What's Your Take: Team Consequences?

[Stacie Mahoe]

Here's the situation...

You have team rules and consequences that everyone is well aware of. A player (or maybe more) choose to do something (break a rule or skip practice) and your team rules state that the consequence for their action is the bench. They aren't supposed to play because they missed too much practice or they broke a conduct rule.

However, if you sit this player (or players) the team will have to forfeit.

Would you still sit them?

[elliott]

Yes, This is a team sport and everyone has to recognize their role and each player has to be responsible for their own actions.

[Coach Doug]

Yes, I have taught from the beginning that everything we do, be it good or bad, is done as a team.

[John Stegmaier]

I think that you have to...as hard as that is. I would also be certain that the players who violated the rules were well aware that THEY are responsible for the loss, that's IF they are still on the team

[Bob Mason]

No question, I would sit them. You can't have rules setup and then bend/break them. If you do this, you lose all credibillity with your players. I've seen this done in the past by other coaches and it can rip a team apart. If you say it, you better do it. I would rather risk a loss than risk losing the team.

[Ray Giaccone]

As a coach of t-ballers to 14U travel, I believe you must keep order. Let's assume the player in question is a stand out or starter. By allowing her or them to play means that they are really not to be held accountable for their actions. Team reception of this action will be divisive. Besides, she or they may not be "top dog" at the next level. By keeping to the team order, she or they will learn a lesson that she/they can take with them. Yes, to the detriment of the team she/they must be benched.
Coach Ray
Central Florida

[Bob Shipley]

No. I believe that this is punishing the team for the transgressions of a couple of players. This is an ethical decision that requires the coach apply the proper "critical" thinking process. Short term the players must be punished in a manner that does not effect the other players...and long term, the rule/consequences should be rethought and a more appropriate consequence put in place.
Bob Shipley

[Jeff Hammond]

You bet you should sit her. The alternative is untenable. If you make rules for the team and then don't follow and enforce them, you have given the team permission to NEVER listen to you again. You have sold your integrity with the team and it is almost impossible to get it back. Girls especially are very black and white on this subject so you must be prepared to follow thru on a rule infraction even if it means forfeiting a game. The team will know that you mean what you say and the increased respect will only help the team perform.

I had a similar situation occur where I had to bench the starting catcher before a game that I really wanted to win. She broke a cardinal rule of the team and I did not hesitate to clearly point out her violation and tell her the consequences. We lost the game, in large part because of the runs scored on passed balls. Halfway thru the game, the girls pleaded with me to put in the starting catcher. I told them a loss was easier to get over than a broken commitment and loss of integrity. Their respect for me went up 10 fold that day and I never regretted my actions that day

[Yolanda Dixon]

First of all they all knew the rules and consequences before they did whatever they did to break them. So Yes, they would be benched for the necessary time frame whether there is a game coming up, tournament or just practice. No free bees~

[Mike Murphy]

Coach Mahoe---

What is the sense of setting up Guidelines and Consequences if you dont follow them?
Your athletes look to you as a Role Model and look for Guidance and Wisdom not only in
Sports but everyday life.

[Coach Jay]

Yes, It will verify the importance of the rules. No one or No group of players is greater than the rules placed upon them. This is a life lesson that is too often lacking in our society.

I agree that playing the game would be worse for the team than a forfiet.

[Tim Casey]

If you're coaching for the right reasons, there shouldn't be any hesitation to decide to accept the forfeit. Coaching should be about much more than teaching skills, stategies, and rules of the game - it should, and must, include teaching "life lessons" as well. What message would you be sending to the kids if you decided to waive off the consequences of violating a team rule? Is it okay to ignore rules when they inconvience us ? Is it okay to enforce a rule only when it suits our need? Consistant enforcement of team rules is one of the first tenants of coaching, teaching, parenting, or managing a business. As an administrator, or coach, or teacher, or parent you will lose all credibility if you vacilate, or are indecisive, on this vital issue. I personally don't feel that there can be any grey area regarding decisions like this. The rules/ bylaws/codes of conduct must be explained early to both players and parents. It's your job to insure trhat the rules are clearly understood, and that your team believes you when you explain that there are specific consequences that will be enforced when violations occur. It's critically important that you, as a coach, firmly and consistantly follow through. If there are going to any exceptions made, these exceptions must be clearly outlined and discussed at the outset (Grandma died, church confirmation, family weddings, illness, ect., ect.). Don't make up exceptions, later on, just to allow circumventing of the rule in question. We as coaches must be appropriate role models for todays youth. The impressions we make on our players can be hugely influential on their development as "good citzens". For us to suggest that we're willing to forfeit a meaningless league game, but we're unwilling to forfeit a chance to play for the League championship would be an example of misplaced priorities. Winning at all costs is never worth selling your soul. There's an old adage that correctly states that "sports builds character", and while this is true, it's even more true that "sports reveals character". I've also observed that if you want to see the true measure of a man/woman, coach, or player, don't observe and judge them when times are good - observe and evaluate how they react and respond when times are toughest. Taking the forfiet might be hard, especially if it's a key game, but it's the ONLY decision that's right. If you can't make the right call on this scenario, it's time to find a different line of work. Use an opportunity like this as a learning opportunity - it's the classic "teachable moment". You're not there to just develop better ball players. You're there to develop better people. These kids will be ball players for only a very short period of time, yet they can be "good, ethical people" for the rest of theit lives. Don't blow it, Coach. Make the right call, even when it hurts.

[Kevin Thornton]

Wow! I'm surprised that most of the replies advocate the team not playing. Rules are rules, but in my day job as a criminal defense attorney, I am often faced with the inequities that come with mandatory sentences. Discretion should be within the power of a judge and a softball coach. A punishment should be found that still meets the seriousness of the offense and still teaches that actions have consequences, but does not punish those that do not deserve it.