McKenzi, as a mom of a young 16 year old athlete who absolutely loves the game and has the heart for softball such as yourself, YOU my dear, are so much better than these claimed adults. YOU are and have learned so much more than the sport. You have every right to stand up for yourself and you have done it well. You are already on the high road less taken over the adults in question and that makes your self-worth way more valuable than what their actions have displayed. My heart hurts for the daughter, in what she is learning from her own mother, along with your prior coach whose wife has now displayed major disrespect as a coaches wife from what I see as a very respectful organization.
We all know, the travel world (and sports in general) can be vicious, cut throat and down right ugly beyond the athletic ability and skill set to which you all are there to learn and grow on. My daughter has experienced something a bit similar on an emotional level. We have a great parent who majority of the girls on the team love and respect. He started to help out our main head coach. He is upbeat, a second voice and the girls enjoy hearing his voice out there. He is opposite of head coach, who is somewhat reserved. A great coach, but that one 'loud' and upbeat voice just adds that much more of a difference that drives them even more. It really is a great coaching pair. However, the actual parent coach who has been assisting from day 1, decided one day to make reference that this other dad/coach 'touched' my daughter inappropriately. That 'inappropriate touch' was him putting his hands on her shoulders giving her a pep talk as he totally knows she needs it. I see every single coach give some sort of emotional connection by way of a hug, an arm around the shoulder for a personal pep talk, a congratulations or what ever. Never viewed a single gesture from any single coach out of 100's of teams as inappropriate. If anything, I always saw respectful and emotional coaching. Of course, I've never been around parents who would think it's appropriate to take a picture of a girl on the field only to make derogatory comments either, and those whom they shared it with, to be so shallow to pass it on.
Softball is an emotional sport and most coaches take this on for the love of the game and girls they coach become like family. We all become family and that is the way it should be. Parents, owe respect to each girl whether it's from prior teams or current, and like wise the girls to parents and coaches. I have never seen a coach in the 5 years we have been in travel, ever display inappropriate gestures or 'touching' to any girl. Since it has never been personally addressed to my daughter or us as the parents, I can only conclude it was agenda based to get him off the field and out of the dugout.
My whole point to this story..... you and my daughter, are learning life truths, life lessons beyond the game. You are learning to be better adults than what is being displayed by those adults around you. Does it make it easier? No. Make the mental or emotional pain less? No. But DO NOT hang your head nor feel less than. Don't let their small mindedness crush your spirit. You clearly have a higher road ahead of you. These lessons will take you and my daughter farther than any of these adults who have chosen to throw stones for what appears to be personal satisfaction. God Bless you, your family and your team! Go play with your head held high young lady!
