Dealing with athletes that want to wait to the last min

Coach Neria,

What needs to be addressed is the Basketball coach saying things that prevent young athletes in competeing in more than one sport. Any high school level coach who is guilty of this is doing the youngster a real dis-service. THE MORE A YOUNGSTER COMPETES IN ANY SPORT, NOT JUST HIS SPECIALTY, HE IS DOING THE RIGHT THING!!! I have lost more football players to broken ankles on a BB court than you can imagine over the years. It did not make me tell anyone to ever quit playing BB.

Coach Easton-TIGER ONE

Coach Mountjoy hit the nail on the head. Unforturnately BB coaches have their head up the posterior regions.

I agree with bowlingleague. Speak to these players face to face. Let them tell you how they feel and then tell them how you feel. If the basketball situation does come up, just remind them they are better athletes and will become better all-around players in both sports if they compete in both. Do not bash the BB coach to the players(I'm sure you know this, but some coaches would!). If it seems to be a true rumor than you unfortunately might have to go to the AD or Principal with the matter. You don't want this to snowball or loose players every year to a deal like that!

Don't guarantee the players anything but the great experience of playing football and the ability to be on a team that welcomes all players.

As for keeping up with these players during the off-season, I had spoke to a player I had right before school ended last year and he said he was not playing his senior year(starter on Defense and all special teams). I told him about the experience he would be losing out on in football and the friends and coaches that want him and depend on him to play. I told him I would not hound him, but to think about it during the summer. I did, talk to his friends though and told them to work on him!!! He called me a week before pre-season camp and said he would regret not playing and he is currently now looking into playing DIAA and said it ws the best thing he ever did coming back. Sorry for the long story, but I didn't make a huge issue of it, because I knew if he didn't play, I would have to find a replacement and make it work.