Little League Politics

[IndyEFI500]

Was wondering if other Little League parents have the same problem. I stepped up this year to be an assistant coach after the block head manager we had last year. Another parent is this years manager. So far, the new manager is ready to throw in the towel because other board members are trying to make his life as miserable as possible and at least one parent is being a real pain as well. Isn't this for the kids??? I saw something similar in my scout pack this year but I think that was an isolated situation that has been rectified. Anyone else got any ideas or input?

[fishyguy]

Indy,

When I was in college I was coaching a 18 and 19 yr old women's soccer team, which as a college kid sounded like the ideal job. Girls and sports. It was a few of the parents that ruined the experience. This spring I was asked to be a "independent evaluator" for a 12 and under traveling baseball team by the coach. I asked what a independent evaluator did and he said I would attend tryouts and evaluate the kids to aid him in picking the squad. In essence I turned out to be the support documentation the league required so that they would be able to justify the decision to the parents of the kids that can't run, catch or throw. When I was introduced to the parents at the first tryout I almost felt like I should of brought a baseball resume with me with some of the questions I was asked.

My only recommendation is to make all your decisions in the best interest of all the kids and the heck with what the adults think. The kids and the coaches like you are the only ones there for the right reasons.

Good luck

[nofishfisherman]

You may have to be very blunt with these parents. Flat out tell them that nothing they say will have any imapact on your decisions.

Tell them that as long as you see smiles on the kids faces you will consider yourself a good coach. And if you do you will be right.

[beer batter]

Indy, I admire you for what you are doing and feel your pain. My kids just started in the sports phase a few years ago and I've already been scared away from volunteering into that coaching position. 5 year olds playing T-Ball, the coaches were publicly berated by a few of the parents because their little Johnny or Susie didn't get to play the position they wanted. An embarrassing sight to watch but the parents didn't think anything of it. I decided at the end of that season I would attend my kids games and support them fully, but I would do it as a spectator and coach them on my own in the backyard.

[riverrat56]

Happens everywhere, I hung it up this year because of politics and parents sticking there noses where it didnt belong.

All along I've been the starting catcher through little league and B-squad and all of a sudden this year im not good enough even though the other guy made no noticible improvment.

My point with that tidbit is that there is always someone who thinks they know how to coach the team better than you do. The only time it is somewhat avoided is when a parent does not coach the team, but in a little league situation that I'snt possible and many dads like yourself really enjoy coaching there sons when they can.

For a tournament team or once kids are playing 14 and up baseball by that point I feel most of the players who are not "up to par" should have been weeded out, yes baseball is a game but some peiple weren't meant to play it. At that level I don't believe a parent should be coaching as it causes to much favoritism or a total avoidance of it which could cause your son to lose playing time.

I guess what I'm saying is just know that you are the one who is putting the time in and if you know baseball then don't question what you are doing and remeber to go out and have fun. But at the same time if you don't know a lick about baseball then do everyone a favor and step down....(I am not trying to intend that you are a bad coach but there are to many parents trying to coach that don't know squat about baseball)

[deere]

For being in high school, you sure have a lot of common sense. I have been coaching my boys since they were 4 yrs old. One is 14 & the other is 12. They move up to the JV level next year & I will call it a career. It is a higher level & I don't need the constant pressure of little Johnny not playing when & where his parents want. It is unfortunate because it's the sideliners who don't know their head from their (Contact US Regarding This Word), but would never volunteer any of their time to help. Maybe it's best they stay on the sidelines as you start to lose players & that's not the way it should be.

[Bop214]

I coach a highschool team and when I made the roster for varsity i left one kid off, when his parents thought he should be there. At the time he could not catch a fly ball or even hit for that matter. Great kid, but not a good baseball player. Put him on JV and he got [PoorWordUsage]ed and left! Parents came in shortly there after one smelling of booze (pretty confident) and told me that I was a rotten coach and I just ruined their kids life, hopes and dreams. I asked them to come to practice and watch their son, "We have watched him for years he is a great baseball player!" Of course!! Needless to say the kid is still with us and he is having more fun playing JV, because they are more at his level. Funny how a kid can admit to something but his parents still think he is a "Great Baseball Player." On top of that the school I am in faculty, staff, and even other coaches dont give a dump about baseball. I have actually had other coaches tell players that they are no good at baseball why would you play it? The way I see it they can fire me from this postion is they choose but I will not bow down to disgruntled parents, faculty. staff, or even administration at this school. We get no respect from the school and only a handful of people come to our games (parents). I do what I feel is right and what makes the kids happy. We do our own thing, our own way. The way that we know we can be successfull, not the way others tell us how to do things.

[CNY Tim]

I know this is Little League Politics but I just want to share an inspirational story about my daughter Heather. I coached all my kids up from T-Ball to a Junior Division Championship in 1999 which is just before Junior High fast-pitch softball. Not only the league but travel teams and tourneys for years. My daughter Heather is a 1st basemen/right fielder and tried out for the schools modified team in here first year of eligibility as a 7th grader and was cut, it crushed her and instead of sulking about it she played hard in summer ball and tournaments and retried out the following year as an 8th grader for the modified Junior High Team and made it. That year because of the influx of 1st basemen and outfielders and having 16 girls on the roster she did not see much playing time and when she did it was spot mop up duty and such, but she made the best of it. After another season of summer ball and tournaments she went out for the 9th grade Freshmen team and made the team but was still stuck behind the 1st and 2nd team first basemen and did not play much at all. After more summer ball and travel teams she tried out for the Varsity Squad as a 10th grader and naturally was cut because of her youth an influx of first basemen and right fielders so then she tried out for JV and made that. Another season as the third string first basemen and saw very little action.

As an 11 grader and although she did not make Varsity squad the coach was very impressed with her hitting enough that she made it to final cut down so the Varsity coach told the JV coach at the time to take her and move her up to #2 at first base. The JV coach did not see what the varsity coach was talking about and cut her. His philosopy was to not take 11th graders on the JV Squad period and so her and two other 11 graders were cut. Heather was down initially, it was the 2nd time she was cut.

That did not keep her down, it made her more determined to give it another go the following spring and I told her not to get her hopes up to high. She sucked it up after another year of summer ball and travel ball she tried out for varsity again the following spring and made the club... I was so proud of her but knew that she was now a back-up 1st basemen so playing time may not be there. It didn't matter to her one bit, she made the team and was bound and determined to start. We practiced hard the summer before tryouts, sharpening her defensive skills, hitting and working on outfield as well.

The season started and initially Heather did not play in her first 4 games of that season but the Varsity coach needed offense period out of the first base position because essentially both girls were sound defensively. Heather started game 5 of that season and went 3-4 and drove in the game tying and game winning run on a two out double with runners on 2nd and 3rd in the top of the 6th. The rest was history as she never was to sit the bench again and tied a school record for doubles in a single season and was second on the team in RBI's and finished batting with a .347 average. That team went on to sectionals and lost in the finals 3-2. This was a few years ago now and I will never forget what Heather told me about the coaches speech at the end of year party about my daughter. Heather was in tears as she received "The Most Improved Player Award." Because of a coaching commitment I was unable to attend the ceremony but I received a call that evening from the Varsity coach that night heralding Heather's play and wishing he had kept her on varsity as a junior. I saw the JV coach during the sectional championship as the JV Girls season was done and they support the varsity during sectionals. Three times he apologized to me for cutting Heather last season. Instead of ripping the JV coach which was my right I just thanked him for giving Heather an opportunity.

They finished the season 17-2 that year and Heather was a key part batting 3rd in the order. Through all the hypocracy Heather found her character and through hard work and sweat realized her dream. So if you get cut don't give up!

P.S. I have a younger daughter Amanda which I am coaching now she's 7 and Hetahers JV coach has a daughter that plays on another team in our division(how ironic). Amanda's just 7 and he is already seeing in her what made Heather special and will never make that mistake again

[nofishfisherman]

Your daughters story is a good one. Just remember that even Michael Jordan was cut by the varisty team his sophmore year of high school.

[CNY Tim]

Thanks I get choked up just thinking about how strong she was during both those cuts, tough kid...

[deere]

You have one very special girl there. I wish I had boys with half that much dedication. Nowdays, the kid just vanishes and the parents stab you in the back every chance they get for little JR getting cut. I could almost see the smile of pride on your face when I got to the end of your story. My congrats to you on a fine job raising & coaching you daughter.

[CNY Tim]

Thanks deere appreciate that. My coaching techniques are basically summed up easily in teaching and cheerleading regardless of the out come and the girls really respond to that. I am enjoying this one to the fullest since it's my last go around. Amanda should keep me busy for the next few years.

[lots of luck]

CNY Tim,

I have a similar experience. I was a little better than average little leaguer, never played on an all-star team. Politics at it's finest were always involved. Coach's kids no matter how mediorce always made the teams and kids of parents that were buddies always made it. My parents were always involved with my little league experience, but did not get caught up in the politics or making "friendships".

Well when I got to high school (school of 1600 kids and only 2 teams, JV and Var) I found myself making the JV squad while many of my little league counter parts did not. Some of the all stars made it, but never played past the end of their fresh. and soph. years due to "attitude problems", mom and dad were not their to save their rear ends.

Well my Junior year I see about absolute zero playing time. The varsity coach was awful at judging character and talent and proceeded to lose with his "chosen" kids. I will never understand those decisions. Many times my parents asked, how can you go everyday, how about quiting? They saw me bust my rear beginning in January and getting no playing time. This was not in their character, but I had a passion for the game, I was 17 and had been playing since I was 5.

Well the junior season was a wash and my Senior year rolls around. New head coach is in place for my senior year, former coaches's wife, a gym teacher, is fired for stealing from her students locker. Both save face and move far away. Well the new head coach talks to us seniors individually and asks what we want from the season. I proclaim I want to be a leader, not with words, but with my on field play.

Well hardwork pays off as I become the Offensive MVP for the team, I had 3 errors playing the full season at first base in a +/- 30 game season, became a Kiwani's Club male athelete of the month out of a few highschools and the competing spring sports, and the satisfaction of working hard and reaping the benefits.

Moral is , work hard, persistence, and learn a lot life skills while watching others make examples of themselves.

I love to replay those memories sometimes, slow trot around the bases meeting your team mates at home plate sure was quite the feeling.

Dad's play catch with your kids, it is more than just playing catch, it is relationship building and memory making.

Enjoy the game, it is way underated and overlooked!!!

[CNY Tim]

I sure did enjoy reading you story and it's nice to know even with politics there are those few players like yourself and my daughter that have the character, determination and the wear with all to prove the majority wrong. It's sad these types of stories with silver linings linger get buried behind the negatives when it comes to politics. Great job to you sir. You got her done!

[IndyEFI500]

Well I thought it was bad before. Now we have taken the team that was the whipping post last year to being the whippers. Now we have every other parent in the league barking of unfair teams. We can not win for losing. I would really doubt myself or the manager will be on the field next year. I have a feeling we will be in the stands.

CNY Tim:

Hell of a story. My cousin went through a similar thing. Her dad yanked her from our small town and sent her to a bigger town and private school. She ended up being the MVP in the state tourney twice. She certainly benefitted from her dad's quick observation. Best of luck to your daughter's.