How to Discipline Players When Coaching

You're a coach and things are going great. But sometimes you do have to discipline your players and you may be wondering how to do it without fragmenting your team, destroying the self-esteem of your players or getting parental complaints.

Instructions

    • 1

      Use your disappointment in them as a punishment. Ask them if they're doing their best or if that's the best behavior at this time. Hold eye contact with them until they answer and then pretend it never happened.

    • 2

      Follow through with your discipline. If you tell them you'll make them run laps for cursing, make them run laps if they curse. Remember, empty threats don't work.

    • 3

      Set rules. Let your players know what you expect from them and that there'll be consequences if they disobey the rules. Depending on the age group, you can warn the children a few times before officially disciplining them.

    • 4

      Use physical challenges and time-outs as punishments. Making your players run laps or do push-ups is something most coaches do, and this works. Use time-outs for younger players.

    • 5

      Forget about the infraction once it's over and done with. Don't make your players continue to feel bad about themselves for breaking a rule.