As a coach, there are just some things that you hate hearing from those playing the game. Not only can these obstacles put your coach in an uncomfortable position, but it could ruin the experience for another athlete learning or striving to improve as well. If you or your athlete wants be a good teammate and stay on the coach’s good side, refrain from communicating in any of these ways:
Blaming Others
The habit of blaming can take many forms. Whether you’re blaming the official, another teammate, or the weather, refusing to accept responsibility for an error will never you improve.
Accepting blame is really hard for anyone to do and it is something that can only happen as you learn to be a true team player.
Making Excuses
Unfortunately, the close relative of blame has to be making excuses. Of course, excuses are easy to tell and they may even make you feel justified for a moment. In the future, however, tossing out excuses will never help you improve or fix what went wrong.
Sometimes you’re just simply outplayed on the field — and that’s OK.
It’s important to know–losing is more than fine. If making excuses becomes a habit, then it will too often become the reaction to anything that goes wrong in the game. Instead of excuses, trying channeling that disappointment into your training or positivity and get ready for the next game.
Arguing
Now, this should be a no-brainer, but showing your coach up in public is unacceptable. It’s certainly OK to disagree with a decision or substitution, but there’s a way to handle these type of problems. No, the answer is not yelling at your coach or teammates, causing a scene on the bench, and thus creating a distraction from the job at hand. If you want to disagree with a coach and his call, it should not happen during the game. If you wants to offer a suggestion, it should be done in practice as more constructive conversations can occur.
Trash Talking
Sports needs to be a collectively cooperative space and trying to win is certainly OK — it’s when matters devolve into the intentionally hurtful and dismissive chatter that those around you are harmed. Whether if it’s with her own teammates or against the opposing team, there’s no room for demeaning and degrading talk in sports, especially youth sports — and it’s certainly not something the coach wants to hear while he’s on the sideline either.
At the end of the day, athletes should consider their actions before speaking.
Will you feel this way tomorrow? Would you feel the same if you were winning? Weigh your options before speaking and the coach will appreciate your ability to harness emotions in a positive way.
Giving Up
A defeatist attitude shows negativity and lack of motivation, and it may prompt the coach to pull you out of the game. Being nervous to play a new position or slumping at the plate may be reasons why an athlete wants to sit out, but it’s important that you don’t.
Perseverance and hard work are two qualities that mature athletes — and humans in general — exhibit.
If you can’t hit a certain pitch — take some extra swings after practice; if your coach thinks you might play well as a striker instead of a midfielder, give it a try. After all, you never know what might happen because you stayed positive, helpful, and supportive!
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