- Feb 27, 2019
- 137
- 28
I have been having an issue with a parent. So back story. Two years ago, he was the AC on my DD first spring LL team. He admittedly stated he didn’t know what he was doing but HC was a 2 daughter travel ball dad/coach that I trusted. That was the only time I didn’t assist or coach during the last 5 years. Since then I have further expanded my knowledge through places like here, reading and youtube research and have attended college camps and coaches camps coached spring and Allstars. We have now both landed on the same 14U team and I accepted an assistant spot. Since then he has questioned only my methods, outfield depths in game, and my decisions when base coach. It’s starting to become a problem and it’s only aimed at me. It was minimal until I got on the team hard at one practice after they laid an egg in a tournament. they showed up late, two girls were braiding another’s hair they didn’t want to warm up run, others didn’t want to wear helmets during BP and another pair wouldn’t stop talking to mom because they were upset over playing time. We got through a half a$$ed warmup and then they played like dookie.
I made them repeat sprints to the right intensity during warm ups for the day. And once we started actual practice, I told them (while practicing the double play as a team) that if they missed a ball they should have had, they owe a sprint between bases. I also sat on a bucket at 1st and told them they would run if I had to get up from the bucket when they threw to me.
Problem dad’s DD was first up (she is not a good infielder and only wants to play outfield). She missed right away and HC gave her more chances and she progressively got worse and eventually refused to move and was crying and shaking. I didn’t make anyone run that night. The next practice I apologized to her and the team for the impression that I would punish them for their abilities. I told them it was lack of effort I was looking out for, and I didn’t want them to fear failing but to fear not trying.
Now it seems (can’t prove it yet) that he is telling players not to listen to my direction. After I spent 20 mins with a player that can’t make contact I think I heard him say not to change anything because it’s too late in the season for that (couldn’t confirm the context of their discussion). Also, his DD asked when I was setting up ground ball stations if I was making things up.
Last game the girls struggled to hit and a mom was telling them to pick up the ball from the pitchers hand. I had my camera recording the game and caught her asking problem dad if they (the girls) knew that. He replied “Im not a coach, the coach in the dugout should be telling them that be he doesn’t”. I’m the dugout coach, the two base coaches are nonstop coaching the girls through at bats. This guy is on my last nerve. Anyone experience anything like this? How did you handle it?
I made them repeat sprints to the right intensity during warm ups for the day. And once we started actual practice, I told them (while practicing the double play as a team) that if they missed a ball they should have had, they owe a sprint between bases. I also sat on a bucket at 1st and told them they would run if I had to get up from the bucket when they threw to me.
Problem dad’s DD was first up (she is not a good infielder and only wants to play outfield). She missed right away and HC gave her more chances and she progressively got worse and eventually refused to move and was crying and shaking. I didn’t make anyone run that night. The next practice I apologized to her and the team for the impression that I would punish them for their abilities. I told them it was lack of effort I was looking out for, and I didn’t want them to fear failing but to fear not trying.
Now it seems (can’t prove it yet) that he is telling players not to listen to my direction. After I spent 20 mins with a player that can’t make contact I think I heard him say not to change anything because it’s too late in the season for that (couldn’t confirm the context of their discussion). Also, his DD asked when I was setting up ground ball stations if I was making things up.
Last game the girls struggled to hit and a mom was telling them to pick up the ball from the pitchers hand. I had my camera recording the game and caught her asking problem dad if they (the girls) knew that. He replied “Im not a coach, the coach in the dugout should be telling them that be he doesn’t”. I’m the dugout coach, the two base coaches are nonstop coaching the girls through at bats. This guy is on my last nerve. Anyone experience anything like this? How did you handle it?
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