Switching coaches

[Anonymous]

When did you know that it was time to switch coaches? DD’s Coach has fought her from the beginning but has become increasingly negative and unhelpful. This has demoralized DD. I am concerned that switching will create bad blood. How would you handle this? Any excuse I can give - like it’s not you, it’s us?

[Anonymous]

What sport?

Easiest to blame driving distance (moving to a team that is closer to your home or kid’s school), finances, practice times etc.

Don’t say a negative word about the current coach or team to anyone (if you need to vent, do it to family or a trusted friend) and there shouldn’t be any bad blood.

[Anonymous]

I'll add a communications technique that I find very helpful. Once you've decided what you are going to tell the coach, just repeat it whenever asked and add nothing even if ppl ask follow-up questions.

so

You: "Larla is going to start working with Coach Kristin, because we wanted her to have experience adjusting to different coaching styles."

Coach: "What? Why would you do that"

You: "we wanted her to have experience adjusting to different coaching styles."

Coach: Are you mad becuase x, y, z?

You: shrug . . . "we wanted her to have experience adjusting to different coaching styles."

Thien do the exact same thing when friends/competitors ask about the coach change.