So I'm coaching 7th grade MS with 16 girls. There's a long thread about whether or not I should keep or cut, not the point of this post.
DD plays for me, but she's been injured and has only played in 1 game out of 14.
Many of the girls play for community-select level teams, and are utterly resistant to anything I might teach them that contradicts or is different from what their other coaches say.
I have had playing time issues, with some girls missing a lot of practices (other sports mostly) and so missing a lot of playing time. Others have missed games, which is a straightforward 1 game "suspension," which is, I sit them for the next game.
Starting spots have been a sore spot as well, with some changes made on the fly - which was explained to the girls at the outset.
So, what I have is a girl who I believe is angry with me because she's been benched for missing games, and goes out of her way to contradict me whenever she thinks she can get away with it. I've explained to the team that if I correct someone on a technique or a play, and they turn around and say stuff like "Don't worry, you did it right," they're not only not helping their teammate, their hurting them and the team. Not a huge issue, but constant.
This same girl is the ringleader for all the weak-willed followers, and she is now leading them in picking on DD. DD has shown admirable restraint, in that she's only yelled at her when losing her temper instead of the usual punch in the nose (DD takes only so much sh!t). It came to a head in PE today again, where DD lost her cool and stormed out of class (as much as she can storm on a bum knee).
My conundrum: As coach, I have not witnessed any of this behavior. I only have the word of others, including DD. I know this other little princess well, I've coached her for 5 years now. I know her parents. I know the parents of the followers. I'm torn on a proper reaction. The dad in me wants to call out the parents, the coach in me wants to be the impartial observer/judge/enforcer.
What say you?
EDIT: This same girl led a complaint attack on me to the school, as well, stuff like deliberately misstating things I've told them. She even convinced some girls to complain about stuff that happened on our rec team last season. Had to have a sit-down with the AD and principal. Probably won't be asked back next season unless I can get some help from the parents.
DD plays for me, but she's been injured and has only played in 1 game out of 14.
Many of the girls play for community-select level teams, and are utterly resistant to anything I might teach them that contradicts or is different from what their other coaches say.
I have had playing time issues, with some girls missing a lot of practices (other sports mostly) and so missing a lot of playing time. Others have missed games, which is a straightforward 1 game "suspension," which is, I sit them for the next game.
Starting spots have been a sore spot as well, with some changes made on the fly - which was explained to the girls at the outset.
So, what I have is a girl who I believe is angry with me because she's been benched for missing games, and goes out of her way to contradict me whenever she thinks she can get away with it. I've explained to the team that if I correct someone on a technique or a play, and they turn around and say stuff like "Don't worry, you did it right," they're not only not helping their teammate, their hurting them and the team. Not a huge issue, but constant.
This same girl is the ringleader for all the weak-willed followers, and she is now leading them in picking on DD. DD has shown admirable restraint, in that she's only yelled at her when losing her temper instead of the usual punch in the nose (DD takes only so much sh!t). It came to a head in PE today again, where DD lost her cool and stormed out of class (as much as she can storm on a bum knee).
My conundrum: As coach, I have not witnessed any of this behavior. I only have the word of others, including DD. I know this other little princess well, I've coached her for 5 years now. I know her parents. I know the parents of the followers. I'm torn on a proper reaction. The dad in me wants to call out the parents, the coach in me wants to be the impartial observer/judge/enforcer.
What say you?
EDIT: This same girl led a complaint attack on me to the school, as well, stuff like deliberately misstating things I've told them. She even convinced some girls to complain about stuff that happened on our rec team last season. Had to have a sit-down with the AD and principal. Probably won't be asked back next season unless I can get some help from the parents.
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