I am looking for trouble... (AKA asking this forum for advice!)

FWIW, we live in an area with many college and JUCO programs. After going through several years (ages 8 - 11) of parent coached travel ball and unevenly run winter rec ball, our PONY league appointed a board to approach the closest college and ask if a program could be created using the college players as coaches. As a result of that initial contact a full program was created which offered rec ball (this was over the fall and winter before spring season) and travel ball. The college sent over players - players chosen for their ability to communicate with kids and their ability to teach the game to the kids - who ran the teams without parent involvement.

 

Each week, the college players were briefed by the college HC on what and how to teach skills; each week built upon the previous week. Practices were optimized - and the kids learned practices that were built to maximize activity and minimize stand around time. 

 

It worked really well for our league; we began to attract kids from outside the league boundaries, the travel ball teams focused on skill building and deemphasized winning (we traveled only locally), winter rec ball participation sky rocketed; the overwhelming majority of parents bought in (we kept parent coached rec options in place also, but participation in that facet dropped as kids shifted to the college coaches).

 

There were lots of benefits outside of just league baseball; kids began going to the college games, we set up seminars with the college HC to discuss HS and college ball, etc., kids became bat boys for the college team. When a few of the college players went pro, and were assigned to MILB teams close to our area, the league set up "field trips" to some games. It allowed the kids to enjoy the game without the pressure/craziness which sometimes accompanied parent run teams.

 

Fast forward twelve years: my son now plays golf with those coaches - many of whom have young families - and he looks back with fondness to those days.

 

Not sure what type of team you are dealing with I guess...

 

I've been through similar situations in both rec and travel baseball.

 

In the rec situation, my 9yo was on a team that was coached by a couple of professional athletes.  They were good on the concepts of running a practice and small group instruction.  The problem is they weren't baseball guys.  They could tell a player to do a drill, but couldn't identify things the players were doing wrong.

 

At one practice I was helping out at a hitting station.  As players came through, if they were way off with what they were doing, I would stop them and try to correct the issue. The head coach came over and said not to correct them, just have them swing.  I tried to explain that it didn't make any sense to practice doing things incorrectly, but I guess if you do something wrong a thousand times it magically becomes the right way to do it?  So, since I knew I wasn't going to be allowed to help, and I'd probably just be frustrated watching - I stayed away from practice. It's youth baseball, nothing worth getting an ulcer over.

 

The travel issue was with the first time my oldest played travel, which was at 13U.  I didn't do my homework, and ended up going with the first team that my son made.  A couple of practices in, I knew the coaches really were in over their heads.  I helped out, but really I didn't want to.  If I wanted to be my son's coach, I could have just stayed in rec ball and saved a good bit of money.  The goal of playing travel was to receive better coaching and play with better players...  Well, lesson learned.

 

I made sure to really check out the coaches for any future teams he played for.  I watched them coach games, and run practices.  There was even a team he played for that was severely lacking in talent, but had such good coaching that I thought it was the best situation for my son to be in.

 

So I guess it boils down to this:  If it's rec ball, work with your kid on the side and just let it ride until the next season.  For travel, try to evaluate the coaching ahead of time so you don't get stuck.  Some coaches don't want parents inserting themselves into the coaching staff - which I think is understandable.

 

Ultimately you either have to form your own team, or accept the way your kid is being coached.  Pointing out flaws to the coaches rarely works out.  Remember that you are paying them.  If you aren't happy with the situation take your business elsewhere.

 

 

2020 - To get any real advice, you probably need to give some generic outline of the coaches' personalities and perhaps background.  However, from your tone (they can have all the glory) you make it sound like these coaches are somewhat closed minded.  Additionally, when you talk about zero response from your offers to assist, again you make it sound like they are closed minded and simply don't want anyone's input.  If that is the case, there may not be much you can do within this program.  I was able to get on the field as a "drill efficiency expert a couple of years back (maybe a little younger kids that a 2020 today) offering to speed up drills (things like making sure player knew how to quickly exit the drill instead on running back through it) - stayed away from the skills piece and the dugout - but these coaches were not really closed minded.  My recommendation, if you want to stay with the program, is to find some small aspect of practice where you can get your foot in the door - not a major overhaul but help with one idea (like maybe kids at 2B and SS with two coaches hitting - maybe offer to hit grounders).  If you can figure out how to get on the field, then the rest of the stuff you are concerned about can possibly be addressed through chit chat.  Sounds like you are going to have to be subtle and not simply tell them how to overhaul their "system".  As for the 15 minute talks- you may be stuck with that - if they like to talk they will probably just keep going on talking - only hope would be to build in more drills such that there is simply less time left for speeches.

Put yourself in these coaches shoes. You might have already done that. But anyway here goes. Put yourself in their shoes. In their minds they are doing what they think is right. I can't imagine they are teaching something they don't believe in. Right or wrong they are coaching the team the way they feel is correct. Now a parent who clearly states he doesn't want anything to do with the dugout is trying to tell them how to do their job. I can imagine the conversations they are having about you. Just like the conversations you are having about them.

 

You have a couple of choices in my opinion. Leave your kid on this team and allow the coaches to coach the "team." Teach your son what you feel he needs to be taught. Accept the fact you are not the coach and sit back and just enjoy the experience. Or get your son off of the team and find a team that teaches, coaches what you believe in.

 

What you will find throughout your son's baseball journey no matter how long he plays is this. There will always be things taught that you don't agree with. There will always be coaches that coach in a manner you don't totally agree with. It will never be a perfect situation. If your son is lucky enough to play at the college level you will simply show up and watch. You will have no control over how the coaches coach or what they coach. Absolutely no control.

 

I understand the frustration. And if you believe they are hurting your son's ability to develop as a young player and you do have control over who he plays for and what is taught then move him. But I can't see you as a parent being able to dictate to the coaches how they teach the game. They are not going to change what they do because a parent is unhappy with what they teach. They are more inclined to see you as a distraction and a pain in the arse. Now I could be wrong about that. They could say "Wow that's great stuff. Thanks for the advice. We are going to start teaching the kids what you have brought us." But if that was the case I don't think you would have posted this.  Good luck

2020 you KNOW what you have to do.  You are a smart guy and a baseball coach yourself.  If one of your players came up and told you his summer team was teaching him X, which is the total opposite way it should be taught, what would you tell that kid?  You would tell that kid to find another team. 

 

So, the real question comes down to friends or learning, what does your kid want out of baseball?  I have to say if I was a coach and you untaught half of what I taught and sent me helpful suggestions I would probably kick your kid off my team.

 

It's not a good situation for anyone but the bottom line is until you find a coaching staff that is equal to or better than you, you will never be happy with his coaches and the kid WILL pick up on that and once a kid thinks he knows more than his coaches...well that is a rough year!  I also wonder at what point they will bench your kid just to get you to stop with your "helpful" suggestions.  If these are dad volunteer coaches it sounds like you need to find an organization with paid coaches that have actual experience in the game.

If he stays on the team you will need to "unteach" some of the things they are doing I suppose.  It depends though, if he is 16 that is way different than being 9.  It sounds as if he is fairly young.  Also, how often is he practicing with them?  If they are practicing once a week and he is doing side work on his own or with you it probably won't be enough to really change what he does.  

At the high school level I just had to advise my son to be polite to coach, don't show up, nod your head, say yes, do what he asks but realize most of it was total b.s.  At the college level he ran into coaches who loved what he did when they saw him in games then set about to change it, with negative results.  Baseball is a game a failure.  It seems most coaches falsely think they can control this.  It also seems many are automatrons.  Teaching everyone the same way.  

If you son is a younger kid, I really wouldn't worry about it too much.  Just correct the teaching on your own time.  If he is older I would change teams to one that is more in line with what you believe.  

The volunteer coaches thing is tough.  They may be getting suggestions, emails, video links and everything else from 9 other dads.  Or you may be the only one.  Either way, I think most people would put most of that stuff off to the side.  At least for the time being. They either are too insecure to consider it, can't tell the difference in what they are teaching and what you are suggesting or really believe they are teaching the right stuff.  No matter the reason, the likelihood of them changing course after a season has started is slim to none.  

To me you need to either get "In" with them, or get out.  By getting "In" with them, I mean, you should try to socialize with them.  Maybe invite the staff over for a barbecue, or after practice, invite the team out to pizza, where you and some of the other parents could casually talk about baseball over a few beers, and the kids can hang out.  This could allow you to make a few suggestions, and also, see where they are coming from.

 

From your last post, it sounds like you don't have any respect for them what so ever.  If that is true, you need to probably just move on.  (They are not coaches.  They are just masquerading as coaches.  Etc.)  Not a healthy situation.

I need more information. 

 

1) You say you are a coach.  At what level?  High school?  I can't imagine a couple of dads not wanting a HS coach to help out, even if just during practice.

2) You say they are teaching things "flat out wrong".  Like what?  Please give some specific examples.

 

Ultimately, you have 2 choices - stay or leave.  If you stay, you'll need to work with your son outside of practice (providing the coaches do not invite you onto the field).

 

 

just to reply to Redbird5 point 1)  One of my sons was on a team that was run by a couple of dads who did an overall above average job thru age 12. One night at a winter practice 10 guys were standing around while 1 hit and I asked the coaches, "would you like me to take the catchers over and do some drills?" (there was some open space) and they know I have and still coach high school kids and go to lots of clinics etc etc...

the head coach said, "well we have Austin and Nate catching so we are good there"

I was pretty surprised.... but it wasn't my team so I guess I shouldn't have butted in...

 

By the time my kid turned 13 i could see he needed plenty of outside work and so that is what we did... It worked out okay, they won some and they lost some and some of those boys are developing nicely and some are done with the game (they are 17)

 

 

 

 You admit you would tell one of your players that by being taught the wrong things it is his choice, "his career or lack thereof"...um...yeah, nice choice there.

 

 I guess it is up to each parent what they want out of baseball for their kid and what their kid wants out of baseball, as you said a career or lack thereof.  I will say that if I was paying a couple grand a year and then having to reteach a whole bunch in my off time I just don't think I would see a compelling reason to leave my son on that team to learn bad habits and poor fundamentals.  Then again, my son has made it clear that he'd rather learn proper fundamentals from a tool of a coach that I couldn't stand than play with his buddies and not get any better.

Lots of great advice as usual here. You're in the middle of the situation so your options are quite limited as Im sure you know. Like Coach May was saying above at this point the more you poke and prod the further you are going to ostracize yourself and possible affect your sons playing time. If it were me and I was able to have others view this dilemma objectively so I could figure out a course of action, as hard as it may be I'd be open to take the sage advice. As Im sure you are otherwise you wouldn't have come here seeking it. Sometimes we all get bottlenecked in situations before we know it and we become dissatisfied and/or disillusioned with the surroundings. Sometimes what we teach our kids is spoken more loudly by our actions more than our words as they are always watching. Hopefully even in your frustration with these coaches you are not bad mouthing them in front of your son. At this early age he is learning even through you how to respect those who are his teachers, mentors, and coaches. And this reaches not just on a playing field but also in a class room, Sunday school class, etc. Don't get me wrong here please. All us Dad's get frustrated and have a tendency to voice that with young ears around. lol. But here would be a great opportunity to teach him that sometimes when in situations that are less than perfect or less than our expectations - how do you handle it? As one poster above mentioned work with him alone on the weekends and when time permits how you feel certain skills should be done and to respect what they are teaching him as maybe it could possibly help him nevertheless. I promise as Im sure some of these long time posters above would attest to that you will be raising a very coachable son that will be an awesome team player one day when it really counts. You honestly can't place the blame of what you feel is "bad coaching" on these coaches because at the end of the day there had to be a moment you as the Dad could have asked them prior to joining the team how or what they do teach, and how do they teach it. Much like a job interview. We don't go into those blind without asking what we can expect, right? 

 

Keep your son in mind whatever you do or say. I'm pretty sure he is feeling some pressure from this in one form or another and this should be about fun and good times for him so help keep it loose and exciting for him. 

 

Good luck!

 

YGD

On the one hand, I would say find another team.

 

On the other hand, this is your son's last year before high school, and I imagine that the high school level travel teams are totally different programs (at least that is the way it is around here -- travel programs seem to specialize in ages 9 -14, or in high school travel teams, but rarely both), so if you decide to stick with it, you at least know it is the last year.

I get why a coach regardless of situation doesn't accept help....especially if it was offered during a practice.  It will never stop if accepted.  If, all of sudden, one dad is helping out then others will want to help out.  If two are told yes and everyone else no, it gets political and people get their feelings hurt.  If everyone helps out it turns into even more of a nightmare.  

I get it.  

Doesn't mean they know what they are doing however.  

I guess what I'm getting at is this: your son seems to have been on this team for years.  You have known these coaches were/are repeatedly teaching him the wrong thing.  You know you have had to correct things over and over again that were not correct.  You know that they will not listen to what you have to say or share your links proving you are right, and they won't change what they are teaching. Rinse and repeat the following year?

 

What is it they say about doing the same thing over and over and over again and expecting a different result?

 

 

 

Sounds clear: coach's are not meeting your expectations, you're resenting them.   You're not seeing skill development that is necessary to get to the next level of play.  You are seeing, old style rec center daddy ball at work.  These dads volunteer a lot of time, have their view on how to operate, aren't "paid enough" to listen to all the other dad's for input. Dazed confused kids, unhappy parents are the result.

 

You're getting the wake up call we've all experience, it is time to move on to a dedicated baseball program which utilizes paid coach's that know how to teach and develop skill, and these coach's work on approaches to better coach kids.  

 

 The most competitive programs and teams still aren't the end all.  You have to be in charge of your own skill development program.  Hopefully it will complement with the program instructors and coach's.  

 

Most of us have coached our sons and understand the conflict.  Might be time to pursue a different program, or if too late, focus on your sons skill development and start doing your homework on other programs/coach's and visit them, do your due diligence on another program while you're in this "holding pattern"  and managing the current situation.    It's a journey...

 

 

Taking responsibility is key and crucial so I admire you for that.

 

With that being said I must then revert back to what I mentioned earlier which was perhaps you could have done your due diligence ahead of the curve to find out what skills these coaches teach and how they go about conveying that to these boys. Perhaps all of this could have been unnecessary and these coaches not feeling like they have a parent who is trying to subvert what they're trying to accomplish with the TEAM as a whole. Did you take the necessary time beforehand to see these coaches qualifications, how their teams did prior to this year, call around and ask other parents what they thought, etc. Am I being a bit overboard with this? Maybe. But if I knew there were certain ways that I wanted my son to be taught baseball skills (and I was paying for it) then I assure you that I would do this without a doubt. Everyone can be a backseat driver and there have been coaches galore who deal with these kinds of parents each and every season. 

 

I think you see very clearly what is and isn't going to transpire here. You just have to figure out the best way you can handle it and make it a positive outcome for your son. 

Bingo...  we have to do our homework and interview the coach's.  I ran into this with one of the top programs in the Chicago area.  Program head thought if he recruited ex college players to coach 12-14 year old's he wouldn't hear any complaints.  Except these explayers had know idea how to coach and talk to a 12 or 14 year old.  It was a disaster.  This program puts the money into coach's for only the HS club teams.  All 9-14 year old teams are revenue generators. Diff type of problem, but if you interview the organization about philosophies and exactly, who will be coaching my kid?  You can learn a lot...

A couple of thoughts.  First, don't delete the post.  I am sure others will get a lot of use out of it. 

 

Second, you choose a team based on many factors.  My primary factor during youth ball was coaching.  My kid got lucky.  Really lucky.  At 10, he was able to hook up with a team coached by a Dad who was a former college player who loved to coach more than his day job.  He took 11 kids and taught them all how to be baseball players.  Unfortunately, he left for "greener" pastures and one of the assistants took over.  He was all right, but just didn't have the depth of experience.  He left the following year, and the other assistant took over.  What a cluster _____.  The guy had no clue, but worse thought they did.  We knew what would happen but we stuck with it because it was the Cooperstown year and he wanted to be with his baseball friends.  There was serious regression in my kids play, especially hitting.  Kid joined a new team the next year where he got more coaching at the tryout than he did the previous two years. I agreed with about 80% of what the new coach taught.  Could he have done better?  Yes.  The guy did many of the things you seem to think are "wrong" - 20%  I didn't get that worked up about it because the other 80% was good. 

 

So here is the point.  Focus on the positive.  What are they doing right and reinforce that.  Then explain to the kid that through out his baseball career, he will have different coaches and each one will have something to add (and something not to add).  It is his responsibility to take a little bit from each one and create his own way to doing things.  Good luck. 

......

Sounds to me like you have outgrown the team, or at least the coaching staff. I know a bunch of good athletes that played with their friends and never became good baseball players because they played where it was cozy.
I would look for the best well coached team that your kid can still get on the dirt everyday. And your boy will have even more friends.

Thanks to everyone for input.  Reason I want to delete is I have unfortunately said in another thread who we are with.  And i know we are like family here and there is a certain level of trust...  but... But some recent thoughts deserve responses.  First let me clear some things up.  I know few will believe me but this really is not much about my kid.  It is a little cause coaches kid has to play and sometimes my kid gets knocked off his position so coaches kid can play it.  I am not going to pick on a kid here so thats all I will say about that.  But my son has a dream.  And his dream has nothing to do with how many innings he plays at a certain position at age 14.  He and I will continue to work together and he will continue his strength and fitness routine.  He will either achieve his dream or he won't.  But his current coaching will have nothing to do with that.  No way I come back here 5 years from now and say if only his 14u coaches were better...  he is in charge of his own destiny and I am his co-pilot.  Truth is I don't really want much coaching from them.  I prefer to handle that myself.  I do however cringe when I see poorly designed practices.  Thats why I said this is a me issue.  When I see us not emphasizing the right way to play the game it is like nails on a chalkboard for me.  My son probably just wants to run jump and do a shoulder bump with his teammate.  I don't think he is the least bit concerned about the practice plan.  And I really don't think he cares about the catcher baking first base either!  I see things that are broke and I need to fix them.  Except cars I know nothing about that.  But my friend does so guess what I do?  I ASK HIS ADVICE!!!  See thats the part that bugs me.  Why is it so hard for them to take some positive advice.  Its maddening.  As fir the program it is top notch.  This is an our level issue.  This is why he doesn't want to leave the program.  And I don't either.  And remember this.  This ain't chicago.  The choices for serious baseball for us are about two.  We are at the closer one which is about 35 minutes.  There is one more at 45 minutes and anything else is an hour fifteen plus.  There are only a handful of premier programs in our entire state.  So good points here about interviewing coaches etc.  But that only works if you have actual choices!  He is not quite good enough for some sort of powerhouse team made up of players from several states who simply meet at tournaments though I wish he was!  So this is it he is at his pinnacle.  There is nowhere else to go!

2020dad....the question begs to be asked here. What is your experience and/or expertise in baseball that lets you know how and what skills are or are not being taught correctly on your son's team?

I tell you what.  If you really like send me a pm with an e mail and I will actually e mail you the document I sent.  Then you could give a really good reply also via pm.  I really tried to make it uplifting and and positive.

 

2020dad is a long-time high school varsity coach. 

Even though you're in the shutdown phase I'm going to offer a bit of advice, since you did ask at one point.  

 

Here's what I would do.  I know you said you don't want to sit on the bucket with these guys, but if they have 10 players (or whatever it was) in a line for grounders they have some bored kids and they need help whether they know it or not.  If I was you I would show up at the next practice and say to the coach, hey coach, if you want to add another station I've got a popup net and bucket of balls in my car and I'd be happy to do a soft toss station all through practice so you don't have as many kids standing around goofing off.   After a few days of that the coach will realize more kids are getting more reps, and then voila you go, hey coach, the kids can do soft toss to each other, so if you want I can get my fungo out of the car and hit a few flies to the outfielders  while you work with the infielders.

Thanks Swampboy. I had no idea and wondered was all. This does help me see this from a better perspective. 

v "q uoteHea ding" >Ori ginally Posted by YoungGunDad:
       
       
I answered that but then deleted a bunch of posts.  Have many years of baseball coaching but more importantly learned from some of the greats who illinois people would recognize.  Gordie Gillespie at the top of the food chain.  And many others who are now IHSA hall of fame coaches.  But really what experience you have doesn't necessarily matter.  We have all seen coaches with a long history who are not so good.  Then there are others who have no history but have really studied the game and have a good understanding of it.  So giving credentials doesn't really matter.  Clearly you don't know if I am a good coach or a bad coach.  I would like to think those who have conversed with me over the last year have found I am a student of the game.  I think that much would have to be conceded.

To be fair swamp.  I have been varsity pitching coach.  Never head coach.  Varsity head basketball.  All baseball head coaching has been lower levels.  And admittedly became an even bigger student of the game after my son got involved which I have mentioned before.  And I am hanging up coaching all together now to follow my own kids.  Maybe am missing the obvious solution, stick with the coaching and avoid my son's baseball situation lol.  And swamp I guess if people are truly getting something from this you don't habe to delete.  Just don't want to get caught with my pants down.

2020dad, 

 

I see three basic options:

 

1. Accept that this team will not prepare your son for high school baseball. That's fine if all he wants to do is have fun playing rec ball with his buddies.

 

2. Let him continue playing with this team, but give him lots of personal instruction to make up for what isn't being taught and to correct what was taught incorrectly. This is sort of like driving with one foot on the brake and the other on the accelerator. It makes little sense to pay people to do a job badly when you know you're going to have to re-do their work.

 

3. Move him to a better coached team.

 

If your area is like my area, there are a whole lot more 13U and 14U teams than there are 15U, 16U, and 17U teams. Most of the 13U/14U teams that are not part of established, credible programs evaporate by the time they get to high school.  As the better players leave for better coaching and competition, the teams enter death spirals in which the best of the remaining players continue to get discouraged, and the lack of success makes recruiting replacements ever more difficult. 

 

If your description is accurate, the team your son is on is not long for this world. Put him on a team whose coaches you respect.

 

Best wishes,

 

 

       
       
since I did deletw so many of my posts I know i made it just about impossible to follow along.  But swamp you were probably typing when I responded a couple posts up.  The organization is solid.  This IS the place.  This team will change of course that is the nature of the beast.  And maybe my son will be a casualty who knows.  But this is the team that absorbs not the one that evaporates.   Thats what makes this more complicated.

Why?  I know a dad or two who never played past HS that could coach and instruct circles around some ex-MLB guys.

I didn't see the original post so maybe I am filling in some of the gaps wrong, but I think I get the gist.  My son is in college now and wrt instruction, even at that level I see things being taught that are not "optimal".  More importantly, my son recognizes it, and is learning to deal with it.  He got some great advice from a former pro;  "Know when to pay attention to the coach, and know when to pretend you are paying attention to the coach."  With the limited options available, it sounds like there will need to be some outside work as well, and quite frankly there should be anyway even if it's working on the same things. 

Okay 2020dad, I get that I am spoiled parent who has many options and you may not.  But I have to ask, if this is like one of the premier places at the older age groups when does the "real" coaching staff make an appearance? 

 

I live around MANY high level teams and they might let the dad's coach the 9u teams, but when it gets to 14u and 15u they bring out the "real" paid coaches because they want the reputation of the parks at the high school national level to remain high.  This draws in the 9u kids who want THAT NAME on their shirts, regardless of if the park actually considers them part of the organization.

2020, I am not sure how this particular organization operates but the top organization in our area is strong from the top, meaning the board or organizational leadership drive coaching at all levels. The coaches are interviewed yearly and participate only at the request of the organization 1 year at a time.  Every year the organization sends out feedback forms to the parents and players (mandatory to complete if you want to play for the organization again)  This information along with feedback from game results, umpires (yes they are consulted) tournament directors, leagues and other sources provide insight into the coaches ability to develop players and create a team culture that fosters class and excellence. If there is a weak coaching group in a particular age group they rarely survive.

 

If your organization is similar than the problem should be short lived and it may be worth it to tough it out. Wishing you the best moving forward.

       
       
wow.  What an eye opener.   I am moving by you!  Nothing like that here - at any organization.  To answer caco 15 is when it is supposed to change but it is not that easy to 'hire' coaches for a few grand.  I wouldn't put in all those hours for 3k if i didn't have a kid on the team would you?  So I get it is really hard to find quality coaches.

Top programs in ATL are run similarly, that what I meant by when do the real coaches appear. 

 

Typical price for a paid coach is anywhere from 5-10K per year. Now having said that the team at 15u and up usually has 15-20 players, with several being PO's.  So if you are a position player, lets say there are 15 of you, even if you got the 10K a year coach it only adds about $600 to your yearly team fees.  Then of course you still have park fees, indoor facility fees, special uniforms, team bags, helmets, one park requires all players to have the same turf shoes/cleats/batting gloves (and they aren't cheap)...and then it depends what kind of tourneys you are going to be playing.  If you want high profile events you will pay top $$$$.  A top team in ATL at 15u could easily run 4-6K.

 

As for the coach, he is also usually the head coach or assistant coach of another team and some sort of batting/pitching/catching instructor for a third team, plus his income is supplemented by private lessons. i.e. baseball is the ONLY job he has.

 

 

Yes but he is also a Chicago White Sox fan, so you have to question his judgment. 

So are you saying that next year at 15 you'll be with the same coaches or new coaches?  

 

Most organizations by me switch to paid, non-parent coaches at 15u and above.  And yes it is hard to find the good ones.  Need to up their pay or let them supplement with private lessons.  However, by that age the kids should be well on their way and just need guidance vs. coaching.  In other words, they can do a lot of work on their own and shouldn't need a coach 24/7.   

Why do people post stuff and then delete their original post?