Debates: Freshman Teams, Parents in sports, Iredell County

Thanks Braves

I'd have to say parents are capable of ruining sports at ALL levels, not just high school. Having travelled extensively over the past four years with AAU baseball, I've seem my share of obnoxious parents, kids who don't seem to have that glint in their eyes anymore as they are inundated with a barrage of 'helpful instruction' from sideline former athletes or wannabes (aka moms and dads). It's a shame really. As parents, we all want the best for our children. We want them to succeed in whichever field they choose. We want to be supportive, to push them just a bit when necessary. I find there is sometimes a fine line though. You see parents trying to recapture their Glory Days by focusing solely on the childs 'athletic career' to the point that it does more harm than good. Give me a break, these are kids. If they are going to go far in their chosen athletic field, they'll not only need skills, attitude, dedication, support, but they will also need to LOVE the game.

 

From what I have witnessed in sports of all ages from 5 yrs through college, parents haven't necessarily ruined sports, but they sure can make for a long season! The most disturbing trend lately are parents who have lost the desire for their kids to be young men and women of integrity - all they care about is how often their kids plays! There are some who have no appreciation for the time and effort that coaches put in, and oftentimes these dedicated coaches are missing their own kids' games to coach kids of ungrateful, critical parents! It always pleases me, though, to see a kid rise above their parents' pettiness and really give 100% to the team.

 

I have to say, I agree with observer on this one. It is just sad to see the kids who begin to follow in their parents footsteps. I think a perfect example of this is the LeBron James story. Given to someone who would punish him and set rules for him and this story could have been completely different. And maybe he wouldnt have been as good of a player but he would be a man, but instead you have this 18 year old kid who has been kicked off the team, but he is driving around in a Hummer, and wears all of the nicest clothes with his multiple chains and shoes. And his superstar attitude reflects on the court. Humility is something I dont see enough of in sports today (on all levels) and I think this comes from parenting, where each person thinks their son or daughter is the next number one draft pick and therefor deserves special treatment. I know the best advice I ever got was from my mom one day when I was getting a little big headed. She told me son just play the game, and let your game speak for itself. If your good enough then you wont have to say anything, and if your not then you shouldnt say anything. Just my opinion. (and maybe a few others)

 

WOW Braves....what a great PURE picture! HOW TRUE! I find it so amazing that the thing the PARENTS get so wired about the kids don't even worry about. Seems to me the parents are far more jaded than the players . The players ....hopefully....are still out there because it thrills them and being part of the team is FUN. Contributing to the greater good and winning is G R E A T! Don't need the parents overanalyzing ( hey we need spell check because I can't spell!) everything . THAT makes me TIRED to be around those folks! Strategy....fun.....Subjective comments.....not fun.......

 

Two points Original:

1. Don't worry, I'll spelchk for ya

2. Do you actually know people like that?

 

The pitiful state of baseball in Iredell County

Why is baseball so popular in some counties and not in others?

My son has played baseball in Iredell County since he was 5. The TBall and Coach-Pitch leagues were OK but after that we were in for a shock........there are NO, I repeat NO decent baseball fields located in the South part of Iredell County for Little League or higher. That meant jumping in the car several times a week to make a 50-mile round trip to Statesville's Sertoma Field complex to play Babe Ruth baseball. AAU? Forget it! Every AAU player I know 14U has to drive to Concord or Charlotte/Mecklenburg to play on an AAU team. High School baseball???? South Iredell didn't even have enough kids to go out for baseball to have a JV team.....Statesville hasn't had a JV baseball team in three years!!!!! The new Lake Norman High had many kids to go out for the team but it's pathetic what the parents and coaches have had to go through to get the baseball field there in to playing shape (when the school was built the athletic budget allowed for a gem of a football field, a very attractive sunken basketball gymnasium and for baseball we were given a backstop and field full of weeds------- no mound, no lights, no outfield grass, etc. etc.....)

If not for the legendary Whitey Meadows I don't think they would even play baseball in Iredell County! It's hard to believe that Iredell borders such a great baseball county like Rowan.....

 

You are absolutely right. That is pathetic.

When I think about the good (HS) programs in our area, I think about some very important people that shaped those programs..and I'm talking about from T-ball to the HS baseball coach. The one commonality at all the levels is COMMITTMENT!!

There seems to be ONE person to lead that program at each level...and through their sacrifice were able to affect the parents to also sacrifice their time and money to help....and as that one person moved on to the next level, there was another qualified person to take their place and would raise the bar a little more.

I'm going to raise some names, just because they deserve the attention. These are just a few of 100's of people who continue to sacrifice their time to help baseball in Charlotte:

1. John Shamp - has been coaching and developing young kids since he met Abner Doubleday

2. Rod Alexander- does not have children, yet continues to coach kids for over 20+ years...and all the kids he ever coached continue to carry a great relationship with him.

3. Randy Layman- every Association, if they are going to be successful, must have a Layman. Through his leadership, he makes dreams happen.

4. Hal Bagwell- HS coach South Meck. He demands high standards and accepts nothing less. This goes for players to his field.

There are many people, like the guys I have mentioned, at every successful association. They make the dreams happen

But to make those dreams happen, there must be a committment from another powerful group...the parents.

It's a cycle that must not be broken !

 

We've played an interlocking schedule with the younger kids from the mooresville area for years from up here in the northern part of meck county.

They have some players, that's for certain, but, what seems to be lacking is that core group of coaches that teach the new coaches starting out. Without that core group, the kids don't get the instruction and quit early because they don't like loosing all the time.

The rec league in the Mooresville area needs some shaking up. I think the Upper Deck program will be a great help to Mooresville baseball in the future. You have a year-around hitting facility and two excellent pitching instructors (Dewayne Rosenbaum & Larry Woodall - great guys too) up there. They are starting community travel teams. I don't think it will be too long before the Mooresville area is turned around completely.

Get your kids over there and support that facility - that's what it will take to grow baseball again in Iredell Co.

 

I guess I should have mentioned those guys ----

DeWayne and Larry and the Upper Deck gang have been a real God-send to this area----- they even hooked my son up with a team that qualified for the AAU 13U Nationals in Sarasota last year (Reds' spring training facility - what a blast!)

Thanks for giving them props!

 

Dewayne & Larry

You can't get much better instruction than those two ... If you are a young pitcher starting out - you need to see them - they will get you off to a sound, solid footing.

Give Iredell county time, it will be all the way back - but it does take time.