My DDs had a similar situation. Several girls left the team and went out for track because the HC berated players publicly and often during games. I saw him destroy our best hitter in a playoff game after she made an error. She was worthless at the plate after that. I saw him get in a yelling match with our #1 pitcher and kick her out of the dugout and demote her to JV in the middle of a game. He always treated my DDs fine but they hated playing for him because of how he treated some of the girls. I worked off-season hitting and pitching with several of the players and had a good relationship with him so I talked to him about it and told him that if DD2 went out for track the next year I didn't want him to wonder why. It was all because of him and how he treated the girls. The captains, a player, and several parents went to the AD about him. He resigned and the AD hired a positive upbeat coach and the girls are having a great time. Coaches have no business personally attacking HS players. You can't be the only parent who thinks this way. If other parents think this way go to the AD. My DDs have played for yellers who they absolutely loved. They have been screamed at during a game and yanked off first base for missing a steal sign and they love that coach. He was a yeller but was fair and did not make it personal. This guy was different. He made it personal. Players should not have to put up with the verbal abuse.
He thought he was a hard rear and did not think he was abusive. He thought this younger generation of girls was weak. I have coached several years of high level travel ball and have never yelled at a player. I have also coached rec and community ball. I coach our HS dome ball. I have had very direct conversations with players but don't yell at them and humiliate them. I have yelled to get a players attention when they weren't paying attention but there is absolutely no need to scream at a player. Ever. The coach is the adult and needs to behave like one.
