I got a couple of guys - 17 - who are both having academic problems.
They tend to see the teachers as adversaries who want to stop them from playing hoops, avoid their responsibilities to themselves re education, and are running around with bad inlfuencers.

One shows continual BBall learning - he picks things up quickly and applies them, while the other tends to be a bit of a been there seen that type who doesn't act on instruction that well.

The teachers, I think, tend to use the "I'm only doing this for your own good" approach, which of course the guys don't take that way. They are using basketball as a "carrot" but are applying sanctions on their playing as a punishment for missing classes.

To the kids I have always pointed to the rules have to be followed, that they need to work hard on school work to be able to play and that they have to take responsilibity for themselves and their actions.

I'm not a parent or a teacher but a coach. I like to think that the guys I work with will develop healthy views on competition, cooperation, self respect and identity.

How should a coach properly deal with this scenario? Am I best a broker/intermediary between the guys and the teachers? An advocate? A disciplinarian?

Ideas and case studies are appreciated.

This is a tough situation especially at thier age. I think the best thing would be to get in communication with the teachers and form a team between them, yourself and the players. I would also add the parents. Let the players know from the beginning this is for them exclusively. I would promote at a mission for thier success.

Alot of kids at that age find disciplnarian as adversaries. And they usually feel as if no one understands them. Keep that in mind.

Other than that just keep coming from the heart with your intentions. Eventually it will be apparant to them that you are sincere.

Firstly, you are correct in thinking you are only a broker. In a school situation, if you overstep your bounds into academics, there could be resentment and other consequences. You have to work within any system your school has set up. Talk to your AD about you place in the process.

If you are coaching outside of a school situation, you would really be overstepping your bounds by dealing with academics without a parent's permission and at their direction.

You say you are not a parent or a teacher, but a coach. Stick to what you do, just coach them. You do not have the influence that those outside of your reach have. Those responsibilities still lie in the home and in the school. The political atmosphere in dealing with kids is much different than it was 20 years ago.

I coached in college for over 25 years and I have learned that people will do what they want. I have seen suspension, punishment, benchings, etc. and kids still do what they will and only I got upset. As a head coach for 14 years, I had a 100% graduation rate. That had nothing to do with me. I learned very quickly that the only influence I had was in who I brought into the program. If they didn't hold my values, I would not bring them in. Don't think you can change people in 2 hours a day.

Also, be careful about making value judgements about other teacher's methods. You say you are not a teacher. Would you like them to question your methods? Whether they have the right to overstep their bounds and punish the academic performance by limiting athletic participation is an issue for the AD and the school Principal.

Just do what you do.

Very, very good advice from both of you.
In one case - we know the guy's mom socially and with our kid just graduated we know a lot of things that we shouldn't and I ignore the knowledge (but have it in the back of my mind).
We had our first league game last nite and both kids played great.
The more troubled guy had a postgame meeting courtside with the AD and liaison and I only heard the last - that he has to take responsibility for his own actions.
Was a great opportunity because when I spoke with him after I built on that - how he had taken on responsibility for his performance in the game and look how well he performed and he smiled and said, yeah. I left the gym with his Mom and Grandma and he was smiling.
I've got a special coach in - a former big guy from town who played D2 - and he's been coaching my posts. I think the special attention they're getting is helping their confidence.
When the other guy came off the guys on the bench gave him high fives and I told him how great he played and he looked happy - I suspect (he's a poor kid) that those were the only compliments he got all day, maybe all semester.
I definitely agree my responsibility is 94 feet long, but I hope that the kids can learn more than how to box out.

I like the idea of organizing a support team with the teacher liaison, AD and the parents to all get on the same page and to organize academic support. We won't win any trophies this year, but if two kids can leave with diplomas that wouldn't otherwise, and the team improves it will be a great season.

I am very glad I found this site.