Hearing a bunch of disturbing accounts of coach’s losing control on all levels from rec soccer to pop warner to tee ball. When I was a young lad I remember being dropped off at the first practice and my dad told the coach he had free reign to knock the living daylights out of me should I get out of line. Feel free to take whatever means necessary to straighten him out he said. Many youth sports organizations have done a great job keeping parents in check with Zero Tolerance policies. But that mostly covers parents harassing umpires, referees and opposing teams. What about the kids? These days, it’s an all new ballgame. Kids have the upper hand. They see parent’s disrespecting coaches, teacher’s, officer’s, just total disregard for authority. Now the kiddies run the show. Instead of the parent taking their child to the coach and asking what needs to be done to get better. If precious lil Trevor gets his feelings hurt cuz he didn't play every minute of every game, parents go right to the board. How’s about a little hard work, try making more than half the practices and by all means, please try to pay attention, just a wee bit. See we don’t run these drills and teach fundamentals for the sheer joy in it. I mean, I do have some real important stuff to do like fixing the leaky faucet, unclog the lint from the dryer vent and rearrange my sock drawer.
I actually saw a kid this year laugh at a parent when they asked him to stop messing with her kid. Flat out laughed in her face. Oh boy, if my old man caught me disrespecting an adult, it was all she wrote. Didn't matter if it was a coach, a parent or the old bag in the concession stand hawking dogs, grape soda and big league chew. See in the 70's we didn't have the luxury of getting disciplined in the privacy of our own home. Oh no, my dad would march right into the dugout, smack me upside the head and ear drag my butt straight to the parent and make me apologize. And I'm not talking about a soft head down whimper sorry ma’am. Nah this was head up look em in the eye and let's hear it, load and clear for the whole stands "sorry and I’ll never do that again".
Being a volunteer is thankless enough. But now, dealing with over rewarded, below average talent, spoiled brats is just too much. Maybe I am getting old and outta touch. Did we disrespect our elders? Did I overlook the whole eff you coach era? Well at least my kid will know better, cause I got that ear drag on the down low down pat. Man I sure do miss that grape soda and big league chew.
- Stomp
I actually saw a kid this year laugh at a parent when they asked him to stop messing with her kid. Flat out laughed in her face. Oh boy, if my old man caught me disrespecting an adult, it was all she wrote. Didn't matter if it was a coach, a parent or the old bag in the concession stand hawking dogs, grape soda and big league chew. See in the 70's we didn't have the luxury of getting disciplined in the privacy of our own home. Oh no, my dad would march right into the dugout, smack me upside the head and ear drag my butt straight to the parent and make me apologize. And I'm not talking about a soft head down whimper sorry ma’am. Nah this was head up look em in the eye and let's hear it, load and clear for the whole stands "sorry and I’ll never do that again".
Being a volunteer is thankless enough. But now, dealing with over rewarded, below average talent, spoiled brats is just too much. Maybe I am getting old and outta touch. Did we disrespect our elders? Did I overlook the whole eff you coach era? Well at least my kid will know better, cause I got that ear drag on the down low down pat. Man I sure do miss that grape soda and big league chew.
- Stomp
Amen! As I say to my kids..."Your behavior is a direct reflection of me. So, if you embarass me, I embarass you It's that simple!" Hopefully they'll see the bigger picture someday -- that people work very hard to teach them, coach them, mentor them and these people deserve, at the very least, their respect!
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