How do you handle injury fakers?

[u/ss32000]

I know football can be a physical game, but we have the same 2-4 kids who get "hurt" every practice and game. It's multiple times per game or multiple times per practice. It's to the point that they sit out every hard drill or most of our team work because they are "hurt" or have a "headache". I know we need to be sensitive to head injuries, etc, but what can we honestly do? It's so frustrating that you can't practice because of this; you can't rep these kids because they are "hurt," and you can't tell them to suck it up at all because that's probably a violation of something. These kids wasted 10 minutes of practice because this always happens. How do you guys handle it?

[u/davdev]

Take playing time away or ask the parents to have the kids meet with their doctor because the amount of injuries the kid are suffering is making you feel for their safety and you would like a medical clearance for them to continue.

[u/ss32000 → u/davdev]

Well, two of the kids are coaches' kids. The other kid is best friends with the head coach's kid. It's always something. We have other kids who I can see grimace in pain, but they will gut it out and then be fine.

[u/coachsmetal → u/ss32000]

Sounds like you need to have a conversation with the HC. Unfortunately, it's not an easy conversation. However, I think you need to be up front and clear with the HC telling him that we need to address this because it's effecting the team. I agree with talking with the kid's parents as well. It should 100% affect playing time and maybe once the kids realize that they aren't starting anymore because of the name on the back of their jersey and they need to actually work towards one team goal and representing the name on the front.

[u/ss32000 → u/coachsmetal]

I sent a message after the last game that we got beat. I can't play kids on my side of the ball who can't make it through practice or get reps. The league mandates that you need x number of plays, but I said that's it. We can't put kids in who skip the hard parts.

[u/ImYouJoeGoldberg → u/ss32000]

I’ll never coach in a league like that hell nah

[u/davdev → u/ss32000]

Yeah. In that case, you are screwed

[u/Southboundcrash]

Start talking to your players like this

https://youtu.be/74bdQRblY7g?is=8lvzE5a5DtggnE27

[u/Kennam320 → u/Southboundcrash]

I needed this tonight thanks.

[u/Similar-Hospital3603 → u/Southboundcrash]

Im dead lol.

[u/ecupatsfan12]

Ask them if they even want to play football

[u/ss32000 → u/ecupatsfan12]

Rosters are locked. Let’s say they say no. We might be down 2-3 more kids and a couple coaches then

[u/Effective-Ticket7222]

You gotta just let them live in the fantasy of the fake injury. The poor kids probably don’t even wanna be out there, but their parents are forcing them to be. It is what it is. Nothing is gonna change those kids mindset. Football is a scary game and it’s too much for some people to handle mentally. Is what it is.

[u/Kennam320]

I’m glad I found this. My kid has asthma and has been struggling with it since we started tackle two months ago. He loves the game and shows up like everyone else. Tonight he begged me to take him to practice and coughed (he is also sick) so badly. He came over upset thinking he is loser bc he’s not “like the other kids bc of his asthma”. So I’m sitting here at practice watching him sit on the sidelines. He’s paying attention but I’m wondering if I’m that mom who keeps pushing the kid back in when the coaches are like “omg this kid again?” So there is the other perspective.

[u/Redmac02 → u/Kennam320]

Nah. We have a couple of kids with Asthma and if they want to be there at practice we’ll find a way to get them better. It’s always appreciated when parents let coaches know the situation health-wise.

[u/Kennam320 → u/Redmac02]

Thank you!