Paid Coaches Good Or Bad

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For sure, a BIG tip of the hat to those that coach for free. Commendable. BUT no one should look down on someone who does it for pay or down on parents that choose to pay a coach. And parents shouldn't assume that it's some constitutional right to have their kid coached and instructed for free. Throw them some bones.

I don't know about the "for the girls" thing. Gets thrown around a lot on OFC but I would say that many coaches do it because they enjoy coaching, many umpires do it because they enjoy plssing people off and many TD's enjoy running a tournament. (just kidding, ump's enjoy umping. It's both for Tim). In other words there are some selfish reasons, it just not for the girls.

 

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There are several different scenarios that can be played out. But the common theme is that you want to find a coach for free that will guide your team to the ASA state championship, a respectable place at nationals, market and ultimately help our dd get a scholarship. You want the coach for free to maintain a website, take many phone calls, emails (especially at recruiting age). You want the coach for free to insure that he has the hotel rooms, lodging, trip itenerary sent out. You want the free coach to order uniforms, talk with TD about getting such an such tournament, make recommendations for equipment, develop player profiles and have them printed. You want the free coach to teach your daughter all he knows about the sport, go to coaching clinics, stay at the fields longer to scout another teams. You want the free coach to have the stats completed by Monday after tournament, and ultimately graded properly. You want the coach to maintain equipment and team gear. Ultimately, you want the coach to WIN.

Personally- that is a heck of deal for free. I think we might be just a little selfish not to throw the coach a bone and get them dinner every once in awhile. Its just the right thing to do. The guys/gals spend a tremendous amount of time thinking about your dd and how to make her better.

You talk about profit - unless the coach is making 100k a year, they arent making a profit. Their time is worth something also.

Yes, I know.... For the love of the game....give back to the community.....give back to softall. This is a year commitment, we are not talking about a day commitment.

Good post Dan, you summed it all up pretty well, hard to argue with that

 

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Well said. I don't get how someone who doesn't coach could dare to say that someone who does shouldn't be compensated for their time. A LOT of time and energy goes into coaching at the travel level. So I should expect someone to coach, teach and develop my kid for grins. Should school teachers be in it for the kids and work for free? Should pitching, batting & fielding instructors be in it for the girls and work for free? Should a pediatrician be in it for the kids and work for free? Seems like a very selfish attitude to think the coach should teach my kid for free so I can spend more money on her equipment, so I can buy her a new $400 bat every year as one of the survey choices state.

""Should pitching, batting & fielding instructors be in it for the girls and work for free?"" I know a couple of amazing folks who are just that.

 

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""Should pitching, batting & fielding instructors be in it for the girls and work for free?"" I know a couple of amazing folks who are just that.

So do I and I know some who do it for a fee. Just don't think someone who doesn't do it all should be saying someone who does, should only do it for free.

 

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You guys crack me up. I never said paid coaches are totally wrong always. I never said free coaches are right always. I did say that you don't always get what you pay for, and that there are plenty of quality coaches across this state doing a great job without compensation. I do think that there are a bunch of parents that think if the team that their kid is on is not charging 1000 bucks a season, that there must be something wrong with that organization.
...and if you think that fielding a FALL BALL team for $400/ per player for one game a weekend with some instruction afterwards is about anything else than profit, I have a fall ball league I will start for you next year!!

 

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I guess the only issue I have is this. I see a new org start up, they advertise these current college or ex college players as coaches. They may of been the greatest players in the game but most are not, but they have not proved themselfs yet as coaches, as it is their first year as coaches. Or they have never been head coaches before, yet PARENTS flock to them. The PARENTS think this is what it will take to get their DD to play in college, never mind its only a 12u or a 10u team. The only way these girls (college players) will coach is if they are offered money..... Well in all of MBL, NHL, NBA or NFL why dont the greatest players to play the game coach after retirement. Some dont want to, some dont need to, and most CANT COACH. They can play but cant teach others to play or even pass the knowledge on to others.

The parents are the biggest problem i have seen over the years and are the reason for some orgs to offer these high profile coaches or at least advertise them as such with their life history player achievements. Know the org or the coaches before you decide to run and join a new team. If I were a player or a parent, I would look at well known teams or coaches that are always playing late sunday games, as a team to get involved with. Not a new unknow/unproven one that pays the coaches and will cost me alot of money just to find out if its a wise choice as there is no history of this org/team/coach yet..

 

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I agree warmachine, Parents should start looking at well known established teams, orgnizations, or coaches. Before deciding to join a new one for lots of money. If they are new the cost should be lower to play with them as they have no track record yet.

Buyer beware, teams dont come with a warranty let alone a money back guarantee.

 

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Warmachine
How about said team's managers don't even have complete say over roster Dads who started it do and then they advertise no daddy ball here all non daddy coaches ex-college players, but daddy is really pulling the strings ??????????? What's the difference is that worse to try to hide behind the scenes or just be upfront and say I'm a dad and I coach.

 

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Parma and Akedema:

Don't forget organizing and assisting in TRYOUTS and then all the followup calls to discuss the organization and the team's philosophy with the parents of the girls who have received an offer.

Buckeye Heat organization as a whole has the policy that if the head coach is not a parent, his or her room is paid for by the team. Since Ted and I are already incurring significant costs for travel, food, and coaching courses/clinics, most of our disposable income is going into the coaching of softball and we GREATLY appreciate the assistance of the team in covering our room costs.

We try very hard to get the cheapest rooms (and if Casey the Wonder Dog is with us for the weekend, that's usually a Red Roof Inn). And we usually drive out at the crack of dawn and back late at night for tournaments that are within a two hour drive for us to make sure that as little money as possible is spent by the team on our rooming.

If it were a REALLY, REALLY accomplished coach with a proven track record that includes getting girls college opportunities, I'm not sure it would be so wrong to pay that coach money. But rest assured I'm not talking about Ted and me with that thought. I'm talking the OC Batbusters level of coaching (and flying all over the place); actually I'm pretty sure those coaches do get paid.

 

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You guys crack me up. I never said paid coaches are totally wrong always. I never said free coaches are right always. I did say that you don't always get what you pay for, and that there are plenty of quality coaches across this state doing a great job without compensation. I do think that there are a bunch of parents that think if the team that their kid is on is not charging 1000 bucks a season, that there must be something wrong with that organization.
...and if you think that fielding a FALL BALL team for $400/ per player for one game a weekend with some instruction afterwards is about anything else than profit, I have a fall ball league I will start for you next year!!

"I bet you think this song is about you..." :lmao:

Don't think we are talking about what you said in particular, just the whole notion which started this thread.

Look at the poll, the three biggest vote totals (10 each) go to these 3 choices:
>> Not right to pay a youth coach.
>> It should be about the girls not the coaches.
>> Spend the extra money on more tournaments or gear for the girls instead
That is shocking to me. They are saying that is it is wrong for a coach to be paid. They can't be thankful they are getting their kids coached for free. If a coach wants to be paid and families are willing to pay for their kids to be on that team, why should they care? How is that not about the girls? Don't get it.

 

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A more interesting poll might have the following choices:

* A youth coach should never be paid ... period
* I can see situations where a coach would get paid, but not for a team my DD is on
* I would consider having our coach paid if he/she didn't have a daughter on the team
* We prefer teams where the coaches are paid professionals

 

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"I bet you think this song is about you..." :lmao:

Don't think we are talking about what you said in particular, just the whole notion which started this thread.

Look at the poll, the three biggest vote totals (10 each) go to these 3 choices:
>> Not right to pay a youth coach.
>> It should be about the girls not the coaches.
>> Spend the extra money on more tournaments or gear for the girls instead
That is shocking to me. They are saying that is it is wrong for a coach to be paid. They can't be thankful they are getting their kids coached for free. If a coach wants to be paid and families are willing to pay for their kids to be on that team, why should they care? How is that not about the girls? Don't get it.

That goes to prove the point that Ohio still has a strong rec mentality

 

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That goes to prove the point that Ohio still has a strong rec mentality

That must be it

 

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One thing I noticed generally during my time as a travel and high school coach and director of a travel organization is that people often do not appreciate what they are not paying for. That is counter-intuitive, but I have seen it over and over. It seems the perceived value depends upon how much is being paid for something, rather than what people are receiving.

I reached the point by the end of my time as an organization director that I had little patience for complaints about volunteer coaches unless the allegation was that they physically or verbally abused girls. Lineup or coaching style complaints fall on deaf ears when a coach is a volunteer and nobody is willing to pay an extra $500 per family for an experienced coach. I would usually end up telling a parent that if they can find a better volunteer coach to do all the things listed by Akadema and others, then please let me know and we'll get them on board.

For parents who wish to complain about their daughter's volunteer coach, do you have any idea how hard it is to find any coach at all, let alone good ones? It's hard to find coaches who will be paid $2000-5000 for high school jobs, let alone coaches for travel teams who will volunteer their time all year.

If I were a parent and had a daughter playing for a volunteer coach who was minimally competent, I would lobby the team's parents hard to make sure the coach would not be out one cent for coaching the team, and to do something at the end of the year to make sure the coach knew that he/she was appreciated. If I couldn't get the other parents to go along, I would at least take care of whatever I could afford for the coach.

 

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Can't a paid coach still be about the girls?
Judging by the options in the poll it's clear you're not too keen on the idea.

This is the first year with a paid coach and my daughter has improved dramatically, skill wise, mentally and physically. It is too early to tell and the budget may not be there for another year but so far it has been a good decision.
There are unknowns with every team, the bottom line is how the player responds to the team and coaches that she plays for. So far so good

 

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If the coach is getting paid, there should be a higher standard of performance. My dd had a fling with that euro game for a club team. It was nice knowling these guys knew what they were doing, and teaching their game on a higher level. Did we get what we paid for? I don't know. I did know that our dd wasn't cut out for that scene. Now how that translates to softball, I think is a question for each family to personally answer. There are many people who think if it costs more, it must be the best. Personally, I think those folks are so full of it, they get what they deserve. But if they're happy with it, you'll never convince them otherwise.

Flatline does make a good point. If you're with an organization with a paid coach, and you're happy with the progress the dd is making. It was a good business decision. But that's what you've gotten yourself into, a business.

 

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Quote:
Originally Posted by Thunder's Dad
Heres my 2 cents. There is no right or wrong answer to the question for everyone. It is up to an organization, a team, a family, and an individual. Does having a paid coach ensure a great season, and a solid coach that will be everything you expect? Nope. Have people been burned by "pro" coaches and daddy ball alike? Sure. There are plenty of great coaches out there that don't take compensation for what they do. My personal opinion is that some paid coaches, and or teams that are out to make a profit are tarnishing what this is supposed to be about, and that of course is the girls.

Quote:
Originally Posted by Parma Wildcats
AMEN , it suppose to be not for profit

Now 8 months later;
Off Parma Wildcats web site for 2011,
Come join the new direction the Parma Wildcats are taking the players and coaches to become better equipped to play ball in 2011. Coaches Maybe interviewed by the President, Vice President and Head of Coaches to make sure qualitiy coaches are picked for the teams. Coaches will need to be in place before tryouts, so they may hand pick their teams.

Coaches with no familiy ties to the team will receive Pay for their time and costs.

Very interesting, They also raised their FEES by 215.00. I guess to cover the cost of having PAID coaches...

 

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I know things change, circumstances arise... if communicated well to all up front.... all can decide what fits there situation and/or expectations.

 

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In my experience, there is no correlation between quality of coaching and whether the individual is paid or not.

I've seen absolutely *terrific* daddy coaches and total *eediot* daddy coaches. Same with paid ones.

I think a better thread would be... what do you look for in a coach?

How can you make sure a coach you're going to have your dd play for can distinguish between his/her rear end and home plate when it comes to softball?

In fact I think I'll start that thread right now...

 

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When you are in travel ball you want to get away from Daddy ball, rec ball whatever you want to call it and give your daughter the best opportunity to learn and develop into the best player they can be. Or you would not be willing to pay the type of fees we do at this level if you did not expect the best.
So paid coaching is fine if the coaches go to Clinics and bring back valuable training techniques to make the team better.