curveballerguy124 wrote:Hold on there Defty...... I'm not that old, and I agree with the above mentioned wagon wheelers and the circling parties, for the most part at least. Yes my daughter is off playing college ball, yes I'm still coaching, and no my ways aren't old contrary to your beliefs nor are theirs. As a matter of fact Chin is one of the "old timers" on here and I guarantee you the level of play he has seen and played at, your kid would be lucky to learn from him.
Now, considering I still play men's fastpitch a game that at its lowest level is still faster and more aggressive then the woman's game. I wouldn't exactly say or agree with you that my or their methods of coaching are outdated, maybe you just don't understand them because you never played the game or maybe you have IDK. What I will say is there are aspects of the men's FP game that are barely getting to and being used in woman's FP.
I get that your comments were meant as an insult and dig at them. However, some of them old timers actually played the same game your daughter is currently playing long before she was even a thought in your mind. See, the thing about it is they and I grew up in an era when there were no participation medals and everything you accomplished in sports were earned. Also mommy and daddy didn't come to the rescue when it all seemed unfair and believe me sport politics have ALWAYS been around. ....
I read your 5 points I get where you are coming from but just because you don't agree with some of the thought process of the coaches doesn't make them wrong or you right for that matter. I am guessing that you never played organized sports based on your comments. I'm not trying to take a dig at you by any stretch of the imagination its just because you sound like a parent that has never played ball for any coach. If I'm wrong I apologize!
I guess I'm just trying to tell you that not every coach is an old neanderthal asshole or who doesn't know his ass from a hole in the ground and not every kid in travel ball should play because mommy and daddy see them trying hard. Its not what mom and dad see its what the coaches see. If you don't like where your kid is at and if they are not being pushed to be better then move that's your prerogative. Find a squad thats coached by someone who is more inline with your thought process. Thats the beauty of travel ball!!! However, I will leave you with this, the best coach that I ever played for pushed me hard and taught me to play the game with heart and determination and to never quit even when I wasn't getting playing time!!! It wasn't until I was an adult that I actually thanked my Dad for that.
Here is another list to clear things up, specifically because I believe you either misunderstand or are intentionally misrepresenting what I have said:
1) Being old or having been around a long time isn't what makes someones thoughts or opinions outdated, its the fact that some thoughts and opinions are outdated and that particular person fails to see it. Being old or around for a long time should mean that you have gained more wisdom than people who haven't been around as long. Often time arrogance gets in the way of the learning process and then that person/coach/parent is just an older version of their naive younger self.
2) Coaches should keep up with the times and stop just teaching things because that is how it has always been done
3) Almost all coaches "push kids"... Good coaches push them in the right direction and bad coaches push them away from the sport.
4) Being the coach of a team does not make someone capable of coaching. Being capable is what makes them capable.
5) Having knowledge of the sport isn't all that it takes to be a great coach. Without the ability to convey that information to the players and pull their best self out of them you are just another sports enthusiast that is wasting everyone's time.
6) My daughter does not have trouble getting playing time and never has. My opinions were not formed because my kid doesn't play. I believe what I believe because I pay attention and I don't take everything at face value. I care about this sport because it is important to my daughter, and I believe that every girl playing deserves the opportunity to either fall in love with it or realize it isn't for them without the interference of coach that is trying to finally experience success in life vicariously through our daughters.
7) "Mommy and Daddy" are the reason that each girl is out there. They are the same people you turn to when its time for fundraising because you can't do it without them. They pay for and sit through every weekly/daily lesson that their kid needs, and without that you wouldn't have competitive players on your roster. Is it your opinion that parents should be fully financially and emotionally invested but not have an opinion when they see something wrong or unfair?
8) It is very possible that Chin Music is great at what he does. To my knowledge I have never disagreed with anything he has posted. In fact I have specifically agreed with what he said several times, though I didn't post a response because when someone says something intelligent or correct it doesn't necessarily call for a response. It kinda feels like you are trying to bait him into the discussion.
9) You are right, politics have been around forever. That means you and everyone else that decides to coach should know what you signed up for. Do the job as expected or you will hear about it. Just as you expect the players to deal with not playing because they are not doing their job. That will never change, as time has already shown.