what would you do?

Question

hi everyone hope people will engage with this. 
 You have a child in your team, that struggles to get involved, and doesnt engage with others, doesnt really seem to be a part of the team!! 
 i will expand on this if there is any feedback

Lee Brown · Accepted Answer

is the child happy with their involvement? some kids are happy to 'take a back seat'. Just because they aren't the life and soul of the party and not ripping up the dance floor doesn't mean they aren't enjoying the music?

Barry Webb · Answer

Hi lee , you do raise a good point some children just like to sit in the back ground , but we have a responsibility to encourage engagement and become part of the group , lee has highlighted in regards to players not interacting with him etc : can we has coaches find ways to encourage the player with support from the other players giving them challenges to help this player become more involved and its more than likely it will be the players that create a positive outcome not the coach ? but the coach can make the initial thoughts when facing this challenge . with such a small period of time its important that the child and the coach really works to break the shell early , and i appreciate not always easy but always achievable if we stick at it . if we expand our ways to just think deeper ?

Lee Cooper · Answer

hi Lee 
 the young person loves the game but feels alone.amongst his peers,so i would say not happy.

Lee Cooper · Answer

hi Barry, i agree 
 is it wrong to ask the others to cut the player some slack? 
 yes it probably is, to me the importance of small sided games can have a real positive effect on something like this. 
 more ball time, more ownership and almost definatley more confidence in play. 
 no doubt will probably strike better friendships up too

Lee Brown · Answer

Think back to a time you felt 'excluded'... it could be a sport, in a social setting or in the workplace. 
 Q. Who could have made you feel more included? 
 Q. What would they need to know about you and how you feel? 
 Q. What would you have liked someone to do? 
 We all have experiences to draw upon to support individuals to feel more included. Some ideas: 
 -- Make then feel special so they know you care (Praise for positive action, behaviour, social interaction) 
 -- Give ownership of edits to a practice or rules to a game to others see their worth 
 -- Give responsibility (captain, team talk, sharing ideas, collecting equipment etc.) so other see you value them 
 -- (As Barry says) set challenges that give them success so they increase self belief 
 -- Put then with a partner or in a group where they will feel comfortable or have a platform to verbally communicate. CAUTION. Some people prefer to work alone, some in small groups, some as part of a large group/team (I'm an along or small-group person!!) 
 Try not to force the issue. Putting them in collaborative scenarios along with subtle behaviours from the coach i'm sure will help to address the challenges

Lee Cooper · Answer

hi lee 
 great points, probably the most important one for me would be to take the time too really get to know the individual, give them the confidence and safety net to be able to approach the coach and talk about anything they feel the need to do. 
 cheers lee

England Football Learning > Youth club football

what would you do?

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