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puppetmaster
11 Posts |
 Posted - 08/13/2010 : 07:54:21
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| NEXT YEAR WILL BE VERY INTERESTING!!! PRESEASON POLLS , OFF SEASON PICKUPS, AND THE BIGGER FIELD! THESE ARE THE YEARS THE WEEDING OUT PROCESS BEGINS! WHAT YOU DID IN THE IN PREVIOUS YEARS DOESNT MATTER. STUD YESTERDAY GLUE FACTORY TOMORROW. SPEED SPEED SPEED!!!!!! WE WILL SEE WHERE THE CHIPS FALL IN THE SPRING. |
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BravesFan
533 Posts |
Posted - 08/13/2010 : 11:25:21
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quote:
Originally posted by puppetmaster
NEXT YEAR WILL BE VERY INTERESTING!!! PRESEASON POLLS , OFF SEASON PICKUPS, AND THE BIGGER FIELD! THESE ARE THE YEARS THE WEEDING OUT PROCESS BEGINS! WHAT YOU DID IN THE IN PREVIOUS YEARS DOESNT MATTER. STUD YESTERDAY GLUE FACTORY TOMORROW. SPEED SPEED SPEED!!!!!! WE WILL SEE WHERE THE CHIPS FALL IN THE SPRING.
That's not entirely true, good defense is good defense and most of the teams that caught the ball well will still be good next season. While speed is very important it is more so in the OF because in some parks it gets much bigger. But, there will be many games where the 11's will play on the same size fields as they did at 10 so...
My older son played 11/12's a few yrs ago and to me the biggest difference in 11's was the hitting, line ups at 11 & 12 yrs olds are much more potent with power hitters then at 9/10's. Kids start to get much stronger and you'll see it in hr's, speed is important but you got to "hit it to win it" |
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jdrew
30 Posts |
Posted - 08/13/2010 : 15:32:37
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quote:
Originally posted by MadSkills
Coaches without kids on a team can be good since they have no interest in playing favorites with any player but at the same time what is it that is binding them to the kids? It's very easy for these no dad coaches to just walk away since they have very little vested in the team.
Being a volunteer coach (w/o a kid on the team) is beneficial because I offer unbiased opinions and do not play favorites with players. It is great working on a team where "daddy ball" doesn't exist even though other coaches have a kid on the team. When coaches or even parents ask for my opinion I give them an honest answer without any strings attached.
As far as walking away from a team, I can only give an answer based on my experience and it would be EXTREMELY hard to do. I was given an opportunity a few years ago to work with the pitchers on our team and all I can say is that the kids keep me coming back. As a coach, there is nothing more gratifying than being around kids that want to put in the work to get better. I don't consider myself a great coach but I feel I have plenty of knowledge to pass along to our kids. I do miss some practices and most out-of-town tourneys but the team and parents understand that MY family comes first. There will be a day I have to walk away (my kids will get into their own sports one day) but I will always find time for the kids I have worked with. Again, this is my experience and this is what "binds" me to our players.
J.Drew
11U EC Stars |
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welovebball
1 Posts |
Posted - 08/13/2010 : 18:46:06
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Daddy ball is alive and well and there is almost nothing that can be done about it (other than paying for a coach like select soccer teams do).
We moved here from Florida and it was the same there. Dad knows a little about baseball but Johnny aint that great (but he aint that bad either). Dad decides to coach to assure his son will play...that ain't so bad. He wants the best for his son. Which of us don't want that?
The problem is that there are 10 other boys on a team that deserve better in many cases. The Daddy coach rightfully has to live with his son for the rest of his life and his decisions sometimes reflect that. Dad is coaching to assure his son will play. The fact is that other, better players dont get to pitch or lead off or they sit more than the son.
How many coaches can 'truthfully' say they would pick their own son on their travel team if he wasn't their son.... There are some outstanding players whose Dad coaches but I have seen the opposite more often.
If you want to be honest with yourself and your son, give the parents the option of picking the position for the coaches' sons...anonomously. The coach can then determine if he is being a fair coach or being a daddy coach.
If you are a coach with a kid that aint that great, do your son and the other boys a favor and bow out as the coach or let your assistants have a say-so in where your son plays. Since you are the coach, you can override them periodically if need be. |
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ecbinsider
318 Posts |
Posted - 08/17/2010 : 09:22:49
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quote:
Originally posted by welovebball
Daddy ball is alive and well and there is almost nothing that can be done about it (other than paying for a coach like select soccer teams do).
We moved here from Florida and it was the same there. Dad knows a little about baseball but Johnny aint that great (but he aint that bad either). Dad decides to coach to assure his son will play...that ain't so bad. He wants the best for his son. Which of us don't want that?
The problem is that there are 10 other boys on a team that deserve better in many cases. The Daddy coach rightfully has to live with his son for the rest of his life and his decisions sometimes reflect that. Dad is coaching to assure his son will play. The fact is that other, better players dont get to pitch or lead off or they sit more than the son.
How many coaches can 'truthfully' say they would pick their own son on their travel team if he wasn't their son.... There are some outstanding players whose Dad coaches but I have seen the opposite more often.
If you want to be honest with yourself and your son, give the parents the option of picking the position for the coaches' sons...anonomously. The coach can then determine if he is being a fair coach or being a daddy coach.
If you are a coach with a kid that aint that great, do your son and the other boys a favor and bow out as the coach or let your assistants have a say-so in where your son plays. Since you are the coach, you can override them periodically if need be.
It's very easy to rip on dad coaches but if it weren't for them then who else is taking on the responsibility of the team? Having non-dad coaches is a great idea but how many of those are out there? As a parent, we all have choices and if your not happy with a dad coach then go and find another team where lil johnny can get coached by a non dad. Is there daddy ball? Yes and it's pretty obvious who does it and who doesn't not but any team who is trying to play at a high level cannot put his own son in a key spot over the strongest kids on the team, the team will suffer and break a part.
One thing that never stops is that we as parents always compare our son with others on the team and say he is better or he's not as good of a player. As a parent, how can we accuse the coach of daddy ball while truly trying to be objective re our sons own ability. I've never been one to toot or brag about my sons own playing ability because I let the coaches and others make that choice and determination. What I have witnessed is so many parents complain because their son was better then the kid playing short or was a better hitter then the lead off hitter, just as we accuse coaches of daddy ball I think the new term I'm going to coin is "mommy ball" which is for the parents of johnny who think he's all that and a bag of chips but he's not. I've heard from several moms in the stands about how great their kid was at SS but he's playing LF because of the coach. I laugh at that because he might be the 5th best on the team but parents views can get a little rosie with their own glasses. As parents, we need to be more objective! |
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chip
20 Posts |
Posted - 08/17/2010 : 10:19:54
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| Very well stated Ecbinsider! |
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exo
5 Posts |
Posted - 08/17/2010 : 18:07:17
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| This has been a hot topic of conversation. Being a former coach for many years, I am now just a fan of the team and a parent. This is by my choice, just decided my heart wasn't in it anymore. However, my heart may not be in coaching anymore but I can promise that the love for the game is still strong! I coached for 11 years for both of my sons teams fall, Spring, allstars, later in travel. Been around, seen everything one could imagine. Here are my thoughts about the daddy ball.....My point is this...People in general can see who is the talent and they can also see the not so talented. It simply comes down to either one of the two. Your coach favors his own! or he see's what you do, and does the right thing. There is no in between. It either is or it isn't. It's not rocket science folks. If your a coach that favors your own...know that folks can see it. It might not be said to you, but believe me it's talked about. So do the right thing! Play your son and the rest of the team where it gives you the best chance to win. Saying all this, let me say that I have been lucky to have some coaches that look at everyone on the team, not just their own. The good coaches will be known as that, the others will be known as what this topic has had so much discussion about "DADDY BALL" Good luck to all....remember their still kids. I love this game and our coaches do too. Let's give the coaches the benefit of the doubt. You will know if it is daddy ball, when you find it out....find you another team. |
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ecbinsider
318 Posts |
Posted - 08/18/2010 : 10:20:57
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exo,
That's one of the biggest points I'm trying to make, a coach can play his kid where he wants but he needs to know that if he's not getting it done then someone else needs to be played there. It's funny, my son played on a team where the coaches kid was in the middle in skill level and was literally the slowest kid on the team but yet he played SS more often then the other kids who could play it better. Well, it didn't take long for the players and parents to realize that this was hurting the team and "the chatter" started in the stands regarding how this was bad and all.
Bottom line, if a team wants to play majors or high AAA type teams then there is no way they can play their son if he is not capable of playing there. At this level, you can't hide a weak player, balls are going to be hit everywhere so a coach better put his best players where they can succeed otherwise it'll be tough going that season. |
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exo
5 Posts |
Posted - 08/18/2010 : 19:54:46
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| ecbinsider, I hear you on this. Let's just let all the coaches know that we appreciate the time and dedication. From what I see, it's not everywhere. It does happen and when it does we all see it and the coach knows, he or she just don't care! I love being a parent and a fan now. I have the upmost respect for the coaches that do it right. I have been around assistant coaches that don't have a clue, but for the most part the head coach knows what is up and they do the right thing. Good luck to all looking for that right fit. It's out there. When you find it you'll know. Just look at the kid (how they act, how they smile, how they keep their head up after a bad play, how much respect he or she has for the team, respect for others on the team, just having a great attitude)all these things will let you know when you find the right coach and the right team. I appreciate hard work and I believe in the coaches. The bad will weed themselves out, the good will rock on. Take care! |
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