I just got home from football practice and I saw something that troubles me and I feel like I need to share my (not anybody else's) thoughts on what happened. As I was pulling out of school our volleyball team was finishing their tryouts. A girl who will be a senior this year that has made the cut every year was crying. I went up to her and asked what was wrong and she gave me the whole "nothing - I'm fine" spiel. I kept at it and she let me read a piece of paper she had in her hand.
This paper was telling her that she didn't make the team. Obviously she was upset and should be but I think there are two problems with this process.
First problem - she is a senior who got cut after making the team every year. Now I realize we all have a job to do and prepare our teams and sometimes we have to cut players who are not up to par but sometimes you keep a kid because it's the right thing to do. This is a girl who makes good grades, is respected by the entire faculty, respected by the student body, would run through a wall for you if you just hinted at it - she's that kid. For a kid like this I believe you give them a choice if you know they cannot beat out anyone for playing time.
Take them into the office or someplace private and tell them "I do not feel you have the talent to get a lot of playing time. But you are that kid and I will not just outright cut you because you have earned more than that. So here are some options I want you to consider - stay on the team and work everyday in practice as hard as you can although it might mean you hardly get any playing time. Or you can stay on as a manager and help the coaches out with some various tasks - not a water girl but someone with real responsibilities. Or you can decide not to play if that is what you want." I think the good kids have earned this outcome. Not all kids but the kids that you wish all were like.
My other problem is when you cut players I believe you should do it face to face. All players regardless of talent have earned that right to hear directly from your mouth what their fate is and why they are being cut. Plus it gives you a chance to tell the ones you keep their role. If you haven't cut a kid before let me warn you it will be one of the hardest things you do as a coach. I go into every season truly wishing every kid makes it but let's face it - they won't and you have to get rid of some of them. Those kids have earned the right to be in a private place to learn if they get cut because some will break down and cry. They deserve a place where they can regain their composure before they have to face their buddies. If you post a list or hand out a already printed letter with a blank for their name how do you really tell them how to get better or what they need to work on? Face to face is the best way.
All that being said I have (and still do) a lot of respect for this coach. What they do on the volleyball court works because they are successful but obviously this is something I disagree with. You have to do what you think is best as a coach and I'm just putting this out there as what I think is the right thing to do. Some coaches don't feel this way and that's cool. But hopefully this is some food for thought.
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