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Cannonball

Ex "Expert"
Feb 25, 2009
4,854
113
I went to my Great Niece's 10U game tonight. Her team is 8 and 9 year olds playing for the first time in pitcher pitch. As always, adults can mess up a good thing. The coach for the other team and I am reluctant to use the word coach, was all about winning. He would yell out for his players to steal. He had his hitters take two strikes before they could swing so most walked. When his team got 2 outs each inning, he would sub in a lesser player or two for that last out. When it was getting close to the time limit, he switched pitchers. Then, he switched again. He switched catchers. His team won.

The other team, my great niece's team, were told to swing the bat. They had to shuffle and read to steal. They tried to play the game like the big kids do. They lost.

In the long run, one of these teams was being taught how to be successful down the road and one was being taught how to lose down the road. JMHO!

BTW, my great niece pitched a part of an inning. She had pitched the earlier game that we didn't see. I worked with her this weekend and man, she was blowing it in there. Naturally, they were called balls for the most part but were right there. I think she has some major potential and has a huge arm when throwing overhand. It is going to be fun watching her grow up.
 
May 5, 2014
93
0
Pacific Northwest
We have a few of those coaches around here. I am coaching my DD #3's 10U TB team, early in the season the pitching we saw wasn't the best an we could have had a ton of walks. Instead we told the girls every at bat find something you can hit even if it is a ball or so out of the strike zone. Be aggressive, treat it like it is an 0-2 count every pitch and you have to protect the zone. We gave up a few extra outs doing this and a few weak hits, and a couple parents questioned the philosophy. Fast forward to the end of the season the pitching has gotten much better and these girls are confident hitters , they are not looking for a walk the defense has to earn every out as they are really putting it into play. We had 3 homeruns (in the park) in our 1st game of bracket play this weekend. While some of the teams that celebrated walks early on are strugeling to hit at the end of the season.
 
Jun 12, 2015
3,848
83
We all know those coaches. They win more short term but it's all about their egos. They're usually the ones who act like children when they lose, too.
 

Cannonball

Ex "Expert"
Feb 25, 2009
4,854
113
We all know those coaches. They win more short term but it's all about their egos. They're usually the ones who act like children when they lose, too.

My brother said this exact thing. He said my great niece's team beat this team earlier in the year and this coach did not act right.
 
Oct 11, 2010
8,337
113
Chicago, IL
In 8U we had a coach backup, coach wanted to let the pitcher throw 4 balls to get to coach.

I told them I didn't care what they did with the other players but if ball was in the same area code as DD she was swinging, he could bat her were he wanted but she was swinging.
 
May 17, 2012
2,804
113
I try to not criticize a volunteer coach. I may offer some observations to the coach and/or volunteer to help out as needed. If it weren't for these coaches they wouldn't have some of these teams.

Step up and volunteer. Save your criticisms for coaches getting paid (high school and college coaches).
 
Jul 19, 2014
2,390
48
Madison, WI
Interesting -- my DDs played 10U, 12U, 14U and a few games of 16U. (Both DD 1 and DD 3 played some 16U as older 14U players).

The most argumentative parents were 10U. The most argumentative coaches were 14U, but maybe that is because my kids didn't play enough 16U.
 
Feb 20, 2015
643
0
illinois
Parents do mess thing up. The kids just want to play ball without all the drama that the parents seem to thrive on in the younger ages. Had my first taste of Rec ball in probably 6 years last week. My DD is dating a guy that has an 11 year old sister. We went to watch her game. I had forgotten exactly how bad rec ball can be. DD only played on year of rec and could not stand it. Well, the first half inning (yes only half) was a 30 minute, 41 pitch fiasco, complete with a 10 minute argument from some guy in the stands about the girls batting out of order on the other team. The other team had batted around and was half way back through the line up when he starts yelling from the stands about batting out of order. Yelling at two high school girls who were trying to ump this mess. The umps and coaches gather up and try to figure things out for about 10 minutes.....all while dad is yelling from the stands "that's an out" "you have to call the batter out" "you have to do your job" ETC...on and on and on. Well after much, much discussion, the coaches and umps are satisfied and they resume play. (without calling anyone out) Well.......exactly ONE pitch more and the girl up to bat strikes out. Dad in the stands did not stop talking about and commenting on the batting out of order for several innings. DD def owes me for sitting through that one with her.
 
Oct 11, 2010
8,337
113
Chicago, IL
We were required to have a board member from each organization attend our games when we play a specific club in 8U. :)

Wished I saved the comish email,he sent a scathing email to parents and coaches informing them he was going to start throwing people off the Team if they did not settle down.
 
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