[
YOUR EDGE] coaches The Way You Say It
Be nice, remain positive when addressing players during diffi cult times
where adversity strikes the team. How you manage these situations can affect the development of your players. I have one tenet: Remain positive. Too many coaches lose their cool with the team because of outside infl uences. What would you do?
W
1. Your team has lost seven straight games, struggles to score, and allows anything thrown at the goal to go in. But they play hard and just are not very talented. How do you address the team?
Teams
are living, breathing
things. How you handle changes can dramatically affect the future of your team.
70
ith each season, a coach will fi nd a point
a. “You guys stink! I can’t wait until some of you quit this team and I replace you with real players.” b. “I’m as competitive as anyone else. The effort you gave today was fantastic and once we deepen our understanding of the game and stick skills, we’ll be right there with them next time.”
2. Johnny’s dad wants to talk to you about why the team has lost so many games. He’s concerned because Johnny is embarrassed to tell his friends what team he plays on and that they both thought the team would be better. a. “If Johnny isn’t happy or proud to play here, maybe he should fi nd another team. You knew we were not very good. It’s your fault he’s embarrassed. You signed him up.” b. “Mr. Johnny’s Dad, our
staff is working very hard to make the team competitive. We’re not as talented as some of the other teams, but we will continue to get better. And with Johnny’s hard work, I believe we’ll be competitive real soon. Please keep encouraging Johnny to work hard and trust what we are doing is for the benefi t of the whole team.”
3. You’ve just been appointed head coach of the team after actions by your club administration resulted in the former coach no longer being a part of the program. a. “Your [coach or school] made a stupid decision and now I’m the coach. Whether they like it or not, I’m going to
LACROSSE MAGAZINE >> July 2013
do things the way the [coach or school] wanted them done and you’re going to like it.” b. “Team, I want you all to know that some actions took place beyond any of our control. The staff remaining in place has one focus right now, and that is on the team. We cannot change what has happened, and whether we agree or disagree will not make a difference. “As a team, we will not choose sides. We will not be negative toward (coach or school). We will simply use this as a learning experience and grow stronger as a team because of it. For the remainder of this season, we will work hard, we will have fun and we will become better young men/women for having gone through this experience together. “Your task as a member of this team is simple: Support and defend your brothers/ sisters in the uniform you are wearing on this fi eld. If you can do that, we will have a positive experience together and be a better team tomorrow than we are today.”
Teams are living, breathing things. Players and coaches come and go. Games are won and lost. How you handle changes can dramatically affect the future of your team. Use adversity not as a stumbling block, but as a building block for that future.
TJ Buchanan is the coaching education content
manager for US Lacrosse. For more on the US Lacrosse Coaching Education Program, visit
uslacrosse.org/cep.
A Publication of US Lacrosse
©JOHN STROHSACKER
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