“I was very disappointed in your performance at the soccer game on Thursday. You were sluggish, unfocused and not trying your hardest. That was the worst game we have had in three years! Everyone – we are running today at practice – get going around the field.”
Do you think these were the words of a collegiate level soccer coach? They were, in fact, words of a coach, but not at the collegiate level, not even a high school level coach. These were spoken by the coach of a third grade Catholic school soccer team.
Should a team be “punished” for losing a game?
Consider the added example of a freshman football coach whose team lost their game. In response, when the team returned to their school, the coach immediately sent the team to the practice field and had them engage in a full force tackle drill which had some of the players crying out in pain.
Play Like A Champion Today™ asserts that sports are games that are meant to be played by kids to have fun, to learn new skills and to grow – physically, emotionally, morally and spiritually. Do kids grow in sport when they are punished when they don’t have an optimal performance? Athletes may get stronger physically from punishment drills, but they will not grow emotionally, morally or spiritually through this type of punitive activity.
We all know that running is an important activity for the overall development of an athlete. It helps kids build endurance, grow in coordination and get faster and stronger. However, when a coach makes running a punishment, does this encourage the young person to engage in this activity that is healthful and helpful for him/her as an athlete? In most cases, it does not. In fact, for many people, this will have the exact opposite effect and make them hate the activity that was assigned as punishment. Goals of Play Like A Champion Today™ coaches are to help their athletes love the game, to become better players and to grow as fuller Christian persons. Critical coaches who punish their athletes will not accomplish these ultimate goals in their totality. This is true not only for younger athletes, but also for high school age athletes and beyond.
Some may say, “Punishment is good for kids to toughen them up.” Play Like A Champion says, “Coaches should wisen-up.” No good will come out of punishing athletes when adults do not feel they have performed their best. In fact, it is often harmful. The Play Like A Champion approach is filled with effective techniques to be an “Life Coach” making a positive impact on young athlete’s lives.
3 comments:
yeah teams should be punished for bad performances, no matter at what level of play. This is coming from a coach, and when you teach your kids something and drill it into their heads, you expect them to do their best, and use all you've taught them. punishment is just a "reminder" if you will, that on that next game, there will be no gimmie mess ups. i mean of course every coach wishes for a "perfect" performance, and in giving punishment for stupid mess ups, that takes you a step closer in doing so..
Research shows that children learn most effectively when they discover their mistakes themselves and internalize the problem, working toward a solution. Positive coaching will guide athletes in doing this. Offering constructive feedback is one method of accomplishing this. Punishments are negative in nature. Many children feel defeated when they are "punished," especially if the punishment is assigned from a game that children are playing for fun and enjoyment.
I generally agree with Kristin. kids should be punished. The best will be a more intensive training perhaps and an overview to the mistakes thay made. After that a few good words to raise their morale and to work a bit harder.
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