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georgiabaseball13
24 Posts |
 Posted - 11/05/2019 : 08:45:38
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As the season winds down and teams and organizations start yet another round of tryouts, lets discuss some things about daddy ball.
What are some clear signs that your kids coach is playing favorites?
What should parents trying out for a team or considering moving on from a team be on the lookout for during the season?
I don't mean just the typical he bats lead-off and pitches as much as possible - I'm thinking less obvious things.
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turntwo
955 Posts |
Posted - 11/05/2019 : 12:17:41
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Pitching/lead-off typically is a thing of the past... The more diguised approach now a days is, 'paid coaching' or 'pro-coached' team. Yet who finds/interviews/hires/pays the 'pro'? A dad. He calls himself the "GM". He will shout from the roof top that he has "no involvement in on-field happenings"... Yet, you'll see it, the GM's son never sits. Always bats. The 'cover-up' is GM's son will just get moved around the field. Think: Utility. And his primary position? Funny enough, the team doesn't have depth there. So he HAS to play there. That's by design. There's no competition created for the GM's son. Again, by design. That's one less obvious way.
Another, and what I'm seeing more and more, is BUDDY-ball. All dad coaching staff. The head coach's son, gets what I call 'reverse daddy-ball'. He sits the most. Head coach is seemingly realistic that his son isn't one of the top 9-10 kids, so his son doesn't play. So this would pass the first eye-test of no daddy ball. But what you soon see if the assistant coaches and the overly-involved dad outside the dugout-- their sons get the buddy ball treatment. So the head coach can tout and it's true, he doesn't play daddy ball with his son, but... there's 3-5 other kids that do get that 'special treatment'. This is a little harder to identify, but it's the same ruse.
Finally, there's orgs or academies out there that hire 'pro' coaches, who have sons that play ball. So, there's no GM situation like my first example, but would you look at that-- this pro-coach that's hired/paid by the academy has a son on his high-level team. No way is the kiddo good enough, but... ya know it happens.
DiamondKast and Game Changer are your BEST resource. Player's last names are listed. Potentially compare that to any coach's names you can find. The travel ball community, however vast, is still small and tight knit. By 12U and later, everyone knows who 'those types' of coaches/GM's are. |
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georgiabaseball13
24 Posts |
Posted - 11/05/2019 : 15:14:52
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You make a good point in regards to the "buddy-ball". More and more lately, I have come across several teams which have been formed by disgruntled dads from other teams where 2-4 dads leave separate teams and come together to form a new team. Their bond comes from having the same grievance - their kid wasn't getting the playing time or position they wanted so the guys got together under the complainers tree at the local park and decided they could do it as good or better than their current coaches. The head coach then extends his "daddy ball" privileges to the assistant coaches kids and everyone suffers.
Don't get me wrong, there are some very good dad coached teams out there and sometimes there are bad coaches that go the other way even - they are too hard on their own kid, but this is a problem and helping others avoid it by knowing the signs is a service to this board and the baseball community as well.
Additionally, the "pro-coaches" you refer to need to be looked at very carefully as well. I can't tell you how many former college and pro players are placed in leadership roles on teams, but have absolutely no clue how to coach or get the knowledge they have across to the youth they are suppose to be teaching. Magic Johnson and Isiah Thomas tried their hands at coaching and were both unsuccessful. They were great players and clearly knew the game but had a hard time relating and communicating with their teams.
Do your research, pay close attention, and make sure you are picking the right coach for your child. Above almost everything else, it will make the biggest difference. |
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Renegade44
211 Posts |
Posted - 11/05/2019 : 18:15:15
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Better idea. Just say no.
This industry so needs to end |
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Critical Mass
277 Posts |
Posted - 11/06/2019 : 07:05:24
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| I understand this is about playing time, improving, experience and enjoying the game however, none of this matters if your kid is good enough to play baseball at the HS and college level. HS coaches do not care about travel stats nor do college coaches care about HS stats. If you are good you get a chance..in most cases. My son experienced about all of these situations. When he was young he was an all around athlete and played MIF and hit at the top of the order, we only played Major one season, mostly AAA Utrip. He was on some average teams. He was demoted and lost his spot at 14U with a "ex pro" paid coach who worked with the team's sponsor ( a training facility) because he couldn't produce at the plate. That's when he moved to pitching. When i look back a try to dig through all the kids he played with....and against, even the best of the best, only a small percentage played at a high level in college ( a few were drafted out of HS)and an even smaller percentage got drafted after college. I was all in back then, we left teams due to chemistry issues and coaching decisions i felt were incorrect and moved around to various teams across a 3 -4 year span. He settled in and stayed on a team for 15U-17U before moving on the a P5 school. Try to make the best decision you can for you boy and speak up when you think you should and protect your player by moving if you think it's best. Playing time is better than the logo on the tshirt even if you win less. |
Edited by - Critical Mass on 11/06/2019 08:37:12 |
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Crazyforbball
391 Posts |
Posted - 11/13/2019 : 11:36:12
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| Easy solution. Depends on age of course if this is available. Play for a professionally coached organization where parents are not involved at any level, from tryout throughout the entire season. Your role as a parent is to pay and then be a spectator. Best way to ensure no favorites. I also 2nd what Critical Mass says. At some point if your kid has the right stuff it will be recognized and he will play. Totally agree playing time trumps prestige 100% in getting to the next level. A fancy jersey on the bench will never get you seen. |
Edited by - Crazyforbball on 11/13/2019 12:28:46 |
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Daddy Ball
