Why Boundaries Create Freedom, Not Restriction
Stepping into an established program as a new coach? You're about to clash with teenagers who have their own "set ways" of doing things—and not all of them are productive. In this episode, Tex McQuilkin breaks down the counterintuitive truth that coaches who avoid setting firm boundaries aren't creating freedom for their athletes; they're creating insecurity and fear.
Drawing from 17 years of coaching experience across multiple programs, Tex explores why teenagers naturally resist authority, how past experiences with unhealthy boundaries shape their behavior, and what it takes to establish rules that actually stick.
The Bottom Line: The more time you spend correcting behaviors and fighting resistance, the less time you have developing skills and winning games. But establishing boundaries requires courage—the courage to stand firm when teenagers test you, to be consistent when it's uncomfortable, and to prioritize their long-term character development over short-term ease.
