Behavior Management: Setting Expectations & Tips

Vineyard Community Offerings aims to provide programs and events that are safe and fun for people of all backgrounds and cultures. To foster this environment, we have adopted the following policies and procedures regarding behavior expectations. 

Program wide expectations to which all participants are held: 

1. Respect your coach

2. Respect your teammates 

3. Try your hardest

General Tips for Managing your Team

1. Set expectations early and clearly --go over them at the beginning of each night to set the tone of the evening. You might need to flesh out what the expectation means (Respect your coach means…).  Ask kids if they have any additional expectations to add. This is way of contracting with the kids and getting them to own the expectations for themselves.  As the week progresses, have the kids recall/share what the expectations are to each other.  
   
   
2. Call and response*  – easy way to gain attention of large group – you can be creative with your method, but some examples include:
   -Clapping a sequence for the kids to repeat 
   -Clap clap, motion/voice (go around circle, everyone mimics what each person does)
   -Come up with a consistent call and response for their team:
   e.g. : You: “Hey gang!” Team: “Hey coach!” You: “How you doin?” Team: “Grreeeeat!” You: “Take a knee!” Them: “Okay!”
   -Use call and response to teach drills
   e.g. have them turn to the kid next to them and teach the drill “follow through till I see the bottom of your shoe”
   
   
3. Be confident and following through is key.  If you say there will be consequences and then there aren’t, the kids will walk all over you (and we don’t want that!)
   
   
4. Have fun!  – if you are engaged and outwardly enjoying yourself, this energy will transfer to the kids! Be positive, even in your disciplining.

Examples of not meeting expectations

Examples of not ‘respecting your coach’ could include ·         

• A student giving attitude or talking back.
• A student not listening while Coach is talking.
• A student not following instructions.

Examples of not ‘Respecting your teammates’ could include

• A student calling another student “stupid”.
• A student booing another student.
• A student teasing another student.
•  A student laughing at another student.
• A student gently pushing another student.

Examples of not ‘trying your hardest’ could include 

• A student who is goofing off.
• A student who is distracting other players.
• A student who is not participating.
• A student who is complaining about the drills or activities.