Confronting mediocrity, on the court and in the classroom

By Ryan Maloney, assistant women's volleyball coach

"(Coaches) are not willing to confront players when they are not exerting maximum effort and achieving maximum performance because it's a stressful, uncomfortable situation," Anson Dorrance wrote in Training Soccer Champions about many young coaches he observes. "They end up having a practice that is easy to run and fun to coach. And there are certainly no confrontations"

The fear of confrontations becomes even more obvious in college classrooms. Challenging students is risky business on a college campus today. Students often look for an easy road to a high GPA. If a professor stands in the way, maybe with a differing viewpoint or a harsh critique of an assignment, some professors, particularly adjuncts, had better watch out.

Students who get challenged are more likely to get a lower grade, are more likely to give the professor a negative review, and the professor is then more likely to lose his job if enough students complain. It's easier to just not rock the boat.

Anson Dorrance, head women's soccer coach
at North Carolina

Compare that to what I saw when I sat in on a Fredonia athletics practice last week. An athlete wasn't performing a particular skill correctly after repeatedly being told what to do. She wasn't listening to her coach. The coach walked over within a few feet of her and raised his voice, "Okay (name), now I'm pissed... " and went on to tell her what the consequence would be if she continued to ignore him.

Can you imagine a professor using that tone if a student didn't do the assigned reading?

Dorrance, who has given us insight about creating team chemistry and being happy as an athlete, continues his illuminating take on the subject:

"The result is that the standards are lowered. And before you know it, you don't have a team of high achievers, you don't have high standards, and you have lowered your sights as a coach. The coaches think they are building confidence and self-esteem in their players, and all they are really doing is lowering a standard."