"Dad Coaches"?

The Head Coach and some of the assistant coaching on my son's select team were not "dad coaches", though Dads did assist with the coaching in workouts and helped during the games.  And there were, at times, some issues that came about as a result of those dads who has some influence due to their participation in the coaching process.  But I think it really depends on the nature of the select team's organization whether they can afford not to have dads assisting with the teams.  So, I only imagine that keeping dads completely out of it would result in a very expensive select team program.

What age group are you talking about?   Typically Dads are still involved up until  16-18 year olds and parents always apply pressure in most teams, unless there is a strong Head coach.   Its part of the life of travel ball.  (wait until all-tourney teams are selected!)  Much more so pre-high school.  But at least you have a choice to stay or leave or switch teams as you see fit.  So do your homework when selecting a team to play/try-out for.  

We are high school age team.  So, yes surprised that a dad was going to be an assistant. At this age it is time to let go and let them stand on their own two feet.  Thanks for your replies.

Looking back, Even the elite 18U teams I recall at least 1 dad involved in every team my son's played.  But in our case, the dad (ex MLBer) was not a bad influence but a very positive one. The early years,  OMG had their nightmares, fortunately, we had several choices and made a couple switches.   High School coach stressed no parent involvement on the field at all.  

When my son was playing travel ball there were instances where we had Dad's coaching especially when he was young.  I only saw it work ONE time because the coach was so concerned about winnning that he knew his son was not interested or talented enough to play the game so he limited his time on the field and did not put him in situations where he would hurt the team.  He typically if not always hit at the end of the lineup and played in right field for a 9 and 10u team.

However, in every other instances where my son played on a team with a parent coaching it was absolutely horrible.  The dad could not properly assess the talent level of his son and in many cases the kid hit and played in a prime position.  For me as my son got older, it was a red flag to avoid at all cost until he got older where the dad's son was the real deal who played and hit in a prime position, so my son decided to play for the team.  Unfortunately, I should have followed my gut feeling because the next year (17u) the coaches' son had not progressed and in all honesty he had regressed and everybody knew it except the dad.  He continue to stay in the prime positions and quite frankly hurt the team but the dad could not see what was going on.  Bottom line is that I always advise people to think seriously whether they want their son to play for a team where the dad coaches at the older levels because at the younger levels it comes with the territory until they get into travel ball where based on  my experience I would see that as a redflag and even more so if their dad has a big baseball background because sometimes it can be very hard for them to be objective. Just my two cents.

We are playing HS select for an organization, it's not seriously expensive (one of the lowest I've seen, though not why we chose it) and there's not a dad involved.  Both coaches are former college players and work well with the boys.

Our pre-HS kid still has dad's helping out.

Unfortunately, your story is definitely the norm.  It's disappointing.

 

I'm pleased to say that we are one of the few exceptions to this rule (and I'm going to make an educated guess and say that a straw poll of every one of my players past and present would concur)...but trust me, I offer the same counsel to parents as you just did above.  Can it work?  Yes.  Is it the norm? No way!

 

#1... most volunteer parents trying to coach just do not know the game that well, if we are being honest.   this is especially problematic at the high school-ages of development and competition.  As parents, we want our kids to get the best instruction possible so they can develop, and they also need to be offered a fair shot at playing time.  If the coach cannot teach the fundamentals (and as the boys get older, teach some of the finer points of the game), then you aren't where you should be anyway.

 

#2...as you pointed out, it is very difficult for parents/dad to be objective about their own kid.  This can be a double-edged sword.  Sometimes, in trying to keep everyone happy, the coach may not give his own kid a fair shot.  This also is a good reason _not_ to coach your own kid... for the development of your own.  If the coach's kid really is one of the best players...and is the best #3 hitter/P on the team, then he should not be resented for holding that position.  Again... it has to cut both ways. My son never held this role on my teams, so that's quite possibly made it easier for me to be objective.

 

#3...different standards set for some players than others... and often the family tie is too tough to break when on the field.  If the dad coach is this way, then get out.  I'm not talking about playing time, but rather conduct on the field of play. 

 

#4...all this being said, I have coached my son since he was 9, and it has been one of the most rewarding things (coaching...and having him be a part of it, has been great) I could have done through the teen years.  I think at times, I've been tougher on him than the boys I might not know as well.  I'm also blessed with a flexible schedule and able to manage the team and pay attention to the details necessary to run things in a professional manner.   Most dads are not in the same situation from a time-commitment standpoint, and I am the last person to fault them for that (however, I believe it is why I think many do not do an adequate job of evaluating their son's talent compared to the rest of the team).   But remember folks... coaches ARE allowed to have kids.   Not all dad's should be coaches, though.

 

I could write a book, but no one would read it. LOL.

 

This will be my last year to coach, and its been a great run.  I don't think any of my players suffered from a lack of coaching instruction or a lack of being fair to all of them.  When my son stunk it up, he has sat the bench.  When he is hot at the plate, he stays in the lineup. 

 

Good luck to everyone this summer!

 

www.allenwranglersbaseball.com

Great response Wrangler.

 

My son has played on the Allen Wranglers since 12U.  While our coaches have never been paid, these "dads" are worthy of being paid the highest fees.  These coaches are vey knowledgable about the game because they too played at the college level.  They have committed to provide a very competitive team at a very fair price.  No we have never had all the matching bags, shoes and batting helmets.  But, we have competed in the Texas/Oklahoma tournaments and have managed to win 75% of our games.  Furthermore, we have competed in top tournaments at OSU, TCU, UTA etc and if you look at the website, these coaches have taught many players the fundamentals that are required to play at the next level.  Look at www.allenwranglersbaseball.com  to see a list of past and current college signees.  I am so thankful that my son has had a chance to play on a team that not only teaches the fundamentals of baseball as well as the nuances.  But more importantly, they have taught the boys how to live with the highest character on or off the field. 

I coach HS baseball.  I have a deep baseball background.  For a while, I coached one of my sons.  Most of my HS and college playing buds coach or coached their kids.  Over the last several years, I have spoken to hundreds of other HS and college coaches.  The majority have coached their son or daughter at one point or another.  I listen to major league player interviews and read spotlite articles.  As they get older and their kids start playing sports, they talk of wishing they could be around more so that they could coach them.  Many retire and quickly jump into coaching their kids.  I occasionally work for one of the bigger youth tournament organizations.  While working these tournaments I see hundreds of teams a year and the majority have at least a dad (or mom) or two coaching their sons.  The common thread is usually a passion for the game and a passion for their kids as well as a willingness to help in, perhaps, the best way they know how.  Most have a lot to offer kids in one way or another.  Is it always perfect?  No.  Is it the biggest problem a player will face?  Hardly.  Without their willingness to help, there would be thousands of kids left without a chance to play because there just wouldn't nearly as many coaches and, therefore, far less teams.  I'm really getting tired of hearing what a bad thing "dad coaches" are. 

 

I have three kids who, combined, played on dozens of teams accross several different organized sports.  Most of them, I did not coach.  I would never let my kids buy into believing they were being short-changed because one of the other kids' dad was coach.  Did it happen?  Probably on occasion.  But they were always told to quit complaining about something that could be overcome by working harder.  They were told to put the emphasis where it should be - what are you doing to be the best you can be.  They also saw that, in fact, I made it harder for the one I did coach and made sure he more than proved himself and earned his way at every turn.  I heard a great quote today... "what's stronger, your excuses or your desire?"

 

The kids (and parents who allow) who find excuses will get weeded out quickly and those who will not let anything deter them will usually be the ones standing at the top.  Which direction are you steering your kids?

Since this is our last summer of playing ball before he heads off to the next chapter of his life, this is a good time to reflect on his baseball past.  From what I remember, our best experiences always involved a dad coach or dad coaches on a team, but they were high quality individuals who were there for the right reasons it seemed, for all the kids on the team.  The only times I remember dad coaches being a bad experience is when we played for large organizations that allowed dads to help out and they didn't seem to be there for all the kids, just a thiers and maybe a couple others.  This really tore the teams and parents apart.  Probably why those teams only stayed together for a year or two.

 

We are playing with the Allen Wranglers this summer and if I had known then what I know now, my son would have been with the Wranglers for a long time.  What a blast it is to be with great "dads" in the dugout there for the right reasons being a positive example for our young men who more than likely, most if not all will be a "dad coach" someday.  Hopefully they are learning the right way to do that and will carry on the tradition to the next generation.  I know some of my fondest memories with my son are helping coach his teams when they were younger.

 

All of this to say that I feel that dad coaches or no dad coaches can both be good and bad.  You need to do your homework and talk to some parents of former players on that team AND current players on that team.  Believe me, the former ones will have plenty to say and the current one's will tell you why the former one's are saying what they are saying.  Don't be affraid to ask questions or you could have a miserable summer and there are only a few summers in this journey.  Make the most of them.  They are over before you know it. 

As a parent, I did coach my son's select team(s) from 9 - 13 yr old.  When he turned 14, I knew it was time to get out of the dugout. He was asked to play on another team and I failed to ask that important question, are parents going to assist you in coaching.  Needless to say there was..  there were 3 kids on the team that received most of the coaching and the A$$ chewing...  Guess which ones. LOL.  I'm not saying that parents can't be good coaches as I'm sure there are plenty.  When I was coaching and had parents help me the only rule I had was DO NOT coach your own son.   

This was the main reason I got into coaching to begin with.  To many parents as coaches who didn't know the game.  I started coaching my son when he was three years old.  I coached LL, Babe Ruth, Junior High, and assist at Varsity level.  Again I starting coach so my son wouldn't be coached by a parent based system.  Now I didn't get along with all the parents because I had a good working knowledge of baseball and talent.  Parents didn't like to hear the truth about their child's ability.  In LL I coached all levels of the all-star travel teams.  The first year was U10, my son was on the team as a 7 year old.  Parents compliant to the league president that a 7 year old couldn't compete or be as good as a 10.  League President came to first practice and spoke with me about it, I told him to watch practice and at end if he could pick the two weakest players, and if one was my son he would be removed from roster, he didn't pick my son an that was the beginning of the end for my relationship with parents in the local league. We went to the state tournament five years in a row, and won the league championship his last three years.  I played the best players, regardless of age.  As far as summer teams as he got older I was out.  In HS he played for team Conn and Team NY, both good organizations with no parents involved, that's the way to go for showcase teams. 

Now he is 20, just finished JUCO year got baseball money to school in the Kansas City area going to be there #1 weekend pitcher.  I can already hear the parents of players who have been in this system for two years waiting for their kid to be weekend starter, in rolls Junior.  That's the way it is.

He is currently playing summer ball in the NECBL.

 

This might be for a different topic but parents have to realize that this is a performance based sport, you don't preform you don't play.  More so when you get to college and summer ball levels. 

 

 

Alot of good posts on both sides of the issue. Yes, I agree that there are times when it is necessary and appropriate that dad's coach their kids.  I coached my kids  up until the age of 8 but I recognized that I had little to offer after that point.  Essentially the expiration date on my value had come and pass in terms of being able to teach them how to play the game.  It was also a time before they played "paid" travel ball so the teams needed volunteer dads to participate and help out so I stepped up to the plate.  However, even during that short period of time I was harder on my sons than the other kids to the tune that if they were not cleary better than the other kid they would not start or they would have their playing time in a certain position limited.  I knew it was not fair but that was my definition of fairness so that I would not unsuspecting limit the opportunities of a more talented player.  Fortunately, I knew my limitations and my kids were moving to the age where "paid"  travel ball was on the  horizon so I did not have to coach.  However, even in the early "paid" travel ball era of my sons playing careers there was still a need to have dad's coach so as to cut the cost to the parents.

Look I commend the dads who took their time to coach.  To be honest aot of kids would not have had the opportunity to play if it was not for these dads.  My point is and this is based on my experience is that I only saw one dad who could do it and not be biased towards his son.  In terms of making excuses I did not have to do that because my sons were above average with one of my sons currently playing D1 ball at a school in Texas.  I agree with the dad on that point you have to teach your kids to not use excuses but to find away to make it work.  I always told my kids that the cream will rise to the top and that when it is all said in done a complete stranger will probably mke the decision whether you can continue to play the game not the coach you are playing for.  Yes, that complete stranger assuming they are a stranger is a highschool coach, MLB scout and a college coach. The dad can only in most instances do so much for their kid at some point each player has to stand on his own.

My point is that from my experience I would recommend that a parent view particulary at the higher ages and higher levels of play, view a dad coaching as a redflag.  I did not say not to play on a team with a dad that is coaching it is just one other issue you need to do your due diligence like any other issue e you decide to play for a partricular team.  Again, in my experience I have only seen it work one time because the coach recognized the interest and talent level of his son and did not play him in the prime hitting and fielding positons that would compromise the team.

Finally, to all dad whether you coached or not Happy Fathers Day you this coming Sunday.  Just my two cents worth.

 

Good point on the college stuff.  None of the gerryrigging will matter at all when they get in college.  Coaches jobs and family finances are on the line.  They want to win period. The sooner we as parents can learn to cut the ties and stop greasing the poles on the behalf of our kids the sooner they can become men and learn to accept responsibility for their successes and failures.

Yep... 100% correct.

Does anyone else here find all the high school coach and dad coach bashing tiresome? I could post plenty of issues I saw with my son's high school coach. But the bottom line is the program improved when he arrived and my son enjoyed high school baseball even though he wasn't a big fan of the coach.

 

I was one of those dad coaches who left work early all the time due to LL practice and games. I was the dad who started a 13u travel team. All four of us coaches played college ball. The pitching coach made it to AAA. It only cost each parent $600 to play about fifty games. By the time I got done paying for extras out of my own pocket the seasons always seemed to cost me over a thousand.

 

Did my kid deserve to play short and lead off? Damn right he did. Soph year he was the high school shortstop. Junior year he was batting third. But my kid didn't play short except when the shortstop pitched. My son didn't have position. He played wherever the pitcher came from in 13u and 14u. He played center, right, second, short, third, catcher and pitched.

 

I had a couple parents whining I was better preparing my son to play high school ball. These parents were easy to deal with. I cut their kids at the end of the season. There's too much available talent to waste time on kids with whining parents. Besides their kids were at the low end of the talent totem pole on the roster. The parents of the more talented play were rarely a problem.

In Michigan, we do give some leeway to unpaid dad coaches in Little League (through 12U), even in travel ball when the dad coach is pitching his son 160 pitches a game. But once you get past 14U or so, dad coaches never make a team better and clearly are a problem even if the son is a stud player/college prospect.  When the dad is the coach (especially if he is assistant coach for pitching or hitting), his son becomes the "thought" and everyone else is the "afterthought."  We had a situation with two college bound catchers.  Dad coach son played every inning of every game and all but three inninga at catcher because only "losers" sit on the bench.  He was the worst captain on any team I have seen, a bully, and his dad coach just got the coaching staff to let him go undisciplined because he had to "happy" to play.  It got worse when the dad coach brought up his sophomore son to varsity (who should have remained at jv).  Dad pitching coach pitched his son nine times (all losses), the proceeded to place him as the pinch base runner (dumbest base runner in the world), and when he failed there, dad coach convinced the head coach to bat him second and start three games in a row (no hits, no plays made in the field). 

 

The problem is that some dad coaches are completely shameless at all points in time.  Thos people should never be a coach, but particularly should not be sitting on the bench, selecting the pitchers, or setting the lineup.  If they want to coach, they can coach another team just to show they want to be a coach, rather than a dad.

 

My sons made it through this experience unscathed, but there were at least 6 other kids (good players making a varsity program), that were thoroughly pimped.  I called them the "therapy group."  I guess they learned what mental toughness is all about.

Jass ... What a bunch of horse manure! Yes there are some bad daddyball coaches. They typically get weeded out of coachIng by the end of the 14u season. But there are many  dad/coaches who objectively coach their sons and successfully coach their teams In high school, showcase and college ball. It's actually the parents of less talented players who usually can't objectively judge the talent of the coach's kid. Are you aware of how many dad/coaches you've insulted on this board? Most have kids in college or pro ball now.

No Way!  You meen the coaches kid knows how to play baseball?  How did that happen?  I wonder what they do when the team isnt practicing?  Ill bet they play PS3 and stuff like that...  

 

RJM - Im with you on this topic. 

Thanks for the replies.  They are very helpful to gain an understanding of how this stuff happens, even when ALL of the OBJECTIVE EVIDENCE points to the fact that the sophomore was over-promoted, lost nine games (the team only lost 11 games the entire season), had one bunt hit, and should have played more PS3 to learn how to run the bases.  But his older brother was a very good player and has a partial ride to college.  I guess that is why they have therapists, i.e., for the "bottom ten" on any team with a daddyball coach (and probably their parents - ha!).  Everyone has to justify what they do in their own words, and I appreciate your arguments.  The best pitchers on the team were the ones who had their own pitching coaches and learned to ignore the daddyball coach.  I guess that is the wave of the future. 

jassdet - sounds like you were rooting against your own HS team. 

I guess when you have no logical response, you have to say something like that.  I cheered for the team, but thought it could be a lot better as they lost 9 times more than they should have.  

 

I think the discussion here is really under what circumstances can ANY daddyball coaching be justified after 13U or possibly 14U.  And if you have a daddyball coach, what constraints should be on such a person.  Not sit on the bench during games?  Be a pitching coach if his child is not a pitcher?  Be a hitting coach in practice, but not determine any playing time or batting order?  Problem is, the shameless daddyball coaches do not really want to be coaches; they only want to be impartial dads and promote the child beyond where someone else would promote them.  Should the line be based on the "shamelessness" of the daddyball coach?  There are daddyball coaches who cannot have their children sit on the bench for an inning in an entire season.  The child then thinks that anyone who sits is a "loser" and that cycle flares into other things, particularly if they ever advance to a level where daddy is not a coach in college or at other levels.   If there is a justification for daddyball coaches, which some of you feel is a good thing, then what are the restrictions that should be placed on them to overcome their bias and impartiality.  Or should we all be gauged on how far we can justifiy being daddyball coaches? 

jassdet - first, it was a logical response.  You sited numerous examples of how one of your own team mates lost 9 out of the 11 games.  Almost like you kept track of his inadequacies.  Second, there are some bad coaches out there.  Some of them are dads, some are not.  Take the dad and the kid out of the equation for a minute.  Was THAT pitcher solely responsible for all 9 losses?  How many did the kid win, or didn’t you keep track of that?  How deep was the bull pen?  Were there any other options?  Were the other pitchers already burnt earlier in the week?  Did they have pitch count restrictions resulting that particular pitcher getting mound time due to others unavailability.  Maybe they were trying to develop him for next year?  There could be many explanations for the way it played out. 

 

Anyhow - the coaches should be monitored by other coaches within the program or possible the AD to ensure impartiality.  And if that is the case, it probably is not public knowledge. 

I just read through this thread.  The phrase "high quality individuals" from gametimer stood out to me.  The HC and one of the ACs on my son’s 16U team are both dads of players.  Both are high quality individuals who have played and/or coached at a high level.  I bet $1 you could follow this team around all summer and not even notice the father/son pairs (on the ballfield).  It doesn't hurt that both boys are outstanding ballplayers, too.

I coach an 11U team and most of my players have played +/- 160 games for me in the last 6 seasons. It takes a lot of time to coordinate and run a team properly, time I could be spending with my son. My son would probably be a better ball player right now if I wasn't committed to teaching ALL of my players. We have good parents, but some of them know nothing about baseball, so where would that leave their kid? My son bats 5th and plays 3B/P, because that's where he belongs. He doesn't bat 3rd and play SS, although since the team started, he has the highest AVG on the team. He bats 5th because that's where he belongs because he's not as fast as some of our players that can also hit well.

Don't get me wrong, I know there are, always have been, always will be, Daddy Ballers out there. But, there are also very knowledgeable, hard working, passionate Coaches out there that happen to have a child on their roster and that happen to care about more than just their own son's future.

 

Coach Bert - 11u Virginia Bulls 

Bingo!!  This is when it works... when you have no idea who is who.  All players are treated properly/equally during practices.  The best players (regardless of who their parents are) play the majority of the time at the position they are most skilled at.  All players are given ample opportunities to develop their skills during games, but the team does not suffer during game competition if a developing player gets some time at a "high skill" position like SS, even if he is not the best one on the team  (its also a reason some coaches, yours truly included, will play league games in addition to tournaments even when tournament-only teams are somehow viewed as "better"... guess how many #7-9 hole pitchers can be developed in a weeknight league game vs. an elimination-style tournament?  Then guess who has the deeper pitching staff when it matters late in the summer when kids are tired, parents want to go on vacation, etc?)

I am sorry you have had such a poor experience (whether it be club or school ball... fwiw, there are at least two N. Dallas suburb 5A schools who's HS coach has a son on the team.  in each case, I can say the son deserved to play and bat where the coach/dad had him... one started at SS as a freshman on a team that made the playoffs).   Based on some of the facts you state... you have reason to be upset and disgruntled about a coach who had a son on the team.

 

As far as placing restrictions or regulating a coach who is a dad... that is honestly beside the point.  Really it is.   If it is a bad situation, people like you who recognize that will leave.  Eventually the coach loses all credibility as player after player and family after family leave the team.  Then he loses talent, team loses games (gets knocked out in 1st round of elims most tournaments, meaning the team is playing less games than they had been "promised", etc).   It trickles down fast and has a very negative effect on how the team does, and this impacts the longevity of the particular "unfair, daddyball coach" in question.  In a couple of seasons, a team like this disbands.

 

#1 point I made earlier... when I counsel a parent of an athlete going to play high-level club/select ball I tell them the wins/losses are not as important BUT (!!!) the instruction, level of teaching ability, and fairness of the coach IS.  If the instruction is good, the players are talented and developing, then winning takes care of itself.  Period.

 

#2... Typically a quality instructor can also evaluate talent pretty well.  _Hopefully_ he has enough integrity and pride in what he does to fairly evaluate his own son's talent.

 

#3... if a coach cannot evaluate his own son's talent properly... run away!  But then I'm guessing he isn't a great coach to begin with, is possibly coaching the team for the wrong reasons, and he won't be coaching very long b/c the success of his team over time will suffer tremendously (whether it is club or school is irrelevant).

 

#4... as parents, it is always easy to pick on the coach's kid.  Remember, that is just a kid like yours, regardless of whether he is more talented, or less talented, than yours.  Sometimes if we all just worry about our own business, and not try to overanalyze the situation (not the easiest thing for me to do, I will admit), then our kids still grow and learn from an imperfect situation.  I mean, let's face it... life isn't perfect, its what you do with it that matters. 

 

If your kid is not developing his skills b/c the daddy coach (or any coach!!) isn't good enough, then you need to find a different situation.  But if your kid is, and he's loving the game of baseball (or whatever sport he/she chooses), then overemphasizing some of the faults of any coach/team situation is unfortunate and we, as parents, should check our own motivation.

 

All the best this summer and moving forward for your son.

I am going through this dad coach thing right now.Although it doesn't effect me defensively it affects me in the batting order a little. I mean I get abs but I should get more.I got the highest batting average on the team. The coaches son kills us defensively when we got a better player defensively and offensively . I mean we will still win a couple of small tourneys just because of the overwhelming talent we have, but the coach has made me lose some of my faith of winning a national championship.That doesn't mean I wont give up on trying to win a national championship.By the way we have qualified for a national championship. 

It think we are talking about two different things.  There are "daddyball" coaches and there are coaches who are dads.  The "daddyball" coach is the guy who forms a team because he is upset that his kid isn't treated like god's gift to baseball.  Now little Johnny can play SS as he prepares for his eventual selection by the NY Yankees.  We have all seen them.   

 

Then there are coaches who are dads and have a son on the team.  These guys have a lot of baseball knowledge and truly enjoy passing it on to all the kids on the team.  These guys are ideal because they generally come "free."  My son was lucky enough to play for one.  During the offseason, the coach developed everyone who was willing.  For example, my son was allowed to attend specialized catching workouts even though he wasn't very good and wasn't going to catch in the "championship" game.  This gave him a sound foundation which eventually led to him being the primary catcher 2 years later.  He also taught the finer points of the game.  The game coaching was a little different, with playing time and position based upon skills and talent.  We won, not because we had better talent, but because we were better coached in the off season.  After that year, the coach moved on to "bigger" things.     

 

As a parent the trick is to find the right coach for your kid.  That can be difficult because there are so few who can do it.  Most are well meaning, but they are over their heads when it comes to coaching.  Some become raging lunatics on the field.  Some are disorganized and have no practice plans.  Some don't pay attention to the details and do little instruction.  Unfortunately, you really don't know what you have until your there.

 

So I ask.  How do you find the right coach?

I just realized as a dad coach I gave my kids an unfair advantage. The expectation level for their behavior as the son and daughter (in softball) of the coach was so high they were impeccable teammates. They were never late. They always dressed the part of players. They practiced harder than anyone. They never screwed around in the dugout or practice. The one time my son threw his bat in disgust I took him behind he dugout and gave him a reaming where had it been another player on the team the father might have smacked me. Then I took away his uniform for the rest of the day and wouldn't allow him in the dugout. Yep! I was biased towards my kids.

Amen!

Unfortunately, for every story like that, we can post one about the "coach" who let his son slam his bat down or "toss" it into the dugout after a strike out (when other players sat for aggressively dropping their helmet) or had the kid review the line up, etc., etc.

 

There are good, bad, and mediocre coaches.  Some have kids on the team.  Good luck. 

Given that it is Father's Day, it is probably time to retire this subject.  The bottom line is that even the dad's that did not do a great job coaching, in all honesty they are probably incredible fathers to their childen.  Lets give them a break and remember that there is only one perfect dad and his name goes by man names one of which is God.  To all dad's whether you were a coach or not thanks for putting in work and raising your children to the best of your ability.  Happy Fathers Day to all of you and hopefully this will be the last post on Daddy coaches, particulary if it is a negative post.