Coach May,
I agree 100% with your post. I was not trying to say that a kid or parent should complain and whine. I agree that you should not focus on that, but rather you should work your butt off, as you stated. I was simply making the point that it is not as cut and dry as "the kid is not good enough". There are exceptions, that's all.
Politics
When I used to coach, I would nearly always play my favorites.
It was always in the players best interest to be one of those favorites.
My favorites were those who...
1. Had the most talent
2. Worked the hardest
3. Were the best teammates
4. Were the most coachable
5. Made no excuses
6. Were mentally tough
7. Were the most dependable
8. Paid the most attention
9. Complained the least
10. Wanted to win the most
And some other things
Have to admit that sometimes #1 was enough to sway me when it came to playing time. And sometimes the other things would cause me to reward lesser talented players when ever possible.
If I could add one suggestion to all players...
Most coaches like baseball players. You don't have to politic or brown nose. You don't have to go out of your way (past the list above) to get a coach to like you or respect you. However, you actually have to do something to get a coach to dislike you. You never want to be in the position of a coach not liking you! The problem is, some people just don't understand that.
When I used to coach, I would nearly always play my favorites.
It was always in the players best interest to be one of those favorites.
My favorites were those who...
1. Had the most talent
2. Worked the hardest
3. Were the best teammates
4. Were the most coachable
5. Made no excuses
6. Were mentally tough
7. Were the most dependable
8. Paid the most attention
9. Complained the least
10. Wanted to win the most
And some other things
Have to admit that sometimes #1 was enough to sway me when it came to playing time. And sometimes the other things would cause me to reward lesser talented players when ever possible.
If I could add one suggestion to all players...
Most coaches like baseball players. You don't have to politic or brown nose. You don't have to go out of your way (past the list above) to get a coach to like you or respect you. However, you actually have to do something to get a coach to dislike you. You never want to be in the position of a coach not liking you! The problem is, some people just don't understand that.
PGStaff, or any other coaches, did you ever lose a kid from baseball because he couldn't handle his overbearing parents any more?
AntzDad,
Yes! Sometimes they hang in there for a long time, but you can see they have lost some of their love for the game.
Yes! Sometimes they hang in there for a long time, but you can see they have lost some of their love for the game.
Antzdad,
I have seen them leave because of their parents. I have also seen them leave if they just lose interest or maybe other things like cars, girls, grades and yes bad coaching.
I have seen them leave because of their parents. I have also seen them leave if they just lose interest or maybe other things like cars, girls, grades and yes bad coaching.
Antzdad I'm assuming you mean that a kid quit because he couldn't stand how his parents acted???
I can honestly say no I never overtly saw a kid quit because of overbearing parents but I also wasn't sitting at their dinner table at night. Maybe I've lost a kid or two over the years due to this but it was nothing I ever saw openly.
What I've found is that if the parents are overbearing / delusional then the kid isn't too far behind. It just doesn't sink in that the plethora errors they are making is the best evidence to show they aren't as good as they think they are.
I can honestly say no I never overtly saw a kid quit because of overbearing parents but I also wasn't sitting at their dinner table at night. Maybe I've lost a kid or two over the years due to this but it was nothing I ever saw openly.
What I've found is that if the parents are overbearing / delusional then the kid isn't too far behind. It just doesn't sink in that the plethora errors they are making is the best evidence to show they aren't as good as they think they are.
Jerry great post. I always enjoy reading your posts because they are so full of wisdom.
Coach2709, did I miss something in your post? Are you saying that all parents that are overbearing are also delusional about thier kids abilities?
2bagger, coach2709 was addressing my question about kids leaving baseball due to their overbearing parents.
I saw it a few times when I was a kid. I've seen it a few times in recent years. I agree with you, 2bagger, that kids have many other reasons for leaving baseball, as well.
I saw it a few times when I was a kid. I've seen it a few times in recent years. I agree with you, 2bagger, that kids have many other reasons for leaving baseball, as well.
quote:Originally posted by 2bagger:
Coach2709, did I miss something in your post? Are you saying that all parents that are overbearing are also delusional about thier kids abilities?
2bagger I guess there is something missing because I'm not saying that exactly but I think it's a safe bet that if a parent is overbearing then they're delusional about their son's talent level.