A recent study conducted by Bucknell University found that coaches in the NBA have a tendency to give more playing time to athletes of their own race. Though it may not apply racially, coach bias is an issue in sports that spreads from the professional levels all the way down to the high school level.
The relationship between coaches and their players can make or break the season. Coach bias can hurt the confidence of players and cause them to feel isolated from their team. However, what may seem like a biased decision on the coachs’ part may not be without reason.
“It is inevitable given the situation,” Athletics Director Mr. Ralph Fick said. “Athletes often have a different perception of their skills than that of their coach so a logical, yet incorrect, assumption is that the coach favors the other athlete.”
Coaches have different reasons for giving more playing time to others based on criterias such as matchups on the court, knowledge of the game and the current score and situation of a game.
Distributing playing time is a hard task for many coaches and it is hard to satisfy every player. In the end, coaches will make decisions that benefit the team over decisions that benefit a single player.
“We are working on making sure that all of our players understand that everyone has a role on the team and that they have a significant effect on their own playing time,” Coach Mr. Marc Shettleroe said. “More importantly the team is greater than the individual.”
Although coach bias seems like a complicated issue, simple communication can help mend the relationship between coach and player. Athletes should be willing to talk to their coaches about their problems. Coaches are usually willing to listen to the complaints. Both parties must come to an understanding for the better of the team. Players must realize that coaches make decisions that they believe is best for both the player and the team.
“The coach has to make that decision and often, there is someone on the other end who isn’t always in agreement with the coach’s decision,” Coach Mr. Lyle Takeshita said. “Players and parents don’t always agree with the coach to what’s best for the team, and often it’s because they want what is best for themselves and their children.”
Coach bias may seem like a complicated issue, but it has a simple solution: communication.