APRIL 2016 Fastpitch Delivery PAGE 17 COUNSEL’S CORNER

Power players may not be ones in lineup By SAMANTHA EKSTRAND not see much, if any, playing time. That Your second- and third-string players NFCA Legal Counsel may seem like an obvious statement: are vitally important to your program. The kids who don’t get to play most Are you treating them as such? Who are the power players on often complain. My question to you is, The teams that I have seen with your team? I expect that many of “What are you doing about it?” the most positive culture have had you would name your clutch hitter or How are you interacting with the a vibrant, energetic bench. You perhaps your go-to . Or maybe players who don’t play in games? Or could see it on those kid’s faces – you would say it is your or in preparing for competition, are you they love their team and would run who consistently make focusing only on the players who start? through a wall for their teammate the big plays, or your who sets I hear from coaches that, with the or . They cheered, played the tone on the field? pace of the season, it is too hard to hard in practice and brought a spend time on those players who need palpable spirit to the team, all WHILE THESE talented and more developing their skills — that is while not being chosen to compete skilled players can make a difference what the offseason is for. Now is the in games. don’t believe that those in a game, I propose that your bench time to focus on winning games. were just happy kids. I think the players are the ones who can make difference was that those coaches Samantha Ekstrand, the legal counsel a difference in your program — and THE COROLLARY is that those valued those players, and those whose services are included with NFCA your career. bench players need to toughen up, players knew it. At the end of the membership, co-founded the law firm of I am frequently asked, “What can sacrifice for the team, give all of their day, isn’t that why we play on a Ekstrand & Ekstrand with her husband Bob I do to increase my job security?” time, energy and heart, continue to try team — to be part of something in 2002. One important answer is to create a to earn a spot on the field and cheer for greater than ourselves? She oversees the firm’s management, positive team culture. That response is evaluating prospective cases, advising on their teammates, even if they never get The disconnect now is that many case strategy, assisting clients and managing sometimes met with a puzzled look, as in the game. My response as a coach’s kids have grown up believing that the crisis situations. She also drafts and reviews though it is not the magic legal answer lawyer is that the “deal with your role value of being an athlete is in being contracts, negotiates employment contracts they were looking for. and be happy” approach to your bench the star, making the big play, getting and separation agreements, analyzes poten- I would argue that a vibrant positive players is not in your best interest or the big hit. Youth sports, parents and tial legal claims pre-litigation, performs risk team culture with happy players is your team’s and will likely affect your society have reinforced this notion: management for organizations and prepares as much a guarantee of job security job security. Being on a team can be fun, but the simple wills and trusts. as a multi-year contract. And on the Ekstrand received her Juris Doctor from Consider for a moment that your best players are the most important. Duke Law School, and received a master’s flip side, a program with low morale, bench players are indeed your Or you have only played a good game in history from Duke University, where she a lack of team unity and even just a “power players.” Those eight to 12 if you got strikeouts, hit a home run or worked as a staff editor for the Duke Law few disgruntled players remains one players who rarely play in a game can made the heroic diving catch. Journal and served as a volunteer assistant of the biggest threats to a coach’s job make a huge impact on your team’s Given that, your challenge as a coach coach for seven years with the Duke wom- security. performance, your team’s culture and is to recognize the value in all of your en’s lacrosse team. She is also a former high school teacher. your career. If they are negative and players, to make that a fundamental AS I MENTIONED in this column critical, they can bring the team spirit tenet of your team culture, to build last month, the end-of-the-year player down. Conversely, if they are positive a team. Yes, you still need to have chance of succeeding as a team and as surveys have become a critical job and enthusiastic, they can invigorate a standards and values, and you will need a coach. performance evaluation tool for team. So, how are you coaching them? to demand commitment and sacrifice, Don’t make your approach to your athletic administrators. Realize now Are you bringing out the best in your but you all will benefit by encouraging bench into this generation’s version that each of your players will likely bench? Doing so could be your edge, and validating the contributions each of walking to school in the snow both be completing a survey on the season. your competitive advantage. person makes to the team. ways uphill. Recognize that it is not Look down your roster and think about I absolutely understand and agree The kind, quantity and quality of easy to board a bus for a five-plus hour what each of those players will write with the proposition that players have those contributions may differ, but ride and a three day, four-game road about their experience on your team. roles and some are not talented enough each one can make you a stronger, trip, knowing that you will put your How will they describe you as a to be on the field or in a particular more competitive team with a positive uniform on but most likely will not coach and the time they spent as a game. Coaches want to win and the team culture. step up to the plate to bat. softball player this year? If you were best players play the most. For those who read this and scowl, Don’t we all crave a sense of purpose in their shoes, what would you write? thinking that you don’t want to cater and the knowledge that our time and HOWEVER, you also could not to the complainers and that coaching efforts mean something? See your THE MAJORITY of complaints adequately function as a team with didn’t used to be like this, I concede bench players as a source of power against coaches that I have seen come only those 9-10 players who play in a that times have changed. and energy for your team and for your not from a clutch hitter or go-to pitcher, game. How could you practice without Nevertheless, maximizing the value career. A great coach doesn’t only but from the student-athletes who do your bench? How could you run drills? of all of your players gives you the best coach the great players. FD