Good article on Sports and Parents

[Jake Patterson]

From Yahoo:

http://www.thepostgame.com/blog/more-family-fun/201202/what-makes-nightmare-sports-parent

[skipper5]

From Yahoo:

http://www.thepostgame.com/blog/more...-sports-parent

Thank you, Jake, that's a fine article.

Regardless of their age, and regardless of whether they even have any children, let alone grandchildren, the best baseball coaches resemble grandfathers.

Fathering is coaching.

From the article:

"Overall, grandparents are more content than parents to simply enjoy watching the child participate," he says. "Kids recognize that."

A grandparent is more likely to offer a smile and a hug, say "I love watching you play," and leave it at that.

Meanwhile a parent might blurt out …

“Why did you swing at that high pitch when we talked about laying off it?"

[clayadams]

Awesome article. Even though I'm not a coach at this point, I've gone through the positive coaching program. Things like this are needed on a regular basis to remind us (parents and coaches) of our "place".

[jbolt_2000]

While I definitely agree with the author of the article, I have seen some Aunts, Uncles, Grandpas and Grandmas act worse than the some parents during games. Not often, but I have seen it.

My first year managing a LL minors team (9-10y.o.) I had an uncle want to fight me after a game because his nephew hadn't played short stop yet and it was only the second game! I have also seen grandparents on multiple occasions yell at the umpires. One time I saw a grandmother get ejected from the park because she was berating the umpire too much.

I definitely feel this is not the norm though. The article surely describes most extended family attitudes and reinforces how we should all act once the game ends.

And FWIW - I was guilty of being that Coach/Dad after the game asking my son why he swung at the bad pitch instead of asking if he had fun while we drove to the ice cream shop. I truly feel my poor behavior attributed to my oldest son's disinterest in the game now. I know now how to approach the game with my younger kids. If only I had 20/20 Hindsight

[The Uncoach]

My kid always wanted to talk about the game on the way home. I obliged him. Some of the article is good. Unfortunately, all of these articles focusing on the parents don't get to the root issue, IMHO.

[Jake Patterson]

My kid always wanted to talk about the game on the way home. I obliged him. Some of the article is good. Unfortunately, all of these articles focusing on the parents don't get to the root issue, IMHO.

What do you feel is the "root issue?"

[The Uncoach]

What do you feel is the "root issue?"

The organizations and coaches that raise the stress load and pressure parents into the idea that if your kid doesn't play travel ball he won't be playing in high school.

[Jake Patterson]

The organizations and coaches that raise the stress load and pressure parents into the idea that if your kid doesn't play travel ball he won't be playing in high school.

On this we agree....

[Roothog66]

The organizations and coaches that raise the stress load and pressure parents into the idea that if your kid doesn't play travel ball he won't be playing in high school.

This, indeed, happens too often, but usually if a kid comes to an organization or team, they are already convinced to play travel ball, it's just a matter of "for who?"

Personally, I learned a long time ago to initiate a certain rule with my kid (as coach and Dad). We don't talk about anything he did wrong until the next practice unless he brings it up.

[JCincy]

I have seen plenty of loud-mouthed grandparents, moms, dads, strangers, coaches, umpires, and other idiots at little league games. Including the idiots that came to my games that I played in and umpired when I was a kid.

Ah yes... words of the encouragement from some parents at the games I had the pleasure of hearing...

After an error by the SS, the dad yells to his son the pitcher, "You can't play every position, son. Just get the next batter." Of course, the 2 walks before that error, were the umpire's fault.

A 'father' to his 8 or 9 year old boy (in game after he got hit by a pitch). "Stop stepping out. You act like a little girl. Get in there and hit the ball!"


I've always had an extra for the fondness for the parents that would get angry with me for not getting angry with the little leaguers I coached.

[clayadams]

Here's a great example of how to be a horrible parent: http://offthebench.nbcsports.com/201...head-to-court/

[Jake Patterson]

While many boast/brag/talk about baseball in the sunbelt... Hockey in New England can be..... well.... intense.

[azmatsfan]

Great article. I had to laugh at the part about the parent and child writing down expectations. Even as a 10 or 11 year old my son would be the one putting down, "make the all-star team", "win the championship", "hit x home runs", etc while I would have written "have fun", "be a good teammate", "improve as a player"...

[tg643]

While many boast/brag/talk about baseball in the sunbelt... Hockey in New England can be..... well.... intense.

I live on the North Shore not far from Lynn. I knew about this story. The parents are PITAs. They were asked to leave the hockey program where they live in Salem. They used a grandparents address to play in Lynn. Now they are being asked to leave the Lynn program. Since this is a nine year old league the coach believes every kid should learn to play every position but goalie. The mother has sent emails all year complaining playing defense doesn't take best advantage of her son's skills. The parents have no idea how their reputation will hurt their kids if they are still playing approaching high school. I'll bet the Salem high school coach is already aware of the family.

[Jake Patterson]

I live on the North Shore not far from Lynn. I knew about this story. The parents are PITAs. They were asked to leave the hockey program where they live in Salem. They used a grandparents address to play in Lynn. Now they are being asked to leave the Lynn program. Since this is a nine year old league the coach believes every kid should learn to play every position but goalie. The mother has sent emails all year complaining playing defense doesn't take best advantage of her son's skills. The parents have no idea how their reputation will hurt their kids if they are still playing approaching high school. I'll bet the Salem high school coach is already aware of the family.

I'm certain he is...