I’m having a problem with one of my new players on my soccer team. This player is new to soccer and obviously new to our club and team.
Honestly, I run a pretty tight ship when it comes to my team. I expect my players to respect their teammates, listen when I speak to give instruction, and to keep their hands to themselves. We have fun at practice, but I do expect everyone to value our time together every week (which is 3 hours).
During a couple of recent practices, three behavior incidents have happened…nothing big, but I’m the type of person that firmly believes in “nipping it in the bud”. All three incidents involved this new player.
I explained the incidents to this player and then his parents. Unfortunately, the parents went off on me. They put the blame on the other kids on the team and they questioned my coaching style.
This really bothers me….especially coming from parents that don’t know me or my team and haven’t made an effort to get to know me or my team. These parents sit at one end of the field to watch the games…away from other parents, especially our parents. I know our parents have made an effort to welcome them to the team and get them involved, but no luck.
Anyways, I decided to bench 3 of my players, including this new player, for one quarter at our next game. I did this for an incident at the last practice in which all 3 were not respecting each other.
I believe this sent a message to these three players as well as the rest of my team that they need to behave or they face reduced playing time.
I’m not sure what will happen with this new player. His parents did hint at taking him out of soccer completely….which would be a shame. If they are not happy with my club or team, there are always other clubs and teams in our area.
Filed under: Youth Soccer
