WELL, having been on both sides of this discussion, I hesitate to even say anything, but I guess I've always had trouble just keeping my mouth shut.

Anyhow, when your kid is not playing and it bothers him, it is natural for the parent to "blame" the coach for making the wrong judgement. The reality is, the coach wants to win and he really doesnt care who he plays in most instances if it will help him win. There is always a conflict when a younger player is just as good as an older player, and it is usually in the program's best interest to go with the younger player. Parents complain that their kid "never gets a chance" when the reality is they get a chance every day in practice and that is when you earn your playing time on game night. Coaches

can get in trouble by setting false expectactions with the player and therefore the parents. It is a snowball effect. The player gets disenchanted, starts hustling less, then playing less and Parents start complaining more.

Some kids figures it out early and go someplace where they can play, other kids quit and concentrate on another sport or academics. The Coach gets

blamed for kids not wanting to play, its a never ending cycle that is going to happen on just about any 15 member varsity team out there, and especially on one that has seniors or juniors on it that are not playing. Football teams play 22, and that is a lot bigger number than 5. Coach Flynn is only guilty of doing his job the best way he knows how and doing what he is paid to do. On any competitive team, there are going to be kids disapointed with playing time. They can either work harder, quit, or go play some place else. Thats the great thing about America, you have options. Unfortunately, sometimes you only learn by going through the Experience. Hindsight is always 20/20 but I have learned that you are probally going to disagree with about any coach

on some things, that is normal, what you have to realize is that most Coaches are just trying to do their best, but at the end of the day they are still the Coach, so relax and realize that whatever you are going through, it is being repeated by thousands of parents and players all over the country. I realize that my thinking on this issue has evolved with time. I think thats called maturity. My advice to other parents would be to

Relax and be glad its just basketball!

 

I for one appreciate your "evolving" viewpoint. It takes a big man to have lived through difficult situations regarding your own kids and actually learned from those situations. I for one always blasted the coach when my son didn't get playing time but I knew in my heart of hearts that my son wasn't getting it done in practice. 99.9% of coaches want to win, period. If our kids get it done in practice they will be on the floor. We love them so much that our pain of watching them set the bench clouds our vision. Thanks for speaking out!

One last thought- unless you've played in Ashland's program, you really don't have a clue as to what you're talking about. Talk to the players, starters included, although I doubt they could give an honest opinion at this time for fear of retaliation. And it's not just their poor season so far this year, this talk has been going on for several years, and includes most of the assistants, as well as Flynn.

 

I would agree with you if it was our seniors that are quitting. We had three seniors come back and are playing this year. It seems that most of our kids are quitting in their freshman or sophmore seasons. I am not going to talk about Coach Flynn or his coaching style but I have talked to most of the players on the team over the past few weeks and they all say that they don't enjoy basketball at all. Everyone of these players that played football loved the sport and did not want it to end. If we could some of that excitement for basketball I feel we would have better results on the court.

 

Very simple. Winning is fun, losing is not. The easiest thing to do is blame the coach. It is the coach's job to win basketball games first, and the fun is a two way street. If that mindset is in place, the snowball is forming and rolling down the hill. Most parents place a higher priority on playing time than winning and coaches are the EXACT opposite. Not a good marriage!

 

Playing on the varsity level requires respect for the coach, but the coach IS NOT the reason you play or not play. You play for the passion of the game, period. A coach should never determine whether or not to play. If thats the reason being given for not playing, then the passion isn't there and there is probably another reason for quitting. The easiest thing for a HS kid to tell his parents is that "I don't like the coach". "It's not fun anymore". Unfortunately there are parents who buy into those excuses (especially when times are tough in losing situations). What lesson does that teach?

 

Winning is a habit, unfortunately so is losing.

One last thought- unless you've played in Ashland's program, you really don't have a clue as to what you're talking about. Talk to the players, starters included, although I doubt they could give an honest opinion at this time for fear of retaliation. And it's not just their poor season so far this year, this talk has been going on for several years, and includes most of the assistants, as well as Flynn.

 

I didn't play in the Ashland program, but it sounds to me like some of them wants to play for there grandmother. She probably cant coach but at least she'd make them feel good about themselves.

I've stayed away from this thread like the plague, but I now need to speak.

 

I learned this VERY early.....You CAN'T choose your coach...PERIOD...Well that's only if your a big prospect going to college....And he or she might not be there for your whole career.

 

And on another note......I'm VERY disappointed to read these posts. Players need to play and coaches need to coach and fans will say what they will.....But this talk IS NOT GOOD for the "program".

 

It wasn't too long ago that I can recall that kids nor parents believed in the football program @ Ashland...AND don't give me this Coach Hart crap......Yea Coach Hart is a cool dude and gets things done, but so has Coach Flynn... We should feel lucky to have them both....

 

To be honest get your teaching degree and then do what you need to become the HEAD coach or an assistant @ ASHLAND AND CHANGE IT!!!

 

I don't have problems with fans that want to win but Flynn has credentials AT ASHLAND that seem to let him have a down year and lets hope he stays around.

 

What I noticed against Russell were some VERY BAD passes in the 1st half. Is that Coaching??? Also Ashland seems to get their looks at the basket and can't convert???? Coaching???? Or everybody getting negitive??

 

I still BELIEVE!!! These Tomcats could be like the 1988 football T-Cats that got hot in the playoffs. The 2005/2006 Basketball Tomcats will hoe their own row, but let the players and coaches let it happen.....

 

PLEASE

Onetoya -

 

You feel free to stop by any evening for a big slice of warm apple pie, a tall glass of ice cold milk, and a big hug from an old lady. :thumb:

 

All of the girls at the Ladies' Auxilliary voted, and we wanted to ask if you'd be on our calendar this year?

 

Frances

I don't have problems with fans that want to win but Flynn has credentials AT ASHLAND that seem to let him have a down year and lets hope he stays around.

 

What I noticed against Russell were some VERY BAD passes in the 1st half. Is that Coaching??? Also Ashland seems to get their looks at the basket and can't convert???? Coaching???? Or everybody getting negitive??

 

I still BELIEVE!!! These Tomcats could be like the 1988 football T-Cats that got hot in the playoffs. The 2005/2006 Basketball Tomcats will hoe their own row, but let the players and coaches let it happen.....

 

PLEASE

 

Down year, bad passes, can't convert. Sounds like you are describing a team that isn't extremely talented. I'm glad you said it because if I had you would have been on me like ugly on an ape. Oh, wait a miniute, I did and you were.

 

Does anyone remember the thread back in November that tomcat salute started about Ashland's schedule and how tough it was. I stated in there that their record would be poor and come February Ashland fans would be questioning Mike Flynn's ability to coach. Boy was I wrong, it only took till January.

Just something else to add, 2 more players (Alex Wheeler and Joe Smith) quit the team yesterday and more players are rumored to be quiting soon. I understand that Flynn is a good coach with X's and O's and is extremely gifted at adjusting his style of play. However he isnt very gifted at running a program the way it should be. These were two of his top players off the bench and Smith's rebounding will especially be missed.

Just something else to add, 2 more players (Alex Wheeler and Joe Smith) quit the team yesterday and more players are rumored to be quiting soon. I understand that Flynn is a good coach with X's and O's and is extremely gifted at adjusting his style of play. However he isnt very gifted at running a program the way it should be. These were two of his top players off the bench and Smith's rebounding will especially be missed.

Karma!

Quitting is always the best option.

Parents who allow their kids to quit a sport they started are a major problem in high school and youth sports today. Blame the Coach for being a quitter. A common theme these days.

Quitting is always the best option.

Parents who allow their kids to quit a sport they started are a major problem in high school and youth sports today. Blame the Coach for being a quitter. A common theme these days.

Trust me it's more complicated than that. I'm not even saying this is all Flynn's faults im just saying there are some serious problems in Ashland's system right now and i think their just starting to float to the surface this year because of his lack of success. If your a good coach you dont let players that will no doubt help you out, quit, i've never seen this happen at other programs like it has here in recent years.

Just something else to add, 2 more players (Alex Wheeler and Joe Smith) quit the team yesterday and more players are rumored to be quiting soon. I understand that Flynn is a good coach with X's and O's and is extremely gifted at adjusting his style of play. However he isnt very gifted at running a program the way it should be. These were two of his top players off the bench and Smith's rebounding will especially be missed.

 

Seriously?!?! Geez... :irked:

Seriously?!?! Geez... :irked:

Tell me about it :creepy:

Thinking out loud here, do the Ashland supporters expect any other defectors perhaps after the season? ( I'm not being red here, just curious )

Thinking out loud here, do the Ashland supporters expect any other defectors perhaps after the season? ( I'm not being red here, just curious )

 

Who knows....