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Post by Chris on Apr 7, 2007 9:17:13 GMT -8
We all know about some of the things going on anecdotally. Why not address those issues here? Let it out. All the stuff folks are reluctant to talk about because confrontation is so difficult in person.
It's not being chicken sh**. Its finding a less threatening environment. Some folks feel safer venting here. Come on lets hear it. Perhaps we can get things resolved or perhaps things will blow up but enough of the talking behind folks backs. Let it out.
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Post by Greenie on Apr 7, 2007 9:24:04 GMT -8
You go first
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Post by Chris on Apr 7, 2007 9:31:57 GMT -8
OK - Life is good for me right now although I think TNLL leadership has gotten a bit heavy handed and its becoming a source of frustration/resentment for many of the coaches. Time to back off and let the coaches coach.
I think the money spent on our recent coaching clinic was poorly spent for what the league got. The material is thin and I don't think the parents will buy into it. Its roll out should have been addressed prior to the season.
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Post by Chris on Apr 7, 2007 9:32:41 GMT -8
Your turn. I'm off to take pix. Good luck tonight BIB.
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Post by crash23 on Apr 7, 2007 10:26:51 GMT -8
Parents see with their hearts b/c they are, after all, parents. That'll never change. I wish all parents would buy into the fact that six kids will have to spend time on the bench every game. This means that in some cases a kid that is going well Will have to sit, while another kid that is struggling will take his place. Fair? Unfair? It doesn't matter... those are the rules. Every parent out there has their beliefs about the way a team should be run. Equal playing time for all, equal playing time for like-talented players... the opinions vary greatly. It's a wonder anyone steps up to manage a team b/c they are always criticized, either openly or from the cheap seats. The rules about playing time, while well intended, create an atmosphere for conflict between parents and those that run the team. Yet the same parents that criticize the manager's decision would themselves be criticized if they were the one making the line-up decisions. At the end of the day the cold hard truth is the players are the ones who dictate the line-up. As my Dad told me, "work hard enough to make yourself so good that the coach never wants to take you out of the line-up." On any given night it can be a different player that comes out. The kid that goes 2 - 2 will most likely stay in the game and the kid that goes 0-fer with two Ks is coming out. Parents sometimes look at their kids performance with rose colored glasses. Let's say starter Johnny goes 0 - 2 with two Ks then the sub, Billy, comes in and gets a base knock... What does the coach do after Billy gets his AB and two innings? The answer may seem clear to some but that's not always the case. Maybe Johnny fanned against the flame thrower that's delivering 70 mile per hour gas... and Billy got his base knock off the second pitcher that's throwing in the high 50s. Hmm, what to do? Or let's say Billy got a bloop single to right... or let's say he ripped one... but his defense is suspect and Johnny is nails. Do you keep Billy in just b/c he got the base knock? Or are there other mitigating factors in the decision? With the new pitch count rules it makes it even more difficult to pull some kids b/c you always need to have a few pitchers in the game, so you hesitate to take them out of the line-up at all. And you always need a second catcher so your # 2 catcher, as well as your # 1, always stays in the game. It's a no-win situation for managers. Every game there will be parents that wish their son had got more playing time. It's the nature of the beast. What I've found is the players that are the best have got there b/c they have put more time in... so the solution to more playing time is simple. Work harder. If Little League is designed to teach life-lessons perhaps that's the best one of all. You're not playing as often as you want son? Work harder. You didn't get the promotion you wanted son? Work harder. Accepting responsibility, rather than finger pointing, to me seems to be the path to success - and happiness. Finger pointing is a weakness we should never teach - as coaches or parents. JMO. OK, let the criticism begin
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Post by Randy Edwards on Apr 7, 2007 12:16:39 GMT -8
Sorry Craig...I have to agree with you on this....I would like to add one thing...Most of those parents sitting in the cheap seats complaining and saying how it should be done and how they would do it if they was coaching NEVER seem to step up to the plate..just sit back and Bit** about what is going wrong instaed of trying to make things better....JMO
STEP UP OR SHUT UP!!!!!!
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Post by trevor9 on Apr 7, 2007 12:24:14 GMT -8
Johnny and Billy? Now Trevor gets to sit a couple of innings because Craig seems to have manipulated the roster limit too.LOL
I know exactly what you are saying Craig and no I don't point fingers. I pull for every kid on the team to succeed, even the one that replaces my kid in the line-up. It is fair because the rules are set up that way. Now when it comes to travel ball......may the best player play. There is still the daddyball factor in travel ball but not as obvious as in LL. If you or myself were to pull that crap at a tournament we probably would not have a team the next weekend. That is the beauty of playing travel ball, we don't need rec ball rules to keep us in check. On the flip side to this topic, for every dad/coach that can't come to grips with the fact that his kid is marginal at best there has been some dad/coach's that have a clue and utilize all of their players based on what is in the best interest for the team. I agree that there is a lesson to be learned with this but I don't think the one's that need to learn it the most will ever get it.........because they are the adults.
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Post by Greenie on Apr 7, 2007 12:31:28 GMT -8
Wow.. I agree with him also. We had dinner last night at some old friends that moved over to the American side a few years ago. All they could do was give KUDO'S to Crash. My hat is off to you my friend you must be doing something right.
Randy, you make a very good point also. But how many times have you seen people get involved and make it all about them. We had some major complaints going on about DADDY BALL last year. We don't have to go far to see it's still going on.
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Post by crash23 on Apr 7, 2007 14:19:37 GMT -8
Geez, you're making me blush. Thanks tho. There are those who don't think I know sh*t so it all flushes out in the end
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Post by Greenie on Apr 7, 2007 14:48:49 GMT -8
It's only half a handful that think that.
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Coop
Full Member
Posts: 73
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Post by Coop on Apr 7, 2007 14:56:08 GMT -8
Hi Friends,
Very good points of interest Craig. You know as I do it is always easier to coach from the outside of the gates than in inside. I do not quite understand what is going on and maybe it is none of my business. I have a general idea that there are those who are not happy for one reason or another; this happens with all youth activities. Sounds like in many cases with players playing time, coaches/teams not happy with each other or boards making decisions that are not popular.
Whatever it is Little League Baseball has been a major part the Turlock Youth activities for more that 50 years. I know with other youth activities whether it be Soccer, Football or etc. there is all conflicts in each organization. When you have two or more people involved, with a group there is always difference of opinions. With that, I will always have an open mind to listen and maybe even learn from that player, coach, parent or board member. After all these individuals are the heart of the program. As long as I have been around youth activities, I am always learning for those around me or those that I come in contact with and I take a little bit of that information and apply it to my need.
There is not a coach in a youth activity that has not had a conflict with a parent now and then. Several years again I had a problem with a family where we had two brothers (11 & 12 year olds) on the team. These two players could have been the backbone of our team but it really got ugly. The parents were not supportive with our actions and my coaching staff wanted me to bench them. I did everything that I could to protect and understand where these players were coming from. It never worked out for us as a team. I did everything possible to teach and show these players how important they were to the team and each other. I tried talking with the parents explaining that they will have a major problem with their sons later in life if they do not help support us. I was told I am not here to teach them about life but only Little League Baseball. I told them they were wrong. What these players learn in our youth activities will apply to them in life with their jobs and relationships down the road (respect for the rules, those around them and authority, teamwork and sportsmanship). After the second game of the second half I took action sit both players down with their minimum time for the rest of the season and released the 11 year old for the following year. I found out this year while their sons were in high school; one of them had been sent out of state for discipline actions. My heart goes out that young man and the family.
End of story, I do not agree with all the rules and regulations that are in the Little League system from Williamsport or some of the rules in our local programs but without the volunteers to help run this where would we be today. If parents are so concerned about their players playing time or positioning, then teach your player how to improve his skills and become a better player because the coaching staff are concerned about 12 players not just one. About 8 years ago, I had a parent step into the dugout to help. This parent played college ball. He told me after the game after being in the dugout we would never hear from him or his wife about how to handle the team because he never thought how much was going on in the dugout with substituting, pitching changes, knowing the other players or team and etc. He said I was always focusing on my on son while in the bleachers and not 12 players that you and your staff are caring for as will as the rules for the game.
Coop
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Post by Chris on Apr 7, 2007 15:05:22 GMT -8
Yup!
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Post by tmurphy on Apr 7, 2007 15:41:42 GMT -8
Chris hats off to you trying to give people a way out by discussing their differences here on the forum but who will really step up? These people will BI**H no matter what. I remember when I was President of American side and people complained so much about the way things were going whether it was the style of uniform or what color it was. I have never heard so much BS in my life. These people that complained so much and thought I did such a bad job I have not seen any of them out there trying to make a difference. People that have been around as long as Cooper and the Limas deserve all the credit in the world to be involved in this political world of little league that long. What I would like to see is more coaches that have the balls to tell the mom or dad to get a life and let their kid learn the game before they have them playing in MLB. That is why successful coaches are sometimes the most disliked and do not know what the hell they are doing because they do what is best for the team and not is what is best for the mayor's son or athletic directors son. It should be like in Cooperstown where the players are in 1 dugout and the parents are down the foul line in another dugout. If a parent gets caught talking to their child he is out that game and the next. The coaches and players build a great relationship in this time and the game is great. All the political and parent BS is done away with.
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Post by trevor9 on Apr 7, 2007 17:17:42 GMT -8
You guys are overloading Knee's. He said it took him three hours to read the last 4 post's. I guess we all agree that parents ruin youth sports. This year has been pretty calm so far but I did hear one mom say that she wished a certain kid would just quit because he is killing their team. I didn't expect that from this person but it goes to show you what a little success a kid has in LL will do to a parent that is clueless.
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Post by lboullion on Apr 7, 2007 18:06:56 GMT -8
I agree with Cooper, baseball (all sports) teach kids to prepare for life. Shame on that parent for not seeing that and disagreeing. The lesson the parent taught their kids was wrong and it showed later in life. As a teacher, I see parents siding with their kids many times when they should be supporting the adults in charge. The student learns disrespect, defiance for authority, and undermines the whole process and lesson being taught. This happens in school and in sports. More parents should realize that the coach does want whats best for all players and parents should not have the attitude that coaches are out to get their son. Craig was dead on with the WORK Harder stragedy. If your not happy that your kid doesnt get to play, go out and work with them. How many parents just play catch with their kid? SOme thing for school, how many people actually read with their kid? A little bit of practice pays off a ton in the future....
My kids were there, we did something about it. I'm gonna go play catch right now with my kid...
L Boullion
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