Parental Unity...?

Our parents get along fine. There is no sight-line down the foul lines. The booster club works hard to support the kids. Not much controversy to report. I came out of the closet this year (oops, I mean the small, closet-like announcing booth), so I don't know if I'll sit or stand. Probably a bit of both.

PD:

My observations for the HS level are as follows:

If the team is winning you will have a strong parental group that sits together, yells together and generally gets along. Harmony at it's best. Usually the ones that seperate themselves at this time are doing so because they have always been and always will be a loner at their son's game and they won't change karma. During a winning season you might also find those that separate from the group because they are upset over something like lack of playing time for their son or because of some other related issue.

If the team is in trouble either by losing games or with a bad mix of players personalities and/or coaches then you will have split groups all over the place. These groups usually have a common thread/beef/concern/or support. Besides the groups you will still have individuals seperating themselves from the masses.

The amount Splinter groups seem to increase when there is an increase in disaccord.

On the select level there has to be team/parent chemistry early on for the masses to stick together otherwise it is everyman an island.

I tell my dad to stand way away so I can't hear him... any other players tell their parents that ?

OBN,

Keen observation! The past two select years were phenomenal due to the parent chemistry, excellent coaching, players' respect for one another, and tummy fillers from Chef Shortall.

Mine tells me to turn my back so he doesn't see my eyes roll!

DTiger... I feel this is a good discussion especially for parents who have these traits and feel discord with others...OBN I feel is very correct in that when disacord is present unity becomes fractured,,, This is more of a psyhcoligical issue with each parent, I know as a coach I could care less about what parent was doing what unless it affected a player or the team,( for the most part we rarely had any issues during select ball) as a Dad (high School) I am very cordual and open with other parents but, when the game starts i become isolated because i am way too intense about the texture(or lack of)of play at the HS level. (most parents dont want to her me bitchin about there kids lack of talent) Basically this is parents dealing with the situation.

BTW I always wondered why your Dad stayed waaaaay away from the action, you should let him be himself You might like it!!! My Father recently passed away, and I will forever hear him cheering me at my games...JMHO

My dad stays way away not because I tell him but 1) because he's watching my sis play around 2) he gets very emotional and doesn't want to disturb others watching the game and 3) he knows that I don't like to hear the negative comments that probably ran through my mind a second before he says them. It's his choice, not mine.

most of our dads our postioned as close as possible to the coaches backside!!!!!!!!!!!!

I am in the booth announcing and playing music for one reason and one reason only, after coaching summer ball for 12 years I could not keep myself from cherping at the umps...coach style. When CS was a freshman I almost got thrown out of a game. The ump went to get the onsite administrator and I ran out to the car to change my clothes so he wouldn't recognize me, then I hid in the booth for the rest of the game. I was very embarrassed, but I found the press box was the one way to keep me quiet. It was only later on that I figured out it was also a very warm place to be.

I have a thought or two on all the chirping at umpires I hear at games from parents. First, the umping isn't very good. Given. I've been in the dugout at HS, Juco, DI, DII, DIII, A, AA, and AAA baseball and none ever thought the umpiring was very good. Second, very few umps ignore the chirping completely, as they should. Third, how they will respond to it is unpredictable, unless you've got a scouting report on the ump. Some will make more bad calls agaist the complainers because they're mad, while others will feel bad about a possible mistake and look to make "make-up" calls. Again, bad umping either way, but it happens quite a bit, especially the "make-up" calls. Therefore, I don't mind parents letting it be known that they dislike a call. However, I have a problem when they get emotional about it and carry on too much about an ump's mistake, even starting to verbalize all sorts of conspiracy theories. Instead remember that just like your all players, all umpires are imperfect. Forgive and forget. Bad calls are part of the game.