When is it O.K. for a coach to call one of his players "ugly"?
Original Post
Replies sorted oldest to newest
When he's not and kidding around.
Did he actually stare at the kid for a few moments and then look right at him and say, "Man, you're ugly"? or did he say that the play is ugly? big, big difference! Although, who cares if your coach thinks your ugly, as long as the girls don't say it!
Or, when it's about something he did - like something I heard last week re my son. 'That was an ugly pitch' -- and it was.... and the winning run scored.... against our arch-rivals... Oh well 
LL umpire called me aside to tell me I was going to have to talk to my pitcher's parents. He said the pitches the kid was throwing were just plain "rude". Personally, I wish a few more of them had been "strikes".
I'd like to thank those of you who took the time to reply to my question. The term "ugly" in this case was not used to describe a play, a swing or anything other than the players physical appearance. It wasn't used in a humorous way, here are a couple of examples: "Ugly, get a glove & warm up right." or "Ugly, grab a helmet, you're on deck." Whether or not he is (ugly) would'nt be for me to say, and certainly not in a forum as this. This is now the kids nickname, the kid didn't want it, and his father sure doesn't like it. Gee, thanks coach.
As far as me being too sensitive or politically correct. The kid is not my son, if it were the coach wouldn't ever call him that again. I think that a man calling a boy by a derisive term just to mock him shouldn't be tolerated. We're talking about a 15 or 16 year old kid. Aren't they screwed up enough without someone they are supposed to admire running them down? I played ball, and NEVER heard anything as this. Sure we had nicknames, usually just shortened versions of our names, and no, this boys last name isn't Uglyinsky. I had one coach who apologized for getting mad and saying GD. This was the coach who we went 25 - 0 for. You don't have to be a jerk to win games.
I'd also like to say that I posted in 3 forums, not 4 or 5, so that I could glean a response from my area (California), the general items area, and the coaches area. I doubt we all read every post in every area, and apologize if I used up too much bandwidth.
My next question will be about pitchers, I'll start a new thread.
As far as me being too sensitive or politically correct. The kid is not my son, if it were the coach wouldn't ever call him that again. I think that a man calling a boy by a derisive term just to mock him shouldn't be tolerated. We're talking about a 15 or 16 year old kid. Aren't they screwed up enough without someone they are supposed to admire running them down? I played ball, and NEVER heard anything as this. Sure we had nicknames, usually just shortened versions of our names, and no, this boys last name isn't Uglyinsky. I had one coach who apologized for getting mad and saying GD. This was the coach who we went 25 - 0 for. You don't have to be a jerk to win games.
I'd also like to say that I posted in 3 forums, not 4 or 5, so that I could glean a response from my area (California), the general items area, and the coaches area. I doubt we all read every post in every area, and apologize if I used up too much bandwidth.
My next question will be about pitchers, I'll start a new thread.
I think I will give YOU the nickname "Dumbass".
As a player, having a coach say that to me is the worst insult that you can get. That would infuriate me, so i would have to say it wouldnt be ok, but not unexpected.
...and Mr. Squirrel gets the moniker "Sweet Lips" because of the usual honey dripping from his comments. 
SDwatch, I think that type of humiliation is showing a little insecurity on the coaches part (imo), The player's look up to their coaches, and to have to be called "Ugly" just because the coach can (right now) is beyond me. There is no excuse, that is a cruel way to coach a player. Hopefully the parents will say something, and not be intimidated by "The Coach" Let the guy's play and be treated equally, and feel good every time they take the field. 
The parent's may decide to go to the athletic director; that is another option.
The parent's may decide to go to the athletic director; that is another option.
sdwatch
You should never be afraid to stand up for yourself when you think you are not being treated with respect. However you must also try to be tactful in your approach so as not to be offensive yourself.
I would ask the coach if I could talk to him alone off to the side.
I would ask him why he decided to call you by the nickname "ugly".
Consider the following; it may be part of the way you throw or bat or run or catch the BB...and though I don't agree with his taking liberty to that degree, it may also be that he likes you a lot and feels comfaortable enough with you to call you a name that surely only someone who feels familiar enough with you would dare call you that.
So you must decide whether you think he is serious, or just joshing at a very familial level with you.
I found when I played that it is very common in BB that people call each other all sorts of names. Don't get offended easily or you will not be accepted by your teammates.
You should never be afraid to stand up for yourself when you think you are not being treated with respect. However you must also try to be tactful in your approach so as not to be offensive yourself.
I would ask the coach if I could talk to him alone off to the side.
I would ask him why he decided to call you by the nickname "ugly".
Consider the following; it may be part of the way you throw or bat or run or catch the BB...and though I don't agree with his taking liberty to that degree, it may also be that he likes you a lot and feels comfaortable enough with you to call you a name that surely only someone who feels familiar enough with you would dare call you that.
So you must decide whether you think he is serious, or just joshing at a very familial level with you.
I found when I played that it is very common in BB that people call each other all sorts of names. Don't get offended easily or you will not be accepted by your teammates.