| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| m72 |
Posted - 01/30/2011 : 21:39:41
I hope this doesn't stir anything up for all the paid coaches out there but i would really like to get some feedback on this. First of all, at what age should paid coaching really begin? I know paid coaching for many teams is to prevent daddy ball, or at least that's the way it's being sold. However, not every coach with a son on the team is a daddy baller. I'm starting to see more and more of this with the younger teams as they use the paid coach as a selling point. My main question here is, what is considered fair and reasonable compensation for a paid coach. Should they be paid year round. Should there just be one paid coach or is two unreasonable. I know circumstances will play a role in how some of you may answer, but whatever your experience is, i'd like to hear it. |
| 16 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| Critical Mass |
Posted - 02/09/2011 : 16:03:40
MetsFan, you are correct, DB cannot be applied liberally across all teams with Dad's coaching. Most if not all get into the role due to their son and love for the game. I wouldn't attempt to guess the percentage of truly talented coach's kids who deserve the position they're given/earn and playign time, but i will tell you that even moderately talented and less physically telented kids of coaches often get the nod due to baseball IQ or knowing what the coach needs them to do etc. instead of doing the hard work to coach the other kid/s up. It is a matter of finding the right fit, but even with due dilignece on a parent's part it can be tricky if the coach wants your kid on the team. Most teams do not have paid coaches until 14U and I think that is because E.C institutes it at the higher leves at 14? Thats was what i had seen in the past although many dads are still coaching their kids from 13U at East Cobb this year. |
| beanball |
Posted - 02/09/2011 : 12:45:06
Keep in mind there are two types of "Paid" coach.
Type 1 is the coach who is independent and runs his own program and selects players that fit his program. He usually stays with a particular age group from year to year and players may move on within the program with a different coach. In my opinion and experience this is the best possible situation.
Type 2 is the coach who is hired by a group of parents that run the team. Their sons make up the core plyers, good or bad. The rest of the team is filled in with outside players. It can be successful but you need to be aware of the politics. In this situation it could be more like "daddy ball" on steroids. |
| metsFan |
Posted - 02/09/2011 : 11:30:58
quote:
Originally posted by Southside mom
My son has learned more in the last 6 weeks than he learned all season last year, but most of all he is learning the correct ways of playing the game.
While I don't doubt your son learning more this year than last, it does not necessarily equate to paid coach = better coaching & dad coach = daddy ball.
I'm sure there is a fair share of poorly coached paid coaches teams and plenty of very well coached dad coach teams out there. Just your job as a parent to ask the right questions and find the right fit for you child. |
| Southside mom |
Posted - 02/09/2011 : 09:00:55
Let me give you a mothers point of view. The is my son's first year with a paid coach and so far I am very pleased with the result. When first approached with the idea of a paid coach I was very hesitant, but after considering the last two seasons of "daddy ball" and what we would generally spend on lessons, it all equaled out. The best thing I can see about a paid coach is that usually he doesn't have a child on the team, so he can look at each child objectively and place the kids on the field accordingly ( not depending on where his child wants to play). I know there are father's who coach that don't subscribe to playing "daddy ball", but in my experience they are few and far between. My son has learned more in the last 6 weeks than he learned all season last year, but most of all he is learning the correct ways of playing the game. |
| Alter-Ego |
Posted - 02/07/2011 : 21:40:09
I just don't think paying more than $2400 for the season (fall and spring/summer) is necessary. I am afraid more than that and you are funding someone's full-time job. |
| Critical Mass |
Posted - 02/07/2011 : 13:27:31
My 14 son plays on a team with an all paid coaching staff with all 3 having played minor league ball. I guess we pay about $1000 more for the annual service (season, before fundraising)compared to other 14U teams, and we also get a significatn discount on the hourly rate for lessons at the facilty. We have a facility to work in during inclement weather and the boys are learning from coaches who played the game at the H.S, College and Minor League level. The practices are systematic with goals and competition is paramount. The way i see it, you can't lose with this type of deal. |
| baseballpapa |
Posted - 01/31/2011 : 20:36:45
The more that I read this forum the more thrilled that I become that I have been so lucky so far with my grandson's and the teams that they have played for. Although the ride has not been without drama I will say that my experience has been positive and so far very rewarding. I have had the privlege of having my grandson's learn from very talented men but more than the skill level of the Coaches I think the most important thing that has happened is that my grandson's have been coached by some really fine men that loves them and loves the game that they are trying to teach. Even the bad times have brought positive results because the real truth is that we should learn just as much from the bad as we do the good. |
| Gwinnett |
Posted - 01/31/2011 : 20:23:55
So what is a typical team budget for paid coaches? What is the usual amount the player has to pay to be on a team with paid coaches? Do teams with paid coaches typically train at Baseball Academies? |
| DecaturDad |
Posted - 01/31/2011 : 18:28:02
This year;12u will be my son's first year with a paid coach. His previous team had a great bunch of coaches, and there was no "daddy ball". However, I do think that at some point, most dads reach the point where they do not have the skills to teach at the level the kids are reaching. When we were looking for a new team this year, paid coaches were not a requirement, but when it came down to the final selection, it helped. |
| bmoser |
Posted - 01/31/2011 : 17:07:28
thegoat: Some do hide behind the Daddy-ball excuse, but I don't think they are in the majority.
G-Man: I know of a an entire youth athletics association that selects Coaches based primarily on their Pro and/or College ball playing experience. It hasn't worked out well at all. Some are very good, but most are not. |
| G-Man |
Posted - 01/31/2011 : 12:50:32
Oh also pertaining to your comment what if dad played college or minor league baseball. I personally know several guys who started in the Majors and have all the knowledge in the world but they are not good coaches. Just because you have the knowledge doesnt mean you know how to relay that knowledge to other players. Thats what coaching is about. Its having the knowledge of the game and being able to pass that knowledge on to other players where they can understand and learn from your past experience.
quote:
Originally posted by thegoat
The term Daddy Ball is used a lot on this board. Maybe some of you use that for an excuse on why your son is not getting playing time. I think parents have a hard time being true to their sons ability and "Daddy Ball" is the excuse. What if dad played minor league or college ball. Should he be paid? Just because you pay a coach does not mean he is better than dads coaching the team/. Just another expense!
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| G-Man |
Posted - 01/31/2011 : 12:46:06
Its just human nature. There is ALWAYS a certain bias when a dad who coaches no matter what his resume says has a child on a team. Preceived or real it doesnt matter, there is always that sense of bias either by the coach or other parents and this in its self can and always does cause issues.
In the older age groups usually the game has passed up the knowledge base of most dads and therefore you dont see daddy ball. Again even if dad is coaching within the older age groups if positions and playing time is not earned then the older players usually jump ship to teams where this is the case and those who play daddy ball are stuck with their sons or friends without a team.
quote:
Originally posted by thegoat
The term Daddy Ball is used a lot on this board. Maybe some of you use that for an excuse on why your son is not getting playing time. I think parents have a hard time being true to their sons ability and "Daddy Ball" is the excuse. What if dad played minor league or college ball. Should he be paid? Just because you pay a coach does not mean he is better than dads coaching the team/. Just another expense!
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| Scorekeeper |
Posted - 01/31/2011 : 12:10:12
2K a month paid coach? Some parents are out of their mind in that case. Cause if little Johnny was that good or had the tools to be that good Daddy ball wouldn't be the issue. You could almost name the position and terms for your kid to play on most any team. At 2k a month, little Johnny better already be a game changer that the whole State knows about.
And if little Johnny already is that game changer, then I bet Dad knows a whole lot about baseball and there is no need for the paid coach until late teens recruitment time.
Paid coach at the younger ages = blowing smoke. You'll be surrounding your player not so much with other talented player but with wanna be players with money to burn. Team becomes more about money to burn than talent to play. |
| thegoat |
Posted - 01/31/2011 : 11:09:11
The term Daddy Ball is used a lot on this board. Maybe some of you use that for an excuse on why your son is not getting playing time. I think parents have a hard time being true to their sons ability and "Daddy Ball" is the excuse. What if dad played minor league or college ball. Should he be paid? Just because you pay a coach does not mean he is better than dads coaching the team/. Just another expense! |
| G-Man |
Posted - 01/31/2011 : 08:26:37
Based on my experience this is only a problem in the younger age groups. By the time you reach 14u and even some 13u its not an issue. The bigger field has a way of exposing the lack of certain skill sets that daddy ball cant hide any longer both with the player and the coach. |
| oldmanmj |
Posted - 01/30/2011 : 22:40:32
I have heard that there are paid coaches down to 11U. This is the next movement, not saying good or bad,for travel ball teams. We have suffered through the irate dads taking Johnny somewhere else because he is getting: playing time, position that he is great at, etc. So let's start our own team. Now to combat that, organizatons are popping up with paid coaches that have had: College, Minor League or Major League experience to give our sons the the best possible chance of getting better. Most will have 2 paid spots, most will charge x for their time and Y for their expenses to travel with the team, usually hotel etc. Not unusual to see $2K a month for a quality program coach. The biggest question you need to ask is, "Is this the best place for my son?" Not every paid coach can teach, it is true at every level and for any business. Research, Research, Research. So far, both types have been great for my son's. We have had great Dads as coaches as well as paid coaches. |
