Parents

Kudos to her for wanting to earn her spot, but I would be shocked if her dad backed off. I've seen this situation several times, and the blinders NEVER come off. A parent repeatedly bad mouthed my kid's ability and playing time to the coach a few years ago in an attempt to promote his own kid. I confronted him about it (respectfully as I could) and we had a spirited conversation - we agreed to disagree about approaching a coach to defend your child's playing time - but he apologized for his comments about my child. And since then, he's been great - he cheers for the entire team and doesn't (noticeably) keep a scorebook at the games. We should all keep in mind that our responsibility as parents is to raise young men and women of integrity NOT world class athletes.

 

Great Post!! How you we as coaches completly forget about the parent and focus only on the kids ? It seems to be a package deal, but we try to be true to this player. But the big picture is the team. Put the parent on a short leash.

 

Bribe?

Hey Ed, Was it a good one? We might have a spot for her. LOL

 

What a Coach Said

I recall when my newphews were playing rec football, the coach (nice guywho was fair but firm) had a parents meeting and said, I am the coach, not your friend. If you feel I am mistreating your child because they are not getting playing time or not playing where you wan them, take your child home and don't come back. If you come to me with that kind of nonsense, take your child home and don't come back. He also stated, I don't baby them, that is your job after practice. I have no problem if you stay and watch practice, but if you feel the need to coach your child on the side lines during practice, take them home and don't come back. This is our time not yours. He set the tone in the beginning so there wouldn't be any issues. A lot of people were displeased but followed his instructions. he was good and he has been coaching that league for years w/o a lot of problems and he was true to his word. Set the tone early and word of mouth will spread that this coach does not play.

As a parent sometime I hate to hear that BUT I honestly respect it because as a coach it can be very difficult and it take a special person to coach teenagers at any level and then deal w/ thier pain in the tail parents. So hats off to you...

 

All Cases Are Not Equal

I think that it is a good thing, to a point, to have parents that are involved in their kid's lives. Now should the kid get old enough that the parent should sit back and watch and add their input later in private (at home)? YES INDEED! But maybe the parents just truly feel their kid isn't getting a fair chance! Probably not, but let's assume (because we all know what that will get us). But it certainly isn't like all kids get a fair chance on ALL teams! I know that everyone (whether it happened to your child or someone elses child) has seen a situation where things were not exactly fair. Sometimes parents just want to feel like they are being heard. And then sometimes they just are trying to be a pain in the butt! If you have tried talking to the parents and they still have a BAD Tude then you should take all further communications to the AD. Let the AD decide how things will go from now on. Maybe you could let this kid pitch againest the teams that are not as much competetion as others. That way she gets her chances in the circle and the other pitchers get their time in the circle. In other words match the pitchers up per competetion level, and everyone gets their shining moment and no kid has to outcasted or be made a fool of! I don't think any kid learns anything from being made a fool of! The kid probably just wants to play ball and have fun. Having a parent that embarrasses them constantly is bad enough for a kid. The kid doesn't need more help of that kind! Why cut the kid, because the parents don't know how to act? Anyone who has ever been to a tournament game, sees at least one parent, who acts like a dumb butt at every game. Let face the truth that most tournament teams play into this type of behavior in some ways! The deeper the pockets, the more the kid plays! Or the better the friend to the coach! So on and so forth!!! If everyone is honest we have all seen it! High School ball as a whole is even more political than that!! Not just softball but all sports!!
One last point maybe you take that pitcher and give her some special job like being the main practice pitcher or something, you know what they say, practice makes perfect. Maybe all that practice will help her to improve and everyone will win!!! Just a thought!!! I know that would take extra effort on the part of the coach but it may accually help the situation and the kid's confidence!! Who knows?:huh: And yes I know I am long winded!!:newsmile38:

 

Hey Who Knows?

Hey who knows? Maybe this kid will turn out one day to be the only pitcher you have on your roster that isn't injured or something! Why not help the kid to get better instead of throwing her to the side like a puppy you decided you didn't want anymore. Hey with 67 kids trying out for 27 positions I think enough feelings will get hurt! And as far as the slackkers go I don't blame you one bit, if they don't care enough to show their best at tryouts, then chances are pretty high they aren't going to try their best anytime during the season. Or why should they even have the chance? At least this kid you are talking of, apparently wants to be there! Hopefully the jerk parents are forcing her to play ball or pitch!!! And all you reading this and saying "What?, you can't force a kid to do anything. You would be shocked at the people that make their DD's pitch because they feel that the only position on a softball field that is important is the pitcher or catcher!! Now who they think is going to catch those hits to all the other positions, I do not know. When I have coached in the past, this was a huge issue with a lot of the parents! My DD should play 1st base, 2nd base, infield only, etc... Never mind that their DD is afraid of the ball! Oh well I say if God gives a coach a kid who is willing to play the game and learn, then by Golly coach them to the best of your best and help that player to be their best! Like I said you never no what tomorrow brings!!!! And that is TRUE for everyone not just the unlucky!! So just do your best to make her feel as good as the next player and I bet she will do her best for you!!!

 

I truly think more than the majority of World Class Athletes were born not raised, or at the bare minimum had someone willing to support them in their desires! You can't force someone into being a World Class Athelete, you either are or you are not! Meaning you are either willing to work hard enough, or sacrefice enough or be lucky enough, to have the right things happen at the right times or you are not!!!

 

why?

why do you have a parents' mtg. before tryouts? thought it would be after team is chosen.