Quote:
Originally Posted by ian.curry
I disagree wholly with saying you must never 'punish' young players. It is part of the camaraderie and team spirit/building and encourages the will to win and if not to work to their potential. Besides, how would you suggest instilling discipline into unruly players?
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I think the point is not to use punishment as some sort of retribution, and push-ups, laps etc, fits the bill. I have one one-size-fits-punishment and that is exclusion. If the player is not listening, participating, I just make the player leave. I've never had to ask more than one kid a season leave practice. The next step, (I've never had to go this far) would be to tell the parent not to bring the player and then let the player and his/her parent work it out. Of course, in suburban America, kids don't come by themselves, they're brought by someone, so if I lived/coached in a neighborhood where everyone walked/biked telling the parents not to bring the child might not work as well.