Coaching manuals tell you what to look for when conducting athlete movement assessments, what cues are beneficial, and how to train special populations or youth. How often do you see a manual or article telling coaches how to fire an athlete?

It's not uncommon for athletes to switch coaches and teams, but for some reason, the topic of coaches firing athletes seems to be taboo in our community. Think back in your Rolodex of coaching articles you've read: how many discussed firing "the talent"? Not many. Headline news or not, this is a topic coaches need to familiarize themselves with. Learn when it's time to cut ties with an individual and how to do it tactfully so your coaching career doesn't go up in flames.

Why Disassociating with an Athlete is Necessary

It may seem like a no-brainer, but your athlete reflects on you. Your reputations are intertwined. If your athlete keeps doing things that reflect poorly on you, then no amount of talent can outweigh that damage. Additionally, some of these behaviors also take away from the positive aspects of your club and negatively impact the athlete’s fellow teammates.

When Cutting Ties Needs to Happen

In the wise words of Kenny Rogers, "You got to know when to hold 'em. Know when to fold 'em. Know when to walk away. And know when to run."  But if you're just salty like me and 98 percent of the world annoys you, or if you have a personality clash with an athlete, that doesn't necessarily mean you need to fire them from your services and your team.

To help navigate the differences between tolerable dissimilarities and "you gots to go!" moments, I've put together a list of offenses that could warrant a dismissal.

• Programming Has Become a Guideline: This is one of the ultimate no-nos. That's the scientific term for "Homeboy (or homegirl) thinks your programming ain't shit". So what if they pay you for your services and expertise, and you spend a lot of time working on their specialized program? They think they know what's best, and it's not your program.  You start to notice they are adding in exercises, or entire workouts, that aren't prescribed. Maybe they even hide them from you… but you can't hide a lackluster performance that occurs from it. For the life of you, you can't figure out why their performance has gone to the dogs. Don't get me wrong: an athlete and a coach need to communicate about what is working, what isn't working, and what, if anything, needs to be altered. The inherent trust is gone when an athlete starts supplementing or adding in extra workouts so it may be too late to save that relationship. Cut that tie and move on.
• Deloads are Nonexistent: Deloads exist for a reason. Your body needs them. Olympians need them. Beginners need them. If your athlete, even after the requisite "Come to Jesus" meeting, still insists on trying to PR on his deload weeks, then it may be high time to high-tail it out of there. Their performance on the platform reflects on you, too.
• Respect Is Just a Song Aretha Franklin Sang About: Respect is a two-way street. You should respect your athletes, and they should also respect you. If they disrespect you, their teammates, or officials (on a routine basis), then they may need the ax. Granted, you should always approach them first and try to heal the situation, but sometimes even that doesn't work.
• Social Media Is Their Lord and Savior: This can be a tricky situation because the world these days just loves a 15-second video and hot air spewing. But if your athlete is derailing their training in the name of "Insta-Fame" or is constantly berating other folks on the platforms, then it may be time to cut ties. You can't police the internet or your athletes, but what they do is a reflection on you. Plus, it's a good learning experience for them if they ever want a sponsorship.
• They Can't Keep It in Their Pants: Now, this isn't a rule for every team. And there can be exceptions if individuals are adults about it. However, if an athlete (or a trainer) can't keep their hormones in check and plows through the team so much so that you're hemorrhaging athletes as a result of it, then maybe it's time to reassess if this person is worth the headache.
• Illegal Drug Use: Again, this is a testy subject for some folks. The reality of the situation is that you're a USAW club. Your athlete is representing you. So the use of drugs banned under USADA and WADA needs to be addressed.  Some clubs don't care. Some coaches don't care. But you should care, especially since a popped athlete follows YOU around your entire career. We know it happens (have you seen the banned list), but it doesn't mean you should allow it to happen when it's a clear violation of the anti-doping rules as they exist today.
• They Are Damaging Their Health: I've had athletes who have had health complications but wouldn't seek treatment, or they ignored their doctors (and coaches). Aside from being a liability, these athletes can seriously injure themselves. A few years ago, I had an athlete who was very strong and capable. This athlete had a severe eating disorder. Despite this, the athlete still won medals and still advanced to national events. But they would not listen to me. They would not seek treatment or professional help. I sent them resources, names of professionals (in their state far away from me), and even said I would help with costs if necessary. They ignored me and continued to over-train and not eat. An injury was imminent. Even if it wasn't, this just wasn't something I could be a part of any longer. I had to sever ties. I'm well aware of how mental illness or other disorders can affect someone (points to self), and I didn’t just fire the athlete for this reason. It was a combination of this and some other actions on this list. But I couldn't personally be involved in someone's self-destruction and continue to sleep at night.
• They've Gone Radio Silent: You haven't seen them in ages. They don't ever call or text anymore. Receipt of their data is nonexistent as well. If it continues to happen, without reason (i.e. mental health issues, family emergencies, etc.), then sever that tie. You need communication and data from your athlete in order to properly program for them. Otherwise, they can be on the fast track to injury city if you're just programming blindly.

How to Fire an Athlete Without Ruining Your Reputation
The key to terminating a relationship with an athlete is to do so respectfully, tactfully, and by leaving your emotions at the door.

• Try to Eradicate the Issue First: You should always talk with your athlete before going in guns blazing ready to chop their head off. There are two sides to every story. Let them express their feelings or explain themselves. Be like Frank Costanza and let them air their grievances. You may not even have to fire them after all.
• Do Not Do It Online: Do not engage in a tit for tat internet war. It makes you both look petty. Beyond that, this is a conversation that needs to be had in person if at all possible. Don't hide behind text or emails. If you aren't in the same time zone, then use Skype or FaceTime. If you can't, then send that email. But don't send a Facebook message. Please just don't.
• Word Choice Matters: Try not to let your emotions overpower you here. Stay professional and above the fray. Try not to curse if possible. If you've gone the "internet communication route," then be hyper aware of what you type. Those words could be screenshot and blasted all over Reddit. Marinate on what you're going to say. Stick to your plan, but be able to adapt.
• Offer to Find a New Coach: This can go a long way with someone and keep the bridge from being burned altogether. It also shows you're not a total prick. If there's an event coming up, then if at all possible, make sure you find time to have this conversation to allow for the athlete to get a new handler. Or say, "you are on the team through Meet, but after that, you're off the roster," or "You are off the team, but I've enlisted Person to help coach you at the Meet coming up."
• Keep Your Drama to Yourself: Regardless of what profanities, lies, or your mama jokes that were thrown out during the conversation, don't tell everyone and their mom about it, whether it's in person or online. Our community is small. Word gets around. We can all see through your passive aggressive hashtags too, guys. Be adults.
• Tell the Team: This one isn't rocket science, but they are going to notice that athlete is suddenly gone. Just tell the team. You can even email this one. The worst thing is to have them find them out from someone else.

Bottom Line
It isn't going to be easy to fire an athlete, but it can be done tactfully and without a massive fallout. Stay professional and keep your moral compass afloat.