by Michael Riggs, M.Ed.<\/p>\n
Rules <\/strong>have a purpose. [Rules are arbitrary]. Rules <\/strong>keep order. [Rules are the root cause of disorder]. Rules <\/strong>give members parameters within which they function. [Rules restrict players\u2019 creativity and undermine performance]. Rules <\/strong>give structure. [Rules bind]. Rules <\/strong>must be maintained at all times. [Rules should be applied sparingly]. Rules <\/strong>are the foundations for greatness. [Rules have never led to a championship].<\/p>\n All groups — from families of four to teams of forty to civilizations of four million — rely on structure and order <\/strong>to develop and maintain a sense of direction. Rules <\/strong>are the very fiber that sustain order<\/strong>. Without order<\/strong>, there may be existence in its most basic form, but there wouldn\u2019t be growth and development. Rules<\/strong>, at their functional best, are created by the people within the organization that will be responsible for adherence and safeguarding. Within the arrangement of an athletic team<\/strong>, should the rules <\/strong>be laws that are set-in-stone or are they general guidelines that players <\/strong>and coaches <\/strong>should follow to keep the team <\/strong>rolling along in a smooth manner?<\/p>\n As coaches<\/strong>, this answer is directly tied to your philosophy of coaching<\/strong>. You may, for example, feel that one of your fundamental purposes is to teach your players <\/strong>that \u201call players <\/strong>are equal regardless of skill level.\u201d Subsequently, your rules <\/strong>would be more permanent and less malleable. If a standout player misses a practice or breaks a team <\/strong>rule, then the penalty will apply \u2013 even if it means he must miss a key game against a key opponent and the team\u2019s chances of winning are significantly reduced. The rule precedes all situations and will be adhered to at all times.<\/p>\n However, fundamental to your philosophy of coaching <\/strong>may be that \u201csport is seldom cut and dry, and our primary goal is to win games.\u201d In this setting, a case-by-case governing policy would be applied and the rules <\/strong>would be upheld or overruled based upon how the team\u2019s success <\/strong>would be affected. This method is clearly one of relativity.<\/p>\n Both of these rule enforcement styles, as well as scores that haven\u2019t been discussed, have merit and function. What is at issue here is that coaches <\/strong>need to realize that they must remain consistent <\/strong>and that their policy has both direct and indirect ramifications upon the field of play. The coach <\/strong>that sets clear and distinct rules<\/strong>, and applies them equitably, is creating an atmosphere of discipline <\/strong>and fairness <\/strong>within his team. This has clear benefits as it allows all players <\/strong>and coaches <\/strong>to know what to expect and removes the \u201cBut, I didn\u2019t know\u201d and \u201cC\u2019mon coach, just this one time\u201d excuses from player\u2019s repertoire. It also reduces relativity and increases accountability<\/strong>. This policy, however, may also create an atmosphere of extreme rigidity and inflexibility that could flow over onto the field of play and downgrade the players\u2019 abilities to \u201clet it fly and play loose.\u201d Great performers do not like to be caged.<\/p>\n The program that functions within a more liaise faire setting may have a distinct advantage in that players <\/strong>and coaches <\/strong>can spend their time and energy focusing upon preparing for competition <\/strong>and are less distracted by petty team rules<\/strong>. Nothing will pull a team off course more quickly than the minutia of rule infraction, enforcement <\/strong>and distraction. Conversely, at a primary level all exceptional players<\/strong>, coaches<\/strong>, and teams <\/strong>are founded upon rock-solid fundamentals. It could be argued that fundamentals are rules, and avoiding rules is tantamount to avoiding fundamentals. Playing loose is vital when it comes to playing at a championship level, but playing too loose transforms into sloppiness very quickly.<\/p>\n As a coaching staff and as an organization, rules and the subsequent enforcement <\/strong>policy should be discussed, drafted and communicated, in advance, to all members of the team. It is imperative that the rules <\/strong>and enforcement <\/strong>policy reflect the philosophy of the coaches and the program and that penalties be doled out with consistency and in a swift manner. However, it is equally important that the program\u2019s policies govern and encourage a flow of teamwork<\/strong>, excitement, discipline<\/strong>, and accountability and they don\u2019t act as a noose that strangles creativity and greatness.<\/p>\n S\u00b2 Tip<\/strong><\/p>\n Make solid team <\/strong>rules <\/strong>based upon your goals <\/strong>and stick to them with sturdy resolve. Above, all else, do not have nonsensical rules, as they will undermine your team\u2019s success.<\/p>\n In Another\u2019s Words\u2026<\/strong><\/p>\n “There is no point at which you can say, \u201cWell, I\u2019m successful <\/strong>now. I might as well take a nap.\u201d” Related Articles<\/p>\n Setting Team Ground Rules<\/a><\/p>\n TEAM GROUNDRULES<\/a><\/p>\n
\n\u2013 Carrie Fisher, actress, writer<\/p>\n