Do You Coach?

[Skip]

Just got home from coaching my youngest son's team's first T-ball practice. Between all 3 of my kids this makes my 5th season as a baseball coach (along with 3 years/10 seasons of soccer). I really enjoy working with the little kids, but eventually defer to the more skilled coaches as they reach the age of 7-8-9 ish.

Who else coaches? What sports/ages/skill levels/etc.? What are the good and bad stories you have to tell about the games/kids/parents? I dont have time for any stories right now, but wanted to get this thread started while the idea was fresh.

[moose]

I've coached a few soccer teams of young kids a few years back.

I also refereed K-5 soccer, and I have too many bad parent stories to tell. Trust me, it's one think when the parent's are being terrible regarding 18 year olds, it's another when they're yelling about/at 6 and 7 year olds.

[SmedIndy]

I was a base coach of a women's softball team (they were all my drinking buddies and they hated their coach) and we had a blast. This was when I was in my mid 20's and my liver could stand the abuse and I could stay up until 2 and still get to work.

The next year, they made me head coach. Unfortunately, they split the team up before the season. It was miserable.

I will probably coach Katie in something, if only so I don't become one of THOSE parents.

[IndyDan]

I was an assistant coach for 13 year old baseball (kids just out of seventh grade) for 8 years after I graduated from high school, and I'd like to get into high school coaching sometime. I have to find a job that works better hours than my current job as an assistant sports editor.

Anyway, one of the best stories I have ever heard happened while I was coaching a game. The place we played had a Port-O-John near the field (you get an idea where this is going . We had a kid (and he was the nicest but quietest kid we coached) who asked if he could go to the bathroom while we were batting. We said fine. Well, we had a relatively big inning (I think he was hitting seventh in the inning), and all of a sudden it's his turn to hit and he's nowhere to be seen. We all start screaming at the Port-O-John, and out he comes - complete with toilet paper stuck to the bottom of the his show (and I'm talking about 2 feet worth). He didn't know it, and the toilet paper was flapping behind him as he sprinted in to hit. The fans, both teams and all the coaches were laughing uncontrollably. He finally figured it out but not before being completely embarrassed.

[moose]

haha... that's a great story!

my favorite moment on the ballfield was in high school, in the outfield. I played left, and my centerfielder was running back for a deep ball and fell flat on his face. I don't mean he tripped or he slipped and fell over - i mean he took a bad step and fell right on his face - literally. yeah, i had to sprint to get the ball and get it in, but we won the game and I still call him "Pippen" over that [as in scotty pippen's disgusting flat nose]

[Skip]

I actually think I mentioned this in another thread months ago, but ...

This happened during one of my first seasons coaching, maybe the first. My son was playing shortstop, got bored and placed his glove on his head. Of course he was told to put it on right and pay attention. "Keep your head in the game." Well, he did. The next batter popped the ball up toward my oblivious son - and it landed on his head.

(now I see why I've been sympathetic to Canseco in the recent threads)

[IndyDan]

My wife reminded me of another story that happened to me. We were working on bunt coverages one day, and I was just standing at the plate posing as a hitter. Our pitcher would throw the ball, and I'd just throw the ball down either line. I decided to grab a bat and go ahead and bunt the ball, not telling the catcher to go ahead and put his gear on. Like an idiot, I decided to swing away once to keep everyone honest. I fouled it off, and it hit the catcher sqaure in the mouth. He had braces and they stuck to the insides of his lips, and he just started spitting blood everywhere.

Needless to say, I was scared to death of what his parents would do. Fortunately, they just laughed, though he did have to have some more dental work done.

[spitball]

I coached my son's baseball and flag football teams.
The football experience was great.But there was one year I coached my son's baseball team that was a nightmare.
I live in L.A. where alot of "industry" and wanna be "industry" people live.
Their kids for the most part were great. But the parents......Christ-Oh-Mighty.....
"My little Dylan/Josh/River/Kiely.....well she/he can't bat unless she/he plays 2nd base." Or some such drivel that the kid doesn't give a sh@t about.
Do I sound angry??.....I'm not really . But I think there comes a point when the adults can learn from the kids.

[Skip]

The parents are frequently the worst part. One soccer season (indoor) a parent went off on me big time after the game because her son played less than 2 of the 4 quarters. I stood there stunned while she ranted and screamed. I then pointed out that everytime I tried to put her little stud into the game he had wandered off the bench and was down near the end of the field messing around. The other parents and I then watched while she turned the same invective on her son as they left the building. Sad.

[spitball]

Originally posted by Skip
The parents are frequently the worst part. One soccer season (indoor) a parent went off on me big time after the game because her son played less than 2 of the 4 quarters. I stood there stunned while she ranted and screamed. I then pointed out that everytime I tried to put her little stud into the game he had wandered off the bench and was down near the end of the field messing around. The other parents and I then watched while she turned the same invective on her son as they left the building. Sad.

I think I mentioned in another thread my situation with parents letting their little angels bring Gameboys to practice.
That was especially cool.