Number of coaches at good high school programs?

Oh I will answer that one....

That is so that the UNFAIR, RULE BREAKING, CRAP, that a coach or coaching staff does, is not seen by anyone else, NO WITNESSES you know!
I'm sure it also has some to do with parents also! A lot of HS coaches act as though they are the warden or something or they are in charge of some TOP SECRET mission or something!
I don't necessasrily think practices should be open!
I think there are pros and cons to each!

 

We have open practices and sometimes need to have a freshman player explain the rules to their mom or dad. Parents can watch at any time. We ask that they not talk yell or otherwise comminunicate with any of our players at any time during the practice. If they need to get something to their DD they can get the attention of one of the coaches and it is taken care of. It seems to have worked well for us over the years.
Parents just enjoy watching their kids, I know I did when mine played.

 

Parents at practice....PHLLUUUGHH.....

......get a grip mom and dad. Let the kid grow up in her own envrionment! .....Oh, thats right, I'm calling the kettle black. I'm just like ya'll, I'm hooked on sports and how it connects with my kids,....and yes, I have gone to the HS tryout, but I sat in my car, atleast 100 yards away, and my DD said " Hey, I saw you in the car up on the hill today, what did you think of our tryout"? ...Busted! my being their was for me and my curiosity as much as it was for me to just watch my kid play. Me as a distraction is no different than a cellphone or boyfriend or another parent INTERUPTING what the coach is doing.

 

And another thing!......

.....if YOU were a college coach, would you want a parent in your business? I think not. There is a DAMN THIN LINE in helping and causing problems. I, for one will tell TBR, that I personally have heard college coaches ask "is this player able to perform without her dad/mom calling pitches, etc."? Why not start giving your DDs some room now why in HS, so that, if necessary, you can parent them or help, in a coaching way, while their still under your roof?

 

So then I guess you would need to have closed games too. You know ole Dad's gonna be in a prime location callin' them pitches. I'm havin' a hard time following that one.

 

I absolutely agree with all that, we never felt like they were hiding the fake wizard of Oz behind their veiled curtain..lol. BUT, old habits die hard, it was just about as entertaining watching practices over the years as it was attending the games. But I've also witnessed a rare few players that seem to still need the umbilical cord cut, so I could understand how that could possibly be the reason for the spectator lock out. We're guilty too of showing up a little too early to pick daughter up after practice and park wayyy out of the way (we thought) and try to sneak a peak, only to have her say when she came to car..."someone told me y'all were up there, why did you come so early"...lol. My only beef was having to take my daughter to have a cast put on her thumb for weeks and it still being slightly crooked when it was all said and done, simply because of the lack of adult supervision, whether it's head or assistant coaches or a couple of adult helpers. There's a difference between a school having a softball "team" and having a "program". I saw her skills improve this summer playing travel ball for the first time (under Barry Latham & Marty Hopper), more than 4 years of school softball put together (2 years of middle, and 2 years of HighSchool). Don't get me wrong, she's had a handful of awesome rec ball coaches since she was 5 years old who together with her love for the game and relentless practicing are what molded her into a good player. But you never reach a plateau, there is always more to learn and that requires someone knowledgeable in the sport who is willing to give of their time and wisdom.

 

Sorry coach Rog. you obviously missed the point...

...and yep, as hard as it might be for you the realize, there are parents trying to help there kids in a game whether it be HS or TB. And, what about if the parent is on the bench? Did you ever think about that. There, sitting on the bucket, is good 'ol dad, calling pitches for DD. Do you think that a college coach is gonna say " hey dad, come give us your opinion on what DD should throw next"? I never said that a practice should be closed, much less that a qualified parent can't provide help....and in HS, that qualified help is needed. Check your PM.

 

Honest observation

This observation won't make some coaches happy! Many coaches that want closed practices and do not want help feel threaten, truly don't have confidence in their ability, and feel the more mystery or fear they create can or may cover their insecurity.

These same coaches (male or female) have a great deal to offer and could learn even more by taking advantage of wisdom and knowledge some other parents or coaches may be able to provide, yet do not want any credit for assisting. In fact, I dare say many offering assistance would ever let a person know they had any input in the decision making. Asking for advise or assistance is not a sign of weakness but a sign of maturity and confidence, and a willingness to do what it takes to be a winner.

I have played and coached for almost 40 years and still learn everyday and at every game! Some younger, bright ladies and gents have taught me a great deal about the game of softball and preparation. Hey bet young ones could learn a thing or two from many on this board.

Sharing ideas, drills, schemes (offensive or defensive), or just how to handle a problem player or yes a problem parent is what we all should do. There is plenty of time on the field in games to fight each other! Ha Ha

 

Can't argue with that......

.....observation of this "help from others in coaching"! As this thread was originally intended to promote the discussion of "how many coaches" has done just that. Great thread. Its this, TBR, the very nature of parents/players and coaches wanting to succeed on their OWN! Get my point here CR and others? I won't bore TBR with what I, or some of my coaching buddies have done playing or coaching and the success derived. And also the failures along the way. BUT WAKE UP FOLKS!, its this very "item", our history that we ALL want to pass along to our kids and their kids....., so don't get your drawers in a wad, coaches when someone is trying to help, AND, parents, give 'em some room to grow.

 

Abbey fan....

I bow to your GREATNESS! That could not have been said any better or clearer! That post was the plain simple truth, worded correctly and full of the wisdom that makes you, DA MAN!!!!!!:229031_hail::notworthy:notworthy
Abbay fan is so wise about the , I learn every day, thing!!!! If everyone could have this approach, imagine what the players around here could gain from that! WOW!!!
Now I will adress a couple of the past few posts:
My DD is a pitcher and I have never had a problem with her coach ( not her parents) calling her pitches! That is what a coach is supposed to do!
I do feel that your DD should be able to take signs from someone other than a parent! When the DD is younger is when the parent can call those pitches and so forth! The older the DD gets the more they need to be coached by others, other than a parent!!! I think this helps the DD grow up and apart from the parent and helps the parent learn to watch and grow into a spectator! Because the previous poster was correct, COME COLLEGE you have NO SAY SO!!!!
The only time I have had a problem with someone calling her pitches, is when a parent,past TB coach, became a HS asst coach, and his DD was also a pitcher on the HS team! We as parents felt an extreme conflict of interest in that situation (goes back to that politics in HS ball thing)!!!! This parent had also been my DDs TB coach and we as parents had a lot of respect for this person and still do! But that situation was extremely tough to accept for us as well as our DD! We (us the parents and this coach) have since discussed this situation and I hope this person understands our feelings on the matter and we have moved on from it! But I do not regret showing the support of my DD in that situation! This person was our DDs favorate TB coach for a long time and she respects him but she was totally uncomfortable with this situation!
I do feel that parental support is vital in a kids life!!!! Every aspect of the kids life! I think that a coach can benefit from the knowledge a parent can bring to a situation, such as a pitcher and the pitches called/used! I mean lets face it, who is usually the person catching that pitcher during all of her pitching lessons, the parent! I would venture to say that the parent would know that pitcher the best of anyone!!
But, I also agree that there comes a time to step back, and let your kid grow and expand their knowledge and experience, past, what you as a parent can offer, still be there, through it all, in a different compacity, mainly as support system, but be there!
I think that these are extremly good things to discuss on TBR, because parents coming onto the softball arena now with the young ones, can benefit from our past experiences!