My daughter and her close friends started their High-School careers this week playing JV Soccer for our small town. They had two away games this past week that I was lucky enough to be at. There really wasn't anything new that I witnessed at these games but now that I have my own blog I get to voice my opinion to anyone that decides to read it!
I really believe there is a big difference between High-School sports and youth sports teams. At the High-School level it's time for parents and family members to cut the ties with these kids, let them be coached by their coaching staff, sit in your chairs and cheer for the home team. At some point you need to stop coaching from the sidelines, screaming at every play and ridiculing kids that screw up. People can say what they want but most kids are out there to be competitive, have fun with their teammates and I can promise you they do not appreciate the noise from the sidelines. It actually causes more chaos because we as fans have no idea what the coaches are telling them to do and where to be on the field or court. Coaches make mistakes, those of us that are competitive may question their decisions but at the end of the day they are human. Who are we to say they made the right or wrong call, they are the one's out there every day with our kids for hours so shame on us. I have coached many seasons of basketball and softball and I can promise you I made several bad calls but I also made good one's. I was out there organizing the team and giving my time so they could play, isn't this what matters? I remember one basketball game my team went into the locker room at half-time. My five starters were really pissed off and we were winning by a significant amount. Naturally I asked them what is wrong and they said they wished their parents and grandparents would shut up and let them play their game. It reminded me when I was playing sports all the annoying people that I remember screaming at us, we all hated it. That day in the locker room really stuck with me and when I go to games now that I am not coaching and I get caught up in the play I remind myself to keep my mouth shut. Not for nothing but you sound like a crazy person yelling and people are getting up to move away from you. Do you really want to be that person everyone is avoiding?
Then you have these crazy past coaches, the one's that show up at these games and walk around like they are sports Gods. You know the one's standing at the games with their arms crossed giving their meaningless opinions simply acting like douchebags? Sorry to drop the DB word here but it's pretty accurate. I am pretty sure these types of people were nothing great as athletes themselves so they are out there trying to prove something as Coaches. These types actually put down kids at practices so bad the kids want to quit and not play. They are so wrapped up in themselves wanting to be praised for the talented kids on the fields and courts it becomes mainly about them. Then they brain wash parents into believing their kid is going to be the next division one athlete. I hope for their sake they are but the chances are slim.
I don't know...I am far from perfect but what are people doing? It's getting pretty ridiculous where going to games isn't enjoyable unless you sit far away from everyone. I over hear some conversations and wonder if these people are living real-life or the life in their heads. I am not the parent that believes everyone deserves a trophy. I am actually the opposite. My speech before and after games to my daughter is always consistent. I tell her this is High-School now. You need to earn your position and your playing time on your own. There isn't a chance in hell I am going to talk to her Coach, AD, Principal or even Superintendent on her behalf...ever. I am honest with her when I think she is playing lousy and not giving her full effort but not to a level like most. This is for her and her Coach to figure out together, not me. At the end of the day I tell her mostly these are the best times of her life playing High-School sports. Making memories with her teammates, bus rides, team bonding and playing championship games it's really magical. Some of my teammates back in the day we still hash out our years. Heck, I can tell you play by play what happened my senior year when we lost the Western Mass softball game at Szot Park! What we would give to go back for even a day!
I certainly can't change how people act but I can sit alone. Maybe that is the ultimate solution?!
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