Relationships or Integrity?

High school basketball tryouts start next week. As head coach, I must make tough decisions by cutting players.

To be truthful, this hurt. I never like telling a kid he or she is not good enough.

Unfortunately, 60 kids will try out for 12 spots. Many kids will get their feelings hurt. To add to this, I intimately know many players (and families), who may get cut.

The question is “Do I keep the best 12 players, or do I give preference to kids that I know (even though they may not be in the top 12)?”

In summation, which value will I choose: Relationships or Integrity? Although relationships are critical to me, in this instance, I’m going to emphatically choose INTEGRITY!

This doesn’t mean I don’t value those relationships I have. In fact, I’ll do something to allow kids (who were cut) to be part of and grow with program. I still love them!

Hopefully, when this goes down, those on short end of stick will understand.

Cheers,
Coach Berry

About the author 

Coach Berry

John Berry (a.k.a. Coach Berry) has been a basketball coach and skill development trainer since 1993 and has coached hundreds of games and instructed 1,000’s of kids. Coach Berry is, and always has been committed to helping youth in life and on the basketball court.

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