As a coach, what would you do

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Jan 27, 2010
1,871
83
NJ
I'm posting this hear to get the opinion of coaches but parents of players please give your opinion as well.

Heartbreaking as it is, a girl on DD's basketball team had her father pass away this week. He'd been sick for a while and we all knew it was just a matter of time. This girl has played on the team for several years and is just a great kid. Her brothers as well. The father's Wake is this week on the same day as our first game. Should we cancel the game out of respect? The times do not conflict but my initial feeling was yes we should.

What do you all say?
 
Jan 18, 2010
4,284
0
In your face
Oh my, sorry to hear that.

Sounds like you have your mind made up, and I agree with it. Yes, as a coach and parent you should make an example for the girls by this choice.
 

marriard

Not lost - just no idea where I am
Oct 2, 2011
4,312
113
Florida
If the majority of the girls have been on the same team for several years then the decision is easy - yes you do.

If not, then it is a little harder decision and you may lean to no.

If your gut is telling you cancel, then do so.
 

redhotcoach

Out on good behavior
May 8, 2009
4,706
38
IMO...ABSOFREAKINLUTELY!

There will be 100s of games, the teammates can make more of an impact on her life than any game is worth.

Go all together as a team and it will help all the girls.
 
May 7, 2008
8,506
48
Tucson
I played the night of my father's funeral. There was no time conflict. I was 16. I would have felt even worse, if someone would have cancelled my game.

I think you need to ask the individual girl.
 
Aug 23, 2010
582
18
Florida
Time conflict or not, you should cancel the game. Reschedule for another day. Go support this young lady through an extremely difficult situation. There will be plenty of time for sports, she needs moral support now. Go rent a movie and have the team just hang out with her. Doesn't have to be a somber sit around and pray sort of thing, just having her teammates there with her would probably do wonders.
 
Jun 18, 2010
2,624
38
This girl has played on the team for several years and is just a great kid. Her brothers as well. The father's Wake is this week on the same day as our first game. Should we cancel the game out of respect?

I agree with those who suggested canceling the game. The teammates can be there to support their friend. I am sure many of the parents on the team have lost a good friend too and can be there to support the surviving spouse.
 

JAD

Feb 20, 2012
8,231
38
Georgia
IMHO would be a great lesson to the girls that there are things in life more important than a game......and it would mean the world to that girl and her family if all her teammates showed up for the funeral - in uniform!
 
May 7, 2008
8,506
48
Tucson
My sympathies go out to this family. A couple of months ago, we lost a local coach to cancer. He left two pre-teen girls behind. There are no right or wrongs as far as protocol over what is acceptable, at a time like this.

My former teammates were at my sister's funeral, to support me, just last week. Forty years later, we can still rely on each other.
 

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