What are the most difficult challenges and best solutions in handling critical illness, injury or death of an athlete or member of your coaching staff?

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Administrator What are the most difficult challenges and best solutions in handling critical illness, injury or death of an athlete or member of your coaching staff?

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Rodrick Lawson Subject of post : Re : What are the most difficult challenges and best solutions in handling critical illness, injury or death of an athlete or member of your coaching staff?
Posted on : 06:58:05 5/04/100 ET(US)
We had a situation similar to this happen with our school.
A student athlete went to college in N. dakota and was in a car accident.
That led to the deaths of all in the accident 4 football players.
One was from our program at Cocoa High here in Florida. We closed school for
a half day and brought the family in and gave the students a chance to
openly mourn. we retired his jersey number and planted a tree in his honor.
I believe it helped the other kids on the team realize there was
something more important than just being a part of football. It was the love that came
from being a part of a community. We had a problem with high school recruiting and the
kids realized that they could not get this kind of love from a community that they did not
grow up in.

John Krates Subject of post : Re : What are the most difficult challenges and best solutions in handling critical illness, injury or death of an athlete or member of your coaching staff?
Posted on : 09:08:27 2/09/99 ET(US)
I've experienced an athlete death in the team first hand and its not easy. I think we were not mentally prepared as everyone was in a state of shock. I wish we had thought through on dealing with such situations ahead of time...it would have made our response much better.

Todd Koering Subject of post : Re : What are the most difficult challenges and best solutions in handling critical illness, injury or death of an athlete or member of your coaching staff?
Posted on : 09:20:29 1/04/99 ET(US)
I think you need to evaluate the member of your program. Identify how that person handles troubled issues, and
approach them in a manner they will accept. If they are open and willing to talk, then set aside time to meet one on one.
Maybe the person hurting is very closed off and wants to be alone through their troubled time. Then that person needs to
hear your there for them, but just let them have their space. Like any pain, in time it will heal. All in all I beleive you need
to be approachable and willing to let the individual know you are there for them.

Coach Anderson Subject of post : Re : What are the most difficult challenges and best solutions in handling critical illness, injury or death of an athlete or member of your coaching staff?
Posted on : 11:42:50 12/31/98 ET(US)
You can't pretend that these things aren't happening. It'm important to talk about it with your team and help them understand it. A lot of the time, teammates will be afraid that the same thing could happen to them. It's scary for them. You have to talk to them and let them voice their fears.

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Administrator	What are the most difficult challenges and best solutions in handling critical illness, injury or death of an athlete or member of your coaching staff?

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Rodrick Lawson	Subject of post : Re : What are the most difficult challenges and best solutions in handling critical illness, injury or death of an athlete or member of your coaching staff? Posted on : 06:58:05 5/04/100 ET(US) We had a situation similar to this happen with our school. A student athlete went to college in N. dakota and was in a car accident. That led to the deaths of all in the accident 4 football players. One was from our program at Cocoa High here in Florida. We closed school for a half day and brought the family in and gave the students a chance to openly mourn. we retired his jersey number and planted a tree in his honor. I believe it helped the other kids on the team realize there was something more important than just being a part of football. It was the love that came from being a part of a community. We had a problem with high school recruiting and the kids realized that they could not get this kind of love from a community that they did not grow up in.

John Krates	Subject of post : Re : What are the most difficult challenges and best solutions in handling critical illness, injury or death of an athlete or member of your coaching staff? Posted on : 09:08:27 2/09/99 ET(US) I've experienced an athlete death in the team first hand and its not easy. I think we were not mentally prepared as everyone was in a state of shock. I wish we had thought through on dealing with such situations ahead of time...it would have made our response much better.

Todd Koering	Subject of post : Re : What are the most difficult challenges and best solutions in handling critical illness, injury or death of an athlete or member of your coaching staff? Posted on : 09:20:29 1/04/99 ET(US) I think you need to evaluate the member of your program. Identify how that person handles troubled issues, and approach them in a manner they will accept. If they are open and willing to talk, then set aside time to meet one on one. Maybe the person hurting is very closed off and wants to be alone through their troubled time. Then that person needs to hear your there for them, but just let them have their space. Like any pain, in time it will heal. All in all I beleive you need to be approachable and willing to let the individual know you are there for them.

Coach Anderson	Subject of post : Re : What are the most difficult challenges and best solutions in handling critical illness, injury or death of an athlete or member of your coaching staff? Posted on : 11:42:50 12/31/98 ET(US) You can't pretend that these things aren't happening. It'm important to talk about it with your team and help them understand it. A lot of the time, teammates will be afraid that the same thing could happen to them. It's scary for them. You have to talk to them and let them voice their fears.