Sportsmanship from the Bench
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by Liberty Mutual Insurance
For many athletes, time on the bench and not in the match can be a difficult time. While the reasons for being on the bench can vary – injury, disappointing performance, playing behind an upperclassman, or just learning the sport – athletes on the bench experience a range of emotions and can oftentimes find themselves disengaged or disheartened.
But, being on the bench shouldn’t be seen as a punishment. Instead, coaches and parents need to help athletes recognize their critical role in the success of a team even from the sidelines. Liberty Mutual Insurance Play Positive® powered by Positive Coaching Alliance offers these great tips for keeping your bench involved.
On the Bench Because of Injury
Athletes unfortunately find themselves on the bench because of an injury. But just because they can’t contribute in the match doesn’t mean they can’t contribute to the team in other ways. Coaches should help athletes find the ways that they can contribute:
• Help read the offenses or defenses of the opposing team, sharing insights with teammates.
• Keep statistics for coaches.
• Be valuable player-coaches to the athlete who took their spots, sharing their insights and tips.
• Be motivators and cheerleader for their teammates.
On the Bench Because of Tenure
On many school teams, upperclassmen play while underclassmen sit, with playing time being earned by tenure and not necessarily by merit. And this experience can be tough for the underclassmen, especially if they are eager to prove their skills and show that they are more fit for the position.
• Coaches can keep underclassmen motivated by asking them to form the practice squad and to study and emulate each week’s opponent. The better they master the skills and talents of the opponent, the better they can prepare the upperclassmen for the upcoming match.
• During the match itself, underclassmen can scout the opponent and share insights with upperclassmen.
• And when the match is done, success can be attributed to both the squads and the preparation they each contributed.
On the Bench Because of Skill Level
When kids are first starting out, youth sports should focus on skills development, with all kids getting the chance to play. But as kids age and sports become more competitive, playing time goes from being given to being earned. And the relative skill of each athlete helps determine playing time. Finding yourself on the bench because you are less skilled than your peers can be one of the most challenging experiences for a youth athlete.
Coaches have an obligation to make the criteria for playing time clear to all athletes, and to create a pathway to get there. Positive coaches sit down with athletes to map out skills plans – what skills do athletes need to take their game to the next level, how and when will these skills be taught, and how will the athlete get a chance to put those new skills to use in a match situation.
On the Bench Because of Game Strategy
Players can sometimes find themselves on the bench because the game strategy dictates it. A right-handed pitcher is suddenly benched because the coach decides that a lefty-on-lefty strategy for the next batter is the team’s best opportunity for an out. The opposing team is able to consistently stop your running back so he’s benched in favor of a bruising full-back.
Coaches can lessen the potential negative impact of being benched by sharing the game strategy with athletes before, during and after the game. Sometimes, coaches may also share that information with players’ parents, who might not understand why their son or daughter is being replaced. Remind athletes that individuals each have unique skills and talents that will come into play as the game evolves and that each player has an important role on the team.
On The Bench Because of Poor Sportsmanship
Finally, athletes might find themselves on the bench because they lost their cool and, in some instances, demonstrated a lack of sportsmanship. When coaches and parents set out a code of behavior for athletes that includes sportsmanship, then consequences like benching need to follow when those codes are not honored. Playing is a privilege and subject to honoring the game and respecting officials, opponents and teammates.
Coaches should do their best not to just sit athletes without a discussion. They can ask athletes if they know and understand why they have been benched, explain it clearly if they don’t, and establish a clear path to reinstatement.
Honoring teammates is an important part of practicing good sportsmanship. Athletes on the bench should demonstrate that by staying engaged during matches and supporting their teammates. Coaches and parents can help by reinforcing that message with bench athletes before, during and after matches.
The Liberty Mutual Insurance Play Positive™ program, powered by Positive Coaching Alliance, promotes good sportsmanship in youth sports so that our kids can have the fun and positive experience they deserve. We believe kids can learn valuable life lessons when coaches and parents come together to support doing the right thing on and off the mat.
In an effort to benefit millions of youth athletes, parents and coaches, this article is among a series created exclusively for the Liberty Mutual Insurance Play Positive™ program, powered by Positive Coaching Alliance.
©2015 Liberty Mutual Insurance and Positive Coaching Alliance. All rights reserved. This material may not be distributed without express written permission. Any reproduction in whole or part by and individuals or organizations will be held liable for copyright infringement to the full extent of the law.
But, being on the bench shouldn’t be seen as a punishment. Instead, coaches and parents need to help athletes recognize their critical role in the success of a team even from the sidelines. Liberty Mutual Insurance Play Positive® powered by Positive Coaching Alliance offers these great tips for keeping your bench involved.
On the Bench Because of Injury
Athletes unfortunately find themselves on the bench because of an injury. But just because they can’t contribute in the match doesn’t mean they can’t contribute to the team in other ways. Coaches should help athletes find the ways that they can contribute:
• Help read the offenses or defenses of the opposing team, sharing insights with teammates.
• Keep statistics for coaches.
• Be valuable player-coaches to the athlete who took their spots, sharing their insights and tips.
• Be motivators and cheerleader for their teammates.
On the Bench Because of Tenure
On many school teams, upperclassmen play while underclassmen sit, with playing time being earned by tenure and not necessarily by merit. And this experience can be tough for the underclassmen, especially if they are eager to prove their skills and show that they are more fit for the position.
• Coaches can keep underclassmen motivated by asking them to form the practice squad and to study and emulate each week’s opponent. The better they master the skills and talents of the opponent, the better they can prepare the upperclassmen for the upcoming match.
• During the match itself, underclassmen can scout the opponent and share insights with upperclassmen.
• And when the match is done, success can be attributed to both the squads and the preparation they each contributed.
On the Bench Because of Skill Level
When kids are first starting out, youth sports should focus on skills development, with all kids getting the chance to play. But as kids age and sports become more competitive, playing time goes from being given to being earned. And the relative skill of each athlete helps determine playing time. Finding yourself on the bench because you are less skilled than your peers can be one of the most challenging experiences for a youth athlete.
Coaches have an obligation to make the criteria for playing time clear to all athletes, and to create a pathway to get there. Positive coaches sit down with athletes to map out skills plans – what skills do athletes need to take their game to the next level, how and when will these skills be taught, and how will the athlete get a chance to put those new skills to use in a match situation.
On the Bench Because of Game Strategy
Players can sometimes find themselves on the bench because the game strategy dictates it. A right-handed pitcher is suddenly benched because the coach decides that a lefty-on-lefty strategy for the next batter is the team’s best opportunity for an out. The opposing team is able to consistently stop your running back so he’s benched in favor of a bruising full-back.
Coaches can lessen the potential negative impact of being benched by sharing the game strategy with athletes before, during and after the game. Sometimes, coaches may also share that information with players’ parents, who might not understand why their son or daughter is being replaced. Remind athletes that individuals each have unique skills and talents that will come into play as the game evolves and that each player has an important role on the team.
On The Bench Because of Poor Sportsmanship
Finally, athletes might find themselves on the bench because they lost their cool and, in some instances, demonstrated a lack of sportsmanship. When coaches and parents set out a code of behavior for athletes that includes sportsmanship, then consequences like benching need to follow when those codes are not honored. Playing is a privilege and subject to honoring the game and respecting officials, opponents and teammates.
Coaches should do their best not to just sit athletes without a discussion. They can ask athletes if they know and understand why they have been benched, explain it clearly if they don’t, and establish a clear path to reinstatement.
Honoring teammates is an important part of practicing good sportsmanship. Athletes on the bench should demonstrate that by staying engaged during matches and supporting their teammates. Coaches and parents can help by reinforcing that message with bench athletes before, during and after matches.
The Liberty Mutual Insurance Play Positive™ program, powered by Positive Coaching Alliance, promotes good sportsmanship in youth sports so that our kids can have the fun and positive experience they deserve. We believe kids can learn valuable life lessons when coaches and parents come together to support doing the right thing on and off the mat.
In an effort to benefit millions of youth athletes, parents and coaches, this article is among a series created exclusively for the Liberty Mutual Insurance Play Positive™ program, powered by Positive Coaching Alliance.
©2015 Liberty Mutual Insurance and Positive Coaching Alliance. All rights reserved. This material may not be distributed without express written permission. Any reproduction in whole or part by and individuals or organizations will be held liable for copyright infringement to the full extent of the law.
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