An easy and unintentional way to lose a players trust

Trust is the backbone of all relationships. Without it, the relationship starts to crumble. One way that coaches unconsciously sabotage this trust is by extending practice.

All coaches at this stage of the game should know you need a practice plan. On that practice plan, the time that practice ends should be clearly marked. If it isn't clearly marked, players will coast through practice saving energy for that practice that has no end. On the other hand, if that practice end time is clearly marked they will work very hard with the end in mind. it's not just players that do it, everyone conserves energy when given the chance.

Now, if you set a practice plan that ends at say 6:00. And then you go to 6:15. You just betrayed their trust. It was subconsciously but it was done nonetheless. This trust will begin to erode and erode as long as the time factor is betrayed. It's a very discreet way of lying to the kids.

If you state on a practice plan an end time(AND YOU SHOULD), then you need to do yourself a favor and stick to the end time. If you go over, for whatever reason that is a coaches fault, then your relationship with the players will begin to decay. Don't hit extra fungoes if it means you'll go over. Don't throw extra BP if it means you'll go over. Don't have extra guys hit if it means you'll go over. If this is that important, end the practice and offer "late" work.

Now, if the reason that things were not accomplished is the players fault, then all bets are off. They have betrayed you and feel free to keep 'em there until midnight.