring it (see 1-11.  I can honestly say that my administration at HHS did that often.

11.  All coaches in the building must be willing to work together to ensure the success of all programs. I think it is important to support as many programs as you can as the varsity coach because of the support and attention you often receive.

Some of these I was able to implement as coach, some...not so much.  Some because of my own lack of leadership skills and some because of outside influences.  This list may seem daunting to many coaches, but I believe, if you sit down and write what you do, you will find that it is comparable to many.  It may even be much less than what some of you are doing. 

I also think fans would be surprised that many of  the things I have listed are not allowed, not to just varsity basketball, but to many programs within a school.  You cannot hold a coach accountable for what you will not allow them to do.

But what do I know?!