We’ve all had those kids in our group, class, or team. The kids that love to make everyone else around them laugh. The kids that like to talk when the coach is talking. The kids that often serve as a distraction.
The first instinct might be to reprimand or punish those being distracting in the group. Through the years, i’ve incorporated different methods to successfully cope with clowns within a practice, drill, or clinic. Below are some methods worked well for me and could possibly work for you too:
- Offer encouragement, positive reinforcement, or recognition towards the player that’s becoming a distraction any opportunity you get. Also, if you get a chance to do this in front of the entire group, do so.
- Within a drill, pair the player who’s distracting with the most respected player in the group. This is an opportunity for the respected player to step-up and put those leadership skills to work.
- If a player’s being distracting, pull them aside and ask why they aren’t interested in what’s going on at practice? Genuinely ask if there is something the coaches can do to get that player more engaged. Are the drills lame? Are they not getting enough reps? Are the coaches talking too much? Lots of players who are labeled ‘distractions’ are constantly being told to stop talking. Instead, try asking that player to speak up about something that might benefit the group. Who knows, that player might have something great to say, it’s just no one has taken the time to hear them out because coaches are too busy telling them to quiet down.
- Coach up your players after the drills are over. Getting a group of players in a huddle before they’ve even ran through a drill, thrown a ball, or even finished getting their equipment on is a recipe for distraction. Players are energized, excited, and have lots of energy before the start of a practice. Having them stand around and listen to a coach for 10 minutes will cause specific players to channel their energy towards opening their mouth and distracting other teammates.
- If a player on my team, let’s call him Joey, is a distraction because he loves to talk at practice, give Joey an additional role on the team. For example, have Joey be the guy that reports the coaches who is missing from practice, have Joey be the guy who yells across the field to relay a message to another coach, or have Joey be the guy who restates what the coaches are saying in a huddle.
What’s distracting can turn into helping, it really depends how you spin it. Feel free to share with us how you deal with players who are distracting at your practice.
