Everyone needs an approach to communicate with player families. Without exception, coaches and administrations get complaints about player minutes, role, and recognition.
Coaches use the "24 hour rule" to allow a 'cooling off period' and many limit discussions about playing time and absolutely about other teammates.
President Abraham Lincoln had his "Hot Letters," where he vented his displeasure with various generals and other parties, then filed as "never signed, never sent."
Coach Neal Cobleigh wondered what would ChatGPT artificial intelligence say to an unhappy parent. I asked.
Write a letter from a coach to a disgruntled parent upset about her child's playing time and role. I've also edited, shaving syllables. The edited (easy to read) version is below.
ChatGPT
Dear (Parent's Name),
I hope this letter finds you well. I wanted to take a moment to address the concerns about your child's playing time and role on the team. As a coach, I understand and respect your passion for your child's development and success in the sport, and appreciate your willingness to discuss these matters openly.
First and foremost, I want to assure you that every decision I make regarding playing time and roles on the team is done with careful consideration and with the best interest of the team and each individual player in mind. I understand that it can be frustrating when your child doesn't receive the amount of playing time you may feel they deserve, but please trust that these decisions are based I base decisions on various factors including skill level, performance, team dynamics, and strategic considerations for each game.
I want to emphasize that playing time and roles on the team are not static and can change throughout the season. I encourage open communication between among players, parents, and myself. and I'm available always willing to discuss your child's progress, areas for improvement, and ways we can how to work together to help them succeed.
It's important to remember that sports offer valuable lessons beyond just playing time and winning or losing. They teach resilience, teamwork, discipline, and the importance of perseverance in the face of challenges. I truly believe that every player, regardless of their role on the team, has the potential to contribute in meaningful ways and to grow both as an athlete and as an individual.
I want to thank you for your continued support of the team and for entrusting me with the responsibility of coaching your child. I'm committed to providing a positive and nurturing environment where all players can thrive and reach their full potential. If you have any further concerns or questions, please don't hesitate to reach out to me.
Sincerely,
Dear (Parent's Name),
I hope this letter finds you well. I want to address concerns about your child's playing time and role. As a coach, I understand and respect your passion for your child's development and success, and appreciate your willingness to discuss these matters.
First and foremost, every decision I make regarding playing time and roles is done with the best interest of the team and each individual player in mind. It can be frustrating when your child doesn't receive the amount of playing time you feel they deserve, but I base decisions on various factors including skill level, performance, team dynamics, and strategic considerations.
Playing time and roles on the team are not static and can change throughout the season. I encourage open communication among players, parents, and myself. I'm available to discuss your child's progress, areas for improvement, and how to work together to help them succeed.
Sports offer valuable lessons beyond just playing time and winning or losing. They teach resilience, teamwork, discipline, and the importance of perseverance in the face of challenges. Every player, regardless of their role on the team, has the potential to contribute and to grow both as an athlete and as an individual.
Thank you for your continued support of the team and for entrusting me with the responsibility of coaching your child. I'm committed to a positive and nurturing environment where all players can reach their full potential. If you have any further concerns or questions, please reach out to me.
Sincerely,
(Coach's name)
All coaches have been there. Build rapport. Build trust. Emphasize team, time, and improvement.
Lagniappe. Listen to experienced voices.
In this episode of the CDL podcast, Chris Oliver of @bballimmersion and I share the 5 ideas that we believe coaches should start with if they aren't familiar with Skill Acquisition concepts. My starting point was Block, Variable, and Random practice. https://t.co/xYD2vhpymX pic.twitter.com/YNZ3ZCfZM1 — Coach Dave Love | NBA Shooting Coach (@CoachDaveLove) May 2, 2024"Your stop needs to be a surprise."
— Reid Ouse (@reidouse) May 1, 2024
Stopping is the most efficient way to create space. But if you are decelerating before you stop, the defense is going to slow down, limited the amount of space you are going to create. pic.twitter.com/iPb0F1Ywjy