Amen, Coach. There were many tipping points that could have gone either way for myself and each of my three kids during some of the more challenging years of parenting. I like to think we all came through those times in a good place, but I definitely added to the degree of difficulty at times being "that parent".
Had I found HSBBW a bit sooner, I probably could have saved everyone some headache, anger and frustration and could have tipped the scales in our favor a little sooner.
Coach May that was such an excellent post!!
PGStaff posted:
VECTOR,
Thanks for the kind words. Hope things are well.
Your welcome, and it is well deserved.
Thanks for asking about how things are going, as I know you genuinely care. Unfortunately, my son has once again damaged/stretched his same repaired ACL and also involved the meniscus this time. This occurred with him pushing himself during an intense workout with box jumps and he landed wrong. The coach was still having him run polls after the injury in a brace, which didn't help either. He was back up into the low 90's at that point, so it is very demoralizing for him.
So he had another surgery and they took a graft from his other knee (patellar tendon) instead of using the cadaver/hamstring graft they used last time. This will supposedly be less likely to fail, but adds recovery time since both knees were operated on. He is in PT now trying to build his legs back up again, so it is a tough time for him. Other than that though, things are going well. I hope you and yours have been doing well since we last communicated.
Best wishes to Vector's son. That's a really tough situation; to have to go through ACL stuff even once is a grind, let alone twice.
smokeminside posted:Best wishes to Vector's son. That's a really tough situation; to have to go through ACL stuff even once is a grind, let alone twice.
+1
Vector,
Your son sure is due for some good luck. I know he has had a rough road so far. I wish him the best.
Buckeye 2015 posted:Dads in a HS dugout?? Are you kidding me?
That was my reaction also. Sorry, but that is a sad commentary on that program.
Just once, I'd like to see somebody's high school baseball coach (in uniform) show up at Dad's or Mom's workplace telling them how to do their job....yelling across the cubicles! ;-)
So many great posts here, but Coach May and PG, wow just wow! Words really can't explain the truth and reality in your words. I agree that all of us have been "that parent" at one time. And as Coach May said, it's usually the deep love of our son that actually causes us to become "that parent". When I look back over my son's short baseball career, I KNOW I have been that dad at times, especially the one Coach described as being able to "hide it". I can remember conversations where I would be sure to praise my son but then ask him why couldn't he be a little better. I can remember comparing him to peers. Luckily, my son was injured and has missed the past 2 years of baseball. Now I say that very tongue in cheek. Of course I'm not glad my son was hurt or had TJ, but it did allow me to put baseball in perspective. My son is a GREAT young man. If he never throws another pitch it will NOT change that fact! He has worked his rear off and we hope he is close to getting another opportunity. I can guarantee you I will never take another pitch for granted!! He is gonna have his number one fan cheering him on whether he has 10 Ks or gives up 10 runs. I've made sure to tell my son this very thing. I've apologized to him if he ever felt that I put baseball ahead of his life. I truly think that coaching your kid is a recipe to become "that parent". For me, I felt I had to hold my son to a higher standard because I was afraid other parents would perceive he was getting "special" treatment because he was the coach's son. I wouldn't change it because we spent so much quality time, but I wish I had the knowledge then that I have now so I could have kept things in their proper perspective.
joes87 posted:freddy77 posted:. The bringing a drink to the dugout thing mentioned here... I could care less, knock yourself out. But I have - right hand to God - heard people complaining about that too! That in their mind just walking to the dugout to give little Jimmy a drink makes you 'that parent'.Bringing a drink to the dugout in HS ball doesn't necessarily make someone "that parent".
But for sure it's not a good thing to do.
Most parents with kids on my sons HS team bring drinks to them for the games. Some walk up to the edge of the dugout to drop them off, others will have the kids come to them. In general its to keep the kids from having to manage the drinks during the school day. Most parents will either drop off a large jug of water, or 3 or 4 gatorade bottles along with some kind of small snack. I guess I don't see much wrong with this. Maybe because its common practice here, but the kids have enough stuff to manage during the school day, imo dropping off something to drink and a small snack is not a big deal.
Both kids asked me to get a water bottle from the concession stand multiple times. Since the dugouts had opening on the back I would place the bottle on the sill when they were in the field warming up. I kept me from being a distraction.
hshuler posted:Question - which looks worse to a college recruiter a) parent tossing a kid a drink or b) kid leaving the dugout to go to the concessions to get one himself?
Water isn't something the player should have to think about. The team should be taking care of it. If they don't I preferred to take care of it so my kid was distracted from preparing for the game. On tournament days there was a cooler in the car. For high school games chances are I was headed for the concession stand.
StrainedOblique posted:Then again........You never know
Little league back in the early 80's , a coach was short handed on staff and the umpire insisted he have a person in the 1st base coaching box . Frustrated with the umpires request the coach was forced to go to the stands and summons a parent.
He spotted what appeared to be a grandfather of one of his players, Motioned him over and asked " Do you know baseball?" The Grandfather said "Sure" . The Coach said "Great , I need someone to coach first base today....can you do that?" The old guy said " Yes, whatever you need" . The coach said "Great , just stand there while we hit...and don't say anything to the players. Just Stand there" . The grandfather said " Ok, got it"
Everything went smoothly and exactly as the coach requested, the grandfather said nothing to the players.
The game ended and as he was shaking the hand of the coach of the opposing team, The opposing coach had a huge smile and asked:
" How the hell did you get him out here? "
"Who?"
" Him" pointing to the older guy who coached first base. "That's Joe DiMaggio"
How would a coach not recognize DiMaggio. Even if he was baseball ignorant the guy was in Mr Coffee commercials every day.
When a kid is competing in a summer or fall tournament he's responsible for thinking through what he needs before leaving the house/hotel room.
For high school I would rather my son being focused on academics than a water bottle when he gets up in the morning. Besides the water is going to be warm eight hours later when he starts pregame.
I agree that those in charge of the team should be responsible for water. Even if water is provided by others, it is the team's responsibility to make sure that happens and refilled when needed.
StrainedOblique posted:Then again........You never know
Little league back in the early 80's , a coach was short handed on staff and the umpire insisted he have a person in the 1st base coaching box . Frustrated with the umpires request the coach was forced to go to the stands and summons a parent.
He spotted what appeared to be a grandfather of one of his players, Motioned him over and asked " Do you know baseball?" The Grandfather said "Sure" . The Coach said "Great , I need someone to coach first base today....can you do that?" The old guy said " Yes, whatever you need" . The coach said "Great , just stand there while we hit...and don't say anything to the players. Just Stand there" . The grandfather said " Ok, got it"
Everything went smoothly and exactly as the coach requested, the grandfather said nothing to the players.
The game ended and as he was shaking the hand of the coach of the opposing team, The opposing coach had a huge smile and asked:
" How the hell did you get him out here? "
"Who?"
" Him" pointing to the older guy who coached first base. "That's Joe DiMaggio"
I have no idea if this story is true but I love it..."don't say anything to the kids" LOL yep you certainly wouldn't want him to discuss hitting or anything!! LOL
