Is This Fair of the Coach?

[BrunotheIII]

I am currently in 8th grade, and just recently had surgery (around Dec. 20, so not that recent) on the back of my ankle. It has taken a LONNGGG time to heal, but is almost done. The doctor says he still does not want me to run so it gets completely healed...

Okay, now for the situation... well i can not run...but i play goalie. Anyway, there are so many kids for our 7th/8th grade team, that there is going to be an A and B team. I was not really worried about this considering the fact that the other goalie plan out SUCKS. Not only that but he is just an annoying kid. Also, i am a VERY(well thats what i have been told) good goalie. I played with the 8th grade team last year (as a 7th grader) and played with the high schoolers at my lacrosse camp over the summer(was going into 8th grade then) and i did pretty well. I was about as good as high school goalie. Maybe he just sucked...anyway. I have a reputation as one of the best goalies in my local area. Okay, so we were at practice today, and while the team was doing sprints i was talking to the new coach. (Old coach couldn't commit enough time), and i asked, "Do you think that my injury will effect my chance of making the A team?". And he simply replied, if you can not participate with the team and the other goalie can, you are going to be on the B team. This just shocked me...And the thing is...goalies do not really have to run, only some cases, but still. I can still step to the ball and all. The thing that really tics me off is that he has seen both of us play. Not to brag or anything, but i was doing REALLLY well, and the other goalie...well not so well

So my question is, do you believe this is fair? If not, how can i prove he (the coach) is making the wrong decision?

[Lax4life528]

Well, he said "if you can not participate with the team and the other goalie can." If you can participate like you said, you will be on the team. If not, it only makes sense that the other goalie play. Its better to have a bad goalie than no goalie because the one you planned on using can't play. I believe its totally fair. Also, you have quite an ego my friend.

[BrunotheIII]

Well, he said "if you can not participate with the team and the other goalie can." If you can participate like you said, you will be on the team. If not, it only makes sense that the other goalie play. Its better to have a bad goalie than no goalie because the one you planned on using can't play. I believe its totally fair. Also, you have quite an ego my friend.

The thing is, i am participating. I just can not run... I am going to practice, and playing catch with the bounce back while the team is running.

[kgoal95]

I would say If you ge picked for the B team the other goalie is gona be horrible and the coach isnt going to picka bad goalie for the better team dont worry, If your on the B team all the kids will be mad they have a bad goalie. My team had two goalies I was alot better than then him but we shared time and every time he got in my team would get so mad so just try to prove that your better Good Luck

[mcnutty93]

I'm lovin the modesty! jk
Just try your best and if you get put on the B team, oh well, you tried
maybe your coach thinx you're arrogant, or he dislikes you
there is alway a chance that you could be brought up to the A team

[CTwestongoalie]

according to your story, if you get put on the b team, then all that will happen is the a team will suck and be scored on a lot and lose plenty of their games. if you are exaggerating a little bit, then i don't think that the other goalie will be moved.

[UVAlaxer432]

Just because your on B doesnt mean that you are bad. Just try to make the most out of your situation, whatever the case happens to be.

[raiderlax335]

None of us can help you get on the A team, thats under your control. Honestly if I was the coach I'd be hesitant to put a player that cannot run on the A team. My advice to you would be don't worry about it. As important as it may seem right now, high school is when it really counts. Regardless of what team you make work your hardest so that you can improve and make sure you let your heel heal back to normal. Once you can run, condition as much as you can to get back into shape, it will be worth it. With that said, good luck.

[g04L13 iNSANiTY]

Also, I'm an 8th grade goalie as well and since it's just modified, it doesn't really make that big of a difference if we win or lose. Middle school teams are trying to get players ready for JV and Varsity, so your coach may be looking at it as since he's doing a lot more work than you are, then he should be on the better team. He may not even care whether he does bad, he might be trying to make an example of you. And, he might think because you haven't been running that you're endurance is going to be bad and you're going to get tired during the game.

[Jetpac]

Speaking as someone who works very closely with sports injuries and some elite athletes:

Dont be a fool and play on it.
Just because you can play doesnt mean you should. lacrosse is still a contact sport regardless and you damage that ankle after surgery you are more likely to have it fked up for life.

Be sensible about it and take your time getting back into it.
Sure its nearly healed but you need rehab time to get the body used to it. i would rather miss half or a whole season then have my ankle messed up for life.

Ive seen it too many times with other people.

take care of yourself man

[yellowjackt526]

or maybe you'll get on the b team and your team will be better than the a team.

[viking goalie]

as a coach, I would have done the same thing. You're not 100% and the other goalie is, that gives him priority regardless of skill. just accept this for the time being, don't rush back into playing and make sure you are 100% healed, then go get your spot on the A team.

[Live4It]

Yea it's fair. If you can't participate, and do stuff that the other goalie can then yea, it's fair. I know you said you can play, but if you can't run, then you're not gonna do good in game situations, if though it's little goalies still have to run, and if the situation comes up where you have to run, and you can't, then you're screwed.

And to whoever said:
it doesn't really make that big of a difference if we win or lose.
I don't know about you, but no matter what the situation is, I want to win, I don't care if I was playing on a preschool lacrosse team. Maybe I'm just too competitive, but the words, "it doesn't really make that big of a difference if we win or lose.", wouldn't come out of my mouth.

[attacktictix 3]

i sorta had the same sitution last year on my 6th grade team the coaches son was goalie and i wanted to be goalie but the coaches son was better but in practice they never let me try to be goalie i got to do it 1nce during tryouts cause the other coach is actually nice...then at a camp i went to i was the goalie i only averaged 4 points a game when the other goalie was like 6 or 7, not saying im better its just kinda ironic... (the only reason why they won more is cause there middies were really good.)

[smalbikpro]

i think its very fair. this year we have a new trainer called birk spencer coming to work with our team for conditioning, and its just an hour and a half of death every time he comes. and on our team i have zero respect for kids who fake injuries (im not saying your faking) to get out of doing the work. if you dont do the same amount of work, its not fair to the other goalie who does.

[HdGLaxWarrior]

Speaking as someone who works very closely with sports injuries and some elite athletes:

Dont be a fool and play on it.
Just because you can play doesnt mean you should. lacrosse is still a contact sport regardless and you damage that ankle after surgery you are more likely to have it fked up for life.

Be sensible about it and take your time getting back into it.
Sure its nearly healed but you need rehab time to get the body used to it. i would rather miss half or a whole season then have my ankle messed up for life.

Ive seen it too many times with other people.

take care of yourself man

+1

listen to this guy. you may think your ankle is fine, but it only takes 1 thing to happen to mess it up for the rest of your life.

i think its very fair. this year we have a new trainer called birk spencer coming to work with our team for conditioning, and its just an hour and a half of death every time he comes. and on our team i have zero respect for kids who fake injuries (im not saying your faking) to get out of doing the work. if you dont do the same amount of work, its not fair to the other goalie who does.

i agree.

[CTwestongoalie]

smalbikpro-it shouldnt make you mad... it should make you happy. while you are running and conditioning, they are not. so you are getting in better shape and you will get more playing time than the people not running.

[smalbikpro]

smalbikpro-it shouldnt make you mad... it should make you happy. while you are running and conditioning, they are not. so you are getting in better shape and you will get more playing time than the people not running.

im not mad, i just said i dont have respect for kids who make up one injury after another so they dont have to do any work, but still get to tell the whole school theyre on the lax team when in reality they havent gotten one minute of game time in the last 6 games.

[BrunotheIII]

We have optional practices over spring break, so i think i am just going to stay home for that week and 1/2, with my leg up, hoping it will heal by then.

[HdGLaxWarrior]

We have optional practices over spring break, so i think i am just going to stay home for that week and 1/2, with my leg up, hoping it will heal by then.

that may also hurt your chances of making the A team as the other goalie might be there. even though they are optional, when you go it shows you're dedicated to the program. but since you are hurt, you should have a legit excuse as to why you weren't there.

[cnyminder]

Well if the surgery effects your play then your coach can say that but if you cant sprint and he says that it doesn't seem fair. I mean do you really need to go into a full blown sprint playing goalie.

[NC_Goalie_Girl]

Its totally fair. If you can't run sprints and laps with your team then I don't think you should play with the better team. I'm a goalie and I run every stinking thing the field players do. If you can't put in the conditioning work then your team's probaly going to hate your guts anyway. You could even screw up you ankle worse and then your really screwed.

BTW theres really no need to brag about how amazing you are. All we needed to hear was ' I'm better than the other goalie ' thats all...

[HdGLaxWarrior]

Its totally fair. If you can't run sprints and laps with your team then I don't think you should play with the better team. I'm a goalie and I run every stinking thing the field players do. If you can't put in the conditioning work then your team's probaly going to hate your guts anyway. You could even screw up you ankle worse and then your really screwed.

BTW theres really no need to brag about how amazing you are. All we needed to hear was ' I'm better than the other goalie ' thats all...

+1.

your cockiness is blinding you when it comes to the facts. coaches want players who are dedicated, ready to learn, and do what they say.

Well if the surgery effects your play then your coach can say that but if you cant sprint and he says that it doesn't seem fair. I mean do you really need to go into a full blown sprint playing goalie.

you may not need to, but you'll definately loose the respect for you they have. if you can't run sprints with them, why should you be on the team. team is a key word here. lacrosse is a team sport, you do the best thing for the team no matter what. you're being selfish and only thinking of yourself instead of the team.

all the teams i've been on the goalie runs the sprints with us. if you're that hurt, why are you even playing?

[matty1613]

Dude first of all you need to understand that lacrosse isn't won by an individual even being a goalie. I'm a goalie and a coach and my feelings are if you aren't 100% to play then you can't play. You are in 8th grade and just had a huge surgery you need to look further down the road then this season. Sorry to admit it but you are in 8th grade and until you reach varsity it's a different story. First work on getting 100% then get back to us. If you are as good as you say then get better and focus on the long-term effects of your injury. Plus never get upset about what a coach says you are young and need to understand that you haven't matured. The coach makes the decision because he is looking out for the team and also you. take it easy get better and focus on other parts of being a keeper like mental aspect because it seems you are lacking on that. To be a great goalie you need to discipline your emotions.

[g04L13 iNSANiTY]

If you really want to play that badly, you need to do another form of conditioning while the rest of the team runs. Playing wall ball doesn't count. Find something you can do thats equally as hard as running and show your coach that you're willing to do what you can to stay in shape

[MadCowDisease]

i say go to the practices, and work on stick skills or something else.

don't go back in too early though.
worst thing you could do is try to play and mess up your ankle even more.

[BCGoalie56]

Just put in all the work you can...if you can't run than put 150% into everything else you do, let him see that you want it. Granted being cocky and a jerk aren't a good thing, but there's nothin wrong with being a cocky goalie. It's your job to get out on the field and believe you're the best player out there, nobody can top you and nobody can beat you...you're the top dog, number 1. However, you also need to realize when you need to put work in. So stay cocky, know what you need to do, and give 150%...you do those thing and you'll be fine.

[m2daRizzle]

What your coach is saying is true. If the other goalie participates at practice more than you then he deserves the A team spot. Also, Goalies do have to run and be able to sprint. Good goalies have to be able to be a part of the clear and be able to be mobile outside of their crease. A goalie who can only stand in one place and make a lot of saves is more of a hindrance to a team than a goalie who can make a decent amount of save and be able to run the field with the defense.

[pythonlaxer]

I do see good sense in that decision. You only have 4 seconds in the crease with the ball, nobody is open, what do you do? You take it to X and now you have to run. So bascially you get hurt again, and now you're hurt even longer. So why would a coach want to put himself in that situation?