[
YOUR EDGE] coaches Managing Expectations
How parents can help support the player and the coach Legal standards and health risks in sports today have made coaching a more stressful endeavor. National and local
certifications require that coaches be able to spot a concussion or stop bullying. Coaches have taken a larger role educating their athletes not only on sports, but also on social issues. Moreover, we must communicate these life lessons amidst the noise of a “give it to me now” world with 24-7 interaction with our iPods, iPads and texting. We accept the days of “just coaching” are a thing of the past.
As coaches, we must manage the expectations for not only players, but also their parents. Here are five suggestions for parents to better build that relationship as you move through the youth leagues to higher levels. This will help you, your young ones and their coaches enjoy the ride.
1. Get to know your son or daughter’s practice habits.
The best way to understand how your child measures up is to watch practice. You will see who can catch, who can throw and who gets beat in practice. That will give you a better understanding of playing time. We practice three times more than we play games, so that’s your measuring stick.
2. Understand physical
development. The bigger, faster and stronger players have the advantage. If your player does not have one or two of those three qualities, he or she may get left behind. Look at speed, strength and size from an unbiased perspective. See where you can help your child develop.
3. Watch (without bias)
other teams compete. Measuring your child against his or her teammates may not give you a real understanding of where he or she sits on
Monkey in the Middle Shooting Drill
Take It With You: Get this and other drills beamed straight to your iPhone or Android. Visit uslmobilecoach. com for more info on Mobile Coach.
Objective: Teach players to time off-ball movement, get open and get their hands free on a dodge to initiate.
Description: Split the field in half and have the drill running at the same time on both sides of the field. X1 starts by dodging towards the 8-meter and bouncing topside. X2 pops off the middle into a spot where she can receive a pass from X1 and finish the shot. Defense will
70 LACROSSE MAGAZINE May 2012>>
play “dummy defense” and stay in the dodging lane to force X2 to move for the pass. X1 then moves to defense, defender
rotates to X2 and X2 goes to the back of the line.
Variation:
Start with a ground ball on the wing between two players back-to-back. Whoever wins can drive high and feed the player popping. This will train your players to go to goal amidst confusion in loose-ball situations.
X X X X1 D X2 X2 D X1 X X X X
DRILL SPECS Theme: Shooting Position: Offense Style: Skills, Games Time: 10 Min Location: Half Field Level: Intermediate
the athletic spectrum. If you really want to see where he or she matches up, watch other teams play for comparative references. Could you envision your son or daughter keeping up? Take the player with you. It may be a great eye opener.
4. Talk with your child
about improvement. As coaches, we love moms and dads who ask us, “What can he do better? What can she improve?” Coaches evaluate constantly. It’s based on error detection and correction. Getting involved in this process constructively as a parent will allow you to bond with player and coach on the path toward improvement.
5. Understand a
coach’s true role. As a parent you will love, nurture and protect your child at all times. As coaches, we want to educate and develop our players to build the best team. We just need your help managing expectations.
—Chris Snyder US Lacrosse coaches education and training manager
C
A Publication of US Lacrosse
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