High School Chemistry Issues

[quedash]

I have knowledge of two seperate chemistry issues on high school teams this season and was wondering if anyone had any words of wisdom to pass on.

Team 1- The best player on the team(my opinion and no, not my daughter/family member) is a freshman. However one of the team leaders has voiced that she is not going to let that freshman take over. She will not pass the ball to her even if she is open, and when asked why "because she's a freshman" I am sure the coach is aware of the situation, but little has been done about it. Also, another freshman plays, but she is so terrified of messing up and getting fussed/cussed at by the other players she is not playing up to her capabilities.

Team 2- This team has 2 seniors who are good offensive players and are likely to get scholarships somewhere, though not necessarily D-1. One of the seniors, however forces up alot of bad shots. She will ignore open teammates and try to make things happen. She will pass to the other senior, who because she is a good post player should get most of the shots, but that's not the case. "Shot Happy" does go to the line alot, but has a terrible shooting percantage from the field and a so so average at the line. The players had a shouting match after one game, because of this issue and the coaches are aware of it, but nothing changes. Even people in the stands are saying "she shoots too much" or "pass to someone else"

Both teams are winless and I don't see much success for either team if the situations don't change. Thoughts? Opinions?

[ClayKallam]

Big problems and no obvious solutions ...

Seniors are incredibly important to the success of any team because they are the natural leaders -- due to age and the strong hierarchy of most high schools. Seniors with talent and strong personalities have more to do, I think, with the chemistry on the team than the coach.

It's easy to say "Bench the senior" or "Throw her off the team", but it's far from that easy. It starts with the parents, of course, but on top of that, a benched senior who clearly belongs on the floor is nothing but trouble, in practice and in games. (And if she has a bad attitude when she's playing a lot, what's it going to be like when she's not playing?)

There will also be other girls on the team who will question benching a good player, especially one they've been friends with for years. Will the juniors and seniors side with the coach and the freshman, or with the senior who they feel, rightly or wrongly, is being treated poorly?

There's no surer way to divide a team than to have the coach and the most talented seniors at war because no one can win.

The only hope is to have off-line discussions with the seniors and try to convince them to change their ways -- but if they're getting support from their parents and friends for their existing behavior, that's going to be a very tough sell.

And throwing them off the team is an indication that a) the coach has given up on the team reaching its full potential and b) she can't handle the adolescents she's supposedly in charge of. It's like firing the best salesman in your business ... you've sent a message that production and profit are less important than your control of the staff, and that you can't solve a problem that must be solved for everyone to move forward.

But of course, some problems can't be solved, and some chemistry issues are simply too poisonous to work out.

Let me put it another way: I'd much rather have a less talented team with good chemistry than state-title level talent and horrible chemistry. High school coaches don't get paid enough for the headaches in the latter situation, even if the team does wind up winning a lot of games. Going 14-14 with 10-16 talent is a whole lot better than going 22-6 with 26-2 talent.

[da silent 1]

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Is chemistry really that important an element of winning? can we win without chemistry? as an element of winning where is this idealistic chemistry thing fall. for example in the last year of the Lakers 3peat we came to find out that the ' chemistry ' was horrilble, but they won. the pistons who appeared in 4 or five finals had great chemistry and lost to different teams.
Ideally with any endeavor involving a team a certain closeness of mind, spirit and intent is helpful in the success process. but remember that chemistry can be bad and the team still be successful. we all know that we really don't like everyone on our jobs, but we are successful or we would be out of work!
As a young person learning life lessons via sport this is one that must be learned worked on and worked out. a coach is a teacher, manager etc. but the job or task belongs to the team/worker. in other words it's up to the team to work it out. the team not the fan club, not the parents, but the team. they have to figure it out, and make it work so that the team can be successful, not necessarily winning, but successful as a group.
You can only make the coach aware, he is not on the floor, he or she is not privy to all of the intrigue and drama. it is obvious that in both your examples that everyone is aware, and for what ever reason the team is not taking on the problem solving themselves. if all of the banter from the stands has not gotten the coach's attention it is obvious that what you and others see is not an issue as reported to outsiders via goings on between teammate of which none of the adults are.
As a young person in the midst of learning to learn and applying the lessons, one very important concept is: anyone can describe a problem or issue but that is easy, what are you going to do to solve it. that is what leadership is about. identification is admirable, but solving the problem arriving at a solution inclusive of your teammates makes for leadership.
As a coach of youth, certainly i want someone to lead the pack, but i want that person to lead a team of leaders. those teams belong to those kids, not the parents, prognostacators or fans. let them run their team, let them learn, with positive guidance from these adults designed to create and nurture the characteristics and character of leaders.
Lastly 65-70% of high school coaches are contracted to guide a group of students in an extra-curricula activity which on paper and in accounting carries no more weight than the chess club. all coaches are not overwhemlmingly qualified to meet the mandates of the parents, fans, players which do not appear on the signed contract. it is unfair to lay these expectations on a coach who is meeting is contractural obligations. after all when the new ad came on board and did not rehire the old coach who did all that because he was more comfortable with having someone in house do the job, none of the now naysayers sent any letters of protest, could set a meeting up with the powers to be in order to squash this new mindset.
we are in the redskin territory and when the team stinks we jumb all over mr. synder for his decision making process. mr polin the same. jump all over that ad and principle and make your needs known. leave them kids alone!!!!

[quedash]

Thanks for the input. My advice to the players/parents involved was basically similar: you are going to have to earn their respect on the court. Practice hard, play defense, rebound your position, and the scoring opportunities will come. When I said this I got the following looks: :confused: :eek: :(

So I thought I would get the opinions of others who I respect to see if they had anything different to say. At one time I was a sales manager at a retail chain, and when my salesmen would come to me wanting to settle disputes about their sales; I would tell them to work it out themselves because they would not like my solution(neither would get the sale).

[Meign]

I have dealt with both situations before..

The coach has to address the issue then a minute later then run the team til they throw up.. its that simple.. kids want discipline..

They will quit or clean it up..

Cause if the freshman transfers.. which will likely happend or a fight breaks out.. the coach will be in the middle.. by the parents..