It’s the Coach’s Fault? Is it?
This is a commentary by Peter Romero, community journalist/blogger.
No matter what, if my daughter or son is not the star (regardless of the sport) it’s the coach’s fault; regardless that most parents have never coached beyond a youth league, and if they did coach or even play at a high school level they were OK at best.
Very few parents have been a state champ in anything, much less a player or coach or even both. So why does it seem that parents think they know more than the coach? Could it be the world has changed since they were in high school?
Answer: Yes, it has changed. The world is then and now.
In the then world, I told my father I wasn’t getting much playing time, he told me work harder in practice. When I told him the coach yelled at me, he told me, good, that means he is keeping his eye on you and knows you are capable of more. I told him I got some bad grades, he told me that is my fault, I should be helping you.
In the now world, parents will blame anyone and everyone over the same issues I had. I know coaches are not perfect but give them a break. They deal with a lot during a season, just put yourself in their place just once, to deal with a parent or 20 parents. You too would feel their pain!!!
Let’s support all coaches and kids in a positive manner; after all they are in school to learn!!!!!
Comments
By Parent on January 16th, 2010 at 10:28 am
I do agree that if kids want more playing time they do need to work harder and show the coach they are a good option. But if a player is in foul trouble and is left in the game what does that teach the team? If players are not allowed to scrimmage for practice how can they practice game time situations? Letting them play for 1 or 2 minutes in a game, then pulling them out doesn’t let them prove to a coach they can do it. Everyone wants to win, but we also need to teach them to play as a team. If not everyone is onboard it will never work. I do agree , being a coach of youth sports myself, that the parents have to let a coach run his team, But even the NBA sits down their “Superstars” every now and again.