Don't be "those parents"

[chancito1]

I've coached both my kids, son in football and baseball and daughter in softball. If the through the fence coaching parent has valuable information or has pro level experience than I'm all ears when it comes to the kids, if they throw like the guy in the Toyota commercial than I'm not really interested in what they have to say. I had a parent come out while I was working with his son on hitting and tell me not to teach his kid to swing at belt high pitches because he has a much better "golf swing" so he only wanted him to swing at low pitches. WTH???!! I asked if he had a background in baseball and he said no never played, I asked "so your a golfer" he said "no not really once or twice a year. I think the key is at a young a teach them the fundamentals but make it fun. Don't sweat the winning and loosing at that age and you just have to ignore some of the parents on the other side of fence

[mikemorvan]

I've been thinking about this most of the day. My dad was a pretty fair high school athlete in Louisiana back in the day, late '30's. Especially in basketball, state champs, etc. He rode myself and my brothers pretty relentlessly growing up. Both athletically and otherwise. He coached all our teams, the whole nine yards. Well, in high school, i was a pretty decent 2a basketball player in Keller. All-area, etc. A semi-big fish in a semi-small pond. I used to get so upset with him yelling at me in games to do this and do that. It was embarrassing many times. He almost always wanted me to do something other than what our coach had in mind. BTW - we had a really good team. It wasn't like the coach was a complete idiot. Anyway, one night i had enough. I went home after the game and told my dad that i could do what he wanted - and sit the bench; or - i could do what my coach told me and play. And, i really wanted to play. He got my message and cooled out. I remembered that with my son. I made sure, whether i agreed with the coach or not, i never hounded my son. All that to say this - Parents - there's a huge chance that your Little League ball player (no matter the sport) isn't going to play college ball, maybe even high school, much less go pro. Let them enjoy their childhood. Invest in the brain.

[Michael]

Ha, at the first practice, the coach stressed how we were going to encourage and cheer for the kids and not yell or ride them and everybody's a winner.

But at the first game, guess who was in an altercation with the ump over a call at the plate!

I had the same conversation with my girls and parents at our first practice, including respect for umpires, opposing coaches and team, parents and our own kids.

I got ejected from the third game because of a disagreement with an umpire. Strangely enough, I was arguing on behalf of the OTHER TEAM when I got booted! That may be a first!

[sling blade]

Parents are the ones that take the fun out of sports. The kids just want to play and the parents try to coach from the stands. It's plain out distracting and disrespectful for the kids and the coaches.

AMEN. I umpired for a few years, and the parents are what made me quit. Constant complaining about something. Most of them are rules experts. I recall a game where one team lost by 9 runs, 9 runs, and someone had to physically restrain grandma from getting to me because my partner lost them the game for her side. I Repeat they lost by 9 runs.

I say, take the stands and move them to the outfield, and let the kids play.

[Shane]

I've been thinking about this most of the day. My dad was a pretty fair high school athlete in Louisiana back in the day, late '30's. Especially in basketball, state champs, etc. He rode myself and my brothers pretty relentlessly growing up. Both athletically and otherwise. He coached all our teams, the whole nine yards. Well, in high school, i was a pretty decent 2a basketball player in Keller. All-area, etc. A semi-big fish in a semi-small pond. I used to get so upset with him yelling at me in games to do this and do that. It was embarrassing many times. He almost always wanted me to do something other than what our coach had in mind. BTW - we had a really good team. It wasn't like the coach was a complete idiot. Anyway, one night i had enough. I went home after the game and told my dad that i could do what he wanted - and sit the bench; or - i could do what my coach told me and play. And, i really wanted to play. He got my message and cooled out. I remembered that with my son. I made sure, whether i agreed with the coach or not, i never hounded my son. All that to say this - Parents - there's a huge chance that your Little League ball player (no matter the sport) isn't going to play college ball, maybe even high school, much less go pro. Let them enjoy their childhood. Invest in the brain.

Zach and I had a similar conversation last week. I guess all of my frustrations because of my tongue biting at the game was getting let out when it was just me and him. I was really proud of how Zach handled it, and I apologized to him for getting into his business. Of course, I've been responsible for his business up until now, so I didn't realize we'd gotten to the point where it was HIS business now. But we have, and that's awesome. You try to raise a kid so that he won't be dependent on you forever. I'm seeing that it's working with Zach. It's still a little bit bittersweet, but mostly I'm just proud of the young man he's becoming - and I told him so.

I don't know if it'll help me keep quiet in the bleachers or not though. If not, then I'll just make sure I'm busy taking pictures all the time. That works great.

[Death from Above]

When I coached my son....I was married to that parent . And still am. Lets just say momma is SUPER competitive.

[jimmy o]

I was asked to coach my youngest son team last year. I told the president of the BB assc. that I would if they will make it a rule that parents cannot attend games! I learned my lesson with my oldest son.

[JSF]

I really want my daughter to play golf growing up and maybe get a scholarship for college......a huge part is because I enjoy playing with her so much......I tell myself to not make it about me though and just let her play

[scotty]

Zach and I had a similar conversation last week. I guess all of my frustrations because of my tongue biting at the game was getting let out when it was just me and him. I was really proud of how Zach handled it, and I apologized to him for getting into his business. Of course, I've been responsible for his business up until now, so I didn't realize we'd gotten to the point where it was HIS business now. But we have, and that's awesome. You try to raise a kid so that he won't be dependent on you forever. I'm seeing that it's working with Zach. It's still a little bit bittersweet, but mostly I'm just proud of the young man he's becoming - and I told him so.

I don't know if it'll help me keep quiet in the bleachers or not though. If not, then I'll just make sure I'm busy taking pictures all the time. That works great.

Shane, forget shooting through the fence. Grab that Canon, and walk through that gate like you own the field. I've only been asked for my press credentials once in six years. And that was at a softball game.

[ColinR]

You would be surprised at the dropout rate by 14-16yr olds in Baseball and other Sports ..It sad to say but by the time they can really play ball some parents have lost all interest..WOW yall are taking it serious in T-ball?..Its Fun but on the team I am Head Coach I have my 2 sons one 14 the other 12 (He is Really Good at catching so he plays up) and 2 boys who dont have a father figure in life so I am kinda their Step-Dad..Needless to say my nerves are shot trying to encourage and coach them all thru the game....I LOVE IT .. we have not lost a game.
Here are my Knuckle-Heads 14-15U....Keep at it guys by the time they get to this age and start making HS Teams its all worth it.

Who is the ugly kid back row middle????

[Bill]

I'd talk to the parent in the original post and explain that you're coaching and he's a spectator. If he wants to coach his son, he should volunteer for a coaching position next year and he can be on the field. But until then, please be quiet and let the other coaches and you handle it. Look him in the eye and ask, "Do you understand?". If no, then say it again.

[Johnny]

I've coached on a premier level baseball team for 3 years and we recently switched teams. I had to take break from coaching....tired of dealing with the parents. Boy howdy do I got some stories I could tell. I never yell at my son during a game. I just wait till I get home.

Blue Tick on here umps for select baseball. I bet he has seen it all.

[Buckwheat]

I have a son(9) in baseball and daughter(10) in softball. We let out coach do the coaching. The only time we get on to our kids is off to the side and only if they are not listening to the coach(goofing off). Out kids ate
Playing g for the fun of the game. Sure we want them to be the best they can be. But we by no means ride our kids. Some parents just get on my nerves.