While being cut is the most painful for the child who doesn’t make the team, making the cut is also difficult for the coach. As a result, some coaches avoid communicating about this topic with players and parents. Coaches should recognize that if they handle the cut process openly, thoughtfully, and respectfully, they will provide important life lessons and increase the chances that players who are cut stay involved in sports.
It helps to tell players ahead of time the expectations for tryouts and something about the criteria for selection. These could include skill, size, speed, and strength as well as intangibles like coachability, work ethic, potential, commitment, and complementary skill sets. If they know the criteria ahead of time the players will feel the process is fair. This can take some of the sting out for a player who is cut. It can also help players who are cut focus on their next steps rather than feeling mistreated.
If a player is cut, the coach has an important role in helping that player move on and nurturing any desire the child has to continue in sports. The coach should have an individual meeting with each player who is cut. Tell a player that being cut is not a judgment of them as people, but rather an assessment of their fit with the team based on a brief snapshot during the tryouts. Offer a reminder that the picture can, and probably will, change. Kids’ bodies and minds grow and change. Skills can improve through hard work.
Provide the player with an assessment of current strengths and areas for improvement. Make specific suggestions about steps to get better. Encourage the player to keep on trying. Avoid comparing the player with others. If other opportunities to play are available, tell players about them. It’s OK for the coach to admit that he or she may regret cutting the player. If we encourage kids, give them the room to find their purpose, then they will not only survive being cut, but will learn life lessons that will help them flourish.
The coach should have a similar conversation with parents. Tell parents to encourage, without pressuring, their child to keep on trying. Let parents know that, while being cut is painful, it is an opportunity for their child to learn some important life lessons. Learning to bounce back will help them with future disappointments they are bound to experience.
This resource brought to you by Positive Coaching Alliance, a national non-profit with the mission to provide a positive character-building youth sports experience for all. To see this resource and over 2,000 more head to pcadevzone.org!
Original resource link: http://devzone.positivecoach.org/resource/article/positive-approaches-making-player-cuts
