Benched DD today.

BuckeyeGuy · Jul 19, 2015

Some of you know that I took my 12U rec team to a tourney this weekend. The girls had a blast even though we went 0-4. Bracket play today and we're holding #1 to a 3-0 lead. I've got DD in CF because my #1 catcher is doing great and she's not throwing enough strikes to keep us in games yet. Getting ready to hit the field bottom 3rd and DD mumbles something like "Great, outfield again." So I stopped her, grabbed another and moved some players around and she sat for the next 4 innings.

BTW, even though we lost 8-0, we held them to 3-0 for 5 innings. It was kind of special to watch.

Here's to hoping DD gets the message.

Sparky Guy · Jul 19, 2015

Don't be surprised if you need to repeat the lesson a couple of more times before the light bulb comes on. There are some kids who can't understand it's privilege to be playing. Great job of grabbing the attitude by the horns and wrestling it into submission. It should be interesting to hear what she has to day about it.

iMlearning · Jul 19, 2015

I love hearing how you handled this. I was talking to a guy on our team who used to coach his daughter and he said "I was always harder on my daughter than anyone else." A couple people laughed and he said, "what?"
I said that's what most "Daddy Ball" coaches say! He just laughed.
It sounds like you're a good coach.

quandofloo · Jul 20, 2015

iMlearning said:
I love hearing how you handled this. I was talking to a guy on our team who used to coach his daughter and he said "I was always harder on my daughter than anyone else." A couple people laughed and he said, "what?"
I said that's what most "Daddy Ball" coaches say! He just laughed.
It sounds like you're a good coach.

Yeah, that usually means that they yelled at their DD more while never actually taking away any playing time or moving her out of the prime spots in the lineup. Having her play in the outfield and yanking her butt to the bench for a bad attitude is the perfect response and sets a great example for the rest of the team.

canyonjoe · Jul 20, 2015

Coaches need to do that more. You will see as you play more tournaments that good outfielders are essential to get better. Just making the other team earn their runs is huge versus a group that turns singles into triples routinely.

BuckeyeGuy · Jul 20, 2015

On the walk to the car I asked her how she felt about being benched. She was angry with me, of course, but also had the realization that it was her actions that got her there. I'm certain it hasn't completely sunk in yet. We have fall ball coming up and I'm pretty sure we'll have to go through this at least one more time.

onkyo · Jul 20, 2015

I think what you did is perfect, and in my experience does not happen enough.

When I was the assistant coach for my DD's travel ball team, she was on 1st, not really into the game, second strike was called catcher throws the ball to 1'st, it was overthrown, my DD walks to second, RF recovers the overthrown ball and throws to the SS who tags DD for the third out. On the way back to the bench, she said I thought it was ball 4 and the batter was walked. I was a little upset, she sat for the next 3 games.

I was not very popular with my DW or my DD.
My DD learned from that experience, and I am thankful she did.

Funny thing about this story, My DD's picking up with this old team, they were talking about this game.

happytobeme · Jul 21, 2015

Well done coach. I also hope you would do the same thing to any kid on your team who displayed the same attitude (including mine). I think coaches are quick and usually willing to teach this very appropriate lesson to their own daughter.

I TRULY admire the coach who isn't afraid of "parent backlash" and will bench any team member who displays such a negative attitude. That way everybody learns the important life lessons. Keep up the good work!

canyonjoe · Jul 21, 2015

Just wondering how long before DW spoke to you again?

CoachKevin · Jul 21, 2015

onkyo said:
I think what you did is perfect, and in my experience does not happen enough.

When I was the assistant coach for my DD's travel ball team, she was on 1st, not really into the game, second strike was called catcher throws the ball to 1'st, it was overthrown, my DD walks to second, RF recovers the overthrown ball and throws to the SS who tags DD for the third out. On the way back to the bench, she said I thought it was ball 4 and the batter was walked. I was a little upset, she sat for the next 3 games.

I was not very popular with my DW or my DD.
My DD learned from that experience, and I am thankful she did.

Funny thing about this story, My DD's picking up with this old team, they were talking about this game.

Yes well done, I do have to ask though, would you have sat another player for 3 games for doing the same thing? I can see maybe the remainder of the game, 3 games seems excessive.

Benched DD today.

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BuckeyeGuy

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BuckeyeGuy

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