just wondering if there's anybody out there who has experienced having their child looked over (knowing that your child is a better player) just because of the name game?
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I have personally witnessed it but I also know that if you prepare your child to be the best and do his/her best the talent will overlook everything else. I am speaking from personal experience.
Being a single Mom, who did not coach, when my sons were in Rec league this happened occasionally. That said, you have mostly good coaches looking out for all the kids and then a Dad here or there just looking out for basically their son. Sometimes these coaches will even go so far as to sabatoge the good players. However, even though alot of politics is involved in High School one thing that is for certain is that these coaches want to win no matter what. They will play the players they think are best. And, with that said, it sure does not hurt to work in the concession stand and get involved with the fund raising and all that is involved with having a good team with good facilities. "All things being equal" that is.
There's politics at all levels.
The player has to overcome politics by outplaying the competition.
But remember baseball is a team sport.
Can someone start a topic on the WBC Please.
It say's i'm authorized to start a topic, but i'm not able to.
On a personal note: I'm a parent of a good HS ball player, and I'm having a problem with one parent that tries to compare the 2 players.
He always brings up numbers, catches in the field, pitching performance, like its a competition between the 2 players.
And its not a friendly competition, not Mean but Insinuating?
If you could understand what I mean.
I'm trying not to say anything, and thats what I will do.
But it's like he's obsessed with having his son be better then my son. Both young men are the best on there team.
Its just the facts.
His son is a good player, but his Dad is absolutely controlling.
He's at every practice watching, hovering.
And for some reason he's picked my Son to create the competition with.
This has been going on for a couple of years now, and my son told the other player this year there senior year, to quit trying to compete with each other and become more of a team. Very mature I thought.
How would you handle this, and has anybody else went thru this.
The player has to overcome politics by outplaying the competition.
But remember baseball is a team sport.
Can someone start a topic on the WBC Please.
It say's i'm authorized to start a topic, but i'm not able to.
On a personal note: I'm a parent of a good HS ball player, and I'm having a problem with one parent that tries to compare the 2 players.
He always brings up numbers, catches in the field, pitching performance, like its a competition between the 2 players.
And its not a friendly competition, not Mean but Insinuating?
If you could understand what I mean.
I'm trying not to say anything, and thats what I will do.
But it's like he's obsessed with having his son be better then my son. Both young men are the best on there team.
Its just the facts.
His son is a good player, but his Dad is absolutely controlling.
He's at every practice watching, hovering.
And for some reason he's picked my Son to create the competition with.
This has been going on for a couple of years now, and my son told the other player this year there senior year, to quit trying to compete with each other and become more of a team. Very mature I thought.
How would you handle this, and has anybody else went thru this.
quote:just wondering if there's anybody out there who has experienced having their child looked over (knowing that your child is a better player) just because of the name game?
fan #1
Welcome to the real world. Call it name game daddy ball tournament clique or whatever it is part of the game so get used to it. there are 2 things you can do complain about it or just tell your kid to fight through it. Been there done that. Just hang in there.
Tell you a funny story as to how parents think--was at game as a total stranger last year chatting with parents down the left field line of the home team--the visitors had a SS who was exceptional, he was a late round draft pick, and I make a comment about how good he was to one of the parents. One dad overhears what I say and says his son is better--I said who is your son--he replies the SS for the home team--I saw the kid make three errors in two innings to put the team down 4-0 all with unearned runs--no the dad was not blind, at least he did not have a seeing eye dog nor was he wearing dark glasses.
Tis a true story--I still laugh about it
Tis a true story--I still laugh about it
The real world, indeed. I've always told my son that you have to be SO much better than everyone else that you simply take it (politics, connections, etc.) out of the equation. He has been victimized at times, like everyone at some point, but in the long run, he's used it as motivation. By the way, his reaction to these situations has been much better than his dad's!
quote:By the way, his reaction to these situations has been much better than his dad's!
Yes us Daddys can really be a pain!!LOL
Take it from a Daddy who Know's.
Just keep your Mouth Shut.
Your Son will thank you Later.
fan#1,
Welcome to the HSBBW. Good post! Of course what you describe happens all the time and will always be an obstacle ---- for some. Even if it were to go away it would continue to be perceived. Like ElDadQue and Will say --- you gotta ignore it. Two things we have to understand. I will always think my son is better than your son and you think your son is better than my son and when the two compete for the honor of being the best, one of us will cry foul.
The only way to overcome “politics” in your son’s sports are to ignore them. Your main goal and your son's main goal should be for him to be the best HE can be. Is he going to allow someone else dictate how good he is? I would hope not! Your son has to compete against himself. His real challenges are going to be self motivation, good work ethic, dedication, focus, just to name a few. His teammates, his coachs, or another parent should not be a major obstacle in his development. Too many times I think the parents identify (or create) obstacles for their sons and actually help them find an excuse to fail. Remember the words of the comic strip character Pogo ---- “We have met the enemy and he is us!”
Welcome to the HSBBW. Good post! Of course what you describe happens all the time and will always be an obstacle ---- for some. Even if it were to go away it would continue to be perceived. Like ElDadQue and Will say --- you gotta ignore it. Two things we have to understand. I will always think my son is better than your son and you think your son is better than my son and when the two compete for the honor of being the best, one of us will cry foul.
The only way to overcome “politics” in your son’s sports are to ignore them. Your main goal and your son's main goal should be for him to be the best HE can be. Is he going to allow someone else dictate how good he is? I would hope not! Your son has to compete against himself. His real challenges are going to be self motivation, good work ethic, dedication, focus, just to name a few. His teammates, his coachs, or another parent should not be a major obstacle in his development. Too many times I think the parents identify (or create) obstacles for their sons and actually help them find an excuse to fail. Remember the words of the comic strip character Pogo ---- “We have met the enemy and he is us!”
Fungo - nice post
quote:His real challenges are going to be self motivation, good work ethic, dedication, focus, just to name a few. His teammates, his coachs, or another parent should not be a major obstacle in his development.
FUNGO- I just added another piece of paper on my son's wall! As usual thanks!
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ElDadQue...Fungo...
44
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ElDadQue...Fungo...
quote:I've always told my son that you have to be SO much better than everyone else that you simply take it (politics, connections, etc.) out of the equation.
quote:His real challenges are going to be self motivation, good work ethic, dedication, focus, just to name a few. His teammates, his coachs, or another parent should not be a major obstacle in his development.
44.
It is unfortunate, but politics filter themselves into all walks of life, even in youth sports. It comes in many forms from who makes the little league all-star teams, to who gets into the starting lineup of a high school team.
Fortunately today, there are alot of options for kids to play the game of baseball if this occurs. Various travel ball teams, and other youth organizations when kids are young, and even if you dont get the playing time you want at the high school level, there is always American legion baseball programs, or other teams and leagues that you can have your child play in if you feel slighted in one particular league. Look around and keep your ears open for other team or league opportunities.
Keep your chin up, you and your child will hopefully find a niche to get your fill of the game somewhere. Dont let a few bad apples in one baseball organization spoil you or your child's love of the game.
Look at me, I took a licking on here last week for my views, but I still am posting....lol
www.HackettBaseball.com
Fortunately today, there are alot of options for kids to play the game of baseball if this occurs. Various travel ball teams, and other youth organizations when kids are young, and even if you dont get the playing time you want at the high school level, there is always American legion baseball programs, or other teams and leagues that you can have your child play in if you feel slighted in one particular league. Look around and keep your ears open for other team or league opportunities.
Keep your chin up, you and your child will hopefully find a niche to get your fill of the game somewhere. Dont let a few bad apples in one baseball organization spoil you or your child's love of the game.
Look at me, I took a licking on here last week for my views, but I still am posting....lol
www.HackettBaseball.com
Unfortunately there are political aspects to baseball teams of all kinds. It is difficult if your child becomes the victim of one of these situations.
I agree with Hackett that there are other options if your child has fallen victim to this type of thing. You can, however, also use this as a teaching opportunity for your child that these types of situations occur in all walks of life. The sooner an individual learns to deal with these deals positively, the closer he/she becomes a mature adult.
I agree with Hackett that there are other options if your child has fallen victim to this type of thing. You can, however, also use this as a teaching opportunity for your child that these types of situations occur in all walks of life. The sooner an individual learns to deal with these deals positively, the closer he/she becomes a mature adult.
I have seen politics at every level. There is nothing that really can be done and the most noteable example was at Minor Mosquito level (10 yo). One parent complained to the Minor Ball organization that the present coach was only picking kids that were their fiends to make the team. That is why his son was cut.
That year he connived to become the head coach of the MM team. He promply cut 7-8 of the players from the Rookie Ball All Star team from the previous year and did exactly what he complained about. He picked all his son's riends, ruined a great team that won 80% of their games to loosing 95% of their games. He was fired half way through the year and an interim coach who was very good was put in place for the rest of the year.
The parents were brutal. My son was not cut but carded which means they could call him up when someone was sick etc. When he was carded we were upset nad after a few tears he played house league. When the coach was fired he was called up permanently but that was even more ugly. He pitched 5 scoreless innings total for the rest of the year.One inning at a time.
The coach took me aside and appologized saying that the parents threatened to take their sons off the field if he pitched him regardless of how well he did. One game against a team we used to dominate this team was getting mercied and they had to put my son in. He had 3 Ks and then sat on the bench for the rest of the game and we were mercied.
We never complained but my son became the focal point of the hatred of the parents. At the game I just described my wife was sitting in the car and heard parents complaining about having him on the team. He didn't make the team so why are they pitching him ?
The next year a new coach and everything got back to normal. None of the MM team was picked for the Major Mosquito team except for the ones from the rookie team that the fired coach kept.
Our league has always strived to bar parents from coaching and or sponsering teams their son's play on. Way too many problems.
That year he connived to become the head coach of the MM team. He promply cut 7-8 of the players from the Rookie Ball All Star team from the previous year and did exactly what he complained about. He picked all his son's riends, ruined a great team that won 80% of their games to loosing 95% of their games. He was fired half way through the year and an interim coach who was very good was put in place for the rest of the year.
The parents were brutal. My son was not cut but carded which means they could call him up when someone was sick etc. When he was carded we were upset nad after a few tears he played house league. When the coach was fired he was called up permanently but that was even more ugly. He pitched 5 scoreless innings total for the rest of the year.One inning at a time.
The coach took me aside and appologized saying that the parents threatened to take their sons off the field if he pitched him regardless of how well he did. One game against a team we used to dominate this team was getting mercied and they had to put my son in. He had 3 Ks and then sat on the bench for the rest of the game and we were mercied.
We never complained but my son became the focal point of the hatred of the parents. At the game I just described my wife was sitting in the car and heard parents complaining about having him on the team. He didn't make the team so why are they pitching him ?
The next year a new coach and everything got back to normal. None of the MM team was picked for the Major Mosquito team except for the ones from the rookie team that the fired coach kept.
Our league has always strived to bar parents from coaching and or sponsering teams their son's play on. Way too many problems.
I think I'm on the same page as TR here. Not that politics never plays into the game, or that fan # may be justified. However, many times parents are wearing rose colored glasses when comparing their kid vs another. And, you can bet your bottom dollar that another parent has not or will not use your kid in a name-dropping comparison at some time.
Bottom line, where's the love if a parent does not go outside the box to defend their kid. At the same time we as parents have to use the situation not as an excuse but rather a motivator. This will not be the last time they will face this situation in their lives. Might as well learn to deal with it now.
Bottom line, where's the love if a parent does not go outside the box to defend their kid. At the same time we as parents have to use the situation not as an excuse but rather a motivator. This will not be the last time they will face this situation in their lives. Might as well learn to deal with it now.
"Politics" does affect things -- probably once out of every 100 times you hear someone complain about it. Most of the time, it's just another lame excuse.
Let it be an incentive to get better. I didn't see what age yours is but it doesn't matter.
If he is youth/rec league get him hitting lessons, if he is HS then get in a good off-season program and come back next year better and stronger.
What my son has to re-learn each year is that being "as good" is not good enough.
If he is youth/rec league get him hitting lessons, if he is HS then get in a good off-season program and come back next year better and stronger.
What my son has to re-learn each year is that being "as good" is not good enough.