How to handle difficult players

Handling an unhappy player within your team can be a difficult task, even more so when that player is one of your better players. Here are a few tips, I have picked up by listening to professional players and coaches.

First of all this article isn't something that will be used in little league teams, but rather for teenagers and up. The first thing a coach needs to do is asses the situation and figure out why the player is unhappy. Once we know why players are unhappy we can go about creating a solution. Below is a list of the 5 common reasons for an unhappy player. There is also a possible solution listed below each reason. Remember these solutions are not always going to work, so you need to asses the situation properly before deciding how to handle it.

1. Problem - The player feels they are better than he team and want to play for a better team.

Solution - If it is a case of your best player thinking he/she has outgrown the team. Well the only option is to drop them and leave them out of the team entirely, until they come around r end up leaving. Speak with your team and be open about why the player is being dropped, don't put the player down in front of the team, just be clear about what you expect from every player out on the pitch. In most cases once a player sees that a team can win without them they will change their attitude very quickly.

2. Problem - The player feels that the team is not putting in the desired effort to win games.

Solution - This is a tricky one, because again they could be feeling bigger than the team. But it could also be that the player has a point and if this is the case, this player should be your captain in most cases. Only strong characters will call out players who do not put in the required effort to be the best.

3. Problem - The player lacks the motivation and desire of the rest of the team.

Solution - First we need to figure out why the player is not motivated. Several positive options can be used here. Maybe it's a simple case of playing the player in a new position, maybe they just need you to throw your arm around them and give them some positive input, let them know that they are an important part of the team. Sometimes you need to get your main players to involve this player in activities away from the game. However, there is the drastic case when a player is just not interested and in this case needs to be removed from the team in order to get the best outcome for both parties.

4.Problem - The player has a personal issue with the coach, or the other way around.

Solution - This can happen a lot. We all have different personalities and clashes are inevitable in a team environment. The only way to deal with this is a 1 to 1 conversation between the coach and the player where each person airs their problems and frustrations and come to and agreement by the end of the conversation.

5. Problem - Something outside of the team is affecting a player.

Solution - First order of business is to let the player know that you and the team are behind them. The team is a family and family sticks together. Then start helping the player through what ever situation they are in. Players deal with things differently and either they will want to be around the team more to escape their other problems or in other cases players will want to be away from the team to face their outside problems head on.

It is up to you as the coach to keep your players above water. A coach is not just someone who bosses a bunch of players around and pushes them till they puke. And remember always take time to make the correct decisions.