Need Advice

Who Should Coach--------- Anybody ?????

First of all no kid should be insubordinate to her coach, but on the other hand I disagree with the History Teacher that may or may not know the game be elected to be the coach....I think that only qualified people should coach kids,and they need to be well versed of the game,and know the correct fundamentals...If I'm going to spend thousands of dollars each summer (TB) I don't want a Science Teacher (IE.) to teach her incorrectly how to swing the bat or field the ball during the Middle School years....Usually in Middle School Ball after the first (4) in the line-up the talent falls off quickly, and without the proper training they will never improve as the team plays its 14-16 games.....Sorry,but I have to look at the long range...........I bet you I could take half of the kids in Middle School and most of them couldn't even bunt the ball.............WHY???..........because they have never been properly taught how to stand in the box...and catch the ball with the bat.........I have been on the ball field for many years...not a know-it-all,but I can clearly see who knows what they're doing ,and how they're producing ball players,and those that are not....Is it all the coaches fault ??? No,but he or she can be a big influence on kids,and give them the desire to strive to be better or stay the same.....Softball Guru

 

I'll give you the same advice as I gave CatchersDad, skip HS ball if that's the way you think unless your kid goes to a HS program that's up to your standards.

 

Kids should not be taught to live up to our (parents) expectations. They should live up to their own and realize that they need to play up to their own potential.
Guru has given good advice.
At this stage it isn't "Daddy" ball or "Feel Good" ball, where every kid has been told they won.
This is competetive.
If your kid isn't good enough to compete ( mine too for that matter) it is time to get out.
Every Division I, II or III coach alive is looking for a producer, not a showboat daddy's girl. Their standards are a LOT higher than anything on this board reflects.
Hard work, fundamentals and a good attitude go a lot farther in the world than "feel good" political perspective being introduced into the sports world, or lying to a child about their talents ever will.
The child who is taught the latter WILL FAIL, not only on the ball field but in life. What a legacy!

 

Thanks Madison--- I'm really not trying to be a stick in the mud,but the definition of what is good or great is in the eye of the beholder...I've been called on the telephone before about kids that want to try out for our team,but couldn't even throw the ball...hitting fundamentals were more than 3 years behind their age...now being a coach...I want ball players at our age group,not a project....parents are paying good money for their kids to produce and be competitive in (TB)...this aint REC BALL !!!! If you aren't serious about play than (TB) is not for your kid....Softball Guru

 

No thanks necessary. Those are my actual thoughts.
I worry each and every single day whether or not my daughter is going to make it to college or not.
The last thing I need to do is lie to her and say "You are definately in." That sets her up to be let down if she doesn't make it.
I probably made a mistake not getting her involved with travel ball until last year.
Now she is a sophomore at a school in a rural area. It is harder to get press coverage and recognition here even though we have good players.
Time will tell the tale I guess.

 

It seems to me that this post contradicts your previous post.

Depending upon the program, HS sports can either be much better than some club sports or worse - but it is an experience. Parents should support and not lead their children into elite levels of athletics. Parents should also undertand that most high school aged athletes - even local stars - don't play in college and more often than not they don't play because they don't want to play. Anyone who wants to pay a sport in college can play - there is a program out there for those who are willing to work hard enough to make the team.

But back to HS coaches and programs. Again, your daughter will have different coaching experiences over her career and not all of them will do it the way you think it should be done. I suggest you either find a program you can be satisfied with and that meets your standards if you are going to lead rather than support or be supportive and help your daughter through the frustrating times and use them as examples of life.

 

I don't think I am being contradictory at all.
Some high school teams can be better than some travel ball teams, but not many.
There is absolutely nothing wrong with a child being "lead" into elite levels of athletics. That IS supporting the child.
Every child should pursue and be given every opportunity to imrove their talents, whether it is softball, their high school band or the chess club.
To me, travel ball is a training aid, first and foremost. The better talent you see on a consistant basis, the more likely you are to excel at that particular game.
It is not my job to dictate or tell any coach how it should be done. Do I sometimes have reservations? Sure. That is human nature. However, I keep my mouth shut and let it go while I sit there in the stands. If I have a serious problem, it is within my rights to approach a coach in a private, adult manner and find out the reasoning behind a particualr decision or request. Again, that IS supporting my child. She needs to learn to deal with constructive criticism and adapt or she is not going to be ready for the real world. If I go out there and interrupt, I am disrupting the progress being made and being selfish. I am REALLY destroying my daughters confidence in her own abilities by showing her, subconsciously, that I don't think she can improve any more and that I want the status quo left alone. That is wrong. I belive in my daughter a little more than that.
If coaches are constantly working with her reagrdless of coach,team or level, it means she isn't doing something right. She NEEDS to try to do it differently and be "coached" into a way that it is comfortable to her and helps her to move to the next level of expertise and ability.
If, for example, Little Susie is catching and she can throw out 90% of runners trying to steal,there isn't a coach alive going to mess with her throw down technique. They may want her to set up a little differently or catch aa certain pitch a different way but they won't mess with her throw down. Make sense?

 

These quotes are what I was referring to specifically,

Kids should not be taught to live up to our (parents) expectations. They should live up to their own and realize that they need to play up to their own potential.

I worry each and every single day whether or not my daughter is going to make it to college or not.
I probably made a mistake not getting her involved with travel ball until last year.

And from this post,

If I have a serious problem, it is within my rights to approach a coach in a private, adult manner and find out the reasoning behind a particualr decision or request.

She needs to learn to deal with constructive criticism and adapt or she is not going to be ready for the real world. If I go out there and interrupt, I am disrupting the progress being made and being selfish.

It is difficult to have it both ways - you must either lead or support - I think supporting and encouraging your child to lead ultimately makes your child learn more - even if they don't do it exactly like you think they should or do it to your standards.

 

thanks Trojan.

thats the great thing about thisboard, experience is priceless and sharing it is appreciated by many!!