I've had to deal with my DD crying on the bench at the 11u World Series due to playing time... very very very hard to see when she was an average player, not great nor was personally driven to be on top of the heap. Great kid, loves the game, and that's it. She got in the games and did well each time, just didn't hit with as high an average as others. I will say that daddy ball on my team isn't an issue. Never has been and I'd be the first to tell you it was if it was. My point is after 5 years in coaching travel ball, an honest coach won't have trouble with his DD if he/she can play the best or even more important stick to the plan that was communicated. Hard to argue the "plan". Especially if the plan was set out as "this is a growing year" for some players or even the team. Once the emotional side is tamed down with playing time and the communication is open, daddy ball is less of an issue. I'll toot my own horn and say that my DD took a beating on playing time and time spent with the team. It's not good being a coach's kid, especially when I was talked into coaching and had no desire to do so knowing the commitment for travel was enormous (boy was I right). The time on the phone and all the time away from true time with my DD took an massive hit! My DD helped me everyday after practice and tournaments loading an unloading. That any many other things that she didn't get credit for nor did it get her more playing time. Another downside of being a coach's kid.
As far as taking $ for coaching to offset travel, rooms, etc... I haven't done this for my own personal reasons and didn't even when my DD no longer played for me. This isn't a high and mighty POV or decision. My take is a head coach or coaching staff has enough to manage and money (or whatever the small amount is in the grand scheme) is fuel to an already sensitive playing time or coaching decision fire. DRAMA FREE ZONE for me!! I can hear it now... "shoot, we all pay coach, a paid coach shouldn't be doing that, a paid coach is messing that up, what makes "that" decision or any other,... shoot, us parents can do better than that". Money is an easy way to get someone all fired up and that's why it's a bad idea for such a small amount of money. Now on the other hand, if I were to get paid, let's make it worthwhile. Shoot, let me quit my day job and then pay some real money and my last few comments would do an "about face". I enjoy the families and players that have been with me for years and can gladly say that having money out of the situation has been a blessing. Reminds of the drama associated with borrowing money from family... you know, something you shouldn't do. After all, these families are my extended family for 11.99 months of the year.
There are other reasons to be pay coaches or consider paid coaches (too many to list), but I'll say if the coach is flat out broke, in a divorce, out of work... they may need a hand with expenses. Times today are tough.
We have faced paid coaching staffs in our years and that for me was even more fun to pull a victory out of or try to pull one out :cap:. Nothing wrong at all to have a paid staff when they get results and play the best teams and put the strongest team on the field. Hey, only the strong survive, right?
Please note that I'm not talking about both sides on this topic. At the end of the day, some want paid coaches, some want to pay for expenses, some families want a team with coaches having no DD's of their own on the roster, and some just have their own specific needs. To each their own but before they call out daddy ball or whatever complaint they have, make sure it's well thought out and real before throwing stones.
Many other good points within this thread. Good topic!!!
