We Are Losing Players

I am sure some of you parents have heard my post game speeches where I give credit to the team, coaching staff and fans after a win. I always conclude with the following: "Take care of yourselves and no jumping off of buildings, no diving into shallow pools and no setting your hair on fire over the weekend."

The players get a chuckle or two because they now I'm exaggerating a bit. But in reality, I couldn't be closer to the truth!

Last weekend we lost a player for the remainder of the year due to a compound fracture of his forearm while skateboarding. I got a call from a mother this evening telling me her son broke his foot jumping off a cliff. Both players were upset because they knew their season was over and in talking to both sets of parents, they mentioned my warnings were not looking forward to explaining their injuries to me.

Accidents happen. It's not the end of the world but I am hoping to pass on some accountability to our young men. I am not expecting you parents to put your sons in a bubble, I just want them to make sound decisions based on thinking of the team.

A player called me Thursday night and asked if he could participate in the 'Open Gym' (open to play basketball) session at PHHS. The player said he wants to play basketball. I could have been a dictator and said, "Absolutely not! There is no way you should be playing basketball!"

Instead, I took a different and mature approach to the question. I said, "I leave the decision to you. I will treat you like a man and let you make a man size decision. You can play and have a good time at open gym. But if you get hurt rolling your ankle, you won't be letting me down. You will be letting down your team, your brothers. So you do what you feel is important."

I saw that player the next day and he said he did not go. I asked why he didn't go. His father said that was my way of saying no!

Well, yes. It was my way of saying no. But I really want to teach our players to be accountable not only for themselves, but to think of the team too.