Ask PCA

Opposing Coach Runs Up the Score

Mon, 30 Apr 2012 12:55:33 EST

I coach in a recreational girls softball program with a wide age grouping (9-13). We play competitively but are a recreational league open to all players and our focus is on skills developments. We have one coach from another league who ran up the score 29-1 in a most recent game. He continued to argue balls and strikes to the last pitch and cheered the 29th run as loudly as the first. His team was breaking out into chants of "bases loaded, bases loaded" when they led by more than 25 runs. His girls were stealing bases and running aggressively throughout the game. This coach says he was just playing by the rules and wanted to teach his girls to play hard at all times. Any suggestions on how to deal with a coach like this who doesn't appear to understand the point of youth athletics at this (or perhaps any) level?

Policy for Turning off the Scoreboard

Tue, 17 Apr 2012 17:21:23 EST

I am orgainizing a youth basketball league, teams are 5-8th grade. When we have a blow out (over 20 pt) lead i have been flipping the scoreboard and not letting the fans and team see the score. if the score gets less than 20 points i again display the score. I was talking to one of the sites and they wanted me to display the score the whole game. This came from the team that lost 67 to 13. I am not sure what to do. I need your recommendation.

Players Disrupting Drills

Wed, 11 Apr 2012 16:35:30 EST

Coaching U-14 girls’ volleyball, I have two players, close friends with each other, who disrupt drills. I’ve talked to them individually and together, with some improvement, but still too many disruptions. What’s my next move?

Key Points of a Coaching Philosophy

Tue, 13 Mar 2012 20:53:17 EST

If you were to list the top 5-8 things that a middle school softball coach might list as philosophy points of a program when speaking to parents during an opening season parent meeting, what might you say? ( we are a small all girls school with a no cut policy and about 25 girls that come out for the team..A team schedule and small B team schedule..3 total coaches)

Parents Object to Coach Reprimanding Players

Tue, 28 Feb 2012 00:44:16 EST

When we have team activities outside the gym I like encouraging the parents to come and most of the time we have a lot. Or after a competition we like going out to eat. But I had a few situations where a parent and a child is frustrated because she feels when the parents are there I should not be reprimanding there child for inappropriate behaviors that istead she feel the parents should decidewhat is inappropriate when to act and should do the reprimanding. The problem is her child's behaviors are not within or teams rules and expectations, a lot of the other parents won't say anything to correct the kids behaviors instead they normally will thank me in private later or will tell me they where disappointed with what was going on. Should an athlete be responsible for team R&P and expected behaviors anytime the team is together? And how schould I talk with the parent and athlete.

Post-Game Handshake

Tue, 21 Feb 2012 17:41:11 EST

"Hey Coach Tony" thinks we can do without the Post-Game handshake ritual in youth sports - http://bit.ly/xo7c6d What's your view on the post-game handshake and how can coaches and players make it a more sincere gesture. Here are links to a couple of articles on the subject to stimulate conversation - http://bit.ly/AiMbm5 - http://bit.ly/zXnlnO - My youth,HS & College experience was in the 70s. Don't ever remember shaking hands in a formal manner after games. When & Why did the post-game handshake become standard operating procedure?

Post-Season Parent Survey?

Mon, 20 Feb 2012 13:43:35 EST

Has anyone implemented a post-season parent survey to help you understand where the organization's culture stands and what issues need to be addressed? Thanks!

What Do You Think of this Parent-as-Coach Technique?

Tue, 07 Feb 2012 09:31:46 EST

What would you say to a parent who is requiring their 14-year-old daughter to accept parental coaching and do additional off-court training as a requirement for allowing her to compete? I see rebellion on the horizon but the parent's comment is - I am an elite level coach in another sport and that's how I treat my athletes. He continued in the presence of his daughter to say - I get great results and I'm not wasting my money on someone who doesn't put in the extra effort. Meanwhile - his daughter is a top 10 ranked athlete in a 5 state area and already dedicates 15 - 18 hours per week to her sport while maintaining a 4.0 GPA. The parent has refused to read any information or attend parent meetings. I am very concerned for this child.

Concussion Concerns

Mon, 06 Feb 2012 18:31:14 EST

With all the recent attention to the dangers of sports concussions, how do I know if our school and youth sports organizations are properly addressing the issue?

Improving Mental Toughness at the Varsity Level

Mon, 06 Feb 2012 13:00:08 EST

Our varsity girls basketball team has some barriers in their mental game. They play well at home, having had some games go their way that would be considered upsets. But on the road they really struggle and don't play well. If they miss some shots and make some mistakes they can't pull themselves back into the game, they are done. They get bothered by the other team's student section and get flustered. I've noticed on both the JV and varsity players making mistakes on the floor then sitting on the bench in tears. I don't think our coaches are scolding/yelling at them for their mistakes, but yet the girls are lacking in their mental toughness. This is our first year with the head coach and I really like him, the players respect him too. My daughter is a junior and a starter, so she has a position of leadership on the team. What can I as a parent do to help the team gain more mental confidence?

Coaches Who Scream at Refs

Tue, 31 Jan 2012 09:02:18 EST

How to deal with coaches that yell and scream about every foul against their team and constantly blame opponents for playing dirty. This is rec basketball with players no older than 11 years old.
I've always been a beliver that the ref decides what is a foul, and if there is no whistle then, either there is no foul, the ref made a incorrect call, or the ref just didn't see what happened.
The bottom line is how to get coaches to control their emotions and understand it is only a "game", not the NBA finals.
As for the question: How to approach this type of coach to open a dialog about their behavior.
By the way, the coach did not get thrown out nor where they given a T. I believe the at times, the ref's are in fear of what might happen if the do give them a T

Baseball Strategy or Bending the Rules?

Mon, 30 Jan 2012 11:06:43 EST

Two teams (11U) are competing in a tournament. TEAM A has only eight (8) players. By rule a team can play with 8 HOWEVER, the 9th batting position will be an automatic out for the duration of the game.
With TEAM A on offense, a runner on third base and two (2) outs; TEAM B intentionally walks the 8th batter to get to the 9th batting position (the third out of the inning).
Good strategy or dirty coaching?
We'd like to know what other youth baseball coaches think.

At What Age Should Competitive/Select Play Begin?

Wed, 25 Jan 2012 14:30:45 EST

I'm looking for guidelines on when competitive or select sports should start for kids. More and more there is an emphasis on tryouts and cuts for our younger players that seems wrong. Can anyone point me to guidelines on this put together by governing sports bodies? Soccer specific would be great but any credible source (incl. child development) would be good.

Starter Skipping Practice

Tue, 24 Jan 2012 12:04:32 EST

One of the stars on our varsity basketball team has started skipping practice for no good reason that I've been able to learn from speaking to him. Should I continue to start him?

Teammates in a Fistfight

Mon, 09 Jan 2012 16:10:58 EST

Two of my eight-year-old players collided during a drill and got into a fistfight. We coaches broke it up quickly so nobody was hurt, but now we're wondering what to do next in terms of discussing this situation with players and parents. Any ideas?

Some Players Socially Exclude Others

Mon, 19 Dec 2011 16:58:15 EST

On my U-12 team, I have 14 players. Twelve of them often gather socially and leave out the other two. How, if at all, should I intervene?

Club Coach Intrudes on Varsity Coach

Thu, 01 Dec 2011 15:42:29 EST

As a high school coach, I am facing an issue with a local club coach. He constantly e-mails me about how to do my job better, coaches my athletes at our meets (though I've told him that is not acceptable), and provides summer training that undermines our team’s workout schedule. Any suggestions as to how to get this guy to leave us alone?

My Star Player is Injured

Mon, 21 Nov 2011 17:59:33 EST

Our high school varsity star just suffered a season-ending injury. How do I keep my team's spirits up and keep them competitive?

Players Frustration with Equal Playing Time

Mon, 07 Nov 2011 14:51:16 EST

I coach U-12 in an organization that is committed to equal playing time for all players. But the huge disparity in skill-level among the players on my team has them frustrated. Players of greater skill wish we were more competitive, and the less skilled wish they could keep up. What steps can I take to keep this a positive experience for the players?

How Can Coaches Help Players Get Over an Official's Tough Call?

Fri, 21 Oct 2011 13:05:01 EST

Late in a tight game, our team was on the wrong end of an official's call. We coaches did our best to shrug it off and used PCA's "mistake ritual" as our players, obviously shaken by the call, made an unusual number of mistakes. What else could we have done as coaches to help our players?

Respecting an Injured Opponent

Wed, 28 Sep 2011 15:35:11 EST

Should field hockey players in junior high kneel on one knee during a stop in the action due to injury? When her teammate was injured, my daughter noticed opponents laughing and showing other signs of disrespect. Any advice on helping my daughter process this experience??

Seeking My Daughter's Reinstatement

Mon, 26 Sep 2011 17:04:02 EST

My 15-year-old daughter quit her travel soccer team near the end of last school year, due to academic struggles. Now she wants to re-join the team. How can she and I best approach her coach for reinstatement?

How Can I Help My Son Stay Humble?

Thu, 08 Sep 2011 19:17:17 EST

My 13-year-old son has had a growth spurt in the last six months or so, and he is suddenly achieving much more on the field. The increase in achievement has boosted his confidence...maybe a bit too much. How can I teach him easy lessons in being proud but humble before his coaches or teammates are tempted to teach him some harder lessons?

Opposing Coach Abuses Officials and Players and Encourages Foul Play

Thu, 08 Sep 2011 18:59:08 EST

In my son's U-11 travel soccer league, one of the opposing coaches consistently abuses officials, her own players, and our players and coaches. Her team has developed a reputation for dirty play that she does not discourage; when an experienced official disallows it, the coach complains of bias. Some of her players and their parents also behave as she does. Despite our filing reports, the league refuses to penalize her. What is our next step?

Struggling to Motivate 9- and 10-Year-Olds

Wed, 07 Sep 2011 19:25:19 EST

On the 9- and 10-year-old baseball team I coach, two players seem like they don't even want to be there. I encourage them a lot, spend additional time with them, try to motivate them, and have talked with their parents about the issue, but nothing seems to work. I am tired of repeating myself and am tempted to just teach them how to draw a walk, crowd the plate and bunt. I'd rather teach them the full spectrum of the game, but I don't want the team to continue to suffer. How can I approach this problem and best finish out the season with these two players?