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Just go home Dad!

bballdad2016bballdad20161,000+ posts
Yup - heard that at the Pony Field today.

Sitting in the stands taking in my 9 year old's game, a Dad was berating his Son from behind the plate. When to swing, when not too, to low, way to high, oh come on Son... so on and so forth. This kid is a first year baseball player. Little Corbin finally strikes out and as he was walking to the dug out his Dad said something to the effect of 'you should have swung at the last one'. Corbin looks square at his Dad as says Shhhh! and keeps walking to the dug out. Dad gives the 'Don't shoosh me!'. Corbin got to the dug out, put his bat down, walked INTO the stands (dad didn't see him coming) gets being his dads ear and quietly says "just go home Dad". Corbin RAN for the dug out as dad was in shock. Dad walked to the dug out and said 'get over here', Corbin says he cant because he is not allowed out of the dug out. Dad says, "what did you say to me over there", Corbin repeats it loud and proud "Dad, just go home".

Dad walked back to the stands as if nothing happened. I looked at my wife and said "sure is a sad day when your kid tells you to leave the ball park".

I would believe it if i didn't see and hear all of it for myself, thought i would share. If Corbin's Dad didn't learn something today, i really hope some of the other parents at the park did.

- Baseball was made for kids, and grown-ups only screw it up. ~Bob Lemon

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RJMRJMHSBaseballWeb member since 2007
At fifteen I told my father if he ever showed up at the park again I would walk off the field. In the sixth inning of a no-hitter I noticed my father on a hill with binoculars on the other side of the interstate behind left field (Hadlock Field where the Sea Dogs now play).

I stayed in the game and pitched the no hitter with the help of a spectacular catch by the centerfielder. My father showed up in the parking lot after the game to tell me I only had a no hitter because the centerfielder was so good. I remember glaring at him, telling him no-hitters are part good pitching and part luck, then walked away. I walked home rather than get in the car. It was one of many times I refused to get in the car after games.
Last edited by RJM
RJMRJMHSBaseballWeb member since 2007
quote:
Originally posted by seattlestars16:
Brave kid good for him. RJM- how many no hitters did dad have
My father was a Big Ten football player when that was as big as it got. He also had the option of playing college basketball. He demanded excellence when I competed. Starting with high school everything I did athletically was broken down, analyzed and critiqued. In a collegiate summer game he got on my case after a game for being mentally lazy. I popped up my fifth at bat in a game we were winning 17-2 and already had four hits.
Last edited by RJM
RJMRJMHSBaseballWeb member since 2007
quote:
Originally posted by cabbagedad:
RJM-
Curious - So, in hindsight, were his actions a good thing or a bad thing? Do you think he helped you or hindered you with your accomplishments?
It didn't motivate me. I had a built in passion for sports long before my father rode me like a bronco. The passion came from the older kids in the neighborhood, not my father. There were times I refused to discuss sports with him. Before high school he stayed very distant to my play other attending. Never said a word.

Where it did help is how I raised my kids and related to their sports. I was more nurturing. I picked my spots to be analytically critical. But it was about mechanics not stats. I was also involved with my kids play as a coach starting in kiddie rec ball.
Last edited by RJM
T twotex1,000+ posts
We've all seen it. The parent who thinks they are doing their kid a big favor but picking on everything they do. I'm sure that there are some folks who believe that it made them better, but I would also bet that there are more players who either resent it, or just flat quit playing so they wouldn't have to listen to it.

At the end of the day, what these parents are doing is making the game about themselves - their "wisdom" - and not about their kids.

That being said, I've made a couple of comments to my son in years past which in hindsight I wish I hadn't.
bballdad2016bballdad20161,000+ posts
I’m just glad the little guy had the courage to ask his Dad to leave. For what it’s worth, this little guy volunteered to stay for the afternoon game as a pick up player for another team that couldn’t fill the roster. I guess what bothered me the most, is the dad doesn’t really know baseball to well (asked me why all the kids throw that “circle knuckle ball”?) and his kid is trying so hard. I almost asked him to lay off a bit, but realized it may not do any good. His kid did it anyway.
C ctandc500+ posts
quote:
Originally posted by RedSoxFan21:
It may be difficult for all involved but I'd rather have a parent who cared enough to attend, and to try and help me, than a parent who drops their kid off and asks, "What time do I pick him up from you baby sitting him coach?"


Even if the kid would be better suited to them not being there?

I’ve coached a kit for several years now, who is a very talented athlete. Has the potential to be an unbelievable baseball player. Parents are split. He’s already bigger than Dad (by a long shot) at 15. Dad is a s****r guy. When the kid plays other sports, Dad will likely not be there. If kid plays s****r, Dad is all over it. Dad talked kid into NOT playing HS baseball this year as a 10th grader, when he likely would have been the starting SS, so he played s****r. He recently confided that he wishes he had played baseball. He’ll play Summer ball.

Sometimes no interaction is better for the kid, as rough as that sounds.
20dad20dad1,000+ posts
when my son went to his first spring training, they had the pitchers run and run and run some more. the coach asked i must be the biggest a-hole you've played for? he say's no, that would be my dad, but i wouldn't be here if he wasn't.

every boy is different. and as we mature as parents hopefully we change with the player. i know i did.
B bball123100+ posts
What a gusty little kid. I wish more kids would stood up to their "Monday quarterbacking" parents. Last year we had a new 10 year old kid in the league. He is decent player but his dad expectation was way way too higher. Whenever that kid made an error in the field or pitching, his dad was all over him. One time his dad threatened the kid if he made one more error, he would yank the kid out of the game and take him home. Sure enough, the kid committed another error and the dad took him home. The kid's coach begged the dad not to but to not avail.
This poor kid probably picked up a lot of his dad's attitude of "my kid's special and better than the rest". One time, the kid was pitching to my 12-year old. The catcher(a good friend of my 12-year old son) framed the glove outside for a ball. The kid refused to pitch ball for a walk but instead pitch low down the middle, and before he knew it, the ball was batted out of the park. The catcher told my son the next day, that served him right not listening to the catcher/coach.

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