Posted on January 15, 2010: Coach Cut
A Responsible Sports Fan suggested the following Scenario Question:
A youth hockey program has a non-parent Assistant Coach who has been involved for several years. He's enthusiastic, reliable, good with the kids, willing to do something extra to help out when there's a need, et cetera. But this season, all of the Assistant Coach positions were filled by parent coaches with children on the team. How can we get him involved again next season after having told him we don't need him this year?
Dear "r,"
Is it too late to go back to this non-parent coach to get him involved in some way this season? I realize that some leagues have rules about how many official coaches there can be, but if this person is as wonderful as you make him out to be, I would hope the coaches could find a creative way to keep him involved. If there is absolutely no way to make this work with your team, is there another team that could benefit from his talents this season?
If not, I would have a conversation with him right now letting him know how much his past coaching has been appreciated. I'd set the expectation that we'd really like to keep him involved in the future.
Losing talented coaches is one of the biggest challenges we face in youth sports, so I'd do all I could to make sure to keep this skilled person in the coaching ranks!
P.S. I realize your child's coaches may have already told him they don't need him, but I think it could show impressive character for them to admit they made a mistake, and to go back to him letting him know they can use all the help they can get! This could be an impressive life lesson for the players to see as well.
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