Create a Positive Environment

Create an environment that is built with the intention to provide athletes with a positive experience where:

• People are happy and are having fun.
• Self-worth is valued as a priority.
• Athletes are being met with realistic expectations and constant encouragement.
• Seeds of belief, trust, and self-confidence are planted and regularly cared for.
• Praise is used liberally!
• Critism is constructive, caring and gentle - pointing towards the behavior, not the person.

Where athletes meet sport in an environment like this, positive reinforcement is happening all the time! You will probably have prevented most discipline problems as well.

Athletes who are happy, active, and having fun just don't have the time to get into much trouble and are not very likely to be much of a problem regarding discipline.

But even the very best coaches, in the most wonderful sport environment and with the most responsible intentions are not always successful in avoiding discipline issues. Coaches have to be ready and prepared to deal with this sometimes uncomfortable aspect of being a coach.

Discipline Tips and Tactics

Here are some ways to prepare yourself to deal with team discipline questions:

• Develop team rules and policies from the prespective of wanting to include and retain athletes in the program, rather than to exclude and lose them. Focus on rewarding good behavior, rather than on punishing bad behavior.
• Allow the your athletes to have some imput in setting expectations and defining team rules and policies. This builds and reinforces agreement. Athletes are more likely to identify with, buy into, and follow rules that they helped establish than rules totally imposed on them.
• Have as few rules as possible. Avoid "getting painted into a corner."
• When a rule is broken, the coach should take action quickly. Procrastination can make the task more difficult and allows time for outside parties and opinions to enter the picture unnecessarily.
• The coach should display professionalism and remain calm and controlled. There should be no emotional outburst or displays of anger by the coach. Do not react in frustration. Be a good role model for the team.
• Allow the athletes(s) involved to explain their behavior and to tell their version of the story.
• Determine the appropriate punishment. Inform the athletes and their parents immediately. Enforce the punishment. Get the whole issue resolved and left behind as quickly as possible. Punish the behavior, not the person. Try not to punish too frequently.
• Avoid using physical activity (laps, push-ups, etc.) as punishment. Sport programs should promote the idea that physical activity is fun and a good thing to do. Using it as a punishment sends all the wrong messages.
• After the incident and punishment are over, get back to business as usual.
• Always be fair and consistent. Do not show favoritism, especially toward "star" athletes.
• Never discuss individual discipline issues with others.

In general, never let your approach to team discipline undermine or destroy the most important values and principles of your philosophy and sport environment. Build a happy, loving, caring, active, and fun environment. Keep your athletes busy, involved, and on task. Let the environment work for you!

Avoid being simply an enforcer of rules. Enjoy being a coach!