If you are a team you dress as a team

Coach_May posted:

Your name on a line up card. The staff's praise for a job well done. Your performance when the lights were on which was created by your work ethic when they were not. The respect of your team mates and Coaches. The Jersey you get to wear. The privilege to compete on this team. That is your reward for doing what is demanded of you to do. IF there are people who don't reach the level of expectations that are required to wear that jersey they won't need a belt. They can sag in the stands or parking lot.

Everyone works hard. Everyone is held to the same standard on and off the field. Some will exceed those standards. Their reward is knowing they have done that. Our reward is they are an example for others to follow and reach even higher. If a non leather belt player scores we get 1 run. If a leather belt player scores we get 1 run. If a non leather belt player strikes out we get an out. If a leather belt player strikes out we get an out. We have all paid the same price to have the privilege to represent our school, community and family. Some have paid a higher price but we have all paid the price to be worthy. Those who have not are not with us.

We all look alike. We wear the same uniform. No one can see a difference. We all run as hard as we can. Some just run a little faster. We all play as hard as we can. Some can just play a little better. Be we all see the same thing. My brother who paid the same price I paid to be a part of this. I am not a leather belt and your a plastic belt. We are all the same.

If a Coach has players that don't work hard and they still wear the Jersey then he needs to take off his belt because he doesn't deserve it. If a coach only has 4 players that will work hard enough then he has failed them they have not failed him. If a coach only has 4 players that are worthy then give them a uniform that is exactly the same and work hard to properly build a program that 5 would want to play for the next year. And when he gets 9 he will have a team. JMO

Some newer posters may not be familiar with Coach May. He doesn't post as frequently anymore. Because I know he's humble I won't make a long list about who he is and his accomplishments. If your kid is fortunate he will play for a Coach May. Your kid may come home grumbling because he was told the truth. But when it's all over your kid will know Coach May got every bit of ability out of him. As a parent you will know everything was fair and on the level. You will know your son will see obstacles as opportunities rather than make excuses. I'll give him one compliment. He's the EF Hutton of the board. When he posts pay attention.

Having a ball reading all the post!! I join Hsbw because I love to hear individuals different opinions about sports and how they deal with situations that comes up , and how to maneuver through the recruiting process. I can say I'm not disappointed .  I do praise my son not just for baseball . Son have a great attitude when it comes to baseball learned how to play the game the right way had so many positive coaches in his life .When he has a bad game he always find something in it that he did well. I'm the parent but he keep teaching me that it just Baseball!!

d8 posted:

I knew this would get a lot of replies..... In college, I would switch my leather belt for a cloth one because it was more comfortable.....just sayin'

This is really funny.

Come on folks,  this is ridiculous. And this is second hand info, what is the REAL story.

hshuler posted:

Extremely hypothetical example of how that would work out at our home. 

My son - "Dad, I didn't get a leather belt. "

My response - "W...." (he interrupts)

My son - "I know. I know. Work harder!"

End of discussion. That's been my standard answer since he's starting playing.  

With the risk of having DFCS visiting me, my son knows better to come home and ask me for a leather belt . . . . .

Be careful what you ask for. 

Nuke83 posted:

hshuler posted:

Extremely hypothetical example of how that would work out at our home. 

My son - "Dad, I didn't get a leather belt. "

My response - "W...." (he interrupts)

My son - "I know. I know. Work harder!"

End of discussion. That's been my standard answer since he's starting playing.  

With the risk of having DFCS visiting me, my son knows better to come home and ask me for a leather belt . . . . .

Be careful what you ask for. 

LoL 

Grindneverstop posted:

If you are a coach and you want your team to be a unified team then they all should dress the same. I don't see a problem with team leaders or a c on the uniform. If the players pay the same amount of money to play the sport then everyone should get the same thing. There are so many other ways to acknowledge hard work. 

This statement is just wrong on so many levels!

Feelin the Bern?

lol

Loving all the post! The reason I join hsbw so I could get feedback from the members about different situations that happen in baseball and to maneuver through the recruiting process. Shout out to all the coaches who have imparted so much wisdom. My son was blessed to have lots of good coaches that taught him to play the game the right way. When my son has a bad game he always find something that he did well in the game. I'm the parent  but he constantly remind me "THAT ITS JUST BASEBALL ".

Grindneverstop posted:

Loving all the post! The reason I join hsbw so I could get feedback from the members about different situations that happen in baseball and to maneuver through the recruiting process. Shout out to all the coaches who have imparted so much wisdom. My son was blessed to have lots of good coaches that taught him to play the game the right way. When my son has a bad game he always find something that he did well in the game. I'm the parent  but he constantly remind me "THAT ITS JUST BASEBALL ".

How old is your son?

2018 (16)

Grindneverstop posted:

Loving all the post! The reason I join hsbw so I could get feedback from the members about different situations that happen in baseball and to maneuver through the recruiting process. Shout out to all the coaches who have imparted so much wisdom. My son was blessed to have lots of good coaches that taught him to play the game the right way. When my son has a bad game he always find something that he did well in the game. I'm the parent  but he constantly remind me "THAT ITS JUST BASEBALL ".

I have to say, I've never heard my kid say "it's JUST baseball".

I remember our 1976  State Championship Little League team didn't even have belts,  just fancy elastic waist bands. Maybe we should go back to the good old days of Gold pants and elastic waistbands.

CaCO3Girl posted:

Grindneverstop posted:

Loving all the post! The reason I join hsbw so I could get feedback from the members about different situations that happen in baseball and to maneuver through the recruiting process. Shout out to all the coaches who have imparted so much wisdom. My son was blessed to have lots of good coaches that taught him to play the game the right way. When my son has a bad game he always find something that he did well in the game. I'm the parent  but he constantly remind me "THAT ITS JUST BASEBALL ".

I have to say, I've never heard my kid say "it's JUST baseball".

I never did either!

TPM posted:

CaCO3Girl posted:

Grindneverstop posted:

Loving all the post! The reason I join hsbw so I could get feedback from the members about different situations that happen in baseball and to maneuver through the recruiting process. Shout out to all the coaches who have imparted so much wisdom. My son was blessed to have lots of good coaches that taught him to play the game the right way. When my son has a bad game he always find something that he did well in the game. I'm the parent  but he constantly remind me "THAT ITS JUST BASEBALL ".

I have to say, I've never heard my kid say "it's JUST baseball".

I never did either!

I recall saying it a few times, but it was never well received.  It usually resulted in a look that said "you just don't understand".  

Grindneverstop posted:

2018 (16)

I asked because this sounds like little league stuff.

Just sayin'.

JMO

A HS coach giving four players on the team a leather belt because they worked the hardest in practice?"

So if I read this correctly, they could be the 4 worst players on the team, yet they are working the hardest in practice. They get special recognition over 10-15 kids that are more productive contributors than them? So your # 1 pitcher that throws a shutout every time has the cheap belt and the last player on the bench has the nice belt? This has to be is a joke, right?

I can see why people take the pro-belt or anti-belt (as FREDDY77 nicely put it). Like everything in life, there are pros and cons, and at the end of the day, most of us will attract to either pro- or anti-. I just want to comment from out-of-the-box…

• Hard work is generally rewarded with playing time. If you work hard and have the talent you will play; if you don’t have talent and work hard, then try another sport; if you have incredible talent without working hard, you will also play (remember Bo Jackson, he did not even like BB practices, but was a beast); if you work hard, have talent and are a bad teammate you should not be in the team because of added bad chemistry.
• As for acknowledgement by the coach of hard work, well it can be said, praised, shown, and I guess give a leather belt, or let the hard workers use ‘the’ nice bat, or let them use the fancy-looking cleats. IMHO, I think that this situation may create preferential treatment, albeit with justifications, and the ones raising hell will be the parents when their kid tells them the story and the negative repercussions will be back to the player now created by the parent. I do however agree with a coach assigning a player(s) as captain(s) because it is about team leadership that has been earned and that is awarded and carries responsibilities with the team.
• What happens if the kids with the ‘belt’ then slack off during the season because of a slump or whatever other reason? Does the coach take the belt back? :-) 

Sometimes you see the hard work and sometimes you don’t, but it will always reflect. My son (let’s call him T) was one time invited to a local scout’s showcase and after his bp, a scout asked him ‘hey T, when do you find time to work out with your school work, good grades and HS practices?’ his response to the scout was…sir, during the week I get up at 4:30am, in the gym at 5 and in school by 7:15, His coach never saw this and did not even know to this date of his work outs, but it reflected on the field.

As far as I’m concerned, excellence, proper behavior, dedication and hard work are to be expected if you want to be in a team, on and off the field; if a player doesn’t want to provide these requirements, then the player does not belong.

If I were the coach, I would give leather belts to all players in the team and say ‘this is for the hard work of the  team, some have earned it and some have not, now everyone of you show me that you have earned your belt’.

Good stuff Fourbases! When the parent asked me my opinion how I felt about the situation, this is what I said to her "what define hard work". The OP states that. To make it clear it was not my son nor his team. Since, it created so much negativity with the team IMO it should not have been done. 

Gatorade, anyone? ;-)

hshuler posted:

Gatorade, anyone? ;-)

Koolaid!

All this belt talk has me ginned up a bit and I am actually in need of a new one. Since I am in Clemson for the banquet tonight, I think I'll stroll downtown to The Tiger Sports shop and get me a new one with Tiger Paws on it. I wonder what the other parents willl think?

btw, son 92/94...up to 95, closed scrimmage game last night, 3up-3 down.

Go Tigers!

Shoveit4Ks posted:

All this belt talk has me ginned up a bit and I am actually in need of a new one. Since I am in Clemson for the banquet tonight, I think I'll stroll downtown to The Tiger Sports shop and get me a new one with Tiger Paws on it. I wonder what the other parents willl think?

btw, son 92/94...up to 95, closed scrimmage game last night, 3up-3 down.

Go Tigers!

That's awesome - congrats!

Shoveit4Ks posted:

All this belt talk has me ginned up a bit and I am actually in need of a new one. Since I am in Clemson for the banquet tonight, I think I'll stroll downtown to The Tiger Sports shop and get me a new one with Tiger Paws on it. I wonder what the other parents willl think?

btw, son 92/94...up to 95, closed scrimmage game last night, 3up-3 down.

Go Tigers!

Have fun at the banquet. Lots of good luck to your tiger.

Yes, get a purple one with orange paws, show it off for being the hardest working parent.......

And go tigers.....

Would we even be having this discussion if the coach gave the high performers leather pants? Nobody would want those!

Coach_May posted:

Your name on a line up card. The staff's praise for a job well done. Your performance when the lights were on which was created by your work ethic when they were not. The respect of your team mates and Coaches. The Jersey you get to wear. The privilege to compete on this team. That is your reward for doing what is demanded of you to do. IF there are people who don't reach the level of expectations that are required to wear that jersey they won't need a belt. They can sag in the stands or parking lot.

Everyone works hard. Everyone is held to the same standard on and off the field. Some will exceed those standards. Their reward is knowing they have done that. Our reward is they are an example for others to follow and reach even higher. If a non leather belt player scores we get 1 run. If a leather belt player scores we get 1 run. If a non leather belt player strikes out we get an out. If a leather belt player strikes out we get an out. We have all paid the same price to have the privilege to represent our school, community and family. Some have paid a higher price but we have all paid the price to be worthy. Those who have not are not with us.

We all look alike. We wear the same uniform. No one can see a difference. We all run as hard as we can. Some just run a little faster. We all play as hard as we can. Some can just play a little better. Be we all see the same thing. My brother who paid the same price I paid to be a part of this. I am not a leather belt and your a plastic belt. We are all the same.

If a Coach has players that don't work hard and they still wear the Jersey then he needs to take off his belt because he doesn't deserve it. If a coach only has 4 players that will work hard enough then he has failed them they have not failed him. If a coach only has 4 players that are worthy then give them a uniform that is exactly the same and work hard to properly build a program that 5 would want to play for the next year. And when he gets 9 he will have a team. JMO

as always, very well stated.

Belts?????

This would make more sense if we were talking about different colored belts, rather than what they are made from.

How about players on the same team wearing pants high or low?  What about some wearing sleeves while others don't?  When it is cold, some wear hoods, others don't.  Some don't use batting gloves.  Long hair, short hair, facial hair, clean shaven, jewelry, no jewelry?  These, and many other things, are all more noticeable than what material the same colored belt is made out of.

So a team can dress like a team and still the players not look identical.  In fact, it seems like the individual look is getting more popular in sports these days.  Not saying that is good or bad, it's just very obvious.

Personally, if only four players on my team got a leather belt, I would rather have what the majority is using.  And the only time I have ever noticed belts is when someone doesn't have one or if their's were a different color than the rest of the team.

Will admit... I like the identical look.  Everyone with short hair, clean shaven,  pants worn the same way, no jewelry, exact same look for every player.  Unfortunately, that is kind of rare these days.

Shoveit's belt story reminded me...

Fall before last, my wife and I traveled for the final game of son's college's fall series (also banquet weekend, I think).  Of course, this pits teammates against each other in a very competitive environment.  There is meaningful reward for the winners and consequences for the losers. 

Immediately post-game, we were surprised to see son handsomely rewarded for MVP of the series - new trainers, a signed bat from a high profile guest and some other stuff.  Did others not try as hard as he did?  That was very apparently not the case.  Did others feel cheated?  Sure didn't look like it.  Were parents of the losing team butt hurt?  Hardly.  Oh, and BTW, the split teams wear different uni's.  Which team gets to wear the favorite set?  No idea and none of them seemed to care.  But they sure were motivated to compete.  LOTS of intentional divide among the team with this structure.  Well, what do ya know, after some post-series rubbing, it really seemed to bring them all together. 

We got to experience that.  These guys were all VERY motivated by the structure of being pitted against each other in competition and by the carrot of reward and consequence.  And, guess what.  Almost every college program in the country holds some version of this same event every year.

Oh, and no one seemed to mind when he wore his new trainers, that were just a little different than everyone else's.

cabbagedad posted:

Shoveit's belt story reminded me...

Fall before last, my wife and I traveled for the final game of son's college's fall series (also banquet weekend, I think).  Of course, this pits teammates against each other in a very competitive environment.  There is meaningful reward for the winners and consequences for the losers. 

Immediately post-game, we were surprised to see son handsomely rewarded for MVP of the series - new trainers, a signed bat from a high profile guest and some other stuff.  Did others not try as hard as he did?  Very apparently not.  Did others feel cheated?  Sure didn't look like it.  Were parents of the losing team butt hurt?  Hardly.  Oh, and BTW, the split teams wear different uni's.  Which team gets to wear the favorite set?  No idea and none of them seemed to care.  But they sure were motivated to compete.  LOTS of intentional divide among the team with this structure.  Well, what do ya know, after some post-series rubbing, it really seemed to bring them all together. 

We got to experience that.  These guys were all VERY motivated by the structure of being pitted against each other in competition and by the carrot of reward and consequence.  And, guess what.  Almost every college program in the country holds some version of this same event every year.

Oh, and no one seemed to mind when he wore his new trainers, that were just a little different than everyone else's.

I've had the privilege of working several of these series at the end of fall ball. It's like a rivalry series without the bad blood and some of the best times I've ever had. If they think you've missed a call, you are going to hear it--and usually it's with things they've been practicing.

RJM posted:

Coach_May posted:

Your name on a line up card. The staff's praise for a job well done. Your performance when the lights were on which was created by your work ethic when they were not. The respect of your team mates and Coaches. The Jersey you get to wear. The privilege to compete on this team. That is your reward for doing what is demanded of you to do. IF there are people who don't reach the level of expectations that are required to wear that jersey they won't need a belt. They can sag in the stands or parking lot.

Everyone works hard. Everyone is held to the same standard on and off the field. Some will exceed those standards. Their reward is knowing they have done that. Our reward is they are an example for others to follow and reach even higher. If a non leather belt player scores we get 1 run. If a leather belt player scores we get 1 run. If a non leather belt player strikes out we get an out. If a leather belt player strikes out we get an out. We have all paid the same price to have the privilege to represent our school, community and family. Some have paid a higher price but we have all paid the price to be worthy. Those who have not are not with us.

We all look alike. We wear the same uniform. No one can see a difference. We all run as hard as we can. Some just run a little faster. We all play as hard as we can. Some can just play a little better. Be we all see the same thing. My brother who paid the same price I paid to be a part of this. I am not a leather belt and your a plastic belt. We are all the same.

If a Coach has players that don't work hard and they still wear the Jersey then he needs to take off his belt because he doesn't deserve it. If a coach only has 4 players that will work hard enough then he has failed them they have not failed him. If a coach only has 4 players that are worthy then give them a uniform that is exactly the same and work hard to properly build a program that 5 would want to play for the next year. And when he gets 9 he will have a team. JMO

Some newer posters may not be familiar with Coach May. He doesn't post as frequently anymore. Because I know he's humble I won't make a long list about who he is and his accomplishments. If your kid is fortunate he will play for a Coach May. Your kid may come home grumbling because he was told the truth. But when it's all over your kid will know Coach May got every bit of ability out of him. As a parent you will know everything was fair and on the level. You will know your son will see obstacles as opportunities rather than make excuses. I'll give him one compliment. He's the EF Hutton of the board. When he posts pay attention.

i'm fairly new to the board and picked up on this right away. I absolutely love his takes. 

Matt13 posted:

cabbagedad posted:

Shoveit's belt story reminded me...

Fall before last, my wife and I traveled for the final game of son's college's fall series (also banquet weekend, I think).  Of course, this pits teammates against each other in a very competitive environment.  There is meaningful reward for the winners and consequences for the losers. 

Immediately post-game, we were surprised to see son handsomely rewarded for MVP of the series - new trainers, a signed bat from a high profile guest and some other stuff.  Did others not try as hard as he did?  Very apparently not.  Did others feel cheated?  Sure didn't look like it.  Were parents of the losing team butt hurt?  Hardly.  Oh, and BTW, the split teams wear different uni's.  Which team gets to wear the favorite set?  No idea and none of them seemed to care.  But they sure were motivated to compete.  LOTS of intentional divide among the team with this structure.  Well, what do ya know, after some post-series rubbing, it really seemed to bring them all together. 

We got to experience that.  These guys were all VERY motivated by the structure of being pitted against each other in competition and by the carrot of reward and consequence.  And, guess what.  Almost every college program in the country holds some version of this same event every year.

Oh, and no one seemed to mind when he wore his new trainers, that were just a little different than everyone else's.

I've had the privilege of working several of these series at the end of fall ball. It's like a rivalry series without the bad blood and some of the best times I've ever had. If they think you've missed a call, you are going to hear it--and usually it's with things they've been practicing.

Son's high school recently played World Series - two teams picked by senior captains - which was best of three. Winners got steak and losers got dogs at the cookout afterwards. Let's just say they got after it and it wasn't about the steak. 

SanDiegoRealist posted:

Would we even be having this discussion if the coach gave the high performers leather pants? Nobody would want those!

I dunno.  I kinda like mine.

We're going with the sansabelt pants this year as to keep parents happy. Tried to play with our shirts un-tucked the first scrimmage but too much dirt up shirts.

In HS, our HC rewarded players who brought in sponsors with various team swag. There were 3 levels and the top was a $500 sponsorship. If you got that one, you got the all the swag, if you only got the minimum, you got zilch. His philosophy was/is get sponsors, have a team banquet w/ silent auction and host a golf tourney...that covered the budget.

Do those and no one has to sell cards, hams and other crap, hold raffles etc and we can just play baseball. It has worked for a long time and i can tell you the volunteering from the parents is where the real rubber hits the road and as you can probably guess, it was the few who did the majority of the work.

hshuler posted:

I'm 99.9% sure this is how the conversation would really happen:

Son - "Dad, A, B, C & D were awarded the leather belt for outstanding hustle and leadership. 

Me - "That's awesome! Did you congratulate them?"

Son - "Yes!"

Me - "Good because you should always be happy for others when good things happen if you expect the same in return."

Son - "I know."

End of discussion

....and sorry for the boring script but it's all I got.  

 

Shu funny talking to you over here lol. But this is the real you right there. Very few people I have known in person or on line that are happier and more interested in other people's success - that's one of the many things that make You a good guy.  As for the belt thing...  who cares. If it motivates I say go for it. Obviously it does cause those without the belt clearly get upset. So work to get one!