Cell Phone Policy

While some teams don't get along very well, others can get along maybe a little too well. There are many reasons coaches create a cell phone policy during tournaments and it might be because he or she wants you to interact more with your teammates, or because he wants you to focus on the tournament. Some coaches might use both reasons for instituting a cell phone policy. In the past I have not really ever had a cell phone policy before playing club, but now it plays a big role in my behavior at tournaments.

Making sure you and your teammates stay off your phone can become difficult if someone is attached to their phone. It is important to build chemistry among you and our teammates and in order to do this you must actually interact. Cell phones get in the way of simple discussion and emotions of others. Through texts you can't truly understand how someone is feeling or see the smile on their face. There is something so much better in having a conversation face to face with someone rather than texting them. 

One reason I think having a cell phone policy is a great idea is because it allows for athletes to focus primarily on their games. There aren't any distractions outside of the arena and your mindset is on the game. Even if you talk to your parents it will probably be about how you are playing and they will not mention school or homework.

Another reason I think having a cell phone policy is a good idea is because it forces athletes to interact with their teammates and spend time with them. Yes, you may get tired of each other, but if you are scouting a team together you can discuss how to beat them, if you scout by yourself you might miss things or not have the perspectives of others. Discussing your game plan before warming up can immensely help a team.

While you might be one of those people who likes to sit in the corner with your face in your phone, you should force yourself to get off it. There are so many things you can be missing out on if your face is stuffed into your phone. The real world exists outside of that tiny little screen and athletes need to realize that phones truly aren't that important. The people around you are.