Coaches Corner -- Brought to You by Amegy Bank

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Coaches Corner

Successful programs are just that, programs. From freshman to varsity, it is tough for the head high school coach to manage all of his respective teams. We as a few of the top head men in Houston how they deal with sub-varsity issues.

Question: Your Junior Varsity team had a very successful season.  The players, coaches and parents enjoyed all the victories, but your JV coach mentions a notable increase in parent e-mails regarding playing time. Although the success has been a great experience, what guidance would you give your JV coach about how to avoid the new pressures from parents?

Garrett Cross, North Shore Track

"We always make sure that the parents understand the importance of their child getting experience competing and being put in a position to be successful. If they can participate in more events at the junior varsity level and be successful, then that's what's best for that athlete's development. That's the North Shore way in every sport."

Tim Teykl, Terry Football

"Communicate, communicate and communicate. Always make every effort to respond to your parents questions. Return the 'favor' to the parents with a spot-on reply of forth-rightness and honesty; this  will typically keep the issue from being made into a 'mountain out of a mole-hill' ordeal. No matter what ... never avoid the issue. Lastly, educate the parents/guardians about sub-varsity playing time. Communication usually exposes the REAL reasons for a lack of playing time, such as ineligibility, tardiness, absences, discipline issues and poor work habits.­­­­"

Stephen Dixon, Houston Reagan Football

"The guidance the I give my junior varsity coaches is that everyone on that level plays when they come to practice every day. I do not want kids giving up and quitting because they don’t get to play even when they have been at practice. They all get to play at least during the first three quarters. Then the best players or those who have played the best finish the game."

Laneigh Clark, Pearland Softball

Any email a sub varsity coach receives they pass on to me and or the coaching staff.  We all get together and discuss the reason for the email and then reply back or call a meeting. At that level our coaching staff tries to play everyone during the week, so there are not many complaints but we also are very honest with the players and the parents if we do have to meet. A good thing for the coaching staff, but not always good for the kids. The fact that we have a lot of talent walk through our doors, leave a lot of average players behind.

Cameron Campbell , Positive Coaching Alliance Lead Trainer

First off, congrats on year season. It sounds like your success has garnered the attention of your parents, which can be a great thing. This presents a good opportunity to share feedback with the varsity coach. Often times subtle issues never make it to the head coach.  Looking forward, pre-season meetings are a great tool to lay out expectations, playing time standards, the season outlook, and more. It is our belief at PCA, that playing time is solely the discretion of the coaching staff. Regardless of the level of play, by committing to coach, you have earned the right to manage your personnel.