Cut the cord...

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I'm both a coach (for summer) and Parent for High School and some travel. As a coach I let my parents know, and we DO NOT have a problem with that, and I have seen teams where parents are really bad at 14u. As a parent, for High School and some other travel teams (pick up) I stay away and my DD goes up to the coach and intruduces herself on her own. I stay in the outfield, because I really do not want to be near the Helicopter parents and their opoinions of the game or them barking in their kids ear at bat. Honesty, my DD and myself really do not talk about the game on the ride home weather it be good or bad (its over). I've learned that back when she was younger becasue it only frustrate's BOTH of us more. (not worth it). As a 16u I feel she is a confidante player; she can go to any team (16u or 18u) and not be a wall flower, at this point in her playing career?? she has met a ton of other players and keeps in touch with quite a few of them, from Ohio to Florida to the west coast. Not only for softball but I know when she is older and softball is over, this is something that will be with her for life. I cut the cord when she was about 11 and it should have been sooner.

 

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These quality parents are few but I have a couple. Sad reality is way too many quality coaches are quitting....

I coach a College D1 head baseball coaches 2 daughters, I'm not going to lie I felt some pressure until we were working on hitting and I asked the one daughter how her dad wanted her to hit and she said, however you want me to hit haha. Great kids, if I send out an email looking for help shagging balls at practice he always comes. Plays catch with his son during practice until it's time to shag, when were done they go back to other diamond and play catch. This guy has forgotten more then I will ever know, yet he let's me do my job.

 

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We have a parent on our team who coached his dd 10U team last year, and there is no doubt he knows as much about the game as our coaching staff. And whenever he sees something he feels he should draw our attention too, he will always approach us after the game, alone and tell us what he noticed just to make sure we are on the same page. I love his approach and how he handles it, so much more effective than trying too fix it in the middle of a game on the fly. May have to recruit him as a copter sniper!