Compassion Without Compromise

A sports' team doesn't meet expectations. Heads shake, voices murmur, outsiders lay blame, and the snarkle level increases.
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When a player is dismissed, the coach is limited in what can be said to the public and even to the team. Reasons can range from legal, wanting to contain the fall-out, to the belief that it is should remain between the coach/player and hopefully both will grow from the experience.

It is rare to see compassion without compromise when a woman has been dismissed from the team.

The only reason a player should ever be dismissed from a team is to avoid the mistake of double standards within a team. Playing time is based solely on statistics and fire. Playing time is not based on seniority or entitlement or personal preference for an individual.

Team membership is based on the contribution an individual brings to the overall team development. Despite playing time.

If a player wants to play, she does the work. If the player can't, she is to figure out a way to contribute from the sidelines or off-field. That is sound team philosophy.

If she won't do the work and begins to snarkle, mock, and uses her "leadership skills" to enable others to join her in her cause. It is time for her to go as quickly as possible. This is where coaches of women get into trouble.

In the case of women, most coaches subscribe to the theory he/she must take into consideration team dynamics and behavior. As a result, timely dismissals are a rarity within women sports. Instead, players threaten to quit or even worse, intentionally play at less than their best.

Coaches can hope to circumvent such behavior by playing those on the bench instead of starting the experienced players. Ideally, this will result in the striking players realizing play is more important than backing up a former teammate. Unfortunately, in most instances the former teammate gets what she wants. "Proof" that without her, the team does not perform as well.

Again. compassion without compromise - it is a mistake to allow double standards within a team.