I am Assistant Coach for my son's team. I affectionately call his team the Bad News Bears. The team is as if each other club sent 1-2 players they didn't want on the team over, and made a team of those players.
I have no issue with lack of talent and have coached up teams with a talent deficit to be competitive through hustle, teamwork and fundamentals. The problem here is I have the following:
-Two kids who absolutely don't give a single fuck about being out there. Walking the whole time, can't get them to run a lap, don't even try at the lessons, goof off / joke with their pals, don't have any interest in the ball, and generally show zero respect of authority
-One kid who marches to his own beat. Decent player but shit attitude, likely views himself as a cross of Messi/Ronaldo, shows attitude to the coaches
-4-5 players who are generally goofy / not great effort, minimal talent, feed on the above players goofing off, are not bad kids but generally aren't there to work hard
-3-4 players who do the right thing (work hard, help coaches, listen, etc etc)
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Been debating what to do about the three kids... Came up with:
-I could talk to their parents. Especially the first two, try and figure out from them what motivates the child to sign up for soccer when they show no interest during practice. Ask for their feedback / help
-I've tried motivating them individually, but I get nothing back (literally nothing, blank stares, mumbles of 'ok')
-Tried working them a little (have them run a lap with me while I talk about their behavior). Equally ineffective, they end up walking the lap, I get no real feedback from them
-Tried rewarding what little effort I do get, but seems to have no effect
The kid with an attitude, I think he'd do fine on a better team with a bit more discipline. He's frustrated at the overall pathetic-ness of the team and I sort of get it. Him I can handle
Anyway, open for thoughts.
My last thought is to break them into smaller groups. It's tough with just two of us coaches, we could break them into groups of 6 or so but even that is hard to keep them focused. If I could get it into three groups of 4, separate the groups strategically, I think that would be an improvement, but we don't have another coach or anyone close to a volunteer.
I have no issue with lack of talent and have coached up teams with a talent deficit to be competitive through hustle, teamwork and fundamentals. The problem here is I have the following:
-Two kids who absolutely don't give a single fuck about being out there. Walking the whole time, can't get them to run a lap, don't even try at the lessons, goof off / joke with their pals, don't have any interest in the ball, and generally show zero respect of authority
-One kid who marches to his own beat. Decent player but shit attitude, likely views himself as a cross of Messi/Ronaldo, shows attitude to the coaches
-4-5 players who are generally goofy / not great effort, minimal talent, feed on the above players goofing off, are not bad kids but generally aren't there to work hard
-3-4 players who do the right thing (work hard, help coaches, listen, etc etc)
----------
Been debating what to do about the three kids... Came up with:
-I could talk to their parents. Especially the first two, try and figure out from them what motivates the child to sign up for soccer when they show no interest during practice. Ask for their feedback / help
-I've tried motivating them individually, but I get nothing back (literally nothing, blank stares, mumbles of 'ok')
-Tried working them a little (have them run a lap with me while I talk about their behavior). Equally ineffective, they end up walking the lap, I get no real feedback from them
-Tried rewarding what little effort I do get, but seems to have no effect
The kid with an attitude, I think he'd do fine on a better team with a bit more discipline. He's frustrated at the overall pathetic-ness of the team and I sort of get it. Him I can handle
Anyway, open for thoughts.
My last thought is to break them into smaller groups. It's tough with just two of us coaches, we could break them into groups of 6 or so but even that is hard to keep them focused. If I could get it into three groups of 4, separate the groups strategically, I think that would be an improvement, but we don't have another coach or anyone close to a volunteer.