My son is a freshmen and our high school football practices were closed and baseball practices are open. Both happen right after school at 2:45 and I have a job so.....
I have been to a few baseball intersquad scrimmages but wouldn't really care if the practices were closed. I think this, as usual, is a case of everyone feeling that their personal preference is the right way.
IMO, the key to being a parent of an athlete is cutting the cord and allowing the kids to figure stuff out on their own. I think SOME parents are afraid that their kids can have success without them. At this point, most of us should only offer moral or financial support and the rest is up to the kid.
Last year, two separate 8th grade kids started crying after the coach "jumped" them so the parents are NOW trying to teach mental toughness. Although anything is possible, it's a little late in the game for that.