Help, my son decided to try football, but after his coach told him that its real hard and he might hate it...?

Question

and if he ever feels like quiting to just let him know, but if he wants to stay in football to explain to him why, so right after this kind of comments, h**l week came and now this week he feels real discouraged and frustrated because he believes that he is just not going to get good at it, not only the comments that the coach has made already but on h**l week he got real bad muscle pain on his legs and abs, that was last week (h**l week) this week his pain is less and no thanks to the coaches they did not even help or train him on how to recover, so now he is angry he just don't want to see the coaches anymore and he is hating football, he' s been cleared already you know physicals, transportation fee, booster club package, well got that already, it makes me angry cause I have invested money already, but what really gets me angry is that the coaches are on top just saying this negative stuff to him, I want to talk to someone but right now I am too angry to talk to anybody, I don't know if its really how they said to him that he should just quit.

Answer 1

I coached football as well as baseball and basketball. The first thing I learned is how to give critism to a player that is more of a challenge for him instead of being just simply a negative statement, you'll never gain

anthing positive from a negative. Then also that balance of over praiseing your players as well. So its that balance you must learn to do, but every coach must set goals for every player and do what it takes for that young man to achieve those goals whether its your star or a first year player, you must have realistic expetations from your players. Also in fairness to coaches, they cant read players minds, so if your son isnt asking questions as what to do and so forth you simply cannot put that sole blame on the coaching staff, they are only human and simply cannot think of everything your son needs in order to make football more enjoyable.

When I coached football, I made one thing perfectly clear to my assistants , No way are we going to downgrade a young man by using foul language or saying things that are demeaning and distastefull.

We did yell at them, but again the critism was considered to be constructive and the players did respond to them as we challenging them to prove us wrong or simply meeting thier expetations we set for each player.

Your young man is going through tough times becasue he truly doesnt know what to expect next, being his first year, and you said it (h**l week), this is the week that coaches push players the hardest to see who is phsyically and mentally strong enough to survive the remaining year, two qualities needed to be a successfull football player. After h**l week the coaches simply go back to getting the team prepaired on offense and defense as well as special teams. If he just jhangs in thier he survived the toughest part of football, as time goes he might just end up enjoying the season.

Our highschool called our so called (h**l week) , blood month. Back inthose days we was permitted 3 days practices during that month

first one at 6am, then we return at noon, then return at 4pm. I do remember that month as if it was yesterday, I hurt all over and we have yet went to full contact yet, that was the final week of blood month when we started full contact and had to drop two times daily practices.

Just when the soreness was starting to go away, we started banging one another in full contact, those first two weeks I never hurt so dang on much. But unfortunately, this is required, your son needs to be toughen up both mentally and phsyically because if not he'll surley have high risk for injury, not alone the inability to do fundamentals.

I as a coach called my week (blood week) too. Im sorry I dont mean to sound to favor his coach over your son, but you must understand the

importance of blood week or h**l week. Most teams hold this form of practice. But as a former coach thier is still a right way to do this and a wrong way to do this, this also takes responsibilty from both the coaches and the players. Coaches by insureing that all players are treated equally and given same instructions to all players equally, the players responsibilty to ask questions when instructions arent understood and any other issue that could hurt his opportunity to perform and keep the game enjoyable. His coach once past this (*h**l week), will start providing things that players find fun, but also remember most practices arent fun though, its hard work.

Answer 2

Look I've been a similar situation like that. When I was 14 I had heart problems, and I always said I had a better heart for the game than others in our squad. When I did get permission by my Cardi. my coaches didn't help me or give me long breaks. Yeah, It made me mad and yes it frustrated me, discouraged me and ect.

But coaches are usually ******* in the first few weeks to make your kid better. Right now he might hate it but if he stays coaches will see that he has interest for the game and they'll start being nicer.

Experience.

Answer 3

It's really sad that some coaches lose sight of what football is all about and make it about themselves and winning.  I played for over 9 years and yes, there are days and weeks when you just want to quit.  If you can muster the strength to push through those times, then there are also great times that I wouldn't give up for anything.  Football is jsut like life, people are going to try to push you down and step on you but if you can keep going there are good times on the other side.  If I were you just tell him to wait until that first game night and after that he'll see why it's all worth it.  Also, I would have a nice long chat with the head coach and if necessary, the principal and let them know this kind of negative reinforcement is detramental to any child.  If it keeps up then talk with the school board.  Not every child is going to be the greatest athlete but they all deserve to be a part of a team and to experience that comaraderie.  Hope I helped.

Answer 4

well I can understand your frustration and your son too, I have been there and my coaches was the same way. sure the coaches will said negative and hurting things to the players. the reason behind that is to weed out the individual who don't have the heart to play the game. sometimes the players often play hurt and the game is on the line. often one must know how to continue forward when they feel there is nothing left to give in a tough situation.

that goes the same for the individuals who want to join the military. there basic training is nothing but h**l and the drill sgt is constance yelling at you and calling you names. to see if you have the will to become the best soldier, marines, etc.  so does the coaches, what to see if he want to become the best football player that he can.  if he really want to play football then he must look deep inside of himself and ask himself do he really want to play or he thought that he want to play football. and you should be encourage him to not give up on something that he really want to do. look at this as part of life test, to see if he is strong, have the will and heart to continue on when things are rough. do you want him to give up without given a good fight? you know yourself that life is hard and rough being on your own. how often did you want to give up and throw in the towel?  

Answer 5

They are trying to find out who is weak and has no heart. They are trying to weed out the kids who dont have what it takes to make it and will give in when things get stressful. I did it while i was in school and now im in the army have been for almost 9 years now. It is nothing personal its just what they need to do to ensure the people they have really want to be there. It is part of building a team. If he can make it through this part then it wont be that bad and he will have alot of good memories about playing football and being part of the team