Question from a coach:  We have players that are constantly late to practice, one boy in particular. What is the best way to handle it.  He is one of your best players. Should we not start him, not play him, punish him by running.  What do you think?

Frustrated Coach Schmidt

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Coach this is a constant problem with coaching, and every coach that is actually coached more than one day he has had this problem.  The first time you might talk to him and his parents if there are involved but with the ongoing problem there needs to be some kind of discipline. And you have to balance it between penalizing the entire team, being fair getting your point across to the player. So really it probably needs to be a hierarchy of what you're going to do. This first one may be a little late but I found if you make them stay after practice even if it's just for a few minutes telling them you need to make up some work they really don't like that and the parents will take notice also. If you have a young enough team that may work very well as parents get to be nervous that you're eating into their time.(Not to mention your eating into your time by staying after).   The second level to just send the player home or exclude him from practice.  This works very well with school team player then the next practice have him to physical drills as punishment.  What we want to do in all this is not have him quit or harm the team. BUT the last deal is missing playing time or a game.

Explain that he took time from the other players, the coach's, parents all those that are supporting him  Now we have to take time from you to impress on you the importance of being there all EVERYONE not just yourself.