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I was 17 when this happened. I came home from a tough football practice in August of my Sr year. Our coach had just ran us through a week of two a days and it was hot as you know what. That afternoon he got a little pissed at some of us for not working as hard as he thought we should so he really gave it to us during sprints. I got home and walked in the door tired as you know what and my dad was sitting in his chair. I said as I came in "Man Coach Davis ran the **** out of us today. Im cramping and my legs are like jelly". My dad just looks up at me and says "Boy I didnt get to play games. I had to work in the tobacco fields all day when I was in school. There wasnt anytime for games we had to work to put food on the table. If you cant handle PLAYING GAMES and what it takes to be on the team quit and I'll find you a job." Thats the last time I ever said anything. I didnt need any more motivation than that.
One incident that's kind of shaped how I try to deal with my kids happened back in my hockey playing days. I was at the rink skating and hanging out one night and saw a little girl (probably 7 or 8) who was absolutely in tears because her mother was SCREAMING at her for not mastering some figure skating move. I'm not perfect in dealing with my kids, I've gotten frustrated with my son when he didn't seem to be putting forth any effort while we were practicing together, but thankfully I catch myself before I get to the screaming stage and just say maybe it's time to go in.

Would I be correct in inferring from the replies that most of you aren't big fans of a heavy travel team schedule for youth ball? (I personally know a couple of kids who have expressed their desire to quit baseball after nearly a year of non stop travel ball.) My son has been asked a few times to get on travel teams, one side of my brain says that the experince would be good for him and help him develop. The other side of my brain says that as long as he's learning good fundamentals that a rec league and a few tournaments thrown in here and there will be plenty until he's a freshman.
TCB1 posted
quote:
Has a coach ever cut his son? That'd make for some lovely family dinners....


For a couple summers I was talked into coaching the local American Legion team. My youngest son Ben, tried out as a sophomore and after the tryouts I cut him.

Told him that the juniors and seniors deserved the opportunity to play. I felt pretty bad about it... He said he understood... It was never a problem and in fact, might have actually worked out for the best.

Everything worked out fairly well!

If my kids wanted to do it... I would push! If they didn't want to do it, I would lay off!

Back then I knew a lot more about baseball than I did about being a parent. Baseball is easy compared to being a good parent. To this day, I still know more about baseball than parenting!
Last edited by PGStaff

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