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Feb 20, 2015
643
0
illinois
Disgusting. What a bunch of idiots. It all comes back on the coaches of the teams, and ultimately the head of the organization. I hate the parents that sit in the stands and constantly complain about calls, and whine about everything. And there is no excuse, none, period for any parent to say anything to a kid on another team, unless it is "nice hustle" or "good play" etc. DD was lucky both orgs that she played for around here would not tolerate any of that crap from ANY parent. We signed code of conduct rules before being allowed on the team, and they were enforced. One of the main rules was sportsmanship to other teams, and no complaining to the umpires. Head of org said "that is coaches job only, NOT parents."
 

obbay

Banned
Aug 21, 2008
2,199
0
Boston, MA
. Oh, and my last point was. Current coach of DD is facing this exact dilemma. Kid is pretty good and with her on the team we could really do some damage. I'm thinking major damage to other teams and tournaments. But the dad has a well earned reputation. I'll be curious as to what transpires.

From my limited experience, are you in this to win a plastic trophy or play ball? Let the drama people play for another team. To me, the best experience for theplayers is to play on a decent team where everyone wants to be there and that has each others backs. My worst experience was with a group of kids who were first year 18s, (almost all were U16 age eligible) started out playing well together until the cool kids formed a clique, placing themselves above the rest of the team. 16 and 17 y.o. Kids showing up hungover on a sunday morning, only there because their parents dragged them out of bed. And on top of that they had the gall to give attitude to their non-hungover teammates. ( only 1 or 2 of the 14 player roster went on to play ball in college)

Anyhow, im a big life lesson guy and id rather play with a team that stresses teamwork and sportsmanship. The players will benefit the most from that environment.
 
Jun 12, 2015
3,848
83
From my limited experience, are you in this to win a plastic trophy or play ball? Let the drama people play for another team.

AMEN. Could not agree more. I see these girls going through 2-3 teams a year, never staying for even a full season, because their parents are so intolerable, and teams keep taking these kids. Then it's their turn to deal with the drama and misery. I feel for the kids but I do not need that in my life. I don't care how good she is, it's not worth it.
 
Mar 14, 2017
453
43
Michigan
From my limited experience, are you in this to win a plastic trophy or play ball? Let the drama people play for another team. To me, the best experience for theplayers is to play on a decent team where everyone wants to be there and that has each others backs.

True

My daughter played for a team that didn't contend for winning any tournament that they were in, but her teammates loved playing together. The parents were great because no one took U16 TB as their catapult into the SEC, and the coach taught the game & treated the kids with great respect. He also didn't take the games so seriously that he felt it necessary to argue with umps.


On the other hand my daughter was offered to join a nearby team was very successful & made a decent run at Nationals, but the coaches were ***holes, the parents were ***holes, and surprise the players were really talented ***holes. There was no way my wife and I would have let DD play with them, but it wasn't an issue because DD said she didn't want to join that team because of how they acted.

They were arrogant. The players and parents bitched about every call. They were unsportsmanlike in their play, but their behavior was appalling.

Prior to a game when the captains meet and flip the coin for home team the coach instead of designating captains sent the whole team for the captain's meeting. OK-dumb but not terrible. It was 5 minutes before the meeting was scheduled, so since 12 girls had nothing to do for 5 minutes and the coach had zero discipline of his players they picked up the chalk from the batter's boxes and made hand prints on each others butts. Really? So at game time there were no batters boxes, and much of the foul line was gone.

During the game the players were outside the dugout wandering around in foul territory without helmets. At one point a player grabbed a bat and put on a helmet and had a sword fight with the on deck batter. I'm not making this up. At this point the umpire stopped the game and told the players to return to the dug out. Of course they did not return to the dug out & the parents were bitching to high heaven that they were just having fun and he should leave them alone. So one the next pitch the umpire called time again and told the coach to get them in the dug out. The coach told them to get in the dug out and most of them did... for about 3 pitches and then they were back in foul territory running around and throwing cups of water on each other.

At this point the umpires just gave up all hope of restoring order and quit trying to get them in the dug out. So part of it's on them, but the coaches had zero control of their players and the parent supported their behavior. I've never been so angry watching a game in my life.

To finish my story a friend of mine had a daughter on the team, who I must admit, fit right in with the circus. She left the team at the end of the year because she refused to do what the coach told her to do and then screamed at him about it, so he told her in front of the team and fans that, "She was the worst ***king disgrace to softball on the planet."

It just made me happy to be with a team that was full of good people. Winning at U16 isn't worth selling your soul.
 

MTR

Jun 22, 2008
3,438
48
That seems more like an explanation of why they were fighting, not justifying it or anything. And honestly, some umpires really are terrible and I've seen people get pretty hot under the collar after a few "questionable calls." I wouldn't be surprised if that really is what set everyone off. Again, not saying that makes it ok OR the umpire's fault, though.

And this is why there is an umpire shortage, especially at the lower levels. That means teams and tournaments often get what they deserve. And it isn't exclusive to youth FP.
 
Jun 12, 2015
3,848
83
And this is why there is an umpire shortage, especially at the lower levels. That means teams and tournaments often get what they deserve. And it isn't exclusive to youth FP.
The teams that are respectful don't deserve it, but they get it too unfortunately.

Sent from my SM-G965U using Tapatalk
 

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