About Steve Hagenlocher Expertise I am a Division I women`s vollegball coach. I have been coaching at the college level for the past eleven years. I am also teaching and coaching at the high school level and I have been doing so for the past sixteen years. In my spare time I;ve coach 11-12 year old girls in the CYO. I am also a certified high school referee for both varsity boys and girls. I have over 250 drills in my drill book and I believe I can be most helpful answering questions about running certain offenses and defenses.
Experience BS in Physical Education St Francis College 83
MS in Physical Education Brooklyn College 93
Expert: Steve Hagenlocher Date: 12/6/2007 Subject: 12 year girls
Question I'm coaching 12 year old girls for the first time. The biggest challenge that I see is getting them to listen and follow instructions. Its amazing how much they think know. Throw in a little bit of stubbornness for good measure. What do you tell your girls to get them to listen and follow direction? Some of them do listen and want to learn but others are a bit more set in their ways. So any tricks or tips you can let me in on would be helpful. I know building confidence is important so I like to take baby steps when trying something new, its just better if they are more eager to learn.
Thanks
Scott
Answer Scott,
If it is any consolation, the problem is the same with 17 year old girls/boys as well as 20 year old girls/boys. If there is a big gap in skill level the players who are giving you a hard time may just be board and need some harder drills. If that is not the case try some motivational drills like laps or even kick your best (complaining) player out of a drill or practice. Telling the team "If you don't want to do it the right way I am not going to let you practice it doing the wrong way." Many times the team starts to realize that you are serious thinking if you kick out the best player you will surely kick out the rest of us, so we better do what we are told.
