When my older son, Jarod, left for college, my wife and I noticed changes in the way our younger son Jeremy was behaving and connecting with us, in a good way.
My sons get along, but there has always been a simmering rivalry - for time and attention, for food, for recognition, etc. Jeremy, being the quieter, reserved, but more self-assured of the two, played the younger brother role and expressed himself much more where there wasn't Jarod's influence. I already noticed Jeremy being more talkative and more at ease around the house. There were many moments when he'd express himself, but there seemed to be a change in frequency and type. He settled into being the only child in the house.
I wondered how similar dynamics play out in the field or on the court.
Individuals express themselves differently as dynamics change
Players on a team, no matter how much they care for and love each other, are engaged in a daily struggle against one another. They pit their skills against each other in order to get more playing time and/or to get better at their craft.
Good coaches look to provide opportunities for each member of the team to find and express their voice and to grow in a way that's good for them and the team. It's good for the team in the current season as it pushes all to get better and it is needed for long-term health of the team.
However, those voices need to play within a group dynamic. Average and poor coaches look to hold that dynamic in check, but that's another story. When a group of players leaves the team, new roles and voices are established. You hear constantly about how younger players are challenged to 'step up' and bring leadership as older players move on.
Players that deferred may come out a bit more and assert themselves. Those that were very comfortable may wonder what their place may be. The less cohesive the group (or the individual leaving), the more radical the changes are likely to be.
A coach shouldn't suppress, or even overtly manage, this process. The youth coach's job is to develop players and help them grow as people; this is a major part of that process which will play our countless times in their lives. However, coaches can create a stable environment where those voices are encouraged to have themselves heard regularly and where changes can be embraced and leaned into so the group can move ahead with vigor rather than be held up with political inertia and unproductive posturing. By allowing voices to be expressed during a season, you are setting up the building blocks for greater growth in later years.
Changes bring opportunities. You and the staff should be open and receptive to how behaviors and actions adjust during a season and as a new one starts. It can create some nice opportunities for growth in the individuals, and the team.