We seem to have a small problem with a couple of players on our team. They don't show up to all of the practices. I have asked all of the parents at the meetings to please call if there was a problem getting to practice or a player was sick. But again Monday night, we had three that missed without a phone call. That meant, my practice plan I had needed to be altered. I usually try to do things as lines this late in the season, but that was out the door. I had to mix some together and I was missing a d-fense that really screwed things up. Although I jump in the play to make things equal, I think the kids get a little intimidated with the exception of a couple(bring it on coach???) Who do I sit????? The parents are the ones that need to get them to practice, the boys can't drive themselves. We are going to tell the players on the ice at the next practice that if they are not at the practices, they will sit a period(something we have already told the parents) I just hate to punish the kids because their parents don't feel like getting them to practice.
Tough situation on both the coaches and the players. Whatever you decide to do, stick to your guns. Good Luck! It does not get any easier as they get older either!
Posts: 90 | Location: ROSSFORD,OH | Registered: February 11, 2004
I'm not sure how clear all the parents are on their responsibilities (memo at beginning of year, email reminders, etc.), but sitting the first period of then next game would be a very appropriate thing to do.
Just be willing to shoot your team in the foot when you do it.
Case in point with my D's boys team. Coach had a policy about being late getting ready and sitting a period. Everyone but 5 were late, so one line played an entire period (and ended up down 0-3 from what I was told) as a result.
Needless to say the situation was almost comical, with the boys on the bench watering the boys skating between every shift while those boys were sucking wind. Refs were generous with allowing the extra time for the boys to get water.
The good news is that when the other lines went into the game, they played like they were shot out of a cannon and were able to end up winning the game.
I think in the end it worked out just fine as the 5 who skated were probably part of the whole scene that caused the others to be late, so the collective punishment (and playing a whole period is a punishment) was a good thing.
Now granted this was a Bantam team and yours is a Squirt IIRC. The kids may not understand why they are being punished for their parents lack of attention to detail.
Maybe a more appropriate punishment is to make the parents of the kids responsible sit out the first period of the next home game in the parking lot!
Been there, done that. Went somewhere else and did it again.
First all of my comments are directed at the travel level of hockey. House/recreation hockey is an entirely different experience. (At House level coaches need to bend over backwards to nurture the love of the game when the commitment (emotional and/or financial)is at a minimal (though not cheap) level).
Discipline is important. It not only permits a coach to accomplish more with a team. It creates a team not a bunch of individuals.
My son's current coach is not afraid to sit a player who is late to either a pratice or a game (they have specific times to be in the locker room for both). It does not matter who violated the rules that player sits. He recently sat 6 players in the first period for a pregame rule violation (including at the time the #1 scorer, the #3 scorer, the #5 scorer, the #6 scorer and probably the #2 defenseman). It probably cost the team a win as the game ended in a tie. (They were a PeeWee A team in Buckeye (with a 14 game winning streak on the line)playing a PeeWee AA Little Ceasar's team).
But they became a stronger team for the experience. (The unbeaten streak (1 tie) has now reached 21 (32-4-1 after starting 2-3).
As the players get older, discipline becomes more and more important. The games where a single player or two by sheer skill can dominate the outcome become fewer and fewer. Players need to know how to play their positions. Breakouts, defenses and attacks need to be practiced and practiced. Positioning needs to be taught and drilled. Without dedication to off ice education times (pre/post practice and pregame preparation), with out dedication and participation in on ice practice, teams will not improve.
As a practical matter you can not discipline the parents. To establish the rules you have to follow through. It is unfortunate that the parents knew the penalty for being late or not showing and the players didn't. At worst, it should be the other way around. The players must know the rules and the penalties. The penalties must be enforced. If so, the rules will be followed.
Posts: 86 | Location: Ohio | Registered: May 23, 2005
If your at the travel level and this has gone on for more than one instance, you as the authority figure need to take some action. Otherwise your words and authority carry no weight. In doesnt have to be a whole period either. Believe me, parents will notice their kid missing just one shift, or not starting when the usually do. One word of warning, be fair and even about it, in otherwords, if six kids are the offenders then cut the ice of all six equally(as possible). Nothing disgust me more and parents than a coach that is perfectly willing to get "tough" with some kids he deems as less important than others, while his chosen kids commit many offenses and never experience the same wrath. So be fair and even to all no matter what.
Posts: 293 | Location: long island | Registered: February 05, 2004
Captain's comments are dead on. Otherwise you will not only destroy any benefit of enforcing the rules but may in all likelihood tear the team apart. The "good" players will know they are above it all and do as they wish and the "other" players will become dishearted at being singled out.
Posts: 86 | Location: Ohio | Registered: May 23, 2005
I agree. The problem is not with the first year kids(less talented players). I have coached them for three years now, and they and their parents know what to expect from me. It is the second year players that are troubling. I know they had a rough year last year and their coach didn't teach them a thing, but that does not excuse them from the teams rules. I have told the players again, and the parents already know. We only have two tourneys left and one league game and then play offs. I told the kids that we only have three weeks, possibly four left in the year, and that I need their dedication to the team. I will see what happens this weekend at the tournament.
