discipline

Question
We have a problem with the kids on our team - constant complaining about the coaches decisions on plays and player positions which in turn brings down the whole team and shows on the field - Any suggestions on how to deal with this. It is a majors team age 9-12 yr olds. Also have unruly parents which doesn't help the matter. Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks

Answer
Nancy,

This is a bad issue.  The main issue is that the manager does not have any control over this team.  It is simple, the manager is the CEO of the club.  In the MLB, when the manager has no control over his team, he is fired.  It is that simple and that important.  The big problem is most likely that if this has gone on with kids complaining and parents complaining, it is probably too late.

My rules are simple on my teams.  I am the manager and what I say goes.  If you cannot live with that rule, then you go somewhere else.  I have had many kids and parents that I have let go from my teams.  I also had many kids and parents wanting to play for me.  

A manager and coach has to be fair, he has to provide value to his players, he has to control every aspect of the team, from practices to lineups to pitching changes in games and he has to have the presence to control attitude issues.  If he cannot control them, either the player and parent goes, or you need a new manager.

If this is a little league team that was placed together and you have no way of changing it, then tough luck.  You will have to have a meeting, inform the parents and kids of the best intentions for the team and go from there.  You may have to put out some fires, but the manager controls it all. Closed door meetings are fine too.  The parents and kids don't have to like the answers, but they will have to accept them.  Make no provisions.  Stick to your guns.

Also, kids should never be allowed to complain on a team.  A closed meeting should be held and a group meeting should be held.  It should be brought up that this is a team and the team is most important.  If you think you are more important and bigger than the team, then you either change or leave.  If a kid complains, he will suffer consequences like less playing time or running, etc..

NOW, if the coaches are making a bunch of bonehead decisions that the parents have legitimate complaints over, that is another thing.  Look at the decisions the coaches have made.  Are they good ones?  Are they fair? Are they in the best interest of the team and the individual players?  Remember, team rules are team rules, but not every player is to be treated alike!!!  Some players do get more playing time, always bat at the top of the order, etc..  Baseball is not for putting the weak kids at pitcher or batting 3rd.  If a player has the ability to play somewhere, put him there.  Do not put a player in a spot where he will consistently fail for himself or the team. That does good for noone.  Put kids where they will succeed, even if it is always left field.

I hope this helps.

Coach