The "Hissy-Quit"

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May 24, 2013
12,461
113
So Cal
WOW. Just WOW. Chances are that team had 15-18 players on the roster and you know the coach was playing to win. It is PGF nationals! So yeah, you are going to have some kids that get a lot less playing time during bracket play. Everyone on your team should get an opportunity in pool play. But by that point in the season, the coach knows who his best 9 are to put on the field. Parents should have bowed out before nationals if they were that frustrated and saved themselves thousands of dollars on the trip. I mean, it is not like their kid was going to get much playing time anyway, right? I hate it for those kids. What are their parents' teaching them? And now they have that reputation.

Everyone played in pool play games. Those games also gave the coaches a final look at who was playing well and who was struggling.
 
Jun 12, 2015
3,848
83
While what happened in your story was horrible, and I don't know what kind of team-parents these people were overall, imagine what people are going through when they get to the point where, as you put it, 'they just can't take it anymore.' Not only are you seeing your kids suffer (and more likely getting a significant hit to your own ego), but you are paying thousands upon thousands of dollars (especially on a traveling PGF team) to have it happen. It can be tough. And this from someone who's spent more time on the coach side than the parent side of the fence.

I've seen enough examples on both sides to know sometimes it's the parents who are wrong, and sometimes the coach is wrong, and sometimes it's just not a good fit and nobody is WRONG, everyone is just frustrated and upset. I'm not going to judge unless I'm pretty darn sure I know the true story, or there's a clear pattern of behavior (either by coach or player/parent).
 
May 24, 2013
12,461
113
So Cal
While what happened in your story was horrible, and I don't know what kind of team-parents these people were overall, imagine what people are going through when they get to the point where, as you put it, 'they just can't take it anymore.' Not only are you seeing your kids suffer (and more likely getting a significant hit to your own ego), but you are paying thousands upon thousands of dollars (especially on a traveling PGF team) to have it happen. It can be tough. And this from someone who's spent more time on the coach side than the parent side of the fence.

PGF was a local tournament for us. Both of the players had been with the team since it started two years ago, and a lot of good friendships were built in that time.

We had another player who wasn't getting much playing time, too. In June, her parents had told the coaches - very politely, and with thanks - that she would be leaving. She got her share of playing time in pool play, and had a total of one AB in bracket play. She cheered on the bench, finished the tournament, attended the team party, and got to share final goodbyes with her teammates. This is how you do it right.
 
Sep 17, 2009
1,637
83
PGF was a local tournament for us. Both of the players had been with the team since it started two years ago, and a lot of good friendships were built in that time.

We had another player who wasn't getting much playing time, too. In June, her parents had told the coaches - very politely, and with thanks - that she would be leaving. She got her share of playing time in pool play, and had a total of one AB in bracket play. She cheered on the bench, finished the tournament, attended the team party, and got to share final goodbyes with her teammates. This is how you do it right.
Yeah I don't disagree nor do I condone hissy-quits (or any quits). I think it's good though to recognize how tough sports can be on families when kids struggle. I assume it's the same with dance, theater and math club too :)

Yep, it's a learning lesson. But it can be a tough one. Hissy-quitting certainly isn't going to teach the right lessons, I agree.
 
Jun 8, 2016
16,118
113
If the parents couldn't take it anymore they should have done what I do when I get frustrated about something, take a walk to your car and sit in it for a while (or take a drive if necessary). The worse part about that situation is how the kid must have felt...
 
May 24, 2013
12,461
113
So Cal
If the parents couldn't take it anymore they should have done what I do when I get frustrated about something, take a walk to your car and sit in it for a while (or take a drive if necessary). The worse part about that situation is how the kid must have felt...

My estimation is that one of the players was on board with their parents' action, and the other was not.
 
Apr 16, 2010
924
43
Alabama
I saw a post on FB from a mom that let her pitcher DD and a catcher teammate pick up at PGF this year. They were promised innings because the team needed help. After pitching just a little over an inning in 3 pool games she asked the coach. He told her his other pitcher was doing better than expected so he really didn't need her DD and basically thanks for coming. Needless to say she was pretty hot.
 

Strike2

Allergic to BS
Nov 14, 2014
2,044
113
Combine building frustration with the heat of summer, and all sorts of interesting things will happen. Having seen all sides of it, parents get the bad rap for getting pissed and impulsively acting on that, but sometimes the coach deserves it. Lots of money and effort are expended just to play at a decent level much less travel to high-level tournaments. Sitting rostered players so that pick-ups can help a team win is often the trigger for some well-founded hostility. Sometimes, the kid just doesn't have what it takes to play on a big stage. The parents may have stretched too far and expected too much when they joined that top-level team with a big roster, but the coach took their money and time. I'm no longer surprised when anger boils over because of that.
 
May 24, 2013
12,461
113
So Cal
Combine building frustration with the heat of summer, and all sorts of interesting things will happen. Having seen all sides of it, parents get the bad rap for getting pissed and impulsively acting on that, but sometimes the coach deserves it. Lots of money and effort are expended just to play at a decent level much less travel to high-level tournaments. Sitting rostered players so that pick-ups can help a team win is often the trigger for some well-founded hostility. Sometimes, the kid just doesn't have what it takes to play on a big stage. The parents may have stretched too far and expected too much when they joined that top-level team with a big roster, but the coach took their money and time. I'm no longer surprised when anger boils over because of that.

Fair points, but be a grown up and handle it properly.
 

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