Player/Character #15 -- Benny the Braggart
Posted: Friday, December 28, 2007
by Dr. Peter Pierro
Peregrine Press of OK
Well, here's the last of the Falcons -- and perhaps the most difficult case. You may have had trouble with him in the past but now you know how you can figure out a kid's game by the tactics he uses. But you better work fast because the rest of the crew doesn't understand him and they can get sick of him and his act real quick.
"Did you see that shot? Right over the defender's head and off the cross bar!" "How about that neat pass; I made that guy look silly." "Dribbled right around that sucker and left him with his nose in the grass." "Another big goal -- put us in the W column." On and on and on he goes without having a clue about how the other players are reacting to his bragging. However, you know what's happening -- you can see their eyes rolling up into their heads.
Your thoughts: You know Ben's big talk is an attention getter -- the wrong kind -- you also know there's a poor self-image at work here. And you know the damage this can do to the Pack.
There are two rules to follow in communicating with Benny. First, give him all the attention he can stand and only when he isn't asking for it. And second, ignore him when he is asking for attention.
Be patient with Benny confront him sometimes, "Is that the best you will ever do?" "What do you think about that great stop Winnie made?" Keep the communication line open under your rules and control.
A great place to deal with Benny is in the Coach/Team after game meeting -- Listen in to "Who scored that goal?" You: Well, we pulled that game out of the fire. That goal we scored in the middle of the second half turned the game around. Let's go over how we did that. Lester, what did you do to start it?
Lester: I saw their guy fake a pass to the guy on his right. I didn't go for the fake and I stepped in and stole the pass on the left sideline. Stan came over and gave me a good angle so I passed to him.
You: Stan
Stan: I faked their defender and took the ball right down the middle. I saw Terry was open for the wall pass.
You: You did a nice job getting open, Terry. What did you do then?
Terry: Stan was really going. I laid a pass out in front of him and he took it on the run.
Stan: I gave it off to Ollie -- he was heading for the near post.
You: Ollie?
Ollie: I faked a shot and pulled their goalkeeper over to my side. Benny was coming up on the other side and I fed him a pass.
You: Benny?
Benny: Ollie gave me a good lead and I saw that their goalkeeper couldn't get back to my side so I shot the ball inside the far post.
You: Great! O.K. then -- Who scored that goal?
All Together: The Pack -- We are the Falcons!!
Peter S. Pierro, EdD parentscoachesasteam.com
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