I coach under 9s in a non-competitive league. So we’re at the at end of a very successful season, results wise. However my son has been miserable for most the season having been played in defence every single week from our first match. He hates it there.
I’ve done this to him myself as I’ve been too afraid of the backlash I’ll get if (God forbid) someone else’s son is miserable for one game playing defence instead. We got into our league final and we lost (only second of the season) then we had our club tournament and they didn’t perform too Well. MUTINY!!!!
Reports of parents taking their sons out, reports of wanting new coaches “squads too big” “moving around too much” “wasted journey”
To say I was upset is an understatement – two losses and one bad tournament and suddenly the previous 9 months of wins is forgotten. My plan for next year is now out the window after hearing our parents reactions! I had wanted to continue moving around (no set positions) developing players to be well rounded, take my own son out of defence and let him be happy playing his games too.
Development and happiness is taking a back seat to parents who want to win at all costs – set positions, smaller squad, weaker players less time on the pitch. So I either coach next year going against my own values and reasons for coaching or I risk losing too many players and the team folding. What do I do?
