What would you do.........

Huge atta boy on that.....What is in the best interest of the kids is the bottom line!!!! If someone didn't challenge or ignore bad rules we'd still be living in a monarchy.

 

While I agree with the point about idle time being a possible bad thing, I think the rule is a good thing. I may be wrong but the origin of that rule probably goes back to football where coaches would dominate a kids life to the point of missing school work or require practice year round or during testing periods. This rule was not specifically directed at softball but softball is part of the general scholastic sporting rules.

Without this rule, the coaches that dont have the best interest of their athletes in mind, would be abusing their players with unreasonable practice requirements. High School softball can easily live within this rule and parents should be able to find something for their kids to do with their free time if its a problem.

How are you interpreting the rule that you cannot "T" work with your own daughter in the dead period -that is a strange interpretation. There is nothing prohibiting your daughter from any softball practice any time in the year.... just cant do it with a school related coach.

 

I am a volunteer coach at her hs. Therefore i am in violation if we hit off of the T in the front yard during the dead period Arule is a rule

 

Can the coaches be in the press box and not on the field giving instruction? Do they have to be completely off campus?

To all those on their high horse about getting it right and doing it right. If a girl on your team is called safe but is obviously out (everybody sees it and knows it BUT the umpire) are you going to call time out and remove the girl from the base? Or maybe just let her early steal? C'mon folks where had you rather these girls be? It is a stupid rule and I would bet 8 out of 10 schools have trouble getting the 8 girls out there. I know it is a rule and should be followed but please can't we all just get along.

I will say this...at a away baseball game last year in conference. The football team had full pads on and full contact practice with over 30-40 kids on the field. Maybe it is one of the I wont tell on you if you wont tell on me type rules. That team beat our team this year pretty bad so I think I will go tell on them now.

 

As I stated earlier this is a sore subject for me. As for the parents finding something for their kids to do. There are single parents, parents working 2 jobs and some parents that just do not care. Over the years I have seen so many girls get involved with softball whose parents would not carry them to practice, pick them up, or even give them money to eat at McDonalds after an away game. I made sure they ate , got to and from practice and Yes some of the workouts were in violation but I knew where they were and what they were doing because I do care. Some of these girls still took the wrong road but some in spite of their circumstances did not. Did an activity that requires good grades to participate and builds self esteem make a difference? I like to think so.

 

I dunno...I don't disagree with some of the posts arguing the wisdom of this rule, but it doesn't seem fair to the majority of coaches and schools that are following the rules correctly.

 

.....explain "volunteer coach" please. Do you go to your county schools director of athletics and fill out the form/background check? I know in Wake Co. thats what is "official" documentation for being a "volunteer coach". So if an interested parent ( thanks to all of them BTW) just shows up at the field with his DD and 10 or so of her friends, and Dad is not an "official volunteer coach", is that against the rules?
What if the "practice is held on a field off of school grounds?
Strange rules for sure folks.

 

I know people that do exactly as you describe. You bet it makes a difference!! I wish everyone were like you!! I can't think of a better feeling than seeing kids enjoying themselves while learning so many valuable lessons. Lessons that many people aren't even aware that the kids are learning. Thanks for making a difference!!!!

 

Thanks for all you do!

Coach,
Just a note to say thanks for all you do for those girls. I'm a team mom for both my dds teams. I've seen the same things with some of our girls and helped out when I could. It makes a difference to those girls and they do appreciate it. I know there are other coaches out there who do the same and KUDOS to all of you!