How can I talk to my coach about my next season?

Question

My track coach is the J.V. Coach for school and basically my favorite coach and hero. I'm on Varsity volleyball for school but I really don't want to do it next year. I played a travel team for my coach last year and she helped me through a lot between making it through a horrible school season then to club season and she dragged me into track, which I know love. But how do I tell her that I am thinking of not doing volleyball for shcool but I am still going to do club. I don't want to disapiont her and I have no idea if she will not care or care so much she wil try and talk me out of it. I nee dhelp on this so please anwser with some helpful tips!!! =]

Answer 1

volleyballchick has a great answer.  I would just add that you not be negative about your school or the varsity coach in any way.  Emphasize that you are facing burn out and would like to just take one season off.  You are not ruling out returning the following year.  Do not promise that you will play the following year, but do not rule it out either.  You can also add that you want to concentrate on your studies.

Answer 2

Well, as they say - Honesty is the best policy.  

Be honest with her.  Explain things just as you did here.  I think that letting her know how much you respect her, and are not wanting to hurt her is going to go a long way.

No coach wants a player that doesn't want to play the game.  No matter how good one is, if there is no desire to play, the athlete is no good to the team.  If you don't want to play, you aren't going to try your best, and in turn, you will let a lot of others that do love to play down, as well as your coach.

I would approach her and be perfectly honest.  Explain that due to the exposure to the new sport, there has been a new love sparked in you.  And you think it would be irresponsible and unfair if you continued to play a sport that you would not give your all to.  I would also state that you don't want to hold your team back by remaining on the team, knowing that there are others that desire to play more than you do, and will give their all because of that desire.

So here is the overview:

1.  Be honest

2.  Speak your view on the team

3.  Put the "blame" where it lies - you would rather dedicate yourself to your new sport

4.  You don't feel you would be an asset, rather a liability

5.  Do this all in private before the season nears so that she is able to prepare covering your position

Good luck!  She isn't going to be angry or disappointed.  I would think that she might admire you for being so honest and approaching this so level headed.