By Next College Student Athlete08/08/18

Trying to get the team fired up? Make sure to do it when the coach is around and get recognized for the extra time and effort that you’re putting in.

“The coach is playing favorites,” is a common complaint among parents and athletes alike, often used to account for an athlete’s lack of playing time. And it’s easy to lay blame on the coach, considering they’re creating the lineups and calling the shots. However, families might be surprised to learn that many coaches agree: They do play favorites though for different reasons than you’d think.

Oftentimes, playing favorites simply means playing the most talented athletes, or playing to win. It can also mean rewarding those students who have the intangibles—such as leadership, a positive attitude, etc.—with more playing time. While sometimes it might seem unfair, coaches almost always have a reason for how they distribute playing time. So, what should you do when a coach is playing favorites? Better yet, how do you ensure that your athlete is on the list of favorite s?

TALK WITH THE COACH AND ASK WHAT YOU NEED TO WORK ON

If your athlete is looking for more opportunities, their first step should be letting the coach know! Not every coach will go out of their way to communicate with every player individually, but most coaches are approachable if athletes make an effort to talk to them. In a level-headed manner, have your athlete ask the coach what they can improve on. Then, the athlete needs to put in the time and work to really improve on those skills, keeping the coach up-to-date on their progress.

HAVE AN INFECTIOUS, POSITIVE ATTITUDE AND ALWAYS PUT THE TEAM FIRST

Perhaps you’ve heard that positivity breeds success—and this is true in youth sports, as well! Coaches and teammates gravitate to positive athletes who bring the whole team up. Remind your athlete to cheer on their teammates and avoid letting a mistake bring them down. Coaches love athletes that make the whole team better and don’t just think about themselves. Taking a positive, team-first approach is a great way to stand out.

PUT IN THE EFFORT AND LET THE COACH KNOW YOU’RE GOING THE EXTRA MILE

When your athlete begins to make that extra effort, they want to get recognized for it. That’s why it doesn’t hurt to be a bit strategic about their efforts and make sure the coach will be able to notice the work they are putting in. Looking to get an extra workout in? Trying to get the team fired up? Make sure to do it when the coach is around and get recognized for the extra time and effort that you’re putting in.

FOCUS ON HAVING FUN AND PLAYING YOUR BEST—THE REST WILL FALL INTO PLACE

Sometimes, it’s easy to get too wrapped up in competing that we forget sports are supposed to be fun. At the end of the day, there’s always going to be someone more talented. To have a truly rewarding sports experience, athletes should focus on giving it 100% and doing their best, even if they aren’t the best player in the game. That’s a recipe for success in sports and beyond.