Youth Inc. Recommends: How to Deal with Difficult Players

Every coach, no matter how experienced, will eventually face a challenging player—whether it's the highly talented but uncoachable athlete, the one who refuses to put in effort, or the player who stirs up conflict with teammates. These situations can test a coach’s patience, leadership, and emotional intelligence. 

But they can also be opportunities. When approached with the right mindset, difficult players can reveal gaps in communication, culture, or structure—and help coaches become stronger leaders. Coaching isn’t just about Xs and Os; it’s about developing people, especially the ones who need it most. 

Here are four resources that offer tips, tools, and perspectives for coaching through conflict and turning difficult moments into growth opportunities. 

5 Basic Tips for Coaches to Handle Difficult Players 

What it is: A concise, actionable article that provides five strategies coaches can use to handle challenging athletes in a constructive way. 

 
Why we like it: It offers practical tips with a coach-first mindset—emphasizing connection, communication, and consistency over punishment. 

Managing Conflict as a Coach 

What it is: A short video that explores how coaches can reframe their perspective when working with tough personalities on their team. 

Why we like it: It’s honest, experienced-based, and speaks to the importance of empathy and patience without sugarcoating the challenge. 

How to Coach the "Uncoachable" Athlete 

What it is: A thought-provoking piece that challenges the label “uncoachable” and reframes it as a coachability issue rooted in connection and approach. 

Why we like it: It gives coaches the power to take ownership of the environment they create and encourages influence through trust, not control. 

Coaching the Lazy Athlete 

What it is: A blog post that helps coaches understand the psychology behind “lazy” behavior and how to reignite motivation in young athletes. 
Why we like it: It digs beneath the surface and provides emotionally intelligent coaching solutions that move beyond labeling and into growth.