How do you guys deal with players who have to leave practice to go to work or have to miss practice due to work?
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This is a tough one due to a lot of factors. If it's a good kid and his family really needs the money then I don't say a whole lot as long as his attitude is good but I also tell him it does open the door for someone to take his spot (if he's a starter) or his chances of earning playing time are even slimmer (if he's not a starter).
If it's once a week I'm probably not going to freak out about it as long as they don't miss games and do extra during practice to make up for the loss of time but if it starts becoming a more regular thing then he and I will sit down and discuss priorities. I don't mean trying to pressure him into choosing baseball over work but have him figure out which one truly is more important and steer them in that direction. I don't care if they want to work over baseball but sometimes you have to pick and choose.
I think the best chance for this to work is to be consistent in when you practice, how long you practice and things like that. Then the player can fiddle his work schedule around practice and that is what I have experienced the most over the years. But the flip side is if you run practice long or make a change then you have to be ready to release this kid for work. It's part of the give and take that goes along with it.
Honestly though I can't remember it ever being a real problem. I've had a few discussions about priorities and they always ended well because the player saw I wasn't forcing a choice but helping them make one. I can't remember a time where other players were upset / resented the player who left for work. So overall it's not been a problem for me.
I know other guys will probably get on here and talk about how they take a tougher approach and that's cool with me. If that is what works for them then no problem but what I put above works for me.
If it's once a week I'm probably not going to freak out about it as long as they don't miss games and do extra during practice to make up for the loss of time but if it starts becoming a more regular thing then he and I will sit down and discuss priorities. I don't mean trying to pressure him into choosing baseball over work but have him figure out which one truly is more important and steer them in that direction. I don't care if they want to work over baseball but sometimes you have to pick and choose.
I think the best chance for this to work is to be consistent in when you practice, how long you practice and things like that. Then the player can fiddle his work schedule around practice and that is what I have experienced the most over the years. But the flip side is if you run practice long or make a change then you have to be ready to release this kid for work. It's part of the give and take that goes along with it.
Honestly though I can't remember it ever being a real problem. I've had a few discussions about priorities and they always ended well because the player saw I wasn't forcing a choice but helping them make one. I can't remember a time where other players were upset / resented the player who left for work. So overall it's not been a problem for me.
I know other guys will probably get on here and talk about how they take a tougher approach and that's cool with me. If that is what works for them then no problem but what I put above works for me.
nice response coach! your right...it's a tough call if money is needed...and it's about ATTITUDE! as for my boy...he's got a nice little lawn service that affords him and for me as well for him to have spending money for gas, food, and some of his needs...plus it's on his schedule, so it fits for him...
Are you guys talking high school season or summer ball?
Larry I'm talking about high school. I haven't coached summer ball in a LOOOOONNNNNNGGGGGGG time.
quote:Originally posted by coach2709:
Larry I'm talking about high school. I haven't coached summer ball in a LOOOOONNNNNNGGGGGGG time.
Wow...that is a much more difficult scenario.
In summer ball, I just tell the boys to get out of bed and get a job that allows them to get to the field by 4:00 P.M.
High school baseball and jobs? Can the boys get enough work during the weekend? I'd worry about their school work suffering from 7 hours of school, 2 hours of practice and then 4 or 5 hours of work in the evening. But then that is a family decision. I agree with one of the posters saying you need to look at the situation and decide. Some families need the extra money. I admire kids who can balance school, baseball and work. I really do. If you can make it work...and the kid(s) are guys who give you everything they can give while at practice, then why not help 'em out once in a while?
I'm not sure it makes any difference that I coach at a privates school, but I tell kids they can't miss practice or a game due to a job; it isn't fair to the kids that I cut who would NEVER miss a practice or game for any reason. Although we are private, we are a very middle-income school,and most of the families get help to pay tuition.
I've really not had the problem for a long time, but if I ever had a kid who said he HAD to work to support his family or help pay the bills, then I would tell him maybe he shouldn't play baseball, he should work as much as he could to do that.
I think a situation where a Junior or Senior in high school HAS to work to support his family is pretty rare. Most of the time he has to work to pay for his car or insurance, etc.
I've really not had the problem for a long time, but if I ever had a kid who said he HAD to work to support his family or help pay the bills, then I would tell him maybe he shouldn't play baseball, he should work as much as he could to do that.
I think a situation where a Junior or Senior in high school HAS to work to support his family is pretty rare. Most of the time he has to work to pay for his car or insurance, etc.
TCB1,
Understand what you are saying.
What if the kid has mandated tutoring/study hall after school to stay eligible to play, and will miss practice time? May not be an issue at a private school but it certainly is at alot of public high schools.
Or the kid is a true 5 Tool stud that the colleges are after but whose family is having some economic issues that his working would help. Kid is told not to play and just work... but risk losing scholarship offers that have a bearing on his future?
Too many varying scenarios to follow solely one method in my opinion if the job of a HS coach is more than just winning games but helping young men with actual problems. Really no easy, one step solution. Would not be suprised this scenario didn't arise quite a bit last year and again this upcoming season at many high schools throughout the country.
Personally, if a young man (stud or bench player) came to me with this problem I would do everything I could to help along the lines that Coach 2709 mentioned. I would be willing to work something out with the employer if needed. The family's problems are realistically already taking some things away from the young man, I am not going to be the one to take away baseball. Just my opinion...like I said there is no easy, pat answer.
Understand what you are saying.
What if the kid has mandated tutoring/study hall after school to stay eligible to play, and will miss practice time? May not be an issue at a private school but it certainly is at alot of public high schools.
Or the kid is a true 5 Tool stud that the colleges are after but whose family is having some economic issues that his working would help. Kid is told not to play and just work... but risk losing scholarship offers that have a bearing on his future?
Too many varying scenarios to follow solely one method in my opinion if the job of a HS coach is more than just winning games but helping young men with actual problems. Really no easy, one step solution. Would not be suprised this scenario didn't arise quite a bit last year and again this upcoming season at many high schools throughout the country.
Personally, if a young man (stud or bench player) came to me with this problem I would do everything I could to help along the lines that Coach 2709 mentioned. I would be willing to work something out with the employer if needed. The family's problems are realistically already taking some things away from the young man, I am not going to be the one to take away baseball. Just my opinion...like I said there is no easy, pat answer.
This will probably sound weird but I'm more strict about missing over academics than work. I tell my guys all the time that most assignments are give out ahead of time and if they manage their time correctly they won't have to miss practice / games to do their school work.
I also tell them the three keys to success in ANY classroom is 1) sit down on time; 2) shut up and 3) do their work. If they do those three things then virtually any teach will bend over backwards to help them. If they do that then they will probably be successful in the classroom and won't need tutoring or other help.
Now as we all know there is usually that one teacher who takes pride in how many smart kids he can fail (never really understood that) and if some of my guys have this teacher then I'm a little more lenient because work alone in this class isn't enough. Honestly there is no right or wrong way to deal with this. Baseball isn't the end all of everything and that other things in life are more important and need to be dealt with. I tell my guys all the time (even in football) "I don't expect you to love the game as much as I do but you will respect it". To me respect is doing the absolute best you can. If you have a job because your family needs it and are a great member of the team then you are being respectful to the game. If you don't need the job then you are not respecting the game and then we discuss priorities.
Honestly though I wish I could do it like TCB1 does it but I've never been in a place where it would work. If I went hardline like that I probably wouldn't have had a team.
I also tell them the three keys to success in ANY classroom is 1) sit down on time; 2) shut up and 3) do their work. If they do those three things then virtually any teach will bend over backwards to help them. If they do that then they will probably be successful in the classroom and won't need tutoring or other help.
Now as we all know there is usually that one teacher who takes pride in how many smart kids he can fail (never really understood that) and if some of my guys have this teacher then I'm a little more lenient because work alone in this class isn't enough. Honestly there is no right or wrong way to deal with this. Baseball isn't the end all of everything and that other things in life are more important and need to be dealt with. I tell my guys all the time (even in football) "I don't expect you to love the game as much as I do but you will respect it". To me respect is doing the absolute best you can. If you have a job because your family needs it and are a great member of the team then you are being respectful to the game. If you don't need the job then you are not respecting the game and then we discuss priorities.
Honestly though I wish I could do it like TCB1 does it but I've never been in a place where it would work. If I went hardline like that I probably wouldn't have had a team.
And I think my answer DOES sound harsh, but I don't think I've ever had a player who HAD to work to support himself or his family. Had to work because mom or dad said he had to have a job? Yes. And they knew that we wouldn't practice on Sundays or Saturday's after 2:00 PM.
But if this young man HAD to work several days a week to help his family make ends meet, and would miss several practices a week or games a week, I just don't think I could afford to cut one of the other 10 kids that I usually cut, and keep someone who would miss a 1/3 of the season.
I guess it is a matter of degree. If he had to leave early once or twice or miss a couple of practices, I think I could work with him. But missing so much that it isn't fair to the other players? Couldn't do that.
My thought is: If you can't manage to cut back your hours to a day or two a week for basically a 2 month period while you are in high school, maybe your financial situation is so bad that you need to work darn near every day. And then you'll have to give up a lot of other things that you typically get to do in high school
But if this young man HAD to work several days a week to help his family make ends meet, and would miss several practices a week or games a week, I just don't think I could afford to cut one of the other 10 kids that I usually cut, and keep someone who would miss a 1/3 of the season.
I guess it is a matter of degree. If he had to leave early once or twice or miss a couple of practices, I think I could work with him. But missing so much that it isn't fair to the other players? Couldn't do that.
My thought is: If you can't manage to cut back your hours to a day or two a week for basically a 2 month period while you are in high school, maybe your financial situation is so bad that you need to work darn near every day. And then you'll have to give up a lot of other things that you typically get to do in high school
I have had players that had to work. They had to work to help the family make ends meet. I have never had a problem working this out with the players employer and the player as well. Only a couple of times a year is there a conflict that requires them to leave a little early , etc. They always make up the time missed with some conditioning. Most of the time it was a kid that worked after practice and had to work on Saturdays. So on Saturdays we got him scheduled for the afternoons once practice had ended.
There are ways to make it work. The player has to work with you. I have went to players employers several times and they have always worked with me. If a player was not willing to have his schedule adjusted and not willing to do what he could to work it out then he just doesnt play.
There are ways to make it work. The player has to work with you. I have went to players employers several times and they have always worked with me. If a player was not willing to have his schedule adjusted and not willing to do what he could to work it out then he just doesnt play.
