Coach's Favorite

It is completely expected, at this point in a winless season, that frustrations will start to emerge. One expressed concern that I recently heard was that I have "favorites" and that those players are the only ones who get any playing time. I was initially defensive about that comment, but as I let the thought settle on a reflective heart, I started to admit to myself, that my accuser may actually be on to something.

I absolutely admit that I do indeed play my favorite players, but not for the reasons that calling them my favorites might imply. As a player, and now as a coach, when there is discussion of a"coach's favorite," it is never a compliment. It often refers to the players who have the best relationship with the coach and who sidle up next to him/her weasling playing time that is often undeserved. My issue with that definition is that it is not the way I would define the favorite players who play for this team. For this team, the players who earn playing time are favored for hard work, experience, consistency, commitment, talent, dependability and guts. Unlike the perception of players who are feeling unfavored, the players who play are not "given" favors, they absolutely earn them.

Our team has regular opportunities for players to get some extra shooting or technical work. The shootarounds are open to any and all players who hope to improve in some skill area. Monday's shootaround included 3 of my "favorite" players, a back up goalie and me. I don't expect that all of the players will be there, but the consistency of voluntary practice pays off in improvement for the players who attend. Technique can be tweaked, and repetition and individualized instruction can happen there.

It is not the taking advantage of opportunity that makes a player the coach's favorite, but what is borne out of making the most from the opportunities given is favorable for any player who truly wants to get better.

The traditional "favorite" player doesn't have to even show up for extra work...they get the advantages without trying. My favorite players keep working no matter who or where they are and strive to keep the spot that they have worked so hard to earn.