5th grade girls and emotions

[rainmaker]

Originally posted by Mark Dexter
Intrinsic motivation.

The whole point of having kids play rec ball is to keep them active and get them interested in the sport or activity. If they are playing to get better, they're more likely to stay with a sport than if they're playing to win.

Wow, your education is doing you some good. This is a great post -- said wnat I wanted to say, only ten times better.

[Mark Dexter]

Originally posted by rainmaker

Wow, your education is doing you some good. This is a great post -- said wnat I wanted to say, only ten times better.

The beauty of electives . . . .

I have a whole bunch of sports psych info buried somewhere under the pile on my desk (some has stayed in my head, too ). Let me know if you ever want to know more.

[MisterV]

I am a 6th grade teacher who coaches 7th & 8th grade girls BB. 20 of my female students have gotten together to play in a local YMCA league. Since I am their teacher, and I will also be their coach for the next two years, they have invited me to watch some of their games. I have been impressed by how far they have come in their skills since I saw them play as 5th graders.

Here is the problem...every time they lose, they come to my class on Monday morning and begin to blame the refs. It is constant. They always blame the refs regardless of the score or the skill level of their opponents.

For my part, I have tried to get across to them how misguided this approach is. Whenever they start to complain, I always ask them these four questions:

1. Did you get EVERY rebound?
2. Did you play great defense and limit the other team's shots?
3. Did you run all your plays perfectly?
4. Did you get on the floor for EVERY loose ball?

If the answer to ANY of these questions is no, then this conversation is over because you did not do everything in your power to effect the outcome of the game. I won't hear another word.

At first, they would continue to argue, but as time went on they began to see my point. Now, slowly but surely I am beginning to hear things like, "We didn't think the refs did a good job, but that's not why we lost." I suppose for 6th grade girls, that may be about as good as one can hope for.

They also know that next year when they play for me, we are going to put 100% of our concentration into what WE are doing, and 0% on what the refs are doing.

Now, if I can just convince the parents.

[Bart Tyson]

Originally posted by MisterV
I am a 6th grade teacher who coaches 7th & 8th grade girls BB. 20 of my female students have gotten together to play in a local YMCA league. Since I am their teacher, and I will also be their coach for the next two years, they have invited me to watch some of their games. I have been impressed by how far they have come in their skills since I saw them play as 5th graders.

Here is the problem...every time they lose, they come to my class on Monday morning and begin to blame the refs. It is constant. They always blame the refs regardless of the score or the skill level of their opponents.

For my part, I have tried to get across to them how misguided this approach is. Whenever they start to complain, I always ask them these four questions:

1. Did you get EVERY rebound?
2. Did you play great defense and limit the other team's shots?
3. Did you run all your plays perfectly?
4. Did you get on the floor for EVERY loose ball?

If the answer to ANY of these questions is no, then this conversation is over because you did not do everything in your power to effect the outcome of the game. I won't hear another word.

At first, they would continue to argue, but as time went on they began to see my point. Now, slowly but surely I am beginning to hear things like, "We didn't think the refs did a good job, but that's not why we lost." I suppose for 6th grade girls, that may be about as good as one can hope for.

They also know that next year when they play for me, we are going to put 100% of our concentration into what WE are doing, and 0% on what the refs are doing.

Now, if I can just convince the parents.

Thanks Coach, good job. Not only in the short run, but also in the long run, both in BB and in Life, You are making a big positive inpact on their lives.

[just another ref]

Originally posted by MisterV

...as time went on they began to see my point. Now, slowly but surely I am beginning to hear things like, "We didn't think the refs did a good job, but that's not why we lost." I suppose for 6th grade girls, that may be about as good as one can hope for.

Take it one step farther. Explain that good is a relative term. Ask them if they have ever seen refs that did a good job, and if not, perhaps they have slanted viewpoints and/or unreal expectations. (just like everybody else, no doubt including some of their parents)

They also know that next year when they play for me, we are going to put 100% of our concentration into what WE are doing, and 0% on what the refs are doing.

This may be a bit optimistic.

[Mark Padgett]

Originally posted by MisterV
Now, if I can just convince the parents.

Yeah - and look - there's some pigs flying past the window!!!

[Jurassic Referee]

Originally posted by Mark Padgett
[/B]

Yeah - and look - there's some pigs flying past the window!!!

[/B][/QUOTE]

[justacoach]

Had a 3 hr break in a tourney last month and was stuck waaaaay out in the boonies with no other games happening. As comic relief, gave my players and parents part 1 of the 2002 Fed test. Told them all they had to grade out at least 85% if they wanted to yell at refs at any of our games. Prior to this, we fined the parents 50 cents for each outburst and it went into the "Coaches Kitty". Gotta get used to 7-11 coffee instead of Starbucks due to reduced revenues. One of the parents wanted to quit the team so he could continue to assail the officials. Told him to bring a roll of quarters and at least sit with the other team!!!

Happy to report we have good luck so far except we almost got a tech for USC when an official called our opponents for travelling during a spot throw in!! Goes to prove a little knowledge can be very dangerous.

Thanks again to all you guys and gals who wear the stripes



Justacoach

[Mark Dexter]

Originally posted by justacoach

Happy to report we have good luck so far except we almost got a tech for USC when an official called our opponents for travelling during a spot throw in!! Goes to prove a little knowledge can be very dangerous.

I'll never understand teams that complain when a [bad] call goes their way. I want to look at them, say "Okay - I'll change it," and give their opponent either posession or FT's.

[justacoach]

Mark, to expand on the sitch...

In this instance, it was 3 of my players who were involved, and they insisted the ref make the correct call, and when he refused, challenged him to consult with his partner for the correct interpretation. To cap it all off, the ref threatened a T when we delayed putting the ball in play on the throw-in. My player who was inbounding backed up all the way to the wall in the process of releasing the ball, almost causing apoplexia to the administering official.

All this was done with good humor and in the interest of the integrity of the game. Just hope the offending ref does a bit more scrutiny of the rules book.

[Nevadaref]

Originally posted by justacoach
To cap it all off, the ref threatened a T when we delayed putting the ball in play on the throw-in.

Sadly, even this is incorrect. He should just put the ball on the floor and start the throw-in count. That makes the ball live. For this reason, your team is not preventing the ball from promptly being made live. Therefore, there is no reason for a delay of game tech.

[justacoach]

just my point, it was a complete comedy of errors. What should a coach do when he is in a position to make valid suggestions as to rules applications, for the benefit of the officials and future games, and the officials refuse to acknowledge they may be in error. Have even had a (very) few officials respond with "I don't care what the book says, this is how I am calling it". I don't understand officials who don't want to improve their skills/knowledge.

[Nevadaref]

I do. They are only out there for the $.
If this is not a certified high school league, it is likely that many of the officials are recreational level guys who have never even seen the NFHS rules book.

What you should do is find out who is in charge of assigning/selecting the officials for the tournament and talk to that person. I know that the guy I work for in the summer cares very much what kind of job we do. He thinks that our work reflects on him and he is very particular about who he will put out there.

You may find out that it is some guy just giving his buddies some extra money.

[SMEngmann]

I know a bunch of rec guys like that, however, unless the play directly impacts your team, as a coach, I only think it is appropriate to tell the ref after the game. If he cares, then he'll improve his game and look up the rule, if not, what are you gonna do anyhow? The problem with what you did in that situation is that you have put the official in the position of losing his authority because as the benefitting coach, you're telling the ref that he's wrong.

I had a situation last year as a fill in for a MS game (guy's partner didn't show and I was there), when A1's shot was in the air and A2 was fouled by B1 and the basket went. I correctly awarded team A the basket and the ball at a designated spot nearest the foul, but coach A thought I was wrong and continued to belabor that point. I gave him the stop sign and put the ball in play for team A. In this case I was right and changing the call not only would have been an admission in the eyes of all in the gym that the coach knew more about the rules than me, which would have hurt my credibility and my ability to call the rest of the game. Now if there was any other unusual situation, coach A becomes the credible "rule guy" and it hurts my ability to manage the game.