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Might be difficult to have that conversation and not have it escalate to make things worse ... maybe better to just forget about it and move on?
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I had the same reaction as Jeff. It sounds like your players can say all that needs to be said on the field. Laying down an ultimatum might just elicit a push-back response. Here's a thought (and I'm just throwing mud against the wall): maybe you just have a discussion with your team to say that it's possible the opposing coaches will act in a similar vein on Saturday, but that your team is above that stuff, both in not retaliating in kind and in playing good ball despite the tactics of the opposing coaches.
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...and all of us here are not without fault.
I honestly don't know if talking to them will do any good. I would act as if you have never seen them before, let them squak, and pound the pi$$ out of them on the field and never take your foot off of their throat. When questioned, (and you will be questioned by these coaches) about running up the score, just simply say that since they kept running their mouths and acting stupid, you decided to keep running and scoring.
Len
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Regardless of how "caught up" we sometimes get into these games, as adults, we all must remember above everything else these are children's games - played by children. IMO, there are a few strict rules that should be followed by adults when participating in children's games, whether it be as a coach or a spectator.
1.) IMO, after a game is in progress, coaches comments should be restricted to his/her own players/staff and umpires - no one else.
2.) An opposing coach should NEVER direct comments at an opposing player unless it is in the form of genuine praise - such as "good catch", etc. If a coach feels the need to comment about an opposing player, it should be done in privacy with the umpires and opposing coach.
3.) A very wise veteran of the sport once told me: Spectators "spectate" - Coaches "coach" - Players "play" - PERIOD.
Children's games generally get very ugly and NO FUN for the kids when these rules are violated. As adults, we need to sometimes do a reality check to keep things in perspective.
So, how do I know this? From experience. I once had a nasty habit of yelling at referees in my DD's 4th grade basketball games!! Talk about a reality check... looking back, that was about as idiotic as it gets. BUT - that reality check took hold, and I developed a habit of biting my tongue and pinching myself to remind me that THESE ARE KIDS playing a KID'S GAME!! I have found the best recipe for a cure is focusing on catching an opposing player making a great play and giving her genuine praise. By practicing that, it is far easier to ignore negative people who try to drag you and the game down to their level. And it teaches the kids to do the same.
1.) IMO, after a game is in progress, coaches comments should be restricted to his/her own players/staff and umpires - no one else.
2.) An opposing coach should NEVER direct comments at an opposing player unless it is in the form of genuine praise - such as "good catch", etc. If a coach feels the need to comment about an opposing player, it should be done in privacy with the umpires and opposing coach.
3.) A very wise veteran of the sport once told me: Spectators "spectate" - Coaches "coach" - Players "play" - PERIOD.
Children's games generally get very ugly and NO FUN for the kids when these rules are violated. As adults, we need to sometimes do a reality check to keep things in perspective.
So, how do I know this? From experience. I once had a nasty habit of yelling at referees in my DD's 4th grade basketball games!! Talk about a reality check... looking back, that was about as idiotic as it gets. BUT - that reality check took hold, and I developed a habit of biting my tongue and pinching myself to remind me that THESE ARE KIDS playing a KID'S GAME!! I have found the best recipe for a cure is focusing on catching an opposing player making a great play and giving her genuine praise. By practicing that, it is far easier to ignore negative people who try to drag you and the game down to their level. And it teaches the kids to do the same.
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Great rules to live by, Sammy. I also will never say anything to or about an opposing player other than to congratulate them on good plays, nor will I allow my teams to chant anything negative about the other team. Our job as coaches and players is to play the game as best we can, and let our actions on the field, both in terms of good play and good sportsmanship, speak for themselves.
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I say it was bush. No need to do that sort of thing just because someone else does. The player who popped up wasn't even involved in the first instance, only their coach was. Leave players out of it unless that player is addressing you specifically, which did not happen.
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spoken like someone who has a flowered peace sign as their avatar ( JK --everyone can have an opinion , thats why I ask )
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This stuff was happening today in a league game at our opponent's field. The ringleader for them was a woman who was around 70 years old. She kept directing comments at my dd both while she pitched and batted. DD wondered how they knew her name and and her coach said maybe because we keep saying it during the game lol. We finished yesterday's game and played today's regularly scheduled game - won by 10 both times.
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The latter is a full time job in its self................ but I try. And I will reply as fast as possible to fpithdad. Because he deserves my attention more than most lol
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Maybe she just looked like she was 70. Fastpitch really wears out the adults. She might have been closer to 40..............
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Great posts, as always Sammy and coachjwb.
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Sorry.. correction: Billy Mills