A small rant about Pee-Wee football parents

[poorpreacher]

Parents,
If you don't intend to bring your child to the practices, or GAMES, please don't sign him/her up to play. Don't commit to a team, if you aren't going to support the team.

Ok, so I'm helping coach my son's football team. We have a game last night. 10 minutes until kickoff and I'm missing 3 players. We only have 15 kids on the team. No word from the parents. No explanation. Nothing.

Finally, we learn that kid 1 "can't make it", whatever that means. Kid 2 won't be playing, because he made a bad grade on a test, and his mother wanted to punish him. No word on kid 3. Kid 3 eventually shows up, halfway through the 2nd quarter.

Needless to say, we were not prepared to play a game with 3 starters missing. As a result, I had to stick kids in places they had never practiced, let alone played. That was unfair to those kids, and to the team, as a whole.

I understand there are times when things come up.
I understand parents work and transportation can be an issue.
I understand kids get sick.

I don't understand not showing up,with no explanation. I don't understand not showing up, until the 2nd quarter with no communication. I don't understand a parent keeping a kid out because of a poor test grade. That doesn't just punish the kid....that punishes the whole team.

Parents, when you child doesn't show up....or is late....it impacts the whole team. If you join a team, be committed to the team.

 

[FeralDawg]

Use the TeamWALL app for your phone. I go through this with all sports and kids.
We had a dad that decided on on tournament weekend to punish his kid (the same dad
that complained all the time about playing time, who we practiced a ton at 3rd base)
for a bad grade in school by keeping him home. Told us the day before the weekend (when we couldn't
just rep up another kid) what he had decided to do.
We had tournaments where parents scheduled a weekend cruise (after we put out the Spring to Summer
tournament schedule in February to avoid conflicts).
We have the same problems all the time with youth sports on every level. I coach regular rec ball too and the sorry kids whose parents don't work with them and they skip half the practices ALWAYS show up for games though looking ill-prepared
and missing everything from bats to gloves and parts of uniforms.
I hear what you're saying but this will never change.
And the parents that decide to punish the whole team.... sit their kid the next game back and see what happens next!

 

[Fivehade]

bleh, it's peewee football, not the NFL. and if a dad chooses to discipline his kid, it's the kid that's really letting down the team, not the dad. you have to give the benefit of the doubt to the dad that he's doing the right thing by his family

 

[poorpreacher]

Sure its pee wee ball. But its more than just ball. Its about teaching responsibility and following through with your commitments and working together.

The parent could have disciplined the child for the grade in numerous other ways....that didn't impact the team. Take away the xbox for a week. No Ipad or tv for a few days. Something else.

Its unfair to everyone, to suddenly decide you kid can't play, and not communicate that until gametime.

 

[Fivehade]

Sure its pee wee ball. But its more than just ball. Its about teaching responsibility and following through with your commitments and working together.

The parent could have disciplined the child for the grade in numerous other ways....that didn't impact the team. Take away the xbox for a week. No Ipad or tv for a few days. Something else.

Its unfair to everyone, to suddenly decide you kid can't play, and not communicate that until gametime.

so...OK....i'll bite....your action above is YOU taking over parenting for that father and child. how long you willing to do that for?

like i already said. give the benefit of the doubt to the father doing what's best for his family and understanding the impact ....and still doing what he knows is right

i'd think as a coach and father, you'd already know this, and you'd also know that you have to be flexible to life happening during the season of peewee football.

 

[poorpreacher]

so...OK....i'll bite....your action above is YOU taking over parenting for that father and child. how long you willing to do that for?

like i already said. give the benefit of the doubt to the father doing what's best for his family and understanding the impact ....and still doing what he knows is right

i'd think as a coach and father, you'd already know this, and you'd also know that you have to be flexible to life happening during the season of peewee football.

Nah man...I'm not taking over anything. It was just an opinion. Its his kid, he can do what he wants. I just think he could accomplish the same thing with a different approach, that's all.

 

[dieharddawg62]

Good luck getting people to do what you think they should do.

You know what you call an expectation?

A resentment in escrow.

I learned a long time ago not to get pissed off when people don't act like I think they should. I do my best to give them a good letting alone?

Im much happier that way.

 

[FeralDawg]

Poorpreacher,
Also remember the difference between involved and committed. In a ham and egg biscuit the chicken is
'involved' but the hog is COMMITTED! Very few kids or parents are committed.
I had another middle school coach the other day say "It always shows on the field when dads work with
their sons". and I agree. I can tell you coaches notice if a kid isn't hustling, shows up late, doesn't wish to be coached
and it will become obvious when you meet parents where it came from.
And not all kids are out there to win a Big Assed Trophy. Some are there just for the participation award and some REALLY love to just run around and play. Every team has different levels. The funnest team we ever had was a group of Alphas that were all goofy until the second they got down a run. Then the lights would come on and it was on!

Enjoy this time. My oldest is in college and I can't go back to do it all again but we had a lot of fun. My middle is a true
sport model and we have a blast! We live for when the team splits and we have the whole field to play on, and just throw the ball around have homerun derbys or practice picks till the sun goes down or I kill the park lights. THIS is the reason
me and my 3 sons play sports. Good times with dad and his boys. My 3rd son is getting that way too and he's 10.

With each new team there's always a dad or 2 and his boys that stay after and practice too. I wish all dads would
do it. Mine never could. Just keep the PMA and focus on the ones that care. I know you're just frustrated and am glad you're
out there. Very few are called to volunteer their time and do it well. Good luck!

 

[dawg-n-pikeco]

as a high school coach for many years I have noticed a trend...the more ways we have come up to communicate as a society...the less we actually do it.

 

[Fivehade]

Poorpreacher,
Also remember the difference between involved and committed. In a ham and egg biscuit the chicken is
'involved' but the hog is COMMITTED! Very few kids or parents are committed.
I had another middle school coach the other day say "It always shows on the field when dads work with
their sons". and I agree. I can tell you coaches notice if a kid isn't hustling, shows up late, doesn't wish to be coached
and it will become obvious when you meet parents where it came from.
And not all kids are out there to win a Big Assed Trophy. Some are there just for the participation award and some REALLY love to just run around and play. Every team has different levels. The funnest team we ever had was a group of Alphas that were all goofy until the second they got down a run. Then the lights would come on and it was on!

Enjoy this time. My oldest is in college and I can't go back to do it all again but we had a lot of fun. My middle is a true
sport model and we have a blast! We live for when the team splits and we have the whole field to play on, and just throw the ball around have homerun derbys or practice picks till the sun goes down or I kill the park lights. THIS is the reason
me and my 3 sons play sports. Good times with dad and his boys. My 3rd son is getting that way too and he's 10.

With each new team there's always a dad or 2 and his boys that stay after and practice too. I wish all dads would
do it. Mine never could. Just keep the PMA and focus on the ones that care. I know you're just frustrated and am glad you're
out there. Very few are called to volunteer their time and do it well. Good luck!

i think what your paragraph after paragraph is saying is that your values are more important than the guys values who is punishing his child.....or at least you think so

 

[FeralDawg]

You can't read then. I'm saying different people value different things. If you're just looking to troll (which it's obvious you are)
then find another post to jump in on or read what I wrote carefully this time.
I'm saying why I am involved and how involved. I'm telling him not to expect other people to be that involved.
Do you even read? Or are you just that much of a contrarian? It really does look like you are just here to troll.

 

[louman90]

That sounds a lot like ALTA tennis. We have a team now and we can't get guys to commit to playing. We have 15 on our roster and every week we need 10 to fill a roster and we typically have 6 or 7 guys who are uncommitted.

 

[Fivehade]

You can't read then. I'm saying different people value different things. If you're just looking to troll (which it's obvious you are)
then find another post to jump in on or read what I wrote carefully this time.
I'm saying why I am involved and how involved. I'm telling him not to expect other people to be that involved.
Do you even read? Or are you just that much of a contrarian? It really does look like you are just here to troll.

Maybe if you composed your thoughts and posted a little better it'd help

 

[FeralDawg]

Fivehade, you're just a troll.
The guy comes on here looking for Vent a little and you jump to judging just to be a troll.
Is that who you are? Just a gadfly?
Now you look to condemn me for your poor ass reading comprehension.
You aint got crap to add here. Move along. You literally add NOTHING to ANY conversation on here
other than smart ass comments or passive aggressive attacks. Is it cold in the basement?
Did your mommy make meatloaf? You're just sad. You add nothing.

 

[Fivehade]

Fivehade, you're just a troll.
The guy comes on here looking for Vent a little and you jump to judging just to be a troll.
Is that who you are? Just a gadfly?
Now you look to condemn me for your poor ass reading comprehension.
You aint got crap to add here. Move along. You literally add NOTHING to ANY conversation on here
other than smart ass comments or passive aggressive attacks. Is it cold in the basement?
Did your mommy make meatloaf? You're just sad. You add nothing.

I think it's you that are trolling .... I posted my opinion free and clear that you people need to lighten up and realize it's just peewee football and not an indicator of life success skills. Yall also need to cut parents some slack and give them the benefit of the doubt that they know how to raise their children

Instead yall all go nuts if everybody isn't ALL IN gung ho, hell bent for leather about a kids game

Too much time spent in America playing games and not enough on math and morals ...people like you are what's ruining our country. All you care about is your own benefit and pleasure

 

[FeralDawg]

Sure, that's what you did. And you didn't bother to read what I posted.
Passive-aggressive. Morals have nothing to do with anything posted but bring that into it, by all means.
And if you truly are just being a sweatheart, then ask yourself - If poorpreacher posted on here looking for a little understanding...was I (Fivehade) helping or hurting when I acted like a dick and BLAMED him
rather than trying to find a nice way to let him know you agree, but think
that the emphasis should be on math alone, NOT sports on a SPORTS RELATED WEBSITE!!!!!!!!

 

[poorpreacher]

Sure, that's what you did. And you didn't bother to read what I posted.
Passive-aggressive. Morals have nothing to do with anything posted but bring that into it, by all means.
And if you truly are just being a sweatheart, then ask yourself - If poorpreacher posted on here looking for a little understanding...was I (Fivehade) helping or hurting when I acted like a dick and BLAMED him
rather than trying to find a nice way to let him know you agree, but think
that the emphasis should be on math alone, NOT sports on a SPORTS RELATED WEBSITE!!!!!!!!

Feral,
I actually really appreciated your response. I always laugh at people like Fivehade, who angrily shout, "Lighten up guys! Its just kiddie football"

Sure, lightening up is the answer. Because teaching character, dependability, respect for others, team building and accountability can wait....or can't possibly take place on the football field.

 

[whitepug6]

Parents,
If you don't intend to bring your child to the practices, or GAMES, please don't sign him/her up to play. Don't commit to a team, if you aren't going to support the team.

Ok, so I'm helping coach my son's football team. We have a game last night. 10 minutes until kickoff and I'm missing 3 players. We only have 15 kids on the team. No word from the parents. No explanation. Nothing.

Finally, we learn that kid 1 "can't make it", whatever that means. Kid 2 won't be playing, because he made a bad grade on a test, and his mother wanted to punish him. No word on kid 3. Kid 3 eventually shows up, halfway through the 2nd quarter.

Needless to say, we were not prepared to play a game with 3 starters missing. As a result, I had to stick kids in places they had never practiced, let alone played. That was unfair to those kids, and to the team, as a whole.

I understand there are times when things come up.
I understand parents work and transportation can be an issue.
I understand kids get sick.

I don't understand not showing up,with no explanation. I don't understand not showing up, until the 2nd quarter with no communication. I don't understand a parent keeping a kid out because of a poor test grade. That doesn't just punish the kid....that punishes the whole team.

Parents, when you child doesn't show up....or is late....it impacts the whole team. If you join a team, be committed to the team.

I think all little league sports should adopt policies prohibiting parents from coaching their own children's teams. Way too much conflict of interest.

It's remarkable how often the coach's sons are the quarterbacks or running backs in football, or the pitchers and catchers in baseball.

 

[poorpreacher]

I think all little league sports should adopt policies prohibiting parents from coaching their own children's teams. Way too much conflict of interest.

It's remarkable how often the coach's sons are the quarterbacks or running backs in football, or the pitchers and catchers in baseball.

Adopt that policy and there are no more coaches.

 

[whitepug6]

Adopt that policy and there are no more coaches.

You mean these coaches are only in it to advance their kids' sports career at the expense of everybody else's kids?

 

[Fivehade]

You mean these coaches are only in it to advance their kids' sports career at the expense of everybody else's kids?

Pug, you just got to the root of the dudes issue....he's mad that the other guy won't put aside disciplining his child so his own kid can benefit . I bet his kid is the qb, just because he's the best LOL

I guess it's human nature to spout character and morals while simulataneousy not having any yourself

 

[poorpreacher]

You mean these coaches are only in it to advance their kids' sports career at the expense of everybody else's kids?

If you show me where I implied that I will send you 100 dollars. The fact is getting people to volunteer their time to be a coach is very difficult. I help coach because I was asked to......its pretty difficult to do it by yourself. Have you ever tried?

 

[poorpreacher]

Pug, you just got to the root of the dudes issue....he's mad that the other guy won't put aside disciplining his child so his own kid can benefit . I bet his kid is the qb, just because he's the best LOL

I guess it's human nature to spout character and morals while simulataneousy not having any yourself

If you can point to where I mentioned a benefit to my child I will send you 1000 dollars. If you can read, go back to my original post and look at the number of times I included the word "TEAM".

 

[Fivehade]

If you can point to where I mentioned a benefit to my child I will send you 1000 dollars. If you can read, go back to my original post and look at the number of times I included the word "TEAM".

Why you only offer pug 100 dollars and me 1000 dollars?

And fwiw, I wouldn't expect you to admit your failings....you're to busy blaming the other parents for what you misperceive as their failings instead. That's been clear all along

 

[poorpreacher]

Why you only offer pug 100 dollars and me 1000 dollars?

And fwiw, I wouldn't expect you to admit your failings....you're to busy blaming the other parents for what you misperceive as their failings instead. That's been clear all along

Your opinion of me doesn't really matter. Show me where I said my concern was for MY child? Go ahead. I'll wait.

 

[Fivehade]

Your opinion of me doesn't really matter. Show me where I said my concern was for MY child? Go ahead. I'll wait.

Clearly my opinion is worth at least $1000 to you. Perhaps more, since you continuously have badgered me in this thread

 

[poorpreacher]

Clearly my opinion is worth at least $1000 to you. Perhaps more, since you continuously have badgered me in this thread

Yeah...that's what I thought....

I offered you 1000 bucks, not for your opinion...but for you to back up your claim. Don't worry I won't badger you anymore, I'll be busy finding some faults in some new parents.

 

[Fivehade]

Yeah...that's what I thought....

I offered you 1000 bucks, not for your opinion...but for you to back up your claim. Don't worry I won't badger you anymore, I'll be busy finding some faults in some new parents.

I doubt you even have $1000 , but it's a pretty strange thing to offer. Especially since you only offered pug $100

 

[poorpreacher]

Why are you badgering me?

 

[Fivehade]

Why are you badgering me?

Why do you keep not caring and replying over and over? You started this thread complaining about the parenting skills of everybody except yourself ..... You just don't like the truth so you call it badgering

 

[whitepug6]

I doubt you even have $1000 , but it's a pretty strange thing to offer. Especially since you only offered pug $100

For the record, I would have settled for $250. After all, he's a poor preacher.

I would be willing to bet "poor preacher"'s son isn't a second-team nose tackle.

It has been my experience that men get into little league coaching for two reasons: to ensure their kid plays a "starring" role on the team at the expense of the other kids; or because the little league coach is dissatisfied with his career and enjoys the ego boost that comes from being a small-scale Bear Bryant.

 

[whitepug6]

If you show me where I implied that I will send you 100 dollars. The fact is getting people to volunteer their time to be a coach is very difficult. I help coach because I was asked to......its pretty difficult to do it by yourself. Have you ever tried?

As an infantry company commander, my NCOs and I coached second lieutenants to be competent platoon leaders. As a service school instructor, I coached captains and majors on how to write effective operational orders for large units. As a battalion commander, I coached my company commanders for selection to Command and General Staff College. Since I retired, I have been coaching college freshmen and sophomores to understand history.

My whole life has been about coaching young people.