Facebook
G Bookmarks
Twitter
LinkedIn
I recently was asked my opinion on disciplining players for poor execution during practices. In this case, coaches watching warm-ups and if someone misses a few throws, then the WHOLE team runs. Should they miss a fly ball or grounder, they have to do push ups.
On our teams, if a player makes a bad throw during warm-ups, then the players switch throwing sides and the player who made the bad throw sprints after the ball. This immediate "quasi-punishment" keeps the players focused and concentrating on their technique. Instead of punishing the player, first, I teach the receiving player the mechanics to properly blocking or short hopping the ball to keep it in front of them. Then I correct whatever poor mechanics the throwing player needs work with.Running as a punishment sets more of a negative tone than I'd like and takes away from my and their practice time. Since we condition at the end of practice anyways, I may add on a few extra of whatever they're doing as a "quasi-punishment".
Now if players are late or out of uniform (missing belt, socks, hat, etc), each infraction costs 200 crunches. Bad languange and rotten behavior are given crunches first followed by more dramatic effects, running, time out, and being kicked out of practice. Which I've never had to do.
Parents sometimes like to take the rap for their players. For example, "I'm sorry, his practice jersey is still in the washing machine...its MY fault." Welp, my answer is: "I understand...but SOMEONE is gonna give me 200 crunches. I don't care who, but I'm getting my 200". I place the responsibility and accountability solely on the shoulders of my players, and they learn tremendously from it.
