IS IT FREAKIN JUNE YET!!!!!

[gunshy]

Coolstuff, your coach does have a successful record but it is BECAUSE of travel players, not despite them. Miss softball 2 years ago was not talent he developed, it was talent developed by someone else in the summer that he was fortunate to be able to use in the spring. Your current team is the same way, as the key players were developed by others and now he can claim their results. I have never understood his and other HS coach's disdain for travel, as their programs would be giant donuts without the services of those players.

[snoop]

Birds singing and a beer in your hand make for VERY long day!! But, love every one of them!! I've told the inventor of the bucket we could make alot of $$ if we mass produced them!! Taking the bucket "fishing" this weekend, last hurrah before june!!

[DLauck]

Coach, I hear you, believe me I do. I don't know you personally, but by your willingness to come on here and share, and from what I see of, and hear about your program, I have respect for you as a coach. I know a few of the girls who are in your program at Roncalli. Understand my comments are not aimed at high school coaches, my comments are directed at my DD's coach. I'm not on here anonymously posting behind anyone's back, I assure you he's well aware of my feelings towards him, and his prowess as a coach. I also understand that high school coaches have a whole different set of issues they have to deal vs. travel coaches.

If I offended you, I apologize, that was not my intent. But I stand behind said.

No offense taken slapperdad. I understand where you're coming from. You are correct, there are a different set of issues between HS and travel coaches. Both sides seem not to like each other too much.

[DLauck]

Big daddy thanks for the kind words.

Dave you missed the best part about June though. Sitting in the hotel parking lot with Snoop's ball bucket close by and it will keep beer on ice for two days in 90 degree temps. Just be careful hanging out with him though because you know it is going to be a long day when all of sudden you are sitting in the parking lot with him and the sun starts to come up right Snoop.

Snoop sorry your daughter's educator told her she was inferior wish I would have been at that game.

Gotta grab my zinc oxide and flip flops time to go to a game.............

BB, I don't know snoop, but I'll sip on a cold one with anyone. Maybe someday we'll cross paths and I'll get the honor of dipping my hand in the famous bucket.

Take care!

[slapperdad]

I'll sip on a cold one with anyone.

You gotta love the Catholics and the Lutherans.......and I married a Lutheran, so I can talk about them!

[SnocatzDad]

You guys crack me up!! I already know I'm an idiot (the parents do too); anything stupid I do on the field surprises no one!! I know the girls think I'm an idiot too, so I've got that covered as well.

I wish I could figure out ways to lose in 7 innings against New Pal and Whiteland instead of going extra innings!?!? I could care less about these "HS" games, and it's causing me to get home after a 14 hr day later than usual. At least my pay is good! Any of you travel coaches out there have any advice for winning these meaningless HS games?

Lastly, heading out of town to a tourney tomorrow. I have students who have tests to take, make up work, grandparent funerals, injuries, illnesses, college visits, ACT/SAT tests, etc, etc. I agree that life must be pretty good for you guys in June!


DL

From a travel coaches perspective, take what you put into this now but

1. Take away the pay
2. Kick in some extra cash at times
3. Drive yourself to and from all the games and arrange transportation for some of the kids on the team.
4. Know that at any time if a better siutation arises there are some players who will leave you mid season regardless of the consequences
5. Know that if you have a losing season you probably won't have a team the following year
6. Know that if you have a winning season and are abusive to the players you won't have a team the following year
7. Know that if you have a winning season and treat the players well, you still might not have a team next year.

I know most travel coaches have a daughter involved but that isn't always the case. Some coach HS and travel and live with the joys/pains/challenges of both. From the outside looking in the main legitamate complaint I hear from travel coaches about some HS coaches is "If I treated the girls that way I wouldn't have a team" which is true and can be frustrating because replacing a bad HS softball coach is so low on an AD's priority list that short of criminal behavior or complete revolt by the players you rarely see changes. I think the other complaints are just noise, we can all armchair quaterback, who we would play where, how we would play this or that team, how should the pitching time get split up, what to work on at practice, etc... as long as the coach doesn't extinquish the desire to play the game, they are doing alright by me and most that care enough to keep the girls loving the game do a good job and critiquing how it could be better is just opinion and human nature but shouldn't be looked at as hating on the HS coach.

I look at every person out there working for the girls to help them get better as a partner, travel coaches, HS coaches, umpires, parents. Within each of those groups are bad apples that turn kids away from the game and I think it's encumbent on all of the partners to help protect the kids from those types of individuals. Umpires have assignors and a UIC that you can give information on a bad umpire on. If you see a HS or travel coach be abusive to his players, drop a note to the AD or the organization board knowing that it would be difficult for kids on that team to make comment for fear of repercussion. Word of mouth is one way to handle problem parents. Of all the bad apples I try to be tolerant of these because it's not the kid's fault that Mom or Dad is a nut, and they shouldn't suffer for it if possible.

[bucketboy]

I'll sip on a cold one with anyone.

You gotta love the Catholics and the Lutherans.......and I married a Lutheran, so I can talk about them!

Here's one you may not know. We are actually Catholic and DD goes to Lutheran........

So I guess you can bash me on both sides of the aisle errrrrrrrr collection plate!!!!!

Dave I can borrow snoop's bucket anytime as long as FC isn't playing that night

[coolstuff]

Coolstuff, your coach does have a successful record but it is BECAUSE of travel players, not despite them. Miss softball 2 years ago was not talent he developed, it was talent developed by someone else in the summer that he was fortunate to be able to use in the spring. Your current team is the same way, as the key players were developed by others and now he can claim their results. I have never understood his and other HS coach's disdain for travel, as their programs would be giant donuts without the services of those players.

I agree 110%. He threatens them but when it comes down to it, he wants to win and he has to start his travel ball players to do so.