Setting Your Expectations

Setting y0ur expectations for your team is critical for your sanity as well as for the understanding of your players and parents. Be clear about what you expect of your players in practice; their work ethic, their attitude, their treatment of their teammates and the respect shown you, their coach. I hear people say that kids are different these days and you're just going to get players that are not up to the standards you want. I don't agree. I think if you set your standards high and you have a good program, the type of player you want will be happy with strong guidelines. The key parts here are "a good program" and the "type of player you want". If you offer a solid volleyball program, you can be choosey about the players you will accept to coach. We've all been burned by that player who is a good athlete, but creates a poisonous atmosphere on the team because of a negative attitude or by talking about other players behind backs. Those types of players need to be stopped immediately. If they can come around and become a positive teammate, they get to stay. If they continue their negative ways after talking with them as well as their parents, they need to be released. I kick myself for the times I have stuck with a player, when looking back, I should have dealt with the problem sooner and made a decision. It's always better to have a bunch of kids with good attitudes, even if they are not the top athletes, than it is to keep a bad apple just because they're a good player. Any stories from you coaches?