default
Member
Well said Matthew, I remember those days!
Well said Matthew, I remember those days!
default
Member
There are times to take one's foot off the gas ... it's called sportsmanship, and it's important to teach one's players this. And while competitive coaches certainly don't like to lose and try to learn from losses, it's going to happen, and I disagree that one has to take it personal. No matter how well you prepare your players, and how well you actually coach the game, you have to accept the fact that, in at least this game, your team is going to lose sometimes. Softball and baseball are games of inches, sometimes millimeters actually ... the strike zone itself, the connection of ball and bat, the placement of hit balls, close calls on the bases, etc. While there are many things you can do to improve the chance of your team playing better and winning games, these are all reasons why teams don't go undefeated and why the very best MLB teams only win 65% of their games. If you take every loss personally, it will drive you crazy and out of the game altogether.
I know the point of the original post was more about how you deal with opposing coaches and taking that personally, and I will reiterate there that if you take that too personally, I think it's more likely to backfire than help your team ... so you can't.
Just my opinions ...
I know the point of the original post was more about how you deal with opposing coaches and taking that personally, and I will reiterate there that if you take that too personally, I think it's more likely to backfire than help your team ... so you can't.
Just my opinions ...
default
Member
I think we're losing touch with the original thought: Do you crank it up against some team that you have a "problem" with?
Granted, we all try our best against the really good teams. And no lead is ever safe, etc... But is there a team - with a coach who dissed you in some way, or has a player who left your team in an inappropriate manner, or who's parents are all complete jacka$$es - that you really make an extra effort to teach them a lesson... The answer is YES.
Granted, we all try our best against the really good teams. And no lead is ever safe, etc... But is there a team - with a coach who dissed you in some way, or has a player who left your team in an inappropriate manner, or who's parents are all complete jacka$$es - that you really make an extra effort to teach them a lesson... The answer is YES.
default
Member
Oh Yeah -- In High School it happened . I was coaching 1st base and the home teams dugout was right by me . It was a conference game so the opponents knew each other very well. The dd leads off for us --- pitch 1 ball pitch 2 ball -- this is the opening inning and my dd had a highly successful freshman year , 1st team all state . hit about 600 . At this point the home teams coach hollers " JUST THROW STRIKES SHES UP THERE FOR A WALK " knowing full well I'm her father standing 10 feet from him. I never uttered a word but has well pleased that the next pitch found its way to the LF gap for a lead off Double.
So the bottom of one starts and we get two outs and their 3 hole hitter comes up and I know I shouldnt have joined the pigs in the mudd but hollered at my pitcher " just throw strikes she cant handle you " ( I shouldnt have said it ) the lady coaching third for them , an assistant acts all offended and confronts me in between innings . Saying I was mouthy . So yes it does get personal at times . not often at all but it does . anyone who says it doesnt ever happen is not being 100% honest. we went on to a 14-0 win .
So the bottom of one starts and we get two outs and their 3 hole hitter comes up and I know I shouldnt have joined the pigs in the mudd but hollered at my pitcher " just throw strikes she cant handle you " ( I shouldnt have said it ) the lady coaching third for them , an assistant acts all offended and confronts me in between innings . Saying I was mouthy . So yes it does get personal at times . not often at all but it does . anyone who says it doesnt ever happen is not being 100% honest. we went on to a 14-0 win .
default
Member
I sometimes laugh at how personal some people do take things though...
Do you ever stop and wonder maybe that was their intention, to get under your skin?
Still laugh at my 1st year as a HC (10u)...another coach comes up to me before a game against Team "W".
Proceeds to tell me, if we win he'll buy all of our girls ice cream. He can't stand Team "W" !
Never told the girls about ice cream until afterwards, but for some reason (well, NO ONE liked Team "W" lol) we played our best game of the year and my #1 threw her 1st no hitter in the win...girls got their ice cream for a well played game/no hitter etc, not knowing it was more of a personal vendetta from a coach of Team "H"... ;&
Do you ever stop and wonder maybe that was their intention, to get under your skin?
Still laugh at my 1st year as a HC (10u)...another coach comes up to me before a game against Team "W".
Proceeds to tell me, if we win he'll buy all of our girls ice cream. He can't stand Team "W" !
Never told the girls about ice cream until afterwards, but for some reason (well, NO ONE liked Team "W" lol) we played our best game of the year and my #1 threw her 1st no hitter in the win...girls got their ice cream for a well played game/no hitter etc, not knowing it was more of a personal vendetta from a coach of Team "H"... ;&
default
Member
I witnessed games where cops were brought in... all stands emptied before play would resume. And, this was at 10u, let's say about 6-7 years ago. One of the teams busted up after winning maaaaaany events. For those lucky enough to see these douchenozzle coaches, I'm sure it was personal to some point. Disgusting people in this world for sure!
default
Member
Nope, I don't need a bunch of 10,12 or 14 year olds fighting my battles. If they feel slighted by another team and they want to beat them bad, that's good that's athletics. I'm not a player, I'm the coach, the adult in charge and my intentions are to act that way as much as possible. I've never intentionally ran up the score, who looks bad when a team does that? Everybody involved coaches, players, parents, organizations.
default
Member
This reminds me of something that happened to me a bit off topic. It was my 1st year coaching JV, we were not very good but we were playing a city league school. We were away, the 1st inning they just can't get us out, once we were up big, we ran kids off base... For all 3 outs. They come back next inning and score a bunch, we eventually win in 7 by a few runs. If we had lose that would've been a tough one to explain.
default
Member
yeah, gotta wait till 9-10+ runs and then hope the wind stays in the sails.
default
Member
I've never intentionally run up the score beyond the run rule on a team, out of respect for the opposing players, regardless of my feelings about an opposing coach. While I try to avoid taking the bat out of my players hands, or leaving base early, we'll put on the brakes by having to hit to force runners to advance. I wouldn't ever expect any opposing coach to go easy on us, which would only serve to make us somehow feel better, rather than teaching us what we need to do better.
I do remember 2 separate coaches over the past few years that I felt either overlooked or disrespected my team, coaches, or players, and felt strongly about beating, but not to the point of rubbing it in to the other teams players.
One was at an indoor tourney. We played a tough pool bracket at 13u and went winless on Saturday. Had to play the #1 seed in the other bracket, and the guy snubbed us right off the bat. We put up 10 runs in the 1st inning after retiring their offense 1-2-3. I think we suicided 5 runs in a row with bases loaded before they finally got an out. Coach made the mistake of verbalizing to his team after the first one, something to the effect of "Don't worry about it girls..I know we haven't covered it yet, but we'll work on it" - Lesson there is, don't verbalize your achilles heel within earshot of the other team. After 5 successful ones in a row, their team made the out. It was good practice for BOTH teams.
I do remember 2 separate coaches over the past few years that I felt either overlooked or disrespected my team, coaches, or players, and felt strongly about beating, but not to the point of rubbing it in to the other teams players.
One was at an indoor tourney. We played a tough pool bracket at 13u and went winless on Saturday. Had to play the #1 seed in the other bracket, and the guy snubbed us right off the bat. We put up 10 runs in the 1st inning after retiring their offense 1-2-3. I think we suicided 5 runs in a row with bases loaded before they finally got an out. Coach made the mistake of verbalizing to his team after the first one, something to the effect of "Don't worry about it girls..I know we haven't covered it yet, but we'll work on it" - Lesson there is, don't verbalize your achilles heel within earshot of the other team. After 5 successful ones in a row, their team made the out. It was good practice for BOTH teams.
default
Member
Wow....I either brought up a juicy hot topic or we are all bored at work or maybe we are all getting the jitters and antsy, wanting to step out between the white lines.
In the movie Remember the Titans" Denzel Washington said this as he was walking into the stadium at night… He said "Yeah...hmmm....this is my sanctuary". It's what we all miss. We are all anxious to get back out there onto the battlefield...to see how well the troops remember their assignments. To see them perform better than they ever have. To try to out maneuver the other guy. That is our drug guys. It's better than any chemical or drug we could ever ingest.
We are all psychologically and physically addicted to watching the games and engaging into the battles.
It's why we subscribe to threads to stay on top of these posts. It's why we are on OFC at. Midnight, when we should be sleeping.
The original intent of this post was to see how many coaches out there would employ their team to exact revenge, or maybe as a means of reliving their personal angst. Don't kick the dog, argue with the wife or discipline their own kids...they use their weapons of warfare (pitcher, catcher, 7 other D players and 9-10 batters) to help them relieve their anger, whether it be against an opposing coach for acting like a total douchegoat (another new douche term).
Gentlemen… remember that karma is a bitch. Remember do unto others as you wish them do unto you. Remember that if you live by the sword you shall die by the sword.
i'm done with my little retreat into Fastpitch softball for the moment. Got my drug fix.
And so it seems that the general consensus is that there is no consensus… Some will do it, and some would not. I can attest personally being on the business side of a lopsided score. But you know what… That never pushes me to do that unto others. Now, if a coach is acting like an a**, insulting my players, if the parents are acting immature, my best revenge is to simply get the W. Any W is better than an L.
CZ
In the movie Remember the Titans" Denzel Washington said this as he was walking into the stadium at night… He said "Yeah...hmmm....this is my sanctuary". It's what we all miss. We are all anxious to get back out there onto the battlefield...to see how well the troops remember their assignments. To see them perform better than they ever have. To try to out maneuver the other guy. That is our drug guys. It's better than any chemical or drug we could ever ingest.
We are all psychologically and physically addicted to watching the games and engaging into the battles.
It's why we subscribe to threads to stay on top of these posts. It's why we are on OFC at. Midnight, when we should be sleeping.
The original intent of this post was to see how many coaches out there would employ their team to exact revenge, or maybe as a means of reliving their personal angst. Don't kick the dog, argue with the wife or discipline their own kids...they use their weapons of warfare (pitcher, catcher, 7 other D players and 9-10 batters) to help them relieve their anger, whether it be against an opposing coach for acting like a total douchegoat (another new douche term).
Gentlemen… remember that karma is a bitch. Remember do unto others as you wish them do unto you. Remember that if you live by the sword you shall die by the sword.
i'm done with my little retreat into Fastpitch softball for the moment. Got my drug fix.
And so it seems that the general consensus is that there is no consensus… Some will do it, and some would not. I can attest personally being on the business side of a lopsided score. But you know what… That never pushes me to do that unto others. Now, if a coach is acting like an a**, insulting my players, if the parents are acting immature, my best revenge is to simply get the W. Any W is better than an L.
CZ
default
Member
default
Member
I am a second year HS coach working with a team that has had little success over the years (read decades). My #1 Pitcher had thrown exactly zero games in any venue before the season started. Needless to say we weren't having much success and playing seven innings was just like a win for us.
We were playing a top rank team in the section. My newbie pitcher had a ball slip out of her hand during the pitch. The plate umpire called what should have been a ball; an illegal pitch and scored the runner from third. I called time and asked for an explanation, we brought in the field ump and he agreed with the plate ump. I realized that both of these guys were baseball umps filing their card with a softball game. I asked the opposing coach to explain the difference between a ball, an illegal pitch and a balk. He said he wasn't sure and his assistant wasn't either... so the ruling stood. (try proving that softball doesn't have a bulk rule to two umpires that are sure we do; using just a rule book and no choking is allowed when you are already down by 9) That coach has been coaching for more than a decade and knew the rule but didn't want to give up the free run. They soon run-ruled us and the game was cut short.
So this year when we show up with a freshman that is throwing 55, who is taking private lessons, throwing to a catcher that can throw a rope from her knees and both have worked with me since September..... should I take my foot off of the gas, ever?
Probably should.....Probably won't.
We were playing a top rank team in the section. My newbie pitcher had a ball slip out of her hand during the pitch. The plate umpire called what should have been a ball; an illegal pitch and scored the runner from third. I called time and asked for an explanation, we brought in the field ump and he agreed with the plate ump. I realized that both of these guys were baseball umps filing their card with a softball game. I asked the opposing coach to explain the difference between a ball, an illegal pitch and a balk. He said he wasn't sure and his assistant wasn't either... so the ruling stood. (try proving that softball doesn't have a bulk rule to two umpires that are sure we do; using just a rule book and no choking is allowed when you are already down by 9) That coach has been coaching for more than a decade and knew the rule but didn't want to give up the free run. They soon run-ruled us and the game was cut short.
So this year when we show up with a freshman that is throwing 55, who is taking private lessons, throwing to a catcher that can throw a rope from her knees and both have worked with me since September..... should I take my foot off of the gas, ever?
Probably should.....Probably won't.
default
Member
FINALLY......YES........NOW we finally have gotten to the original intent of this post.
Revenge. That was what I originally had in my mind.
Do any of you (coaches) harbor some revenge against another team that you will satisfy by keeping the gas pedal down.
We finally have somebody who came forth & said "By God YES I do, and I will put the hammer down".
Have the runners leave early with 1 out after scoring 11 in the inning, up 16-0? Heck no Fairman says. I'm going all in, like Urban Meyer when he coached Florida. Win 77-0, only because time expired before he could score 83!
OK, so that type of feeling DOES exist out there.
We all have experiences against a particular coach who did you wrong....who made the bed that at some point you will help him sleep in.
Like I have stated before. Karma can be a real bitch.
I saw a short video clip on ESPN the other night about a hockey fan who was laughing & poking fun at a professional hockey player from the visiting team who took an injury. He took a stick to the face (accident) or something. This fan in the stands is laughing at the guy making a mockery out of the guy & just carrying on because the guy got hurt. So, the next period begins and a strange play occurred in which the puck left the ice, went over the glass & hits a fan in the temple, causing his head to bleed. Guess who that fan was.
YUP...the guy who was making light of the guy who was injured. So the player, who was back on the ice, made it a point to skate by & say something along the lines of "that's what you get for being an a**"
The universe works in strange ways & this is living proof that karma is a bitch. So, lesson to be learned....don't ever act like a Richard to other teams, because it may come back to bite you. I love the honesty Fairman & I wish you luck in your game 'o revenge. May you have your day in the sun.
Promise.....you must promise the OFC community an update after your game with said Richard. You must find this post buried deep in the archives & give us all an update. Sounds like this Richard (douchecan) deserves what he may have coming.
Revenge. That was what I originally had in my mind.
Do any of you (coaches) harbor some revenge against another team that you will satisfy by keeping the gas pedal down.
We finally have somebody who came forth & said "By God YES I do, and I will put the hammer down".
Have the runners leave early with 1 out after scoring 11 in the inning, up 16-0? Heck no Fairman says. I'm going all in, like Urban Meyer when he coached Florida. Win 77-0, only because time expired before he could score 83!
OK, so that type of feeling DOES exist out there.
We all have experiences against a particular coach who did you wrong....who made the bed that at some point you will help him sleep in.
Like I have stated before. Karma can be a real bitch.
I saw a short video clip on ESPN the other night about a hockey fan who was laughing & poking fun at a professional hockey player from the visiting team who took an injury. He took a stick to the face (accident) or something. This fan in the stands is laughing at the guy making a mockery out of the guy & just carrying on because the guy got hurt. So, the next period begins and a strange play occurred in which the puck left the ice, went over the glass & hits a fan in the temple, causing his head to bleed. Guess who that fan was.
YUP...the guy who was making light of the guy who was injured. So the player, who was back on the ice, made it a point to skate by & say something along the lines of "that's what you get for being an a**"
The universe works in strange ways & this is living proof that karma is a bitch. So, lesson to be learned....don't ever act like a Richard to other teams, because it may come back to bite you. I love the honesty Fairman & I wish you luck in your game 'o revenge. May you have your day in the sun.
Promise.....you must promise the OFC community an update after your game with said Richard. You must find this post buried deep in the archives & give us all an update. Sounds like this Richard (douchecan) deserves what he may have coming.
default
Member
default
Member
Chris ... with all due respect, you're comparing coaches of youth players to college and professional sports ... that's an altogether different environment. I understand where fairman is coming from and respect the fact that he is being honest as well, but I am just saying that I wouldn't do the same, and personally don't think it's "right" for another youth coach to "extract revenge". I certainly know that it does happen, but what does it say if you as a youth coach stoop down to the same level and in the process embarrass youth players from another team? If you were the parent of a player on that other team and your kid was thinking about playing travel ball for someone who acted like that, would you let them? Just being honest myself ...
default
Member
"Revenge" "battle" "war" LOL... We are talking about softball....I thought.
There is not a human being who doesn't want to win (maybe Ghandi and Dali Lama) but winning with class especially on front of kids would be WINNING in life. So go ahead and score 10+ runs and beat my 3rd pitcher and I'll beat you by at least 1 when it counts...
There is not a human being who doesn't want to win (maybe Ghandi and Dali Lama) but winning with class especially on front of kids would be WINNING in life. So go ahead and score 10+ runs and beat my 3rd pitcher and I'll beat you by at least 1 when it counts...
default
Member
Exactly, Mike ... we talk about parents living out their fantasies through their kids' sports ... what about coaches who live out their fantasies of coaching professionally by coaching kids' sports? I am the first to admit that I have taken coaching too seriously sometimes, but no way I can go down the path of "payback" and look at the faces of young players on the other team.
default
Member
That's where coaches get in trouble, freshmen pitcher/Catcher who are good, coach is excited to get revenge on a team with his/her new players.... Then they get to the game and if things go wrong they take it out on their players. (Not saying fairman would do that, just using this scenario as my example lol)
My 1st JV year played a team that was very good, in the bottom of the 4th she was still straight stealing up 24-0,The coach got there 10 mins before the game, the team was full of travel kids and warmed themselves up like you'd expect serious travel ball players to do. 2 years later we played that same school and beat them in the bottom of the 7th, final was 7-6. I can tell you it was a very sweet win, blowing them out and compromising my ethics and making my school look bad would not have been as sweet lol.
My 1st JV year played a team that was very good, in the bottom of the 4th she was still straight stealing up 24-0,The coach got there 10 mins before the game, the team was full of travel kids and warmed themselves up like you'd expect serious travel ball players to do. 2 years later we played that same school and beat them in the bottom of the 7th, final was 7-6. I can tell you it was a very sweet win, blowing them out and compromising my ethics and making my school look bad would not have been as sweet lol.
default
Member
Is it me or is it always the same age groups with this stuff? When will we see the next thread discussing recruiting and exposure at the 10u level again?
Similar threads
