Kids sports

[Carnage2011]

Back in HS wrestling I once saw a kid I beat get legitimately slapped by his father afterwards. Made me sick to my stomach.

One of my good friends in high school was a phenomenal wrestler. Won state as a freshman and Sophomore. His junior year he got beat in the state champion by a kid he had beat 3 times that year. He gets home and his dad (a POS alcoholic) starts hitting him and telling him he is a terrible wrestler. His little brother was 6 at the time and came over and asked his dad to stop. His dad threw his younger brother against the wall and my buddy lost it. He proceeded to beat his dad until he ended up in the hospital. That kid never wrestled again, bounced around different homes our senior year and shortly after high school he moved to Nevada to work in a mine. He never really coped with that night and took his own life about 8 months after we graduated. I’m still furious when I run into his dad…

I played sports from age 4 until I graduated. My parents were very involved, but never acted out towards a ref or coach. It’s insane to watch how wound up some of these parents get.

 

[ZMT588]

My daughter started wrestling this year at 7 years old. Her first meet was this weekend. It was a lot of fun and generally very good sportsmanship. We got a ringside view of 2 sets of parents almost go at it over their 7ish year old sons match. It was kind of embarrassing to watch.

My god, reminds me of my high school. We used to host a middle school tournament saturday and then a pay to play tournament for kids grade 6 and under on sunday. My mom at the time was a big organizer for the sports teams at my school so there was no way I was getting out of helping. I show up saturday morning and coach says "You're reffing on mat 6 today" I laughed and said coach I cant do that for him. I ended up manning the bbq grill making burgers 4 years in a row lol. One year they needed me to cover a mat for an hour while we wait for a ref. This was a peewee match, Kids are 8 years old MAX, like 40 lbs lol. I had a very successful wrestling career and know how to make calls and ref a match but I just refuse to. I had two coaches and 2 dads get into a fist fight that somehow managed to turn into a big brawl on my mat. Thankfully a few of the coaches from the local teams who help support our tournament saw what happened and put the smackdown. One guy got literally thrown into the bleachers and was told not to move out of his seat or he's going to be removed from the gym. Another time one of by teammates dads went off on a call that he didn't think was right. Both my teammate and his dad were 'roided up and they got escorted out of the building.

My wife asks if I'm going to put my son in wrestling. I just don't know if I'll be able to handle it lol.

 

[huntin24/7]

My god, reminds me of my high school. We used to host a middle school tournament saturday and then a pay to play tournament for kids grade 6 and under on sunday. My mom at the time was a big organizer for the sports teams at my school so there was no way I was getting out of helping. I show up saturday morning and coach says "You're reffing on mat 6 today" I laughed and said coach I cant do that for him. I ended up manning the bbq grill making burgers 4 years in a row lol. One year they needed me to cover a mat for an hour while we wait for a ref. This was a peewee match, Kids are 8 years old MAX, like 40 lbs lol. I had a very successful wrestling career and know how to make calls and ref a match but I just refuse to. I had two coaches and 2 dads get into a fist fight that somehow managed to turn into a big brawl on my mat. Thankfully a few of the coaches from the local teams who help support our tournament saw what happened and put the smackdown. One guy got literally thrown into the bleachers and was told not to move out of his seat or he's going to be removed from the gym. Another time one of by teammates dads went off on a call that he didn't think was right. Both my teammate and his dad were 'roided up and they got escorted out of the building.

My wife asks if I'm going to put my son in wrestling. I just don't know if I'll be able to handle it lol.

That’s some pretty crazy stuff. I have to say though that for over 600 kids wrestling, that was the only bad incident I observed and aside from that, I witnessed awesome sportsmanship all around and really enjoyed the whole thing.

 

[Tikka06]

We play baseball essentially all year minus a few months. We are going into 9U this year also. I hate to say it but recreational league is going to be that way. There is a big difference when you step up into travel league. I was initially against travel leagues and the competitiveness of it all. But not dealing with parents and the “every child has to play stuff,” as bad as it sounds, is kind of refreshing. All that said, we still play rec league in the spring and fall.

 

[EKYHunter]

Lots of fights break out here relating to school sports, it’s pathetic. Here’s just one example where the Sheriff actually got in on the fighting and was later arrested.

Sheriff accused of assault arrested after fight at girls’ basketball game

Brent Lynch allegedly assaulted a girl during a fight between two players.

www.wymt.com

 

[Cogreeny]

I did at pickup 1 practice. I even pulled the 1 guy aside one night and explained to him that kids on my team are not to be belittled while we are playing a game (it shouldn’t happen period). It toned down the craziness, but there were still things that made me look into the stands and shake my head. I’m thinking maybe beating up a parent might send a message to the rest of them. The problem is the ones I can whip aren’t trouble.

I’m with ya on this deal. If you need help to whip the mean ones I know where you live. Give me 7 hours I’ll be there to help ya.

 

[Bailer]

We play baseball essentially all year minus a few months. We are going into 9U this year also. I hate to say it but recreational league is going to be that way. There is a big difference when you step up into travel league. I was initially against travel leagues and the competitiveness of it all. But not dealing with parents and the “every child has to play stuff,” as bad as it sounds, is kind of refreshing. All that said, we still play rec league in the spring and fall.

Stick with the travel if baseball is his passion. Having the field size ramp up gradually is very helpful to development compared to little league where 6’ tall 12 year olds are still pitching from 46’ and running 60’ bases.

And enjoy the ride, it goes fast. Mine is a Junior now so not many games left to see close to home. He’s got a college commitment, but out of state so I’ll be lucky to see a series or two a year.

 

[pre6422hornet]

It truly is a sad state of affairs. I come from a long line of Little League coaches/umpires/district administrators etc.. My grandpa was one of the four founding members of my home town little league, was involved from the late 50's till the day he died 10 years ago. Heck the field is officially named after him. My dad just retired from running the entire district for almost 25 years after coaching.

I started coaching right after ending my baseball career ( 4 years NCAA) and not making it to the pros. I knew I had an almost zero chance of making it, I hit singles and doubles but wasn't speedy on the basepaths.

Anyway I am now coaching our third daughter in softball after spending last season in the stands as I watched in Horror as a mom and her two daughters absolutely butchered the job (coach pitch). They would fight with each other in the middle of the field and on more than one occasion one daughter would tell her mom to GFY and would walk off and leave the field. It was pretty bad. They fought with the other teams, umpires ( also volunteer) etc..

When I started coaching, my dad ( turned down a minor league contract in 1968), grandpa, my BIL ( who played semi pro), and I took a team with my then 6 year old nephew. My dad always had parents meetings and went over some basic rules. No parents in the dugout unless your child is hurt, every kid will play every position, every kid will lead off, hit clean up,etc.. and we were there to teach them not only basic skills, but also the rules of the game. He always ended with a little equation on a whiteboard. He would take the total number of kids in little league, then dial it down to how many play high school ball, then college, then any pro, then how many make it to the show. Then he would divide that total number of Major Leaguer's by the little leaguers and basically you have a .003% chance of making it or some other ridiculously small number. This was not to kill the childs dream but to put the parents in the right frame of mind. Let them have fun and learn the game.

We would still have parents come up after the meeting and demand that little Timmy play shortstop because he is going to be the best player.

We had so much fun and what really made me smile was the little things. I coached third base. Every time a kid made it to third the speech was the same depending on situation. " One out, bases loaded, ball on the ground you have to run home, ball in the air you stay here till I tell you to go" About halfway through the season I would stop halfway and the kids would start finishing the sentences for me and that was when you knew you were getting through.

To the OP I feel for you man. It is hard. Parents these days are not what they were even 15 years ago. I do not believe in everyone gets a trophy. I believe you run on and off the field and treat your equipment, team mates, all coaches, and umpires with respect. I am sure I will have run ins with parents this spring cause their 10 year old daughter is going D1 on scholarship and they need to pitch every game....

 

[KB_]

I always felt like wrestling is one of those sports that every kid should at least experience. Hand to hand combat is one of those things that can really show someone who they truly are.

But its still combat and we are basically apes. The stands get buck wild, especially when parents are watching their children get dominated or dominate someone else.

 

[nwihunter]

I get where you’re coming from. I coached my boys in baseball for several years and spent several watching from the bleachers. Kids sports can really bring out the worst in some people. While watching from the bleachers I have met some of the nicest people you would ever meet and also some of the biggest A-holes you’ve ever seen.

 

[220yotekiller]

I was home schooled so the school district wouldn't let my brothers and I play conventional sports, so we got into 4-H shooting sports (22 rifle). Our teams parents were the absolute best, they were always helping the shooters, lending equipment and giving their time. The state competition judges on the other hand, not so much.

 

[Ben Nicholson]

I coach youth hockey, I have for 11 years. I'm done after this year. The parents have just become too much. 95% of them are fantastic, it's the 5% that truly make it a nightmare. I'm looking forward to getting a bit more of my hunting and ice fishing time back.

 

[88man]

So back in the 70's and early 80's our little league coaches drove us to the games in their own cars heck they often drank beer at practice and even smoked cigarettes' during games and practice. They bought us sodas and candy and stopped for ice-cream or at McDonalds and paid when we won games. None had kids on the team. No daddy ball. They did it because they loved the game and teaching and the thrill of competition and being called and recognized as Coach. Coaches wore tee shirts and jeans . 3 games a week all travel within 1hour. Coaches drug the infield and mowed the grass.

Welcome to 2016> Daughter plays on 12U softball team> 5 coaches all wear uniform coaching shirt, all have a daughters on the team one has twins. Costs $2000 lots of travel 50% of tournaments greater than 2.5 hrs away some up to 4 plus hrs away. Those 6 daughters are your infield and bat the 1 thru 6 in the line up.

Lots of bad coaches and bad situations out their today and the parents are typically a reflection of the team dynamics. I have seen good and bad the last 10 years. Heck a local high school softball program hires Athletic Directors college roommate as the varsity softball coach guy never coached over 14U. He has 105 lb daughter, sophomore who can't hit or throw and is not athletic. Starts her at varsity 2nd base and then wonders why 1/2 the JV team quits and starts running cross country and playing field hockey. She should not even started on the jv team. Oh by the way he was one of those 5 coaches mentioned above.

Lots of crazy moms and dads on that 12U team and lots of complaining and conflict on that losing varsity team.

 

[Mooretitan]

Coaching as turned into something that many simply don't want to deal with anymore. I had a parent come to my at 9:30 at night because his son thought I did not like him. He wanted me to come over that night and comfort his son. My wife looked at him like he was crazy. Parents are just to much effort. Had another parent tell me that I had not focused on him enough. I was his sons coach but I guess he need some attention also. I could go on with so many stories like this. After 10 years and a very successful coaching career I could not do it any longer