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Positive Coaching Alliance Connector
May 20, 2010

In This Issue:
Ask PCA: Is T-Ball Parents' Discipline Out of Line?
Invitation to Julie Foudy Sports Leadership Academy
Coaching Tip: Nervous is Normal
Ask PCA: Is T-Ball Parents' Discipline Out of Line?

Thanks for all the responses to last week's "Ask PCA" question from a dad who questioned the long hours and practice times his son faced as a high school water polo player. As usual, the cumulative voice of the PCA community responded with reason and balance.
 
You can scroll down to read PCA's response, but, for now, consider this week's question:
 
Is T-Ball Parents' Discipline Out of Line?
"I manage a 4-and-5-year old T-ball team, with two rostered coaches and several other parents who help coach, too. One parent and one coach have disciplined their own children in front of the other kids, one by grabbing and holding the child such that it was painful, and another by making his son run to the fence and back alone. On neither occasion was I consulted, as coach, before the parents acted. l feel that I should have laid some ground rules with the parents and coaches at the start of the season, stating that T-Ball should be a sanctuary from the parent/child relationship and that disciplinary action should go through me, as manager. Both of these kids looked at me with looks on their faces that appeared to be asking me for help. I want to make sure this never happens again.  Should I have a discussion with all the parents or send out a directive addressing my wishes?"
-- Name Withheld
 
 
 Following is the previous "Ask PCA" question and PCA's response:
 
"My son's new high school water polo coach has instituted two-a-day practices (6:00 a.m.-7:30 a.m. and 5:00 p.m.-6:30 p.m.) all season, as well as practices on school holidays. Players' parents are all very upset. This schedule is not in keeping with the rest of our school culture, balancing academics, other extra-curriculars, family, community service, and early work experience. But there is no guiding principle for the amount of practice time at the high school level. I propose no practices: before 7:00 a.m.; for more than three hours per day, and for more than 25% of any block of school holidays. How do you suggest I and the other parents address this matter?"
 
PCA Response by Jim Thompson, Founder and Executive Director
You didn't mention how your son felt about the amount of time he is expected to practice so I will address this question as a system question rather than a personal one.
 
Life is made up of choices and trade-offs. Many who commented about this question on the Ask PCA blog suggest that this is the case here: if you are going to excel in water polo you have to pay the price.
 
Nonetheless it is worth asking whether it is possible to create a SYSTEM in which one can be a committed high school water polo player without undue sacrifice of other things that make life worthwhile (being with family and friends, having some down time, reading a book for pleasure, engaging in volunteer activity, etc.). I think so, but it will not be easy to get there.
 
In recent years teams (in most sports) have tended to practice more and athletes have tended to compete over a longer proportion of each year's time. This can start innocently as one coach increases the amount of practice time so his team will improve. Then opposing coaches get wind of this and match and raise him.
 
Soon you reach a point of diminishing returns and, ultimately, madness.
If two hours of daily practice is better than one hour (and for high school I think it usually is), then why wouldn't three hours be even better? Or six?
 
To get out of this "arms race" you have to go up a level to rescue each individual coach from having to engage in unilateral disarmament. If one coach were to follow your suggested guidelines he would be giving his rival coaches a competitive advantage. I might encourage a coach to do this regardless but to get widespread adoption you need to address it at a system level so a coach doesn't have to be a saint to do the right thing.
 
The solution has to be pursued at a higher level. Your school principal or athletic director could seek agreement from rival schools to limit each schools' teams' practice time. Ideally the relevant governing body at the local, regional or state level would step in to create rational rules limiting practice time, rather than depending on each coach or school to do the right thing. The NCAA has imposed practice limits so it seems like high school water polo could survive them.
 
I encourage you to pursue this with your school administration. If you know parents of athletes at rival schools you might encourage them to do the same in their schools. One person crying in the wilderness is much less compelling than many voices, so organizing to accomplish your goal may be necessary. You may also want to reach out to the relevant governing bodies to see what kind of guidelines they have and talk with them about your proposal. I have found that the leaders of high school sports organizations have the best interests of student-athletes in mind so you may find support there.
 
I am particularly favorable to two of your proposals: limiting early morning practice time and vacation practices. Sleep research indicates that teens need a little more than nine hours of sleep per night (yes, nine!) and that they do better with a later start to school. Early practices tend to undercut these health guidelines. There are times when an all-nighter to prepare for an exam or finish a big project may make sense, but a norm of all-nighters is a recipe for poor physical health and depression. I dare say the same is true for early morning practices.
 
I am not opposed to selective use of two-a-days and early morning practices, for example, at the beginning of the season. I remember fondly (with the benefit of many years of distance) my two-a-day football practices in high school. It was a badge of honor for us to survive them without complaint and in a strange kind of way, they were actually enjoyable. But two-a-days as the norm is not good-for kids, families or our society.
 
Practice during holidays can interfere with family gatherings, so it makes sense to put some limits on practice time during holidays to ensure that families have time to spend together. With so many societal pressures that tend to diminish family togetherness, I'd love to see competitive sports respect family time.
 
Finally, let me say that you are not alone in your concern about teenagers' time being squeezed. Palo Alto is the center of a movement to deal with this issue. Challenge Success was started by Stanford professor Denise Pope with significant involvement by PCA's publisher, Jim Lobdell of Balance Sports Publishing.
 
There is so much research supporting less-is-more in terms of homework, sports practice, and other activities for teens. It is folly to ignore this research and go along with the prevalent more-is-always-better tendency. I wish you good luck in your effort to contribute to a more balanced lifestyle for our teens.

Read all the Ask PCA blog comments on this question. 

 

Ask PCA your youth sports coaching and sports parenting questions, at

[email protected].
 
 
Invitation to Julie Foudy Sports Leadership Academy

Julie_FoudyIn her first year as a member of PCA's National Advisory Board, former U.S. Women' National Soccer Team Captain Julie Foudy has continued the exemplary leadership that made her a star.
 
In fact, PCA's new Double-Goal Coach� Online Courses contain video of Julie sharing some of the stories, background and personal magnetism that mark her leadership. Now, the two-time Olympic Gold Medalist and World Cup Champion invites girls ages 12-18 to the Julie Foudy Sports Leadership Academy
 
"Our focus at the JFSLA is to teach our students the ingredients it takes to be a leader on the field AND a leader in life," Julie says. "Our students learn soccer from some of the best women's players in the world, and they are exposed to a multitude of leadership concepts they can cultivate for life."
 
In its fifth year, JFSLA already has sold out its week in New Jersey. However, openings remain for Oak Brook, IL (July 18-23) and at St. Mary's College in Moraga, CA (July 25-30).
 
 
 
Coaching Tip: Nervous is Normal
 
In PCA workshops, one of the scenarios we ask coaches to consider is how to help their players mentally prepare for a big game against a strong opponent. One of the key pieces of advice is to let players know "nervous is normal."

By coaching athletes to pursue Mastery of their sports, as opposed to concerning themselves with the scoreboard, coaches help players focus on what they can control, such as their effort. That alleviates the anxiety attached to thoughts of winning and losing.

But how, exactly, can coaches get this across to their players? Click the video screen below to see how PCA Trainer Steve Henderson delivers the message to his Aragon High School (San Mateo, CA) JV football team. This video coaching tip, among many, is available through the Liberty Mutual Responsible Sports Program powered by Positive Coaching Alliance.

Steve_Henderson_Locker_Room

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