All I'm saying is that criticism (not all is bad either) should be taken lightly by the staff. I just think it's your right as a fan to state your opinion. If you (the coach or other fans) don't want to listen, then you don't have to.

 

 

And most seasoned, veteran coaches do exactly that. It's the younger, up and coming guys or the guys that are trying to learn the coaching gig that suffer the most. That and some of their spouses who have to sit in those same stands and listen as their husband or wife is ripped. And no one has a "right" to openly criticize another individual. It may be their choice, but it sure isn't a "right."

I was coaching a freshman team and Adam was my starting point guard. My backup points guard name was Josh. After one game Josh's dad jumped me outside the coaches office and told me how Josh should be starting over Adam. I told him he was probably biased because he was Josh's dad but if he could get Adams dad to come tell me that Josh should start over Adam then I would start Josh.( I never heard from Adams dad)

Is the smoker's during halftime at anyone else's school a hotbed of such talk?

And most seasoned, veteran coaches do exactly that. It's the younger, up and coming guys or the guys that are trying to learn the coaching gig that suffer the most. That and some of their spouses who have to sit in those same stands and listen as their husband or wife is ripped. And no one has a "right" to openly criticize another individual. It may be their choice, but it sure isn't a "right."

 

 

As a coach, I am not as bothered by the criticism in the stands as I am the constant "coaching" from the fans. Over the 10 years I have been coaching, I have learned to have a thick thin about things, and criticism is one of them. All coaches know that everyone in the stands thinks they can do a better job than you. The constant criticism comes with the job. If things are going well and you are winning games, everybody loves you. But, if for some reason your team doesn't show up to play one night, you are a horrible coach. That doesn't make it right, that's just how it is.

 

My problem stems from everyone in the stands trying to coach. For example, I will call a time out to set up a play for a specific player to take a certain shot and you will hear everyone in the stands yelling for the other player to shoot the ball. Or, my favorite was when I was in a game situation where I wanted my team to foul and everyone in the stands was yelling at my players not to foul! The fans in the stands sometimes do not have access to the information that I do on the bench (fouls, shooting percentage, etc.) nor do they know what particular strategy I am trying to implement. What it boils down to is trust. The fans and the parents need to put a certain amount of trust into the coach and understand that they are making the best decision they can in a limited amount of time for the benefit of the team. Are we sometimes wrong? Absolutely! I constantly second-guess myself and I will be the first to admit when I have made a mistake. But fans have to understand that nobody is perfect and we do our best under the given circumstances.

As a coach, I am not as bothered by the criticism in the stands as I am the constant "coaching" from the fans. Over the 10 years I have been coaching, I have learned to have a thick thin about things, and criticism is one of them. All coaches know that everyone in the stands thinks they can do a better job than you. The constant criticism comes with the job. If things are going well and you are winning games, everybody loves you. But, if for some reason your team doesn't show up to play one night, you are a horrible coach. That doesn't make it right, that's just how it is.

 

 

 

Unless I'm really bad at this guessing thing, I'm guessing that qualifies you as a pretty seasoned coach. But, you are absolutely correct.

I coached high school varsity basketball for 21 years and only had three occasions where I had to have talks with parents. The first was from a parent that thought his son was getting TOO much playing time, the second was from a parent who thought I was too tough on him and the third was from a mother whose son didn't get to play a lot. I told them all ,if they want to play fine, if not quit or go somewhere else ,but it was going to be my way.

 

I coached my son in high school and basketball wasn't mentioned ever after a game or after practice and he went on to play college ball. When he had a bad game he would be upset and go to his room and I always went in and hugged him and told him I loved him and not to worry about basketball or how he played. I would tell him that there were more inportant things out there than basketball.

 

Today, I watch my grandsons play and have never witnessed such actions of parents in all my life. Parents , leave those kids alone and I'll bet you they will appreciate you more when they get older and they will probably perform better .

 

Very good post John Boy. I have tried to do the same as of late. I never let my son go to bed without hugging him, saying our prayer together and telling him how much I love him, and how pround I am of him. Regardless of how he plays. Basketball is fare from being the most important thing in life.

 

I told my son the other day, when we were looking at pictures from his baptism back when he was only ten years old. That I was more pround of him on that day for excepting the Lord as his personal savior, then I will ever be for anything he may achieve in athletics.

I wonder how these parents would feel if the coaching staff showed up at the parents job on Monday morning and proceeded to vocally questions the way the parent was doing his/her job?

Parents are a powerful source for socializing young athletes about sportsmanship attitudes and behaviors. Many parents ARE aware of their influence on their children and make a valiant effort to make sport a positive experience, emphasizing fun, fair play,and good sportmanship. UNFORTUNATELY, it appears that a growing number of parents have been models of bad sportsmanship for their children.

Good reply.......Both you and I Reach I Teach have valid points. :thumb: It is true some kids are not allowed mistakes, while others have unlimited opportunities. Sometimes you can look around and figure out why this happens.......Most of the time coaches do know who will perform better, but when the majority of the fans starts questioning about a certain player usually there is something going on.

 

And thats what upsets some parents. Its not always just the players parents that get upset about lack of playing time. It other fans and former players parents and sometimes other players.

 

Parents talk, when someone has 5 parents or fans asking you after every game why "JOE SCHMO" is not playing. Or what does the Coach have against "JOE SCHOME". Or "JOE SCHMO" is the best all around player on the team. Or "JOE SCHMO" is a real team player he and "DAN" play really well together they should get varsity time together. IT makes them think there is in fact something going on.

 

I agree with URIT that some parents do need to shut up. Don't stand outside the locker room waiting on the Coach and say "We Need To Talk"

Or call them on the phone and say "My son is a Senior, He deserves to start", or " I am on the school board , play my kid"

99.9 percent of the problem lies in grades 3-8 wherin a parent coaches his kid or kids in every sport, but it is a double-edged sword in that parent or parents are the only ones to coach or no one else would. So would say if you want to make coaching decisions at that age, VOLUNTEER or :sssh:

I have seen both sides with my children. They played for a very fne varsity coach who deserved all the respect in the world. Unfortunately I did not always have enough brains to keep my mouth shut. For that I owe him a sincere apology. But the JV coach was a complete idiot and deserves everything that was said about him. This coach was lazy, ill prepared and played favorites. All coaches are not the same and all do not deserve the same respect. But in hindsight it is much more enjoyable for the children if their parents shut up and let the coach do his job.

As a parent of a child here in the 10th region. I dont recall any Basketball coach having a gun to there head and making them coach, I have seen well over 1500 ball games in my lifetime. I see coaches wearing FREE shoes. I see coaches wearing FREE shirts. I see coaches wearing prob alot more free stuff we dont know about. I dont ever see a coach PAY to get in a game. I see coaches think that they are ON TOP of the world and they are better then alot of people, Go back to the old days when Coach Leon Willett and Hutch coached. Now those were the days. I dont recall all those fancy clothes and shoes.. As far as the KIDS, There is only one team in the 10th region that will prevail and that is MASON COUNTY. So some of you coaches do need to remember, These kids all are human and there are alot worse things in the world then taking a little heat from a parent. YES I have coached, before you get to tore up. Its as simple as this If you cant take the heat. get out of the kitchen. You can shake a tree anywhere in the 10th region and 20 coaches will fall out.. Just may all not be SUPER COACHES

As a parent of a child here in the 10th region. I dont recall any Basketball coach having a gun to there head and making them coach, I have seen well over 1500 ball games in my lifetime. I see coaches wearing FREE shoes. I see coaches wearing FREE shirts. I see coaches wearing prob alot more free stuff we dont know about. I dont ever see a coach PAY to get in a game. I see coaches think that they are ON TOP of the world and they are better then alot of people, Go back to the old days when Coach Leon Willett and Hutch coached. Now those were the days. I dont recall all those fancy clothes and shoes.. As far as the KIDS, There is only one team in the 10th region that will prevail and that is MASON COUNTY. So some of you coaches do need to remember, These kids all are human and there are alot worse things in the world then taking a little heat from a parent. YES I have coached, before you get to tore up. Its as simple as this If you cant take the heat. get out of the kitchen. You can shake a tree anywhere in the 10th region and 20 coaches will fall out.. Just may all not be SUPER COACHES

 

If you can't hang with the big dogs stay on the porch.

As a parent of a child here in the 10th region. I dont recall any Basketball coach having a gun to there head and making them coach, I have seen well over 1500 ball games in my lifetime. I see coaches wearing FREE shoes. I see coaches wearing FREE shirts. I see coaches wearing prob alot more free stuff we dont know about. I dont ever see a coach PAY to get in a game. I see coaches think that they are ON TOP of the world and they are better then alot of people, Go back to the old days when Coach Leon Willett and Hutch coached. Now those were the days. I dont recall all those fancy clothes and shoes.. As far as the KIDS, There is only one team in the 10th region that will prevail and that is MASON COUNTY. So some of you coaches do need to remember, These kids all are human and there are alot worse things in the world then taking a little heat from a parent. YES I have coached, before you get to tore up. Its as simple as this If you cant take the heat. get out of the kitchen. You can shake a tree anywhere in the 10th region and 20 coaches will fall out.. Just may all not be SUPER COACHES

 

Yes, coaches do get some perks such as free shoes and shirts, but this is NOT why most people take high school coaching jobs. I don't believe that most coaches are even doing it for the extra salary (although I'm sure there are some exceptions). Over the long run with summer camps, summer leagues, scouting during the season, etc... some coaches I know probably lose money if you look at the time invested, gas money, car wear and tear, etc... Yes, I know that many coaches get mileage paid for, but many of the coaches I know never turn the mileage in to their AD. These coaches know that this money comes out of their athletic fund. They would rather the money go to the program than reimbursement to pay for their gas.

Biggest turnoff in my profession: When parents try to use the media to slam a coach or argue about son/daughter's playing time. Rule of thumb: Respect the coach (your team and the opposing team), the other players and yes, the referees. Sure there will be mistakes, but you know what? Pinch your skin. We are all in the human race and guess what? Humans make mistakes. .... Also, remember don't get all worked up: It's just a game. ...