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Letter From the Editor/Publisher: Playing Time: A Difficult Issue

by: Rex Lardner
Editor American Football Monthly
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Of the many responsibilities a coach has, one of the more difficult ones is playing time. In many cases, the decisions are clear-cut and the level of performance dictates one athlete is outplaying another. In others though, the level of play by two athletes competing for the same position can be miniscule. In this situation, who should be the starter with all things being relatively equal? Is it experience, attitude, performance in pressure situations or something else? And then you have the outside factors that can influence a decision on playing time: the role of parents, the booster club and the media.

One high school coach in California told us he encourages kids and parents to talk to the position coaches if playing time is an issue. If it is left unresolved, the head coach asks the respective coordinator to get involved. Then, if still unresolved, the head coach himself will listen and make the ultimate decision.

Another high school coach we spoke to looks at it differently. He encourages parents to get involved in all kinds of football-related activities and converse with the coaches whenever appropriate. But he tells everyone that one topic is always off-limits: playing time. It’s an issue that’s uncompromising; he believes the coaches should make these decisions and they know better than anyone who should be the starters.

Tony Buthe, the head coach at New Prague High School (MN), recently spoke at the AFM University clinic in Saint Paul. He had some interesting anecdotes related to the issue of playing time. In one situation, the team was divided on the starting quarterback and Coach Buthe called a team meeting to discuss the issue. Each player was allowed to give his feelings on the subject and the overall tally was just about even. But the last player that spoke made the difference. “I don’t know who should be the starter but I trust the coaches to make the right decision.”

On another occasion, Buthe was confronted by a player who felt he should be starting over his rival. The coach went to the film room with the player and went through cut-ups of both players and compared performances. The player in question realized his shortcomings and was told what he needed to do to improve his performance. In coach Buthe’s view, it was a great teaching point for both coach and player.

During one of his sessions, Coach Buthe told a story about his six year-old son, Ben (pictured above). The boy was on the sidelines for a game and at one time asked a big lineman standing next to him why he wasn’t playing. “You’d better ask your dad that question,” commented the player. Then, without hesitating, Ben responded, “It’s probably because you’re not very good.”

Playing time – it offers interesting perspectives.

Respectfully,
Rex Lardner
AFM Managing Editor
rlardner@lcclark.com
561-355-5068 (x 329)





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