I heard something pretty disturbing from a parent yesterday. Her daughter approached the highschool coach about trying out for softball and this coach told her there is no way she could catch up with the other girls. This particular coach is also a math teacher. Wow.... Are we not suppose to encourage our youth to get involved with school activities. This particular girl played softball when she was younger and wanted to start playing.

I am very fortunate we were in a situation to move our daughter from this school system at a very young age and give her the opportunity to grow. I dont want to mention the coach but this should be a lifelesson on how we can be mentors to our youth. This young lady said "oh well I guess I am not good enough".

Great coaching and teaching. Thank god my daughter is now in a school with excellent coaches that truley care about the kids.

Yeah coaches that decide who is on the team because of how much money a mom or dad gives is silly. Also I have never believed that just because a kid was on the team last year should mena they are on the team the following year. Do they have a leg up-yes, but what if that young girl was Jennie Finch?

Yeah coaches that decide who is on the team because of how much money a mom or dad gives is silly. Also I have never believed that just because a kid was on the team last year should mena they are on the team the following year. Do they have a leg up-yes, but what if that young girl was Jennie Finch?

 

Yes. Especially when this young lady was only 8th grade. Maybe she could of been developed into a nice ballplayer. With this particular school it is not who has money but who is related to who. The school is out in the country in the 10th region

INteresting topic. How would she have reacted if the coach allowed her to go through weeks of hard conditioning and then cut her from the team. I bet she would have wished the coach would have told her before she ran for six weeks. I see your point though. Perhaps something like "Sure you can try out and show us what you've got. But you will have to work very hard to make for for the time you missed the past couple of years. You may have to put in extra time on your own."

 

It's not as easy a scenario as some think. If a coach can tell that a player has no chance of making the team, but cannot actually cut her until a specific date, does that coach string the girl along throughout conditioning, weight lifting, or other pre-season workouts. When does a coach cut a kid loose early so the kid is not wasting their (the kid's) time?

Michael Jordon got cut his freshman year...hmmm. Poor judgement on the coach, wouldn't you say?? Why crush a kids confidence. Encourage them and give them confidence. If life was about giving up without even putting forth your best effort it would be a sad world. I just found it very ironic this coach is also a teacher. I sure hope he has a higher vote of confidence for his students in the classroom than on the ball field.

Michael Jordon got cut his freshman year...hmmm..

 

Incorrect. He played high school ball all 4 years.

Unless I was part of the conversation I will have to refrain from passing judgment. Too often what is said is not what was heard and it was not what was relayed back to the parents.

Unless I was part of the conversation I will have to refrain from passing judgment. Too often what is said is not what was heard and it was not what was relayed back to the parents.

 

No I was not part of the conversation either but was told directly from this kid. Oh well, the bottom line was the kid did not tryout. Enough said. This is like beating a dead horse.

No I was not part of the conversation either but was told directly from this kid. Oh well, the bottom line was the kid did not tryout. Enough said. This is like beating a dead horse.

 

All I'm saying is that having 3 of my own and having coached many , kids don't always hear what was "said."

All I'm saying is that having 3 of my own and having coached many , kids don't always hear what was "said."

 

Very good point, Clyde.

It amazes me ... my parents automatically believed any adult before they ever believed my brother or myself.

Now .. parents automatically take kids for fact automatically without EVEN TALKING TO THE ADULT.

 

There are three sides to every story. So far .. we have heard one.

Very true. As a Coach, I have run across parents that believe their kid would NEVER exaggerate or misunderstand. Their child is an angel and the adult does not get the benefit of the doubt. I have seen it too many times. And quickslick is right- there is side a, side b, and then there is the truth. Pity more parents don't automatically seek out the truth...

I agree some kids do stretch the truth but.......this is not the first time I have heard a situation like this happen at this school. I have respect for coaches and the the time dedicated to the kids. I promise you this kind of behavior goes on at this particular school.

There are coaches in Boone County that tell kids if they don't play for a certain softball organization that they will not make the high school teams.

There are coaches in Boone County that tell kids if they don't play for a certain softball organization that they will not make the high school teams.

 

Exploding truth!!

Absolutely Not!!!