What about the other guys???

You said what I wanted to say.

I know of a community who's softball and baseball programs have won a total of 3 or 4 games TOTAL since the year 2000! Thats both programs combined. The HS ball programs do nothing more than start to practice a few months before the season starts, play the schedule, then hang up the cleats. The AD at the school says, "Well at least we are giving the kids an opportunity to play."

The community does not support any of the HS's athletic programs. Football, Basketball, Track, Tennis.

The schools SAT/ACT/EOG academic yardsticks show similar things. Among the lowest in the sate. Definitely the lowest in the county and city.

The kids try but there doesn't seem to be a since of community pride.

I think it was Braves who brought it up about competing. Ive long thought that the community and this HS Im talking about are not teaching their kids about competing. I don't think 0-21 year after year is competing.

So perhaps an answer to Coach27's question; "What about the programs responsibilities to the player? Do they have any other than to just field a team?" I would expand that question with; What are the responsibilities of the school and its community? To me they are all related.

IMO programs, communities, HS's have a responsibility to prepare kids to compete. If the school is not doing this academically and or athletically then kids should be able to transfer.

 

Gloveside, you are not going to want to hear this ( I didn't either) but many County AD's feel very different. Many AD's feel it is the responsibility of the school system to field a team and run a sports game that gives the kid the privilege to play a sport. Yes, they used the word privilege when discussing a sports program. It should be a healthy environment, one that promotes sportsmanship, teamwork, and many other values. But beyond that there isn't much required. If you're looking for something more you need to be prepared to look out for yourself and get it on your own. The old saying, don't leave something to others that you should do yourself.

Definitely not saying this is right, just the way it is. Be thankful when you get a coach that goes beyond the call. A coach that really knows the game, takes extra time with the kids, guides them in their needs, promotes them if they deserve it, cares about their education, takes the time to train them both in and out of season, takes care of the field and many other things. These guys are unusual. And they don't get paid jack to do it. They do it because they love it, they care and I imagine, they're having a little fun too.

 

Oh I know. Ive seen the hard work these HS coaches put in to it. Some run top flight programs that do prepare the kids. No $$. "If you want a nice field for the kids to play on then you have to get up on Saturday(your day off) to work on it." quoted a HS coach I was once talking to. He then had to take a call on his cell. It was one of his kids that he was helping guide through the recruitment process.

 

I know what its like:

to come into a program that has not been to the playoffs in over a decade. That has not had a player play at the next level in over a decade. That has a field that is a total disgrace to the game. That has uniforms that I wouldnt let a rec team wear. That shows up in Feb and hangs them up in May. That was happy with going .500 or just keeping it close. That was excited when they played a traditional power and did not get run ruled.

How does that happen? Why does it happen? Could it be that some people are just happy fielding a team? Could it be that some parents are fine with it as long as their son is getting to play? Could it be that there are coaches that are coaching just to collect that check as little as it may be? Heck its a pretty good check if your doing nothing. Some people are happy with just trying to be average. And players will reach as high as they are told they should reach. When you are used to being average or below average and you are led by people with this same attitude what do you expect in return?

Now what about the kid that has spent his whole life being told to reach for the stars and be the best you can be. Never strive to be average strive to be the best in everything you do. He has worked his whole life at baseball and loves the game. He wants to be a part of something special and come out of a HS program better for being a part of it. Now he is thrown in this enviroment of mediocrity at best.

I have very little to no control over how the academics are handled at the HS. Im not an administrator. But if Im a coach I do have control over how the program is going to be ran. I do have control over what I am going to expect from our players and myself. The toughest part of coming into a situation I described is teaching kids what it takes to win , how important having pride in your program school and community is , and average is failure. And taking that same pride that you have in your baseball team to the classroom with you. To the mall with you. That the same expectations you are held to on the baseball field apply to your life. There can not be two ways of doing things. One way on the baseball field and another way in your life. You work hard on the bb field to achieve at your highest level and you do the same in the classroom. You show class and respect for your opponent on the bb field and you do the same in life. You do whatever you have to do to find a way to win on the bb field and you do the same in life. You show up on time everyday , period and you do the same in life. When things go bad on the bb field you suck it up and find a way to make it happen you do the same in life. You dont blame the coach you look in the mirror. You dont blame the cops you look in the mirror. You dont blame the teacher you look in the mirror. You respect your coach , your respect your parents. I could go on all day long.

Sports teach life lessons. You either learn to be a winner or you learn to be a looser. Kids deserve the best they can get. They deserve the opportunity to learn to be winners. If your going to coach them then do it right or get out of the way. Every kid is not going to be able to accept what it takes to be a part of a team. But the ones that do will get way more out of it than W's and L's and a trophy. When I started coaching I was determined that every kid that was capable of living up to our standards would have the best HS baseball experience we could possibly give them. Why? Because they deserve it. Ive had parents get upset because we make the kids show us progress reports. And if they are not doing as good as "We feel they should" they run their ass off. You get in school suspension you dont play and you dont practice. You act like a clown in class or in the halls you pay for it and if it happens again turn in your stuff. etc etc. We dont have to worry about this kind of stuff anymore. Expectations - are very high. On the field and off the field. It is the same. Guess what - the more you demand the more you get. And by the way the more they get.

I know alot of coaches in this state and around this country. I know guys that give so far beyond what is expected it is ridiculous. But maybe thats the reason they are successfull and their players are successfull. And maybe thats the reason "certain" kids that have that same drive and determination that those coaches do want to go play for them. The coaches and players that do "ONLY" want is expected of them by people who are doing "ONLY" what is expected of them will in fact achieve the status of AVERAGE. No I choose to be around people that expect all I have and more and I will choose to expect the same from my boys.

 

Coach 27

WOW - JUST WOW!!

Something you said at the end reminds me of the old saying, "The harder I work, the luckier I get."

 

Amen

 

Your efforts are commendable and appreciated. Unfortunately I get the impression you are in the minority with your efforts as a HS coach.

 

Not in the SW4A or many of the schools surrounding Charlotte. We are blessed to have many outstanding HS coaches

 

Most are outstanding

Most of the guys I know are outstanding. They work very hard for their kids and take alot of pride in what they do and how they do it. The ones I speak of are the minority not the majority from my experiences.

 

That is exactly the reason this site was created. I'm not trying to be a smartaleck, but thank you for pointing out what this site is about. It's sole purpose is to promote every HS player deserving attention. Does he have to the the stud....of course not. There are many, many players that are mentioned on here who never will have an opportunity to play baseball beyond HS. But the fact that the one game they made the heroic play or the game ending hit and was mentioned on this board is something that will be remembered by the player and his family.

Mentioning a player in a positive way, helping to inform families of the recruiting process and to get good feedback from the parents, coaches and players about HS baseball is the only purpose of this board.

Other topics are obviously brought up, but it is not nor ever will be the intent or purpose of this site.

I know other people would like to turn TBR into something they want; to discuss what they want, to say what they want. But I started this for the reasons that I gave. I hope people can benefit by some of the information that is provided by the members. But I quit worrying a long time ago about expanding the purposes of TBR. I feel comfortable about the purpose of why I started it (I'll be glad to discuss it with anyone in a PM) and I doubt that my thought will ever change.

I'm sorry we are not the "everything" some people would like to see....and I understand how you feel, but to think this started from a couple of guys that were tired of reading rants, slams, trash talking and attacks and decided to start are own site with our own purpose....we've done alright!