Do High School coaches value character?

Does character matter when it comes to putting players on the field? Or are high school coaches under so much pressure to win conference titles that they look the other way when a player or players throw helmets and bats, challenge umpires, or cusses out their own team mates and even coaches?

 

Better question is do parents teach accountibility to their kids at an early age which will help with character development. On all levels we need to put more reponsibility on the household to raise kids so coaches can coach, not parent.

 

absolutely.

That being said I have seen our high school coach send a kid off the field mid-season for behavior that wasn't accepted. good player too, playing in college now.

So my answer is both. With parents being first.

 

I agree with the parenting aspect, but my question was about coaches allowing these kids to act awful WHILE wearing the High School uniform and not disciplining them at all.

 

like I said, I have seen our coach put value on it. Some put up with more than others and many times more than they should. I don't think it is fair to lump them all together as the same.

Are they pressured to win, yes. Should they put up with that crap to do it, IMO no.

 

True story

Some people wondered why this premier player was not picked on my son's MS team. On the day of the tryout he...1) was drawn into a fight with an underclassmen. 2) was thrown out of a teacher's class for bad behavior. 3) walked up to several of the best returning upperclassmen and declared that he was better than all of them.

I wish him well. I'm pleased with the coaches decision. Hope he discovers the difference between confidence and arrogance.

 

The Babe?

Sounds like you're describing the Babe.

 

From a head coach...

I would think most do.
However, some will never do enough in some parents eyes.
I can pull a player from a game.
I can suspend a 3 year starter from starting 2-3 games.
I can suspend a player for a game, not even letting him appear with the team.
No matter what is done to that player (with the counsel of others that are trusted and prayer -literal prayer - about it) some will never think I've done enough.

Funny too... some of those same parents who question my decisions in disciplinary action are the same type of folks who lamblast me for "other things" (like playing time) at their jobs and even community settings such as church. They villify and even use profanity in discussing/describing me. They are openly showing no respect for the coach and program, all be it behind the back, but people come forward and reveal thier gossip and hate and, well, that's enough for now. They knowingly and with malice behave that way, as adults, then want to crucify teenagers who say and do things in the heat of moments. They also want to crucify the coach for not "handling it correctly." All that, and they are doing just as bad - no, in my opinion worse, as adults. And how about the sons/players of those same parents who sit around the table at night and agree with dad that "Coach Fowler is a ____. He can kiss my ____. I'd like to tell him to go ______." And maybe that same player, who talks about the coach with dad, but acts great around the coach, also cusses the coach in the parking lot with other teammates. Are the preceeding behaviors (parent and player) any less wrong than throwing a helmet or cursing your teammate?

It's hard in these shoes sometimes; but I'm wearing them. I get it wrong some times. The president gets it wrong. Some pastors get it wrong. My dad got it wrong some; maybe yours did too. maybe you get it wrong sometimes too playball1. But I know my heart. And I know that I can face my Lord and know that my won-loss record does not dictate discipline. I also know that my pride, and my ego do not either. Yes, I know I can show any player "who the boss is" if I want to strut it, but I try to be more of a man than that. [Uh, and as I've said on this board before, I may not be a lot of things, but I'm man enough to sign my name to what I say here. Feel free to do the same...]


Yes, I know that character does matter, and I try earnestly to teach it every day... even though mine is flawed at times.


Last, and it may be seen as "out there" or a "cop out" or "religious mumbo-jumbo", but check John 13:12. It's where Jesus washed all the disciples feet. All included Judas... one who had already taken 30 pieces of silver for Jesus to die. Jesus knew it. He washed his feet anyway... grace... forgiveness... two I'm still working through every day.

In Christ and baseball,
John Fowler II
Head Coach (imperfectly), Glenn High Baseball

 

Your avatar really fits

Nope. This kid's a righty.

 

If you can't respect the GAME or it's participants (coaches, teammates, umpires, batboys, etc)... I don't have need for you. But I also understand that high school baseball evolves around 15-18 year old young men. They're going to make mistakes, get in trouble, let you down, etc. It's all about learning and seeing what you did wrong, then fixing it before it's too late.