'Politics'

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Politics? In baseball?



I see you opened the can Coach, but where did the worms go?



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Coach Waltrip,
Very good post. I wish all players and parents could have your point of view. I was very lucky that my son listened to me say almost the same things you told your sons. My son always was working with other players before and after practice to help improve their skills and make the H.S. team stronger. But at the games, parents would always be complaining about the coaches or other players to me that it got to the point I started running the scoreboard so I didn't have to listen to it. They don't seem to care the effect it has on the team or their player.

Gotwood,

Well, nobody said the subject was popular...just like clear cutting forests I suppose...

However, it's something we've all had to deal with as parents and coaches. Sometimes we are successful overcoming and avoiding the issues sometimes we get caught up in it. For anyone who has been drawn into the 'playing politics' trap it usually ends in disappointment and disillusionment.

Nobody guarantees us anything in life and the overwhelming majority of us have to work for everything we have ever earned. Some things that happen to us and our loved ones are not fair. I would like to know how you and others have dealt with it...If I have to open up another can of worms so be it...DOH!!!!

Tooldforthis,

I know what you mean about some parents. I was an assistant coach this last spring for a Freshman HS team where I had none of my own kids playing on it and had a little of what you were talking about. It was somewhat distracting from what I was there to do...coach.

The best parents were the ones that seperated themselves from the bitterness that can develop in the stands. As a parent I have also felt this negativity this last year while at the time I was coaching. Though, I was careful to keep my feelings to myself including my kid and the other parents. However, I did share some of my reservations about what was going on with my son's team with the HC of my team who I believe later shared those feelings with the coaches on my son's team. So ultimately it was a mistake on my part to say anything at all to anybody. These things can turn into a cancer if one is not careful and it can be easy to get caught into the web of negativity. A parent and I as I discovered, a coach needs to be careful what they say to anyone...

I admire you for recognizing your situation and taking the appropriate measures to avoid the situation. Nothing good comes from sitting in the bleachers with other parents complaining about the coach, team or whatever else.

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I think it is important to recognize that politics is in play constantly and at various levels of intensity.

As expressed by others many, many times on this site..."be concerned only with those things you can control".

Politics will always exist and it is best to steer clear of it whenever possible.



I peeked at your profile and read that you are an airline pilot. You undoubtedly have seen many millions of acres of clearcut forests...



...like these acres outside of Eugene. What isn't apparent from this elevation are the millions and millions of trees that have been planted in each and every one of these clearcuts.

And the politics surrounding this type of harvesting...don't get me started! Oh wait...it's all out of my control...nevermind!




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when my son's played hs ball, i would have a cooler with water or sodas in the back of the truck. left over from the day's work. i would lean on the truck and a few dad's would stop after the game grab a soda and ..critique the game. when a new guy would come by i'd explain this was the "get it out area". air out your thoughts chew the fat and leave it here. worked well, but i don't consider a parents complaint's as politics. if a parent's complaint's changes the coaches philosophy, that's politics.



never seen it work, seen it tried way to often. never seen it work though.

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"No,no,no 20dad...



...we're out of Dads. Not out of complaints!




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This thread has very creative posters!

Thanks Coach for your comments. That's sound advice.

One good thing about politics is it seems more important to parents than to the kids. We just have to keep telling them to practice, practice, get better and have fun playing and with their teammates.

Gotwood,

You're right there have been many many good posts about 'control what you can control' but, I have seen and been sucked into the complaining mode...kinda like what I did this week about the Cardinal pounding at the hands of the Colts on Sunday night. I was at a baseball game when this emabarassment took place and I couldn't believe it...well, you see there I go...

Point is that otherwise some very good parents can end up getting really, really p-ed off and letting their feelings fester unchecked until the coach or coaches are the worst they have ever seen and then begin to do things they otherwise would not. It happens, particularly since we all know how important it is to our kids that they get on the team and then that they play. It is am emotional subject and if left unchecked can again, fester into something that needs to be kept under wraps.

About the clearcutting...yes, I've seen a lot of this from various altitudes. I often fly into Portland, Seattle and Vancouver. Beautiful country up there...

Fact is we need lumber products and it is America's only renewable resource. The modern forestry corporations have been very responsible about replenishing the forests. It is in their interests to do so...20 more years and they can again harvest from the same area.

Let me say this when I coached I did not care where the kid was from who is dad was who he knew if he could play he played. Imagine that. Of course that was back in the neanthedral days. maybe some coaches in todays environment should just say no. If somebody higher up( I am relating to a school situation) tells you that so and so has to be on the team because of whatever just say no. If they fire you tell anybody who asks why. that sort of puts the ball in their court.

to the coaches today if you invite the parents into "help you out" raise money( booster club) in a perfect world that is great but it is not a perfect world and when one starts making noise about you and the program you have to deal with it.

20dad,

I think that is a great idea. There is a fine line though that can morphed into something ugly. We've all seen it...I have coached youth baseball for many years and you would not believe some of the things some otherwise wonderful parents and people subjected me too.

I'm not talking about legitimate issues like verbal abuse that I've seen some coaches take place in. We're supposed to be educators not abusers.

I know of a varsity coach/teacher who when discovering one of his JV players was transferring out to another school (yes, he was willing to sit out a year to get away from this school) took it upon himself to pull him out of class and began berating him and using all sorts of personal insults. I got to hand it to the dad when he found out about this verbal abuse and he didn't do anything because he just wanted to get his son out of this environment. My first inclination when I heard of this would have been to have a man to man with this guy in a not so friendly way.

I did urge the dad at the very least, to take this up with the AD because this behavior in my opinion is way over the line.

Coaches should not get a free ride to do and act as they please. Coaches know it is a tough job, but a rewarding one all the same. Part of the territory is dealing with difficult parents. But at the same time we have a responsibility to treat kids with dignity and respect as fellow human beings. I've never been much for the made up rule that all the coach's decisions are beyond reproach. When it comes to play time and positioning, I have to agree that the coach's decisions are final, although a player should be able to talk to the coach about this subject.

Let me say something about this subject. When our kids get to say, 8th or 9th grade they should start becoming their own advocate. They need to grow up and take responsibility for their life and that means taking control of their own destinies. It is high time by this point in their life that if they have an issue with the coach that their parents should encourage them to take it up for themselves and not expect mom or dad to intercede.

Again, I'm not talking about abuse or even about an injury that occurred that the coach did not make an effort to notify the parents.

Parents will talk...everybody knows that. It's just when it takes on a life of it's own without any real provocation except how a coach's decisions affected their kid that is at issue. I once had a mom who approached me during a game and began to verbally light me up in front of the players, parents, opposing team, umpire and the entire world because her boy was not a starter that day. In fact, the umpire stopped the game so he could watch the mom redicule me. Everybody was watching. It was embarrassing and you know, I never did get an apology from that lady for her inexcusable behavior. It has been five years since that happened and when I see her in public she still gives me the eye.

I know this is touchy subject, but are we to step around subjects such as this? Yet, I can understand not wanting to talk about this because is could be a sore subject for some.

Hey Gotwood, funny thing about the last time I was flying into Portland I had something hanging onto my windshield...

Coach Waltrip,
That kid sure makes the rounds, saw him on the hood of a car about a month ago, guess he has taken challenges to a higher degree.

When my son was in high school, his coach has some hard and fast rules that he set at the parent, player meeting, he would not have discussions with parents unless it was 45 minutes before a game or 30 minutes after a game and only on a one to one basis. If the player was not dressed and ready for practice at start time no matter how good you were, you didn't start. If you missed a practice, sick, appointment or just didn't show up, you didn't start. If a player was removed from the game because of an additude (sic), you sat the next game, no matter how important the next game was. Some parents didn't like it, but, it was same for everyone, as he preached no one was bigger than the team. My son who started for four years, spent some time watching his teammates from the bench because of he lost his cool, but it made him a better person and player because of it.

My family and I hold fast to this rule...
Loose Lips...will sink ships.
We've learned to stay away from those who are
negetive and critical.Politics have actually,
driven my son to work harder.It also strengthened him mentally.Nothing will ever turn out to be exactly as you imagined,but to overcome adversity
will help carry any player to the next level.

Im trying another aproach. My son is playing ball and whatever goes with it. If there is a work day at the field and all the other moms and dads are there jockying for there sons position my son is there working not me. They have a fundraiser golf tournament and some of the but kissing parents are there working it so is my son, not me. My son has manners, heart and desire. He is also a great ball player and Im trying to teach him that he will get out what he puts in it. He is the kid that runs on the field and runs off the field winning or losing. He is the first to high five the efforts of another player.

If politics keeps him from playing no matter, because one day he will be rewarded and it probably will have nothing to do with baseball.

"Politics" do exist, sometimes, and other times are just perceived. Either way it is only one of a long list of excuses...

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Hey Coach...at least that kid has enough sense to hang on.

I can't tell if he's yelling for you to slow down or toss him another packet of peanuts!



And Yankeelvr...I agree with you. Concern yourself with those things you can control. If there is too much politics then take control and move on to a different situation if needed. If it's bearable stay put and learn a few lessons. No excuses!

Coach the team. Stay out of the conversations with the parents about players and coaches. Dont have rabbit ears. If they want to talk in the stands , behind the stands or anywhere else they are going to and thats their business. The only thing that matters is that you are coaching the team to the best of your ability. If someone approaches you with an issue with another coach then tell them "you need to address that with the coach." If someone tries to approach you about another player other than their own "I will not talk to you about someone else's child just like I would not talk to another parent about your child." If they want to talk to you about their child then be honest and make sure they know you are giving them YOUR opinion do not talk for another coach. And be very careful what you say. Make sure whatever you say you would have no problem saying in front of the entire coaching staff. "I agree I have no idea why he is not hitting 3rd in the line up and getting more time at SS." You can only imagine how that will end up playing out.

I have been an assistant and a HC at the HS level. I didnt always agree with everything the HC did or said. In private I would express my opinion. In public and to everyone outside that staff it was a united front , period. Some people will attempt to get you on their side and then use your words to drive a wedge in the staff. The best policy is to keep you mouth shut about politics , stay out of the off the field conversations and politics , or you will end up in the middle of some serious BS.

Just coach the team. Your there for the players. Stay out of the conversations. Just coach the team or you will end up spending all your time in conversations and trying to explain those conversations and less time doing what your supposed to be doing.

If you spend one minute entertaining this stuff with parents / players you will regret spending that one minute on this stuff. Players need to practice hard and just play the game. Coaches need to spend their time working hard to help the players be the best they can be. Parents who get into the Politics will eventually when its all said and done regret they didnt spend their time just enjoying the baseball years.

Knowing that politics are there , of course. Worrying about them being there , pointless.

Coach May,

Nicely said...

Case Closed!





Gotwood turned me on to the imbedded images and I'm having fun...

imbedded images?

quote:

Originally posted by iheartbb:
imbedded images?

Are not the images put on the posts called 'imbedded images'? or is it 'embedded'? Oh well, I never did sit up straight in Mrs. Glenn's 4th grade English class.

I'm just a guy who up to 2001 didn't use a computer except at work (on a plane it's called a FMS) so I'm still rather ignorant of the proper terminology...

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quote:

Originally posted by Coach Waltrip:
Gotwood turned me on to the imbedded images and I'm having fun...

We're on the cutting edge for sure Coach!










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