12/21/24
January 10, 2010
Kansas State’s Frank Martin apologizes for striking player: Caught up in the heat of a tight road game, Martin hit senior Chris Merriewether on the arm. Guess Martin doesn't read the news much.
posted by irunfromclones to basketball at 06:54 PM - 7 comments
I'd love to see video of this incident if it exists. From what I read in the article, it was hardly anything to get upset about. It wasn't a punch but a back-handed tap. It's hardly on the same level as that football coach that choked one of his players.
It seems like people are getting overly sensitive about things like this. Soon, coaches won't even be able to raise their voice at a player. I'm not talking about insulting or demeaning his players, just voicing his displeasure at a mistake that's been made.
beaverboard: I see nothing wrong with that. Why not have your players do something distasteful (50 yard sprints at 3am) after a loss to motivate them? He's not hurting them and they'll be sure to try their hardest the next time out to prevent having to do it again.
posted by cabuki at 05:20 AM on January 11, 2010
cabuki,
But this approach isn't motivating to players anymore, at least not most of them. It just embitters them against their coach. Prince is a prime example of that. It is hard to keep your job when you're underperforming and have endeared yourself to no one.
People can voice their displeasure as loudly as they want about the "modern player," but whether they like it or not most kids aren't motivated in this way anymore. A Kansas coach who gets it (KU's Bill Self) is almost more of a friend at times. He will get after them when they need it, but since he tends to emphasize having a good relationship with players, he has the clout to hollar at them. It seems to me that this is the only long-term viable way to do it these days.
posted by brainofdtrain at 07:59 AM on January 11, 2010
I'm wondering if this new trend is because of schools that want to get out of coaching contracts, not a desire to reduce player mistreatment. Coaches are getting a lot of money and better deals each year. If schools can fire a coach with cause any time he yells at a player, they can use it as negotiating leverage with coaches in rough times and use it as an excuse when they want to make a change.
posted by rcade at 08:46 AM on January 11, 2010
most kids aren't motivated in this way anymore.
The one's whose fathers still *motivated them and taught them respect for authority still are, I suspect.
rcade, you may be onto something.
*if you have to ask, then no need in spelling it out.
posted by mjkredliner at 10:41 AM on January 11, 2010
brainofdtrain, I agree that it doesn't work with most players anymore, but I think it can still be used as an effective tactic if used correctly (read: sparingly). I mean, if you're having your team sprint until they puke after every game, you're doing something wrong.
I had some good coaches growing up that had no trouble getting their message across LOUD and clear without making us feel like we were children or disrespecting us in any way but they certainly made sure we knew we didn't perform they way they expected. Sure, we hated the times (not many) we spent an entire practice doing sprints because of a lackluster performance, but you better believe we busted our butts the next time out.
posted by cabuki at 11:52 AM on January 11, 2010
The one's whose fathers still *motivated them and taught them respect for authority still are, I suspect.
I think there is a pretty good chance that child rearing has changed enough in the last 30 years that coaches need to change their approach as a result. When I was in school, teachers yelled and principals paddled. Schools are totally different and parents are totally different. No one really believes that yelling at kids makes them listen better. Not that many people believe that spanking kids make them behave better. Coaches have to adapt to these changes and communicate to kids in the way they understand.
posted by bperk at 12:51 PM on January 11, 2010
Maybe there's something in the water at K State that brings out the best in coaches. Regardless of program - hoops, football, etc.
Mark Mangino and Jim Leavitt both coached at K State before getting head coaching jobs.
Then there's Ron Prince, who hasn't hit anyone that I'm aware of, but who once made his team do several dozen 50 yard sprints at 3 am as soon as they got back from a road loss to Louisville.