"These H.S. kids dropped some F bombs at me during a session! How to handle it?"

Today I got a message from a coach who is having problems with a few of the kids he trains in his private sports training business. 

This coach has been working with these high school kids for around three weeks now and he said that at the last session a couple of the kids he trains started cursing at him when he would try to give them instructions. 

I want to share with you some tips that can help you if you are a coach or trainer and have similar types of clients in your program. 

#1: Your business is a reflection of you

When you bring on new clients into your business you must set the standards first thing with them when they join you so they know what the rules and expectations are. 

I was very soft with kids when I first started my business and that ultimately led to my clients doing whatever they wanted during my sessions. 

You have to remember that when a new client joins your program they need to get a sense of feeling that this is a serious environment and if they chose to misbehave there will be consequences for their actions. 

If you're not going to discipline kids when they step out of line then they're going to keep doing it and they're going to keep treating you like you're like their math teacher that they can say and do whatever they want to. 

#2: Demonstrate leadership to your clients

A coach should be a leader and a mentor to his/her clients. A coach should never be run over by kids and you need to set the example so all future clients who join your program know the standards you have at your program. 

You need to make sure you have a process in place for when an athlete in your program steps out of line. An example of this might be pulling them to one side during the session and having them explain to you why they said or behaved in a certain way. 

Also, it's important to reinforce the rules and let them know that during your sessions that bad language or misbehaviour will not be tolerated and if it happens again they'll be consequences such as a parent meeting or worse expulsion from the program. 

It's very important that you learn to discipline your athletes from the beginning once they join your program and that you set the standards early with them so they know and are aware of the rules and expectations. 

I hope this helps, 

- Ben