CHAPTER
15
Troublemakers are a problem in all team sports at all levels. It is sometimes seen by coaches and not reported to the league. It is sometimes seen by coaches and kids but not by any parents. It is sometimes so horrific that it ends up in the newspapers and on TV. Some of these events can be prevented.
In these cases, a parent or other family member or friend repeatedly acts like a WOFATP (Waste Of Food And Toilet Paper – pronounced wo-fa-T-P). The league needs to have a method, established ahead of time, to purge this troublemaker. He or she is typically the parent who also doesn’t help out with the team. They just stand back and complain about the coaches, officials, or league.
During my coaching career, I never saw a really effective method of handling a troublemaker. It came down to the coach saying, “That guy and his kid are out of here, or I am.” This is a poor position to put a coach in.
On a plane trip, I met a coach who told me of a fine method of handling the troublemaker. Here’s what his league did:
The league authorizes each coach to warn the troublemaker and requires the coach to do it privately. They also create a First Strike Card. It clearly states that if the problem happens again, the parent and player involved are off the team. Each coach receives a card or two each season.
The coach gives the card to a troublemaker at his/her discretion. The coach must immediately tell the league when a card is given and explain why – preferably in writing.
The league then furnishes the coach with a Second Strike Card with the troublemaker’s name on it.
If necessary, the coach gives the Second Strike Card to that troublemaker. It tells the parent that he/she and the player are no longer part of that team, but they may contact the league office to be given one last chance on another team.
The coach must immediately notify the league. If the family wants to try another team, they can. If they choose to go to another team, the new team coach is given a Third Strike Card with the parent’s name on it.
If that parent acts up again, the new coach presents the Third Strike Card and a “You’re out of here!” Again, the new coach immediately notifies the league.
Three strikes and you’re out! I love it. Maybe a Three Strikes card system is also needed for coaches who have ignored this book, or for coaches who yell obscenities and let their players yell obscenities at the officials, players, other coaches, or worse. You bet your britches – three strikes and you’re out. Perhaps coaches should only be allowed two strikes?
Purging rules should be spelled out in the handouts for the parents. The parent can see or call the league to state their case anytime. Sounds like a fine method to me. I think it can significantly limit the ugly events that happen all too often in kids sports.
If I had had that Three Strikes card system when I was coaching, I probably would have used it three times in 26 seasons.
Whether or not you use this particular method, there must be a way of getting rid of the troublemakers. Every league, almost always, has one or two. If they are not checked, fights and other extreme events, including death, can result. Too often, ugly things happen because the league didn’t have a working policy to purge the WOFATPs.
Leagues run by government entities have a harder time doing this tough stuff. How can a government recreation district tell a taxpayer that he can’t participate? This is another reason why leagues should be controlled by the parents, not government.
Once again: Parents should coach the kids and organize the program while the government should furnish the field, rink, park, or court and pledge to stay out of the process. The parents lead, the kids follow, and the government gets out of the way.