Parents at practice

I know I will get blasted for this once again but once a kid is in HS the parents job is to attend games and cheer not to attend practice and look over the coaches shoulder

Besides --who has all this time on their hands--don't people work anymore !!!

JMHO

TRhit

TR knows far more than me, but at our HS, numerous parents watch-and only watch-practice. Our coach runs a gorgeous practice-organized, broken down in 15 minute increments, players always moving, different stations, etc. It's almost a work of art and you can learn a ton of baseball just listening. (For example, during BP, he might say to the batter "Count is 3-1, runner on 3rd, tie game in the 7th. What pitch are you looking for?" and then he'll discuss it for a minute or so. No parent would dare interfere, or even talk to the coaches or players while they're on the field, but a lot of folks enjoy simply watching. I left it up to my sons-if they mind, I'm gone and if they don't mind, I watch. (only occasionally as the real world does involve jobs). There's ususally Little League practice on adjacent fields so it's fairly common for people to be around the park.

my son is a senior...I love to catch a glimpse of practice and do run by on occasion on my way home from work...

my love for the game just directs my car that way..can't help it...

(I'm probably the only mom around who has this addiction)....

and before anyone thinks I'm smothering or bothering the coach...I'm not...

Fungo,

first of all, SHAME ON YOU! You are just trolling for trouble.

TRHit, Tom stop being so paranoid about parents looking over coaches shoulders. Why arent parents allowed to love the game also? I love the spring weather, the kids enthusiasm, etc. I just love baseball. We go to spring training games also! Seriously Tom, isn't it cynical to assume something negative of parents at practices? I know that is your view, but you always come down on the side of the coach and never have any sympathy for the parents. Why should I stay away from practices if I enjoy the game. Why should a few bad apples (coaches and parents) ruin it for me? I don't want to knot watch because the coach is paranoid, and I don't want to not watch because of a fruity parent. It is up to the parents to tell the fruity one to go home, and I do!

Besides, I don't want some second rate hs coach screwing up my sons mechanics. JK, I do a good enough job of that on my own.

PS. we have a parallel thread going on in the Texas Forum.

"I love the HSBBW"

The sound of balls popping leather, the banter between teammates... long as you don't interfere what's the problem?

I think, too, that we have established that this seems to be a geographical issue...
While most northerners I know wouldn't dream of attending a practice...It is just the way it is in the south.

It is not the protocol to follow where I live.
But have learned from this board that it is a way of life in other places.

______________________________
By the time you learn how to play the game...
You can't play it anymore ~ Frank Howard

Texas:

You're not alone. I also enjoyed driving over to the field to see some practice when my son was in HS. I even drive by there now...and I don't even have a kid on the team anymore

Hokie:

Me too! Learned a lot from watching....
First time I've ever heard a practice called "gorgeous"

BIG

Very simple for me and not on the side of the coaches but on the side of the players--they do not to see Mommy or Daddy hanging over the fence at practice

And nobody answers the quesion about who works anymore --they are all at the practice sessions eh!!!!

I say save your fervor for the times needed--at the games

CHILL

I think you as I have found that there are different strokes for different folks especially in other regions of the country

TRhit

If I ever showed up at one of my son's high school practices - I am sure he would have politely asked me to leave - or physically removed me from the premises if I declined. LOL

its:

Stayed in the car...and the parking is far enough away that the players and coaches are not bothered by it. After watching the practices...it really became clear why the coach did the lineup the way he did.

I knew there was another thread in the Texas forum but I think everyone should be allowed to participate in a topic that always generates a lot of discussion..
Fungo

Never argue with an idiot. They drag you down to their level, then beat you with experience.

I am with TR on this one (rare but true ).

Unless you are invited by the coach, there is no reason to attend a HS practice. Its a distraction, even if you sit and say nothing.

These are young men and the last thing they want is mommy and daddy watching their every move.. Give them some freedom to stretch their experience without mom and dad there.

_______________
"Baseball, it is said, is only a game. And the Grand Canyon is only a hole."

"JustMom"

I absolutely loved it when my dad showed up to watch me play whether it was a pickup game, practice, or a real game. He rarely came to my practices and couldn't make many of my games, but when he was there I knew I had someone rooting for me. He never crossed the line but was always there for a motivational word or phrase to keep my confidence high.

I don't think it's a bad thing. I'm not sure if I'll attend practices when my son (12 years old) reaches that point, but I'll promise you this... If I do I'll keep my mouth shut and enjoy the view.

Jason

While our high school coach is very approachable and also runs a good practice that is fun to watch, I'm with TR on this one (at least in general). My 2 sons prefer it that way as I've done enough (damage?) through youth baseball. They'd rather do this one on their own and I don't blame them.

I say stay away, but I do like 123KMom's suggestion of watching from the car.

I'm w FlippJ. Don't see the harm if there is no interference from parents.

Hearing about practice, after the fact from our player is interesting, fun and sufficient for me. Saving what time off I can get to get to games.

I have been invited to, and plan on attending a scrimmage this weekend to get a glimpse of the team.

Got some advanced notice on a roadie for Jrs. next team. Assuming he makes the travel squad, who thinks Mrs. Dad04 will want to tag along? Road Trip

A few of us dads and a couple of moms may stop by and watch a little bit of practice. We talk about the upcoming season, see how some of the younger boys are progressing and just stand in AWE while looking at the most beautiful high school field in Oklahoma.

We talk to the coach when practice is over about what we might do to improve the facilities or maybe about the upcoming spring break trip. We stay out of the coaches business on the field and everything seems to work out pretty good.

Regional or not, our HS Coach told us:

"Come to practice anytime you want, enjoy your son while you can."

We have 2-10 parents come by the field, mostly on nice days. We are high above on the hill and have a great time catching up with each other, meeting new parents, and getting excited about the coming season.

I guess it just depends on the coach, but personally I would now wonder about a coach that didn't want me there.

I am a firm believer in attending practices as much as possible. That way I can get a true snapshot of every player’s abilities and where they should be in the lineup. It sure does save time when it’s time for me to offer my opinions to the coach before the season starts.

Sometimes a few of us parents get together during a game and just yell our thoughts to the coach, but at times that doesn’t seem to work quite as well because he is too involved in the game to pay as much attention to us. I’ve also noticed that our players don’t tend to like our yelling our instructions to the coach.

This is my son’s senior year and I thought I might just hang around the entrance to the dugout so the coach will always have me available, you never know, sometimes it hard to find a particular parent when they are all yelling.

"If you make every game a life and death proposition, you're going to have problems. For one thing, you'll be dead a lot."

WE USUALLY JUST SIT ON THE BENCH IN THE DUGOUT. IT MAKES IT EASIER TO HAND THE BOYS COLD DRINKS WHEN THEY NEED THEM.

My son likes me to be there. Afterall, aren't sports, entertainment? He likes the audience. I would never say a word to the coach or kids. I can tell you there have been many times the coach needs help so he asks any dads around to help him out with a drill. See here in the north football is king, so schools don't often have the school's investment and committment to the baseball program you all do in the south. And yes, us northerners sit through the cold to enjoy practice as well. When they are gone to college you certainly won't be there to watch so you might as well do it while you can.

"Success is where preparation and opportunity meet" Bobby Unser

HV

I like to ride the bus to away games and sit with the coach. That way he can bounce line-ups off me, check with me to see if he's been calling too many hammers for Jr. and generally solicit my approval.

I know you parents are going to blast me but be kind ok. Im just going to give a High School coachs perspective. The last thing I need is the parents opinion on how to run a practice or a game. We have three assistant coachs and one head coach and thats what they get paid to do. They are totally objective and the only thing they are trying to do is help each kid reach their potential and win games. If all parents came to practice and just watched that would be ok with me. But that is not the case. Most come and watch because they just want to enjoy watching. But you always have at least one that wants to yell instructions to their son while the coach is trying to teach. It is distracting for the coachs and the players. For this reason and a couple of others we do not allow parents to attend all practices. Several times during the year we tell the players that practices are open and if they want to tell their parents that they can attend its ok. But as a general rule practices are closed. From a coachs perspective we want the players total attention and we do not want to be distracted either. I also understand that parents want to attend and enjoy watching. That is why we open some of our practices. I know that some of you will respond with the statement "What are you afraid of coach if your running a well organized practice you have nothing to hide". That has nothing to do with it at all. Some kids get very distracted and feel pressure when parents show up for practice. If I knew that (all) the parents would just sit there and watch and not try to coach from the stands and distract not only the players but the coachs I would have no problem with it. Every Saturdays practice is open. We tell the players to ask their parents that they are not allowed in the dugout or on the field and please not meetings during the practice during breaks. We just want their total undivided attention. As far as having a parent at the dugout so we can get their opinion about something that is probaly ok for rec ball but in High School around here that is unheard of. I like to talk to all the parents after practice and games. I keep a very good open line of communication with all my parents. I keep them informed of there sons progress and meet with them in a timely fashion when they have concerns. But practice and games we are at work.

Easy question for me to answer. I cannot imagine my son's horror at seeing me show up to a practice. In three years of his high school career, thus far, I've missed one game. Never been to a practice. Couldn't imagine the presence of a parent at practice being appreciated by anyone on the team or coaching staff. At a minimum, your presence is, I think, viewed as interference by implication

I think staying away from practice is also a necessary part of learning to let go and allow the kids to grow and gain their independence.

I'm with TR on this one ... so, if I can't attend my own son's practice, I go watch some of the other teams in the conference practice ....

I'm not talking about going to practice everyday!

But whats wrong with swinging by the ballpark just to watch a little?

We love the game and our son's and even with the "Patriot Act" it's supposed to be a free country!

PS- I love watching the guys learn! It's fun!

Fungo, when my son was younger, Freshman on the High School team, I went to go up and watch practice from a parking lot. The parking lot was about 3/4 of a mile on top of a hill, so I could see different things but, to be honest, wasn't really sure who I was watching!! For the first couple of minutes I felt as if I had pulled off a fast one!! Being "sneaky", I thought that I could catch 10 minutes of a workout and the coach or son would never know!! Well, I sat there for about 10 minutes, watched the practice then got in the car and drove home. About 9;30 that night my son came into the computer room and said, "we need to talk"!! Dad, I love you, he said, but I got to tell ya, do me a favor, will ya?? "Yes", "tell me what" I say as I'm thinking of all of the things that I could do to help him out!! "Don't ever come to a practice again!!". Shocked that he even saw me, I say sure but why not. Well, I am just a freshman and the senior kids saw you pull up in the parking lot when they went to pick up the team bat bags out of the coaches truck!! The rest of the practice I had to listen to this one jerk that kept saying stuff, anyway, it just makes it harder on me if you are there.

From that moment on, I never watched another practice out of respect for him. Oh, of course, there were times that I was helping with something at the field and spent a couple extra minutes watching, but I never specifically drove to a practice to just watch. I have to admit though, I really didn't miss too many games!!! Now looking back on it, maybe being right there in the dugout would have been pretty cool!!

I used to drive by practice maybe once a week. Stayed in the car listening to "oldies but goodies", never talked to coaches or players. Usually for only a half hour at the most. Didn't stick around if they weren't scrimmaging. It was NEVER a problem. Most times they didn't even know I was there. Later at home I talked with Josh about what I saw and sometimes he would say I should have stuck around because he did "this or that". I coached 7 of the starters his senior year until they were in HS. It was great to see them continue to grow and get better.

Those days are gone, I'll never get them back. Looking back, I'm sorry I didn't go more often.

Frank

PASSION - "There are many things in life that will catch your eye, but only a few will catch your heart...pursue those."

quote:

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Originally posted by HiwasseeVol:
I am a firm believer in attending practices as much as possible. That way I can get a true snapshot of every player’s abilities and where they should be in the lineup. It sure does save time when it’s time for me to offer my opinions to the coach before the season starts.

Sometimes a few of us parents get together during a game and just yell our thoughts to the coach, but at times that doesn’t seem to work quite as well because he is too involved in the game to pay as much attention to us.

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HVol - Your post had me laughing out loud in my office! Thanks for putting it all in perspective so succintly!

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Pay attention to the feedback that takes you where you want to go!

Triple H,
I do the same thing. My job sends me all over the state. After my work day is done, I'll swing by the local ballpark to check out the field and maybe a little of the practices. I love the game at the high school level. I don't say anything, I just enjoy the practice. Its kind of intersting to see what other programs do compared to my sons.

I don't see the need...let the coach coach he does not need have parents looking over his shoulder. It is not that he may have something to hide but he needs to run practice the way he sees fit without having mom and dad looking over his shoulder. I think the parents need to let their kids have some room let them be one of the guys at practice...games are for everyone. Why not sit in on a math class or when on a date sit in row behind your son at the movies this way you can share his experiences?

Conserve fuel...starve a terrorist!

quote:

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Originally posted by njbbdad:
Why not sit in on a math class or when on a date sit in row behind your son at the movies this way you can share his experiences?

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Yet another outstanding idea.

Pitchinside

You may love going to practice. I agree it can be fun to watch the kids and catch up with folks but believe me and others, kids sort of look down on it.

First off... let me say, there are some very funny folks here and NOT everyone seems to be sensing their HUMOR....

So Coach May I don't think you have to worry about Parents in the dugout... or that's my take on it.

My son's coach, (very well known and respected) will not allow any interference from parents... PERIOD. As a parent, you learn early, to not even try, but, he doesn't mind them watching practice.. if they do interfere he'll talk to them and if it happens again, the boy is off the team... No Appeal (There are too many others who'd love to have his spot)

Its funny though every year there is usually at least one freshman's Dad who tries, and all the existing parents sit back and watch him get SHOT DOWN.... (chuckling) He'll get one chance.... and had better figure it out.

So NO one, dares dream of any interference, because the boys work too hard to even make the team. And that's the way it should be. It the first experience in baseball I've ever
experienced where parents know not to even try.

Usually, the very first practice day (so-called try-out) is an inter-sqaud scrimmage on a Saturday and a lot of parents stop by to watch that...

Also until this year (and my son got his driver's license) We had to pick him up and the practices never ended exactly at the same time, so there were many times, I watched the last 10-20 minutes, along with a couple others and perhaps see some BP, but typically saw wind sprints and field maintenance. This year, I've yet to even see the field, since last July... But can't wait for that opening day try-out.

I trust the coaches. But I do still ask "how did practice go" and "what are you working on now..." almost every night.

This is the same old garbage. It is not good enough to voice your opinions. You have to then act as if people who do not believe the way you do are somehow not as good a parent, or that they are overbearing. That is the bad part of this thread. I take exception to some of you suggesting bad or overbearing parenting simply becasue we do not feel the same way that you do. I will match my child and his character with anybody else's kid out there.

At my sons school in S.Florida where baseball is a big deal, there were 20 parents at Mondays practice. I did not hear one holler instrutions or talk to the kids on the field. Not one. The parents socialize and have a good time while the board members talk about setting up concesion etc.

I am not looking over the coaches shoulder, just enjoying baseball. You guys assume a lot. It sounds paranoid to me. Remember all coaches are different as well. Some don't mind. Some do.


My son likes me there and asks if I will be there. As long as the coach and my son do not mind, I go. That doesn't make me a bad or meddling parent. Try to calm down the stereotypes.

If your does not want you there, then fine. I would ask who has the closer relationship? I guess bowing to peer pressure is now a good thing? hmmmm

"I love the HSBBW"

Fungo, Good post. Got me thinking about myself. I would show to practice when I had the time. Not very often. I just liked being at the park and getting a feel for what the team was going to be like. Watched my son do his work in the pen. Only once did I say something. An asst coach from a local college was trying to turn my son into a junkballer. I had to have a talk.

Saw the head coach at a Xmas party. I told him that I would come to the park and harass him from behind the fence. (son has graduated) He told me that it was the parents that did not have a clue that bothered him. Nice compliment to me but, I really would never do that.

"Everybody kind of perceives me as being angry. It's not anger, it's motivation." Roger Clemens

Sorry, I can't hold back any longer, guys. To all who say the coach doesn't need parents looking over his shoulder at practice, how in the heck will he be able to handle the pressure of parents looking over his shoulder during games? I agree that mommy and daddy need to keep their comments to themselves at practice and games(our coach will lay the law down at tomorrow nights parent meeting when he also asks us for
$10,000 for bleachers,uniforms,spring break trip to Ft. Lauderdale, etc, field volunteers,concession duty, clean up duty, transportation to away games, and many other requests). As Big Hit has said, we police ourselves and in two years that our school has been in existence
have not had one incidence of a parent stepping over the line at practice or games. However, the coach has.

Coach May I hope you do realize that the comments about coaching from the dugout and bus by parents were in jest....weren't they?Ha

I say, if you enjoy watching practices then go, if you don't then stay
away. If your son is distracted by you being there, don't go.

I know one thing, if my sons are distracted by me being there they are
are going to have a tough time making it at the next level-better to learn now IMO.

Dad04- Your trip to Hawaii has USF in the group. Bring your clubs, Ha!

Moc1

quote:

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Originally posted by Bighit15:

If your does not want you there, then fine. I would ask who has the closer relationship?

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Bighit,

That will probably be the next new venture established - a ranking system for close baseball relationships between father and son.

I hope I get a 10. LOL

Is that going to be one of Bubba's ventures? I would hate to be that close.

"I love the HSBBW"

As long as I'm not close enough to get physically tossed off the practice field - then its cool.