This article by Bruce E. Brown and Rob Miller of Proactive Coaching celebrates the least talented players on a team – those who practice hard, make other players better and seldom play. It explains why these athletes deserve special treatment and offers coaches practical ways to show them admiration, give them roles and leadership responsibilities, and support their development.
Introduction
We all enjoy coaching our most talented, competitive, hard working, coachable athletes. But often the players I most admire are the ones that are the least talented. Those players, who are on the team, practice hard, make other players better and seldom play. In this era of over controlled and self entitled players, we have all seen kids quit the team or transfer schools if they can't start.
It requires a lot of personal courage to be part of a team when you know that you are not only not going to start but you will spend most of your time on the bench. Many of my favorite athletes were those players who found and embraced a small role, became great encouragers, and enjoyed being part of something bigger than themselves. Players who can be this selfless and still have great work habits often become the most successful in life with careers and families because they can put others first and make them better.