166-25, 63 straight wins, two state championships, coach walks away due to parents

This is such a shame. I have witnessed the same thing at my son's school...although I'm not sure how voluntary the stepping down was. It causes me to lose respect for the athletic department in that case.

In Braintree it sounds like she had great support from her AD. Is there anything that can be done to prevent the handfuls of parents from ruining athletic programs?

RoyalRooter posted:

This is such a shame. I have witnessed the same thing at my son's school...although I'm not sure how voluntary the stepping down was. It causes me to lose respect for the athletic department in that case.

In Braintree it sounds like she had great support from her AD. Is there anything that can be done to prevent the handfuls of parents from ruining athletic programs?

As much as I really think Travel Ball is wonderful, it is partially to blame here.  I was at an indoor facility last night waiting for my son to finish his TB practice.  In the other part of the building was a 10u team also practicing.  Somehow I wound up sitting in the middle of their parental group. The things I heard.....whew.....they had the season all planned out.  Who they were playing, who would be pitching in those games, which tourneys to pass on, which trophy to go after....etc. Oh and they all had just received their matching blankets with the team logo on it....I'm not kidding, and this is a well respected Academy, not a daddy ball team.

I can only assume on THAT team parental input is accepted.  Perhaps it's a case of "Accept my input or I'll take my talented kid elsewhere"????  Why would these parents change when high school comes around?  Why wouldn't they still feel entitled to have input into how their son's team is being run and how their son is being treated?  The HS coach has a finite amount of kids to pull from, the TB coach has to be mindful that any kid can hop to any other team, and might be watching his P's and Q's with the parents.

Just a thought.

Yawn.  Fake news.  There's no facts.  Just rumor.  Probably a lot, a lot, more to the story.  

Very similar to the story of the baseball coach in Massachusetts about two years ago.  Was similarly successful to this basketball coach and loved by his players.  He coached both my sons in summer travel ball and is by FAR the best coach either one of them ever had.  Run out of town.  The big difference is he didn't appear to be supported by his AD.  That case was definitely not fake news.

Golfman25 posted:

Yawn.  Fake news.  There's no facts.  Just rumor.  Probably a lot, a lot, more to the story.  

Fake news?

The story is that a coach left because of parental issues.

From her mouth,

"Please know what none of this has anything to do with the seniors or other players on my team. They have shown nothing but respect, class, and high character over 4 years and I've been lucky enough to coach them. I have a great relationship with all of them and they have been a huge reason that I love coaching. This concerns only a select few parents and should not represent the rest of the players, parents, BHS athletics program, or the town of Braintree,"

Sounds like she had an issue with some parents to me.  We don't know why she had issues, but obviously she did.

Coach resigns. She's asked why.  She says it was the parents. Not sure how that is fake or a rumor unless there is some other source out there that has another reason why she left.

Rob T posted:

Golfman25 posted:

Yawn.  Fake news.  There's no facts.  Just rumor.  Probably a lot, a lot, more to the story.  

Fake news?

The story is that a coach left because of parental issues.

From her mouth,

"Please know what none of this has anything to do with the seniors or other players on my team. They have shown nothing but respect, class, and high character over 4 years and I've been lucky enough to coach them. I have a great relationship with all of them and they have been a huge reason that I love coaching. This concerns only a select few parents and should not represent the rest of the players, parents, BHS athletics program, or the town of Braintree,"

Sounds like she had an issue with some parents to me.  We don't know why she had issues, but obviously she did.

Coach resigns. She's asked why.  She says it was the parents. Not sure how that is fake or a rumor unless there is some other source out there that has another reason why she left.

 

It's "fake" because there are no facts.  So you're telling me this wonderful, successful, coach would step down because of a "select few parents."  It would be nice if the "reporter" got those few parents perspective.  Just maybe they had a legitimate beef?  But I guess we'll never know.  And parent problems have been around as long as there have been parents.  Part of the coach's job description is to deal with it. 

Any coach at any level or type of team who gives into parental pressure is not a coach.  What lesson do you teach kids when you give into parents all the time?  How are you teaching them to have principles when you have none yourself?  These kids aren't dumb once they get to be teenagers and they realize the politics behind some sports.  The lesson they are taught is not have a backbone and not fight for what's right.  Or the parents who try to run the show their kids believe that is how things should be done.

I would rather be fired than to EVER give in to parent complaints or wishes.  If a parent can get me fired because I don't put out the lineup they wish to see then that's not a school or team I want to be part of.  Winning and helping develop these kids into young adults aren't the primary goal so what's the point in being there?  Now if the admin will back me then I'll stay and fight to change the culture but if I'm getting called into the office once a week about parental complaints then it's time to go because you will never change that culture.  It's being enabled from the people who should be standing behind the coach to help the winning and developing young adults.

I don't understand the whole "I'll sue if I don't get my way" that parents use.  Sue for what?  What civil rights have I broken by putting your kid on the bench?  What laws have I violated for cutting your kid?  As crazy is that are the coaches and admins who fall for it.  I have heard out of people's mouths they do not want to be sued and to "find" solutions that will shut those parents up.  Thankfully, I've never worked for those types of people but I know those that do and I've been in meetings as AD where these people admit they give in "because until we are in that situation we don't understand the pressure" - **** that.  

As an AD I field my fair share of calls of parents complaining but I always back my coaches and usually divert things before it gets to them.  They don't need to hear about Johnny or Susie's parents complaining because they already have a tough job to do.  The thing I've found that works best when a parent complains is put it all back on them.  Parents rarely come out and say they want more playing time - they always start out with "this isn't about playing time but......." then it turns into about playing time.  When they get done with their spiel I look them dead in the eye and ask them which kid do they want to sit down so their kid can play.  That stuns them because they never think about another kid being affected by their kid getting more playing time.  Now they stammer around and say something along the lines of that's for the coach to decide.  So I always come back with if it's up to the coach to decide who sits then why can't they decide when their kid gets to play?  Now they are either so mad they can't speak or starting to realize how dumb they are.  Then I follow up with "don't be surprised that we will have to sit your kid down if another set of parents come in wanting playing time and they name your son as the one who has to sit.  I mean the precedent has been established that this will be the new procedure for determining playing time."  I've had a few storm out really mad but they usually figure out they are being stupid.  Either way I don't care because parents will not run the show.

Golfman25 posted:

Rob T posted:

Golfman25 posted:

Yawn.  Fake news.  There's no facts.  Just rumor.  Probably a lot, a lot, more to the story.  

Fake news?

The story is that a coach left because of parental issues.

From her mouth,

"Please know what none of this has anything to do with the seniors or other players on my team. They have shown nothing but respect, class, and high character over 4 years and I've been lucky enough to coach them. I have a great relationship with all of them and they have been a huge reason that I love coaching. This concerns only a select few parents and should not represent the rest of the players, parents, BHS athletics program, or the town of Braintree,"

Sounds like she had an issue with some parents to me.  We don't know why she had issues, but obviously she did.

Coach resigns. She's asked why.  She says it was the parents. Not sure how that is fake or a rumor unless there is some other source out there that has another reason why she left.

 

It's "fake" because there are no facts.  So you're telling me this wonderful, successful, coach would step down because of a "select few parents."  It would be nice if the "reporter" got those few parents perspective.  Just maybe they had a legitimate beef?  But I guess we'll never know.  And parent problems have been around as long as there have been parents.  Part of the coach's job description is to deal with it. 

1.  Is it a coaches job to deal with parents who go to the board of education weekly over playing time?

2.  Is it a coaches job to be verbally harassed by parents because they have been able to push the coach around in the past?

3.  What should a coach expect after 3 years when his assistant looks at him after the first practice and says "congrats - you've stayed 3 years which is longer than the last 4 head coaches did because of these idiot parents"? One of those head coaches was the principal who took the team because nobody wanted to coach it

4.  Is it a coaches job to deal with an older brother who gets on a radio broadcast of the game and openly bashes the coach on every decision and making fun of him while winning the game?

5.  Is it a coaches job to deal with a dad who physically attacks him after a game because he sat his son against a very weak team just so another kid can get some playing time?  Even after the coach tells the starter why he was sitting to let the other kid play against a team of his skill level?

I have no idea what the story is behind this coach and why they left but yes a few parents can make your life so miserable you question whether you want to do it or not.  If you truly care about the team, the kids, doing the job right and being successful you don't just brush this stuff off - it can weigh on you heavily even if you have a supportive administration.  I know because I've been through it and I had an awesome principal but as a 23 year old fresh out of college I questioned everyday why I did it.  Now 20 years later things like this do affect me but I've learned to handle it better but its still stress.

There are bad coaches and there are good coaches who make mistakes that should be addressed but in my very limited experience and from everyone I talk to the problem is the parents who don't get it, who feel entitled, who live through their kids that are the problem.  The vast majority of parents are good and keep quiet but that small group who do ruin the experience are getting louder and more obnoxious.

Golfman, you definitely could be one of those parents.  Stay at the golf course.  Everyone gets to play there, and the scores decide the best.  There is nothing in a coaches job description that says you have to 'deal with it'!  Sounds like she did!  Go find the coach the coach that plays the best and 'my son or daughter' and we have a great coach.  

Golfman, you definitely could be one of those parents.  Stay at the golf course.  Everyone gets to play there, and the scores decide the best.  There is nothing in a coaches job description that says you have to 'deal with it'!  Sounds like she did!  Go find the coach the coach that plays the best and 'my son or daughter' and we have a great coach.  

Golfman25 posted:

Rob T posted:

Golfman25 posted:

Yawn.  Fake news.  There's no facts.  Just rumor.  Probably a lot, a lot, more to the story.  

Fake news?

The story is that a coach left because of parental issues.

From her mouth,

"Please know what none of this has anything to do with the seniors or other players on my team. They have shown nothing but respect, class, and high character over 4 years and I've been lucky enough to coach them. I have a great relationship with all of them and they have been a huge reason that I love coaching. This concerns only a select few parents and should not represent the rest of the players, parents, BHS athletics program, or the town of Braintree,"

Sounds like she had an issue with some parents to me.  We don't know why she had issues, but obviously she did.

Coach resigns. She's asked why.  She says it was the parents. Not sure how that is fake or a rumor unless there is some other source out there that has another reason why she left.

 

It's "fake" because there are no facts.  So you're telling me this wonderful, successful, coach would step down because of a "select few parents."  It would be nice if the "reporter" got those few parents perspective.  Just maybe they had a legitimate beef?  But I guess we'll never know.  And parent problems have been around as long as there have been parents.  Part of the coach's job description is to deal with it. 

What do you mean no facts?

"Coach why did you step down?"

"Because of the parents."

Why do you find that hard to accept?  She had an issue with the parents.  Who knows what the issue is?  It doesn't matter. We don't get to decide what is a enough of a reason for her to quit - she does.

Just because there have always been issues with parents doesn't mean she has to accept them.  We all have a point past which we don't want to deal with it - and obviously it was past her point.

I doubt dealing with parent issues is an explicit part of her job description - but even if it was, she didn't want to deal with it any longer.  That's her right.

She's perfectly within her rights to say, "Screw this - too much headache."

We don't need to hear from the "parents", because they don't have a say in her feelings on the situation. That's her business.

You are implying either that she is lying about the situation, or she should just suck it up and deal with the parents regardless of what her feelings are.  Just let us know which one it is.

Her record is meaningless to the conversation.  

There are limited facts in the story so it seems to me that there are two probable scenarios:

1)  She didn't do the leg work to communicate clearly her approach and get the support of the school so was left to contend with a messy situation without the backup of the AD.

2)  She isn't very tough and just folded under the hassle of a couple of unhappy parents.

Either way that means she has some accountability as do the parents. 

This is one of those fault lines that you can see in society - and a lack of understanding of who we are and our own history.

One side is "It's the end of the world that our kids are rotten spoiled brats and this just proves it" 

The other is "Things change - almost always for the better - and that the days of HS coaches being dictators was incorrect and needs to end.  They need to deal with that reality."

I think the truth is probably in the middle but closer to the 2nd view than the first. 

Almost 250 years ago those spoiled rotten Americans thought they could run their own country better than the dictator in England.  That guy had a pretty good winning pct. as well and won the first truly World War.  So people like Jefferson, Washington and Adams were nothing but helicopter parents acting in their own selfish interest and dragged the entire world into war.  Jefferson made a halfway decent argument for why we did it in the Declaration of Independence and the world is almost surely better for it. 

So these parents are nothing more than Americans doing what we always do.  We fight for what is in our own best interest.  We don't win every battle - but anyone worth their salt that calls themselves American is always there ready to fight it.  

Apparently this coach was willing to surrender the fight and the parents won this round.  There are 100's of other posts on this site of unhappy parents losing this same battle because the coach stands their ground or did the leg work to head off the problem.  It is the ebb and flow of change and it is a good thing. 

coach2709 posted:

Golfman25 posted:

Rob T posted:

Golfman25 posted:

Yawn.  Fake news.  There's no facts.  Just rumor.  Probably a lot, a lot, more to the story.  

Fake news?

The story is that a coach left because of parental issues.

From her mouth,

"Please know what none of this has anything to do with the seniors or other players on my team. They have shown nothing but respect, class, and high character over 4 years and I've been lucky enough to coach them. I have a great relationship with all of them and they have been a huge reason that I love coaching. This concerns only a select few parents and should not represent the rest of the players, parents, BHS athletics program, or the town of Braintree,"

Sounds like she had an issue with some parents to me.  We don't know why she had issues, but obviously she did.

Coach resigns. She's asked why.  She says it was the parents. Not sure how that is fake or a rumor unless there is some other source out there that has another reason why she left.

 

It's "fake" because there are no facts.  So you're telling me this wonderful, successful, coach would step down because of a "select few parents."  It would be nice if the "reporter" got those few parents perspective.  Just maybe they had a legitimate beef?  But I guess we'll never know.  And parent problems have been around as long as there have been parents.  Part of the coach's job description is to deal with it. 

1.  Is it a coaches job to deal with parents who go to the board of education weekly over playing time?

2.  Is it a coaches job to be verbally harassed by parents because they have been able to push the coach around in the past?

3.  What should a coach expect after 3 years when his assistant looks at him after the first practice and says "congrats - you've stayed 3 years which is longer than the last 4 head coaches did because of these idiot parents"? One of those head coaches was the principal who took the team because nobody wanted to coach it

4.  Is it a coaches job to deal with an older brother who gets on a radio broadcast of the game and openly bashes the coach on every decision and making fun of him while winning the game?

5.  Is it a coaches job to deal with a dad who physically attacks him after a game because he sat his son against a very weak team just so another kid can get some playing time?  Even after the coach tells the starter why he was sitting to let the other kid play against a team of his skill level?

I have no idea what the story is behind this coach and why they left but yes a few parents can make your life so miserable you question whether you want to do it or not.  If you truly care about the team, the kids, doing the job right and being successful you don't just brush this stuff off - it can weigh on you heavily even if you have a supportive administration.  I know because I've been through it and I had an awesome principal but as a 23 year old fresh out of college I questioned everyday why I did it.  Now 20 years later things like this do affect me but I've learned to handle it better but its still stress.

There are bad coaches and there are good coaches who make mistakes that should be addressed but in my very limited experience and from everyone I talk to the problem is the parents who don't get it, who feel entitled, who live through their kids that are the problem.  The vast majority of parents are good and keep quiet but that small group who do ruin the experience are getting louder and more obnoxious.

1)  Yes.  Be able to justify your decisions.  I would venture this is more the exception than the rule. 

2)  Happens in retail all the time.  People can be idiots.  It's not right.  But it is what it is.   If you're going to coach, you need Rhino skin. 

3)  Then certainly there is a problem, but one created by weak minded individuals.  Fixing will ruffle a lot of feathers. 

4)  Listen to sports talk radio lately?  As I said, it's not right, but it what it is.  Rhino skin.

5)  Call the cops.  That's a criminal issue. 

I get it.  Bad parents can make life miserable.  But the reality is most (almost all) parents are reasonable.  Some parents may have reasonable concerns they  would like to address.  Coach's who are dismissive are taking the wrong approach, imo.  Most parents will respect a well meaning coach who treats them with respect and answers their concerns.  They may not agree, but they'll respect the answer. 

Overthehill posted:

Golfman, you definitely could be one of those parents.  Stay at the golf course.  Everyone gets to play there, and the scores decide the best.  There is nothing in a coaches job description that says you have to 'deal with it'!  Sounds like she did!  Go find the coach the coach that plays the best and 'my son or daughter' and we have a great coach.  

Yeah.  That's me. 

Rob T posted:

Golfman25 posted:

Rob T posted:

Golfman25 posted:

Yawn.  Fake news.  There's no facts.  Just rumor.  Probably a lot, a lot, more to the story.  

Fake news?

The story is that a coach left because of parental issues.

From her mouth,

"Please know what none of this has anything to do with the seniors or other players on my team. They have shown nothing but respect, class, and high character over 4 years and I've been lucky enough to coach them. I have a great relationship with all of them and they have been a huge reason that I love coaching. This concerns only a select few parents and should not represent the rest of the players, parents, BHS athletics program, or the town of Braintree,"

Sounds like she had an issue with some parents to me.  We don't know why she had issues, but obviously she did.

Coach resigns. She's asked why.  She says it was the parents. Not sure how that is fake or a rumor unless there is some other source out there that has another reason why she left.

 

It's "fake" because there are no facts.  So you're telling me this wonderful, successful, coach would step down because of a "select few parents."  It would be nice if the "reporter" got those few parents perspective.  Just maybe they had a legitimate beef?  But I guess we'll never know.  And parent problems have been around as long as there have been parents.  Part of the coach's job description is to deal with it. 

What do you mean no facts?

"Coach why did you step down?"

"Because of the parents."

Why do you find that hard to accept?  She had an issue with the parents.  Who knows what the issue is?  It doesn't matter. We don't get to decide what is a enough of a reason for her to quit - she does.

Just because there have always been issues with parents doesn't mean she has to accept them.  We all have a point past which we don't want to deal with it - and obviously it was past her point.

I doubt dealing with parent issues is an explicit part of her job description - but even if it was, she didn't want to deal with it any longer.  That's her right.

 

She's perfectly within her rights to say, "Screw this - too much headache."

We don't need to hear from the "parents", because they don't have a say in her feelings on the situation. That's her business.

You are implying either that she is lying about the situation, or she should just suck it up and deal with the parents regardless of what her feelings are.  Just let us know which one it is.

"Because of the parents" is a conclusion, not a fact.  Until we know what the parents allegedly did, we don't know the full story. 

Golfman25 posted:

Rob T posted:

Golfman25 posted:

Rob T posted:

Golfman25 posted:

Yawn.  Fake news.  There's no facts.  Just rumor.  Probably a lot, a lot, more to the story.  

Fake news?

The story is that a coach left because of parental issues.

From her mouth,

"Please know what none of this has anything to do with the seniors or other players on my team. They have shown nothing but respect, class, and high character over 4 years and I've been lucky enough to coach them. I have a great relationship with all of them and they have been a huge reason that I love coaching. This concerns only a select few parents and should not represent the rest of the players, parents, BHS athletics program, or the town of Braintree,"

Sounds like she had an issue with some parents to me.  We don't know why she had issues, but obviously she did.

Coach resigns. She's asked why.  She says it was the parents. Not sure how that is fake or a rumor unless there is some other source out there that has another reason why she left.

 

It's "fake" because there are no facts.  So you're telling me this wonderful, successful, coach would step down because of a "select few parents."  It would be nice if the "reporter" got those few parents perspective.  Just maybe they had a legitimate beef?  But I guess we'll never know.  And parent problems have been around as long as there have been parents.  Part of the coach's job description is to deal with it. 

What do you mean no facts?

"Coach why did you step down?"

"Because of the parents."

Why do you find that hard to accept?  She had an issue with the parents.  Who knows what the issue is?  It doesn't matter. We don't get to decide what is a enough of a reason for her to quit - she does.

Just because there have always been issues with parents doesn't mean she has to accept them.  We all have a point past which we don't want to deal with it - and obviously it was past her point.

I doubt dealing with parent issues is an explicit part of her job description - but even if it was, she didn't want to deal with it any longer.  That's her right.

 

She's perfectly within her rights to say, "Screw this - too much headache."

We don't need to hear from the "parents", because they don't have a say in her feelings on the situation. That's her business.

You are implying either that she is lying about the situation, or she should just suck it up and deal with the parents regardless of what her feelings are.  Just let us know which one it is.

"Because of the parents" is a conclusion, not a fact.  Until we know what the parents allegedly did, we don't know the full story. 

So now we get to tell her if what the parents did justifies if she can be unhappy enough to quit?   Do you have a checklist we can all look at?  

I am not sure anyone is saying that.  The issue isn't if she can quit for any reason she wants - the story is saying effectively:

"A great coach is quitting because of no good meddling parents....and isn't that just a damn shame."

What is not articulated is any actual facts as to what interactions actually took place and in what context.  Was it 2nd guessing game strategy?  Playing time?  Coaching style?  Misconduct by players or coach?  With AD, school district or coach directly.  etc. etc.  Or it might be just as simple as the story implies, a couple of nasty parents just made it intolerable for probably something like $3,000 that she can pick up coaching somewhere else if she wants to.

So without that information - we get to chat it up with our own preconceived notions. 

Ok.  I found the rest of the story.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xez7kGgEg-U

I am dying. Made my day. "Where's the Toast!" 

My sister's husband is a HS Varsity coach at a ranked school in PA.  When I am with him his phone rings NON STOP.  He used to also coach a respected travel club in the summer till parents complained he was "favoriting" these kids over their kids.  If your playing for this travel club as a 16-17-18 year old, your an alpha no doubt.  I would EXPECT them to start in most HS's.  He had to quit coaching travel as his VOLUNTEER coaches from the program had to quit assisting him on the HS team.  One being a Reading Philly Hall of Famer and now a Div 2 college coach.  So stupid to push that kind of talent away.    All because "Johnny's" parents cant stand that his is the 27 player on a 27 man team.

I had a customer I was doing some work for.  Started talking ball and turns out his kid tried out for my brother in law.  He was talking all kinds of smack on the coach.  His kid was rail roaded, etc.   My BIL sent me his excell spread sheet where he kept stats on EVERY sinlge player trying out from throws missed made, batting, bunts missed, executed.  Each player received scores in all types of drills to receive an overall score.  This guys kid scored 40th out of 41 and was beat by a young woman who scored 37th.    My BIL routinely has to explain himself to a school board member or someone who received a complaint.  He loves the sport of baseball...But because of parents he comes close to quitting every year.  Without a doubt parents RUIN HS baseball more than anything.

Kevin A posted:

My sister's husband is a HS Varsity coach at a ranked school in PA.  When I am with him his phone rings NON STOP.  He used to also coach a respected travel club in the summer till parents complained he was "favoriting" these kids over their kids.  If your playing for this travel club as a 16-17-18 year old, your an alpha no doubt.  I would EXPECT them to start in most HS's.  He had to quit coaching travel as his VOLUNTEER coaches from the program had to quit assisting him on the HS team.  One being a Reading Philly Hall of Famer and now a Div 2 college coach.  So stupid to push that kind of talent away.    All because "Johnny's" parents cant stand that his is the 27 player on a 27 man team.

I had a customer I was doing some work for.  Started talking ball and turns out his kid tried out for my brother in law.  He was talking all kinds of smack on the coach.  His kid was rail roaded, etc.   My BIL sent me his excell spread sheet where he kept stats on EVERY sinlge player trying out from throws missed made, batting, bunts missed, executed.  Each player received scores in all types of drills to receive an overall score.  This guys kid scored 40th out of 41 and was beat by a young woman who scored 37th.    My BIL routinely has to explain himself to a school board member or someone who received a complaint.  He loves the sport of baseball...But because of parents he comes close to quitting every year.  Without a doubt parents RUIN HS baseball more than anything.

Sorry, but we are going to need you to provide names and addresses of these "trouble" parents, because we need to get their side of the story. Your brother in law probably just needs to grow a thicker skin or something.

Rob T posted:

Kevin A posted:

My sister's husband is a HS Varsity coach at a ranked school in PA.  When I am with him his phone rings NON STOP.  He used to also coach a respected travel club in the summer till parents complained he was "favoriting" these kids over their kids.  If your playing for this travel club as a 16-17-18 year old, your an alpha no doubt.  I would EXPECT them to start in most HS's.  He had to quit coaching travel as his VOLUNTEER coaches from the program had to quit assisting him on the HS team.  One being a Reading Philly Hall of Famer and now a Div 2 college coach.  So stupid to push that kind of talent away.    All because "Johnny's" parents cant stand that his is the 27 player on a 27 man team.

I had a customer I was doing some work for.  Started talking ball and turns out his kid tried out for my brother in law.  He was talking all kinds of smack on the coach.  His kid was rail roaded, etc.   My BIL sent me his excell spread sheet where he kept stats on EVERY sinlge player trying out from throws missed made, batting, bunts missed, executed.  Each player received scores in all types of drills to receive an overall score.  This guys kid scored 40th out of 41 and was beat by a young woman who scored 37th.    My BIL routinely has to explain himself to a school board member or someone who received a complaint.  He loves the sport of baseball...But because of parents he comes close to quitting every year.  Without a doubt parents RUIN HS baseball more than anything.

Sorry, but we are going to need you to provide names and addresses of these "trouble" parents, because we need to get their side of the story. Your brother in law probably just needs to grow a thicker skin or something.

Well whenever you mix an outside travel team with your HS team you create a natural conflict.  It's not easy, but it can be done.  You need to be prepared to be questioned and have the ability to manage it. 

Coach around here was a state finalist.  But he also give lessons at a local academy.  He gives lessons to his HS players at $50 per half hour.  It does create some conflict. 

Now, Kevin's BIL had all the data right there and was able to back up his decisions.  My neighbor, who coached at local HS did the same thing.  It's good business. 

Coaching is no different than any other job.  I'll get a call from an unhappy customer.  I'll go to my employee and ask what happened and why did you decide the way you did.  He'll explain his decision.  I'll call the customer back and give him the reasoning.  9 of 10 times that's all that is need and the customer is good with it.  But 1 of 10 times, it's "that" customer.  There's no making him happy.  Then I'll just cut him loose. 

Golfman that skit was super funny!!!

Sigh. This use of the term"fake news" has gotten out of hand and has been wildly distorted. News based on sources, anonymous or not, is not "fake news." Speculations drawn from actual sources re not "fake news" as long as they are clearly conclusions and not presented as factual. Predictions based on real sources that do not come to fruition are not "fake news."

"Fake news" is a term to describe stories presented as news directly from sources that present facts they know to be absolutely fabricated. Stories about Bigfoot woven from whole cloth are "fake news." Stories which take a photo from a particular event and make up a fictional narrative to surround the photo - "fake news." 

Stories which draw a conclusion from factual evidence that the reader does not agree with does not automatically become "fake news."

"I left because of the parents" is a polite way of saying "my AD is a moron and didn't support me"

roothog66 posted:

Sigh. This use of the term"fake news" has gotten out of hand and has been wildly distorted.

Not to add to your misery, but here is a manual j/k

She's still refusing to comment. I believe 1) she didn't like the situation and got offered a coaching job someplace else that will be made public in a few months (maybe current coach hasn't been fired yet) or 2) she was seriously threatened and the police told her not to talk. It's also possible a lawyer told her not to discuss the situation publicly.

I doubt a former college starter and successful high school coach would just walk away because some parents got upset. She has to be too mentally tough to go as far as she has.

roothog66 posted:

Sigh. This use of the term"fake news" has gotten out of hand and has been wildly distorted. News based on sources, anonymous or not, is not "fake news." Speculations drawn from actual sources re not "fake news" as long as they are clearly conclusions and not presented as factual. Predictions based on real sources that do not come to fruition are not "fake news."

"Fake news" is a term to describe stories presented as news directly from sources that present facts they know to be absolutely fabricated. Stories about Bigfoot woven from whole cloth are "fake news." Stories which take a photo from a particular event and make up a fictional narrative to surround the photo - "fake news." 

Stories which draw a conclusion from factual evidence that the reader does not agree with does not automatically become "fake news."

I'm getting seriously fed up with the fake news tag. Unfortunately too much news is editorialized by news sources rather than just reported. If you disagree with their interpretation it's is not fake news. If they get it wrong and print a retraction or correction it's not fake news. 

Too many people are getting their news via Facebook rather than legitimate news sources. They "friend" people who think alike and get most of their news from rightwingwhacko.com or leftwingwhacko.com.

I use Facebook mostly for political discussion. I've "friended" people who are friends of friends. I'm curious how people see the world as much as what is the truth. It's been interesting. There are a lot of people on both sides believing a lot of crazy stuff.

There are two sets of truth now. The reality is neither are true. Like any argument the truth lays somewhere in the middle.

I'm a newspaper publisher — here's my take on fake news and this story.

It's an oxymoron. Information is either news or fake. It can't be both.

In this case, the FACT that a well respected coach is leaving is news.

The FACT that she made certain comments and implicated parents in her decision is news.

If any parent or administrator or anyone wanted to step up and say, no, here's what's really happening, that also would be news.

Nothing fake about this. Just news.

Iowamom23 posted:

I'm a newspaper publisher — here's my take on fake news and this story.

It's an oxymoron. Information is either news or fake. It can't be both.

In this case, the FACT that a well respected coach is leaving is news.

The FACT that she made certain comments and implicated parents in her decision is news.

If any parent or administrator or anyone wanted to step up and say, no, here's what's really happening, that also would be news.

Nothing fake about this. Just news.

 

 

It's very newsworthy a coach walked a way due to parents regardless of the reasons. Questioning her mental fortitude without knowing anything about what really happened would be the fake news. But it's actually a two bit opinion.

Imagine you're a coach. You walk away without public disclosure of the facts. People start questioning your fortitude after you've been a quality college starter and a top level high school coach building a champion from a .500 program. You might say people are tossing uninformed cheap shots at you. 

RJM posted:

Iowamom23 posted:

I'm a newspaper publisher — here's my take on fake news and this story.

It's an oxymoron. Information is either news or fake. It can't be both.

In this case, the FACT that a well respected coach is leaving is news.

The FACT that she made certain comments and implicated parents in her decision is news.

If any parent or administrator or anyone wanted to step up and say, no, here's what's really happening, that also would be news.

Nothing fake about this. Just news.

 

 

It's very newsworthy a coach walked a way due to parents regardless of the reasons. Questioning her mental fortitude without knowing anything about what really happened would be the fake news. But it's actually a two bit opinion.

Imagine you're a coach. You walk away without public disclosure of the facts. People start questioning your fortitude after you've been a quality college starter and a top level high school coach building a champion from a .500 program. You might say people are tossing uninformed cheap shots at you. 

Actually, I left out one category:

Fake — stuff that didn't happen

News — stuff that factually happened

OPINION — what everyone thinks or believes about what really happened

Maybe I should have said "alternative facts." 

Golfman25 posted:

Maybe I should have said "alternative facts." 

I...uh...argghhhh! Now, you're just having fun. 

What is fake news or alternate facts about she quit due to issues with parents? Please explain?

RJM posted:

What is fake news or alternate facts about she quit due to issues with parents? Please explain?

No need.  It was clearly a joke.  And I explained myself early on.  It's a very poor, one sided, report. 

Now I hope that many of you understand why, when coaches are out recruiting, they are watching you too.  Not only watching parents of HS players, but for JUCO parents as well. They just don't want to deal with the nonsense, or rather the BS.

Golfman25 posted:

Rob T posted:

Golfman25 posted:

Yawn.  Fake news.  There's no facts.  Just rumor.  Probably a lot, a lot, more to the story.  

Fake news?

The story is that a coach left because of parental issues.

From her mouth,

"Please know what none of this has anything to do with the seniors or other players on my team. They have shown nothing but respect, class, and high character over 4 years and I've been lucky enough to coach them. I have a great relationship with all of them and they have been a huge reason that I love coaching. This concerns only a select few parents and should not represent the rest of the players, parents, BHS athletics program, or the town of Braintree,"

Sounds like she had an issue with some parents to me.  We don't know why she had issues, but obviously she did.

Coach resigns. She's asked why.  She says it was the parents. Not sure how that is fake or a rumor unless there is some other source out there that has another reason why she left.

 

It's "fake" because there are no facts.  So you're telling me this wonderful, successful, coach would step down because of a "select few parents."  It would be nice if the "reporter" got those few parents perspective.  Just maybe they had a legitimate beef?  But I guess we'll never know.  And parent problems have been around as long as there have been parents.  Part of the coach's job description is to deal with it. 

It sounds like you are probably a headache parent for a coach. Remember it's not about you.

TPM posted:

Now I hope that many of you understand why, when coaches are out recruiting, they are watching you too.  Not only watching parents of HS players, but for JUCO parents as well. They just don't want to deal with the nonsense, or rather the BS.

Unless your kid is an absolute stud.  Talent overrides everything.   LaVar Ball is a perfect example of that.