CYFL Coach

Sorry it took me so long to responding to your post coach.

As a youth coach, I certainly believe in playing those kids that show up to practice, work hard consistently and that can contribute to the team in some way. I'm a big believer that players, particularly as they grow older and advance competitively, must discover their role or niche on their team and then make up their own minds whether or not they will be happy playing that role as part of the team. I think that even by the 7th grade, kids must begin to learn what role they are likely to play on a team and whether or not their personal desires fit within the goals and needs of the team. I personally try to play the "hard worker" type of kid as much as possible on special teams as they often take a great sense of pride in playing them.

With 40 kids coach you've got a difficult job trying to get everyone in during the course of a single game. The problem I've run into in the past is that when your team is very successful, it becomes quite easy to get a lot of kids a fair amount of playing time but unfortunately, your starters often wind up feeling penalized for their marked decrease in time on the field as a result of their outstanding play! Playing time to me should reflect superior or improved performance as well as effort. We are all competitive and have an intense desire to win as coaches - I've just seen it enough times to realize that a little playing time often goes a long ways when it comes to really making your hard working average to below average kids really feel like they're part of something. I often ask those kids that really look and act like they'd rather be doing something else what it is that they'd rather be doing. I try to encourage my kids to be passionate about whatever it is they choose to do. Football is certainly not for everyone. I have certain requirements by position that a player must know before he can see the field for me. I'm always willing to tell them exactly what is expected of them in order to play and that if they really want to play the game then that's what they must commit to doing.

I guess, coach, in a long winded way, that I'm one of those guys that just has to find a way to play kids that bust their hump for me everyday regardless of their ability level. It is sometimes difficult to balance the need and desire to win with the need to reward these type of athletes for their effort but I guess that's why I will always coach at the youth level so that it is still possible to do both...

I certainly wish you continued success this season coach and hope that my rambling on has somehow conveyed something useful to you. I really appreciate you thinking enough of me to direct the question to me in the first place. Thanks.

Dave Hartman
CYFL Coach