discipline for parents actions

First, that should have been covered at beginning of yr. Next, coach should talk w parent away from player, by calling or face to face mtg-not same day. If it happens agan player is put on bench for game-make sure parent knows ahead of time that this WILL happen. Coach has to show who is in charge. Interesting how this happens in baseball,esp parents coming to dugout, but you don't see them trying to talk to football or basketball players during game so much. If coach lets it slide more parents will try it.

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Originally posted by Robert M:
Should players be disciplined if their parents don't follow team rules? Some examples of not following team rules include coaching from sidelines, talking to players during games and practices, removing players from post game meetings without coaches permission. What type of discipline should a player receive?

Yes. It's called removing player from the lineup. I agree that the rules should be covered prior to start of the season and each parent should be given a copy of the rules.

So its been a little while since my son has been on HS team, but as the umpire I've seen all these adverse parental behaviors.......it hardly seems fair to punish the player for his parents misdeeds.

yet, to piggyback on the "politics" thread, I have personally seen players NOT selected for all-stars or travel teams, because of quarrelsome, meddling parents......

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Playball2011 said......First, that should have been covered at beginning of yr. Next, coach should talk w parent away from player, by calling or face to face mtg-not same day. If it happens agan player is put on bench for game-make sure parent knows ahead of time that this WILL happen. Coach has to show who is in charge. Interesting how this happens in baseball,esp parents coming to dugout, but you don't see them trying to talk to football or basketball players during game so much. If coach lets it slide more parents will try it.

Absolutely! My oldest son (varsity) goes to a different high school than my youngest son (jv). The baseball dugout rules couldn't be any different between the two. At one school, parents were told at the beginning of the year what the rules and expectations were in detail. The other school, not so much. Guess what...parents are bringing Gatorade, water, food to the dugout or I've seen girlfriends drops by to say "hi" or other distractions. At the other school, there is a physical tape line that is not allowed to be crossed EVER. Kids are not allowed to leave the dugout for any reason except to chase a foul ball. They are expected to bring all Gatoreade or water with them. Guess which program has the kid's 100% attention on the field, and is more disciplined. You guessed right!

First step, place a barrier between the kids and the parents. We place a rope with a "Players Only Beyond This Point" sign. Let the players know why you need their cooperation on this and to let their mom and dad know they will be happy to talk after the game. We explain how embarrassing it would be for them in a basketball game to have mom or dad sit on the bench with them. They usually laugh and I explain that I don't want them to be embarrassed like that. Go to you AD and let him know you need help keeping the parents out of the way during games and have him or her help monitor the situation. If they are coming to get a player after the game, simply shake hands with the other team and then walk your team all the way to center field if you have to to talk to them. DO NOT go to the dugout first. If a parent follows you to the outfield, you do not need that player around for a while.

The fact that we are even talking about this tells you a lot. I have been out 15 years. I never had a parents meeting to tell them the "rules". Now?

My philosophy was I did not come into their house and talk to their kid so stay out of mine.

I know to some that sounds mean etc etc but it is my belief. I never had a problem.

I like to send parents out on the field with players. It eliminates the need for players to back each other up on plays. I did have to add stadium style seating to the dug out and the batters box gets crowded but oh well mommy and daddy are happy

1) Team meeting along with parents before season to explain the rules
2) Warning
3) Bench time

In 13U a mother stormed into my dugout upset her son was playing left instead of center. The team came into the dugout and took their at bats. When it was time to take the field again I yanked the kid. I told him his mother wanted to talk to him about where I play him. I gave him permission to leave the dugout to talk to her. There was never another problem.

* * * * * * *

In middle school parents were told if there were issues about playing time and position it's the players responsibility to approach the coach. Four mothers went over the head of the coach to the AD and principal. The principal made the coach start the four kids the next game. The mothers also complained three kids hadn't sat an inning all year. The principal made the coach bench these players. The boys of these mothers didn't make the team the following year.

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Originally posted by piaa_ump:
yet, to piggyback on the "politics" thread, I have personally seen players NOT selected for all-stars or travel teams, because of quarrelsome, meddling parents......

Some may not make the HS roster next year... ... yes really

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yet, to piggyback on the "politics" thread, I have personally seen players NOT selected for all-stars or travel teams, because of quarrelsome, meddling parents......

We chose twelve for LL all-stars. We took the fourteenth rated player for the twelth man. We knew his parents would be grateful instead of complaining his playing time was 2&1.

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Some may not make the HS roster next year... ... yes really

Well, I did not say it but I do agree.

RJM,

I did something similar with a parent complaining about umpiring when his son was hitting. I had talked with parent that this was unacceptable. Well, when he did it again I removed the player the game. When the kid asked me why I took him out I told him because his dad seemed stressed with the umpires calls and was trying to help him relax. The player laughed and said thanks because he was tired of his dad too. In between games, the dad asked me if his son was ok because I took him out of the game. I said he is fine and to help with the umpire making so many bad calls against him that I took him out so the umpire could not make anymore. He had a blank look on his face. Problem solved.

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Originally posted by playball2011:
First, that should have been covered at beginning of yr.

Agreed.

My son's HS coach has a general meeting with all parents and players (attendance mandatory) after final cuts have been made. Goes over everything and makes a few things clear:

1) this is "his" team, not "ours". Yes, the players are our sons, but it's "his" team to coach.

2) no parents allowed at practices - too much of a distraction - even if you are viewing from a distance. If you really feel the need to watch a practice, he'll make arrangements for you to observe "a" practice. It won't be a license to go to all practices.

3) no parents in the dugout or on the field (the exception being senior night when parents escort their sons during a brief ceremony recognizing the seniors and the parents). During the season coach considers the field sacred territory for players only.

4) if you have a concern contact him and he will gladly talk to you - just not on game days (unless it's a real "emergency" and can't wait).

5) on game day, the players (and coaches) arrive at the field as a "team". When the game is over, they have a brief team meeting in L or R field, then if home drag/rake the field, etc. No one leaves until everything is done Most importantly, whether they are at home or away, they leave the field as a "team".

His program is working. Before he came we had the worst team in the district, though we did have some very talented players. The previous coach just did a poor job managing the talent he had. They were "me" players and not "team" players. His last season they were a terrible 5-15 (5-9 district - two the wins were forfeits).

Current coach (a true baseball coach - also the PE/Dr's ed teacher) took them to an 8-6 district record his first year with a playoff appearance. Second year 9-5 just missing the playoffs, and this year (his third) they finished the regular season 11-3 in a 3 way tie for first and a #2 seed in the tournament (starts Tuesdays).

As far as punishing the players for parents conduct in the stands or along the fence line - that's a bit too much for me. You're always going to have at least one parent coaching from the sidelines. I've heard it at almost every game from both sides.