Originally Posted by PA2016Backstopdad:
Sounds simple enough, just pull him aside and ask. Well the problem is, as explained by my son, the coach isn't approachable about issues like this. Historically he shuts them down before they finish a sentence and uses the, I'm the coach and that is the way it's going to be. needless to say the coach is bit of a control freak...
Coaches do have to be in control. How much feedback do you think the players should have? "Coach, can I play ss today? I was the best one on my summer team" "Coach, can I hit 3rd?" "Coach, I want to throw a few innings today. I've been working on my curve." "Coach, since I'm not starting today, I'm just going to stay home and chill." Coaches do have to believe their way is the way it's going to be. Could you imagine a coach taking suggestions from all the armchair coaches in the stands, each with a strongly biased POV toward a different particular player Would you rather your son have a coach who is indecisive and without confidence that he is leading his players and team in the right direction? and doesn't see the value in letting the kids play an active role in any process which doesn't empower the kids to think for themselves... Playing the game properly requires a great deal of thinking in any given situation for any position player, hitter or bench player, for that matter. That applies even more so for catchers even without calling pitches. I think you are underestimating the game, the players and the coach.
As a catcher my son should be empowered to have role to help run the defense but instead feels the opposite. Again, he has a very significant role, with or without calling pitches.
So how should he approach this guy in a way he will be heard. He has called pitches for the past 3 yrs on all his other teams and has learned from some great coaches away from the HS team... Your son is a 2016. He has been on the big field for about 3 years. The games he called as a 13 yo may not be applicable vs a good varsity team. I'm guessing the coach has been around the V game a bit longer than your son. Consider the possibility that the team is in a better position to win with the experienced coach calling pitches. There is nothing wrong with the player respectfully communicating that he would love the opportunity to call pitches whenever the coach thinks the situation is suitable. I suggested that he takes every opportunity to talk up the coach and throw in things that show his knowledge of the position from now until the start of the season so the coach has more trust in him... He doesn't need to talk up the coach or throw things in that show his knowledge. The coach is with him every day for a couple hours. Confidence in the player's ability will come from observing his actions, not from the player telling him how good he is.
What the coach overlooks is that waiting to get a call in messes up the pitchers ry them... This can be a valid concern and the pitcher should let the HC know that he is more comfortable working at a faster pace and ask if he could get the signs in more quickly. This is a bit of a problem with our program but, in no way outweighs the benefits of the coach calling the pitches in our particular situation.
Unfortunately my gut tells me this guy wants to say he has a big hand in the sucess of the pitchers as he talks to the newspapers after every game with a few "I" statements... Yes, most coaches have a bit of extra ego, pride and competitiveness. Those traits will likely serve your son's team well in regards to putting a competitive team on the field. HS coaches put in hundreds of hours for very little pay. It is highly unlikely that the primary motivation is to get personal credit in the local paper. MY gut tells me that your next two years with your son and HS ball will be a heck of a lot more enjoyable if you took a more supportive position with the coach.
PA2016, I took a bit of a gruff approach to illustrate a point. There has been some great threads here about the pros and cons of coaches calling pitches at the HS level. Both arguments have merit. There is a tremendous amount of responsibility the catcher has, with or without calling pitches. Your son will still be learning because he is taking in exactly what an experienced coach calls for every given situation at this level. He and the coach will undoubtedly have many bench discussions during games. No need to force the issue. They will develop a working relationship. Assuming it is his first or second year catching at the varsity level, he really has no experience to fall back on at that level. The coach is more likely to know the tendencies of the hitters and the opposing coach. Help your son see it as an opportunity rather than a hindrance.
Also, please consider that your lack of support toward the coach/s will likely be more visible to your son than you think and will make it more difficult for him to have a good working relationship with them.