Parental Support, or is it?

[Demonboy]

I agree!! I will not leave a practice unless another female is present

A female adult should be present to keep predatory male coaches in check.:

That is truly sad. If you honestly feel that way, why would you allow you daughter to play on a team with THAT coach or any male coach?

Doesn't matter how "nice" they seem, you must be vigilant by excercising good habits and common sense. It's for the coach's protection as well. Any male coach that is stupid enough to put himself in that position, alone with a girl or girls, is asking to have his life ruined by a false accusation. But hey, there's no shortage of morons out there.

I do not believe a "female" has to be present. As long as it's multiple coaches or parents, that serves the purpose.

[artomatic]

I think it helps to have a female present, but as a male coach, you also have to not allow yourself to get in any situation where false accusations can occur.
You know, having the players hang out at your house, riding alone w/them, etc...I don't care how much of a "family atmosphere" you have...
hhhmmm, seems like I have heard about that happening recently...
I always have my daughter with me if I have to give any of my players a ride.
I also usually have the girls apply bandages, tape, etc to each other rather than me doing it if there isn't a mom present.
It's too bad it has to be that way, but it does.

As far as parental participation, I think it's fine when parents want to be at their kid's events and be a part of their lives.
I just don't like when they are a helicopter parent.
One sign that you have a helicopter parent is when the parent sits in the stands, except when their kid comes up to bat. Then they make a beeline to the backstop to "coach" them.
Ugh, I tell my parents not to do this.

Good post MTR, getting alot of discussion....did I just say that?
What the heck, it's Christmas...

[coachmomma]

I think sometimes parents can be too involved, and try to control every move a player makes and practices and at games. For example, We have a great pitching coach on "staff" and have 4 pitchers. 2 are pretty studly and 2 need some work. the one with the most potential that needs the most work is constantly being hovered over by her mother, and she has been heard contradicting our pitching coach's advice and telling her DD not to try his suggestions. As a coach, that makes her my #4 pitcher because she is not progressing. My point is this, you, as a parent, have had the opportunity to bring your DD as far as she has come in the last 13 years, and good job, but she is lacking in some aspects of pitching !!!!!, SO now its time to let go of the ego and let someone else give it a go that could possibly take her even further.

[GIMNEPIWO]

When my DD's wear younger ... I told them that if a Coach tells you to roll the ball across the infield with your nose, you do it ... that they are the player, the Coach is the Coach and you do what they say ... so, as time went on and they were being Coached by other Coaches ... what I failed to foresee was that there are going to be some Coaches out there who do not know very much ( in our case, HS ) ... and it was and is VERY difficult at times not to be the royal pain the the butt parent while all the while being supportive of the DD's ... after games we watch, Coach or they play in we often break down the game inside the game for discussion while they do a frosty ice cream and I do an adult beverage or 6 ... how can you be supportive of their conduct and responsibilities as a player on and off the field, listen as even they slam the improper strategy moves, not be a PITA Parent and still send them back out there to be Coached by morons ... ( well, this year the head moron was the best they have had at HS ... it was almost like he knew there was a game going on ) ...

[coachmomma]

LMAO!!!!

I personally got tired of watching moron coaches,good intentions do not produce quality ball players. Thats when I decided to take up an offer to coach travel. This is going to be my DD's first year of HS ball. Coach doesnt seem real motivated. Im sure Ill be fighting the battle to keep my mouth shut, I honestly am a horrible parent/fan. But with HS ball, I have no choce of coaches unless we move. With travel ball, you dont like the way I do things......there's the door. Or to be proper....."I think you would find a better fit on another team, good luck and good bye".

[GIMNEPIWO]

coachmomma sez:
"This is going to be my DD's first year of HS ball."

I feel your pain ...

[coachmomma]

I am going to do my best to behave! I dont much care about where she plays, she pitches catches and plays short, but she is also a hackofa right fielder. So im not one of those my dd should be................ But I can get very critical of offensive decisions. Im trying to look at the bright side, I wont be coaching her during HS ball and she will have the chanceto learn(I hope) from someone else. Now Im trying to fill her position on my team with an 8th grade player and they are few and far between in this part of Indiana right now.

[umpinva]

Now Im trying to fill her position on my team with an 8th grade player and they are few and far between in this part of Indiana right now.

Why, did women in your part of Indiana not many female babies back in 1995-1996?

[GIMNEPIWO]

coachmomma sez:
"I am going to do my best to behave! I dont much care about where she plays, she pitches catches and plays short, but she is also a hackofa right fielder. So im not one of those my dd should be................ "

Well ... that's good ... because even a Travel Coach would have to be understanding of personnel problems on a HS team ... a HS Coach can't go out and recruit for a position ... so, I have never had a problem with DD's playing "out of position" ... and as I also told them growing up, "you play where the Coach needs you" ...

umpinva sez:
"Why, did women in your part of Indiana not ( have ) many female babies back in 1995-1996?"

LMAOWIOAB! ... must be the water ...

Coachmomma, the offensive decisions are where I had and continue to have the most problems ... second only to the defensive decisions which were also offensive ... but I'm affraid we are getting into another topic for a post here ...

PS ... Don't drink the water