First: OUCH.
I take it your "team captains" are kids?
In retrospect, "empower[ed] to make team decisions" needed to be qualified.
I wouldn't have thought of that, either, so I'm not chastising/criticizing,
just observing.
But going forward:
- Do you want the kid on the team? Sounds like his teammates don't. But that
might not be a good argument for kicking him off.
- If he doesn't show up for meetings and is disruptive, what have his
parents had to say about that? Or did "I was going to talk to the parents
about this but the captains beat me to it in a way I did not expect" mean
that you hadn't talked to them previously?
- Do his parents understand that YOU weren't part of kicking him off? That
doesn't mean it shouldn't matter, but it's critical for you being able to
talk to them without you being the Bad Guy going in, I think.
- Are you the only coach/adult present? Even though they can still decide
whatever they want about you, having two or more adults saying "Yeah, this
was the behavior" should reduce the chances of them deciding you just don't
like their kid.
- What do the team captains have to say about this? I.e., are they obdurate?
Would they consider his return on a probationary basis?
- You say "independent funding". Did the team members pay something?
Again, OUCH. Never had to deal with anything like this, and it's clearly not
easy.
I think the bottom line is to first understand what YOU want and what the
TEAM wants, then reconcile those (if needed), and then discuss with the
parents.
Keep us posted...
--
Phil Smith III
Coach, The Capital Girls (retired)
Team 1900 (2002)
Team 2497 (2003)
Team 2355 (2004)
Team 1945 (2005)
-----Original Message-----
From: First Lego League in Virginia and DC
[mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Ralph Guilder
Sent: Monday, October 08, 2012 1:31 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: [VADCFLL-L] Team captains removed a team member
Coaches
I am a rookie coach DIV 1 and have no sponsoring org. I have independent
funding. My team captains, who I empower to make team decisions, have
counseled (no punitive stuff and i was there with an assistant coach) an 11
yo several times about behavior , distractions , etc. The child doesn't show
up to meetings and throws stuff in my house. He joined the team very late
compared to the other members.
( to be honest I don't do we'll with confrontation )
They took it upon themselves to remove him from the team yesterday without
my knowledge. The boys parents are very angry at me and I am trying to undo
what has been done or at least move forward.
As a parent I am very sad this happened and found out at the same time his
mom did. I was going to talk to the parents about this but the captains
beat me to it in a way I did not expect.
Has any coach had this situation and how did you handle it? I really am
heartbroken and struggling with this. I am a Scout Leader and have been a
Coach in sports and have never had a situation like this.
I know the boys heart is broken and as a parent I sympathize with them.
Respectfully,
Coach Guilder
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