Don't forget the crazy TB coaches who expect their 12U teams to play like the teams they watch on the SEC channel. Pitchers should have pinpoint control. Fielders get to every ball quick and fire perfect strikes across the infield. Hitters bash balls into the gaps while rarely striking out. Baserunners have great instincts and run home to first in 3.0 seconds or less. Then they get made when their kids (and they are kids) don't perform to that level.
And oh, by the way, the coach doesn't teach any of that stuff. He/she expects them to learn it all on their own. He/she just wants to make up the lineup cards and pose with the trophy at the end of the tournament.
I am very open and realistic with parents during tryouts. I will train your kid in the proper fielding & throwing techniques. We will learn proper base-running fundamentals. We will work on proper hitting fundamentals. We will end the season a fair bit better than we started. And, hopefully, it will be an enjoyable year. I have had teams that have won state titles and I have had teams that have went 2 and Q. I don't deal with off field drama. No time for it. Here to coach a team and help all the girls improve.
I was very fortunate to get the opportunity to coach one of these kids in Little League and 12U. She just graduated from the UW this year. You may have watched her make two phenomenal catches in right field during the WCWS. Those types of plays were commonplace for her during travel ball. I don't take credit for her accomplishments, just glad I got to be part of her journey. She is extremely athletically talented. She didn't rely on just that talent. She worked her butt off outside of team practices. Took private hitting lessons and fielding lessons. She had a goal to play, and start, for the UW.