My son (12 years old) ended up having a horrible season because I decided to be up front with his recreational league coach about him taking private lessons. I wasn't going to say anything to his coach but he was giving instruction that was contradictory to what my son was getting in his private lessons. I simply told the coach that he was taking private lessons and that I would appreciate it if he wouldn't give him instruction regarding his hitting mechanics so that my son wouldn't get confused by different instructions from different people. Shortly after that the coach basically sidelined my son for the season. He only pitched about 1/4 as much as the other pitchers did even though he was just as capable a pitcher. My son was so upset with his season that he considered quitting baseball altogether. After winning the championship game he threw his medal away and tore up his jersey. I've never seen him so upset with a coach before. Luckily I have talked with him and convinced him to continue playing the game that he loves.
I emailed his coach about the situation after the season ended and explained how upset my son was. He basically told me that when I asked him not to coach him in his hitting mechanics that at that point he made my son "an island unto himself". What's that all about? Who does that to a 12 year old? It was a RECREATIONAL YOUTH LEAGUE for God's sake.
So I guess what I'm wondering is if any of you coaches can tell me if what I did was wrong? Should I have just kept my mouth shut? I didn't want to tell my son to ignore his coach's instruction regarding hitting for fear that he wouldn't listen to any of his instruction, and for fear that the coach would get upset when he realized he wasn't doing as he was being told. I figured being honest about the situation was the best approach. However I'm now thinking I should have just kept my mouth shut.
comments? Thoughts? Suggestions?
Thanks.
I emailed his coach about the situation after the season ended and explained how upset my son was. He basically told me that when I asked him not to coach him in his hitting mechanics that at that point he made my son "an island unto himself". What's that all about? Who does that to a 12 year old? It was a RECREATIONAL YOUTH LEAGUE for God's sake.
So I guess what I'm wondering is if any of you coaches can tell me if what I did was wrong? Should I have just kept my mouth shut? I didn't want to tell my son to ignore his coach's instruction regarding hitting for fear that he wouldn't listen to any of his instruction, and for fear that the coach would get upset when he realized he wasn't doing as he was being told. I figured being honest about the situation was the best approach. However I'm now thinking I should have just kept my mouth shut.
comments? Thoughts? Suggestions?
Thanks.
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