Missing Practice

Unless there is more to the story than we know I believe you have some prima donna trouble makers. I say sit them for the first two games and tell them they need to make more of a commitment towards the team. If they are the best players on the team they may be taking the "can't win without me" attitude. If so you need to convince them it doesn't matter how you do with them but you will move along without them if they don't want to be a part of the team.

I could justify them missing to play with their high school team - if the reasons were right. There is no excuse for what they are doing as you describe.

Were they trouble during the high school season? Is there trouble at home - like a divorce or something?

I have seen this cause players to become problems. If this is the case then it's something you need to work with them on instead of dropping the hammer.

IMO, it sounds like to me that these boys have somekind of discipline problem, that, or they take their talents for granted.

If they are that good, then as the Head coach it's your perogative to discipline them any way you see fit. The way I see it, by doing so you are teaching them early that dedication and devotion to anything worthwhile is imperative. If you do nothing, it shows you condone it and that sends a terrible message to your other players who DO show up on time.

They get away with because they can...or at least in their minds that's what they think. It undermines your position as the leader of this team in so many ways. I would be prepared for attitudes from them (and parents if applicable) ranging from threatening to quit to actually quitting. If they play those cards, let them play it. At least then you will have a disciplined team of boys who want to be there when asked!

Our coach usually starts with pick-ups (tossing a ground ball from left to right 100 times and they have to ground it with bare hand and roll back to coach), to many poles and/or sprints.

Best of luck to you.

Thanks for the advice. They will be definitely "riding some pine" early in the season. Unfortunately, our league has an everyone bats and plays the field 2 innings policy. I can't sit them the entire game, but I can sit them a majority of it. They haven't been a problem the first 2 years. This is the oldest brothers first year with his drivers license, so that may have something to do with it?!?

I know that there is nothing like a divorce going on at home (they are my brother-in-laws). They do live 40 minutes away. But my take is if you can be at practice 30 minutes late, you can leave 30 minutes earlier to get there.

So this would mean they are your nephews?

Knowing that I'd go to him and tell him to light a fire under them or else you're gonna gave to!

quote:

Originally posted by mahtin9702:
They do live 40 minutes away. But my take is if you can be at practice 30 minutes late, you can leave 30 minutes earlier to get there.

Maybe they can't. If they are at the mercy of their parents' chauffeur service, maybe they can't get there any earlier than they do.

There probably isn't a good excuse for not making it on Saturday if they are just sleeping late. I don't think sitting them for a while is unjust for that. But I always dislike when kids who don't drive or don't have their own car are punished.....

Once upon a time, my son was punished for showing up at the field 5 minutes late for a game. They were supposed to be at the field at 5:00 on a Friday afternoon in summer, traffic was horrendous...and we lived 50 miles away. I took off from work early, left in what I thought was PLENTY of time....but ran into some ungodly traffic and ended up 5 minutes late. The coach screamed obscenities to my 13 year old son because he was late. I dropped him off as close to the field as I could and then went to park, so I didn't hear any of it. Some dads told me that they were very uncomfortable with the treatment that my son received, but didn't say a word because they were afraid what would happen to their sons if they did. Anyway, it wasn't good.

Unless the kids have total control of their driving, then it may not be their fault. Just my opinion, for what it's worth, which is nothing.....

Thanks for your advice "play baseball".

I totally agree that if they are dependent on their parent's for a ride, there should be some give in that situation. However, the older brother got his license at the end of last season, so he drives himself. When his parents were giving him a ride, he was on time. Now he shows up 15 or 30 minutes late (when they do come). I believe it is irresponsibility or lack of focus.

Based on the added information I say find a hammer and drop it on them.

I wouldn't start them but play them in the second inning and get it over with the mandatory playing time. This way they aren't starting and they aren't coming into the game late where they can be the hero. If they come into game late and get the game winning hit or play that would just feed the ego. Same if you start them.

Welcome, Tommy.

That is a bit of a drive for these guys. I am usually quick to blame their actions on typical teenaged behavior, but there might be more here. Could you have them call you at 45 minutes or more before practice? You might be, or at least say you are concerned about the trip they have to take with a young, inexperienced driver.

I always checked to see if it was a kid who was at the mercy of a late parent, or the kid him/herself. If its the parents I would warn them that they are putting their kids playing time in peril, and if it continues I would follow through. (one year I played driver for a kid whose family could never get him to practice/games on time)

If its the kids themselves I think swift adjustmetn is necessary. Action needs to be taken not only to teach them a lesson but also to make it clear to other players that rules apply to all.

Sleeping in does not fly in my book

Most importantly they are undermining the coaches authority

If it is me--they are gone --goodbye---sayonara

quote:

Originally posted by mahtin9702:
I am a coach in an organized league and have been for 3 years now. I coach 14-16 year boys. I have 2 brothers on my team (and they have been on my team for the last 3 years). Last year they had to miss some practices because they played for their high school team. This year they don't play for their HS team, but they have never been to practice on time and have missed several practices for sleeping in on Saturday or they were not paying attention to the time. They are definitely my 2 best players. I was thinking about benching for about 2 innings in the first game of the season. I also thought about moving them down in the lineup a little for the first game. I was hoping to get some thoughts on my ideas as to whether the punishment is firm enough, or what?

thanks,

Tommy Martin

I'm shocked you have to ask this question. Who's in charge? I'm sure the players will say these boys are. They're stepping all over you. You fear them because they're your two best players. You're losing the respect of the other players. You don't have the respect of the two who are blowing off practice. What's the first thing you need to lead?

It obvious these two kids have never been Boy Scouts because character is not their strong suit.

Young men need to be trained in order for them to become adult men with proper behavior traits and consideration of others. You must do this by helping them to understand what it means to be a man of character to match that which is expected and acceptable.

If you don't discipline these young adults you will be passing them on to the next coach with your stamp of approval.

Train them to know what it means to be a member of a team.
JMO

Tommy ...

First off, welcome to the HSBBW.

Now, for my input ...

quote:

Unfortunately, our league has an everyone bats and plays the field 2 innings policy. I can't sit them the entire game, but I can sit them a majority of it.

Is it possible that you can check with the league to see if there are situations where a player can be benched for an entire game? I know one league we played in required approval of the player advocate before a coach could bench a player for disciplinary reasons. Most of the time, the player advocate agreed with the coach. Perhaps this could be exercised in your case ... after all, since these boys are your nephews, I am sure the league would understand how serious you are about needing to make a statement.

Just an idea ...