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My DD practices because she wants too. Not because i have invested. Maybe those parents need to look into why there kids play ball.
My DD practices because she wants too. Not because i have invested. Maybe those parents need to look into why there kids play ball.
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I do not charge the kids and have not for 20 years and I allow some coaches to come and see what we do and how we do it in hopes of them paying it forwarded also in some way...provided the hitter and the parents are comfortable with it.
Our kids know how difficult it is to get an appointment and are considerate enough that if they are going to be late they call and if the need to cancel it is usually a day ahead.
I can tell if the kids are practicing and if they do not they do not get ask to come back and that has only happened 4 times in 20 years. I have learned over the years the parents can not make them practice or love the game or do what it takes to be a better player...it must come from the player to make it work.
I pay the electric bills, replace the light bulbs and buy the heaters to heat the garage....a friend of mine who owns a carpet store has supplied us propane and I do clinics for him and his baseball team. Because of the economy some of the parents have started helping to pay for some of the propane because his carpet sales have dropped off.
We have had parents spend the night at our house who have come from Toledo, Cleveland, Birmingham, Alabama, Columbus and points in between and the wife does not mind and trust me she has to buy into what we are doing or it could not happen.
I want to say Dice did what he did on his own and it was nice considering all that has happened involving the OFC that they let him voice his thanks publicly...it was his opinion of what other instructors had taught him and charged him that apparently amazed him that he learned in 4 hours.
I hope this offers some kind of explanation...
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Manito, I`m going to assume by your question that you do not value your time and knowledge nor then would you value others
WHY THE ATTACKS ?? hit a nerve with a simple question ?
WHY THE ATTACKS ?? hit a nerve with a simple question ?
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My daughter has been going to Howard for some time now and I have had the opportunity to work several clinics with Crstyl and Howard. I have been approached more and more recently about hitting lessons and clinic. I have actually done 2 team clinics in the last month and a half.
I too struggle with whether to charge or not. My 2 lines of thinking are this...
I really love this game that has brought so much joy to me and my family, and it's hard to charge someone when your doing something you enjoy and can see the rewards. I guess your only supposed to get paid to work or do something you hate doing???
But the other side of it is that my time is indeed worth something and I should be compensated. All the time away from my wife and children to the benefit of others. I know my family loves softball, but they would really enjoy seeing me around the house more. Plus when I'm teaching someone else's child, I could in fact be working or playing with my own.
And still further...if I were not to charge, at what point does the lesson not really mean anything, the child stops working on their own, and the parent stops encouraging to work, and it starts to become a waste of my time.
In Howard's case, and I could be wrong, he doesn't see most kids on a weekly or even a monthly basis, so the above is less likely to happen, but if Howard were to see kids every week and it was to become redundant, I would imagine Howard would do as he stated, "don't come back."
I see nothing wrong with paying for lessons, or free ones. But I don't think anyone is going to give away weekly free lessons for any extended period of time and feel that the student or instructor is really benefiting.
I too struggle with whether to charge or not. My 2 lines of thinking are this...
I really love this game that has brought so much joy to me and my family, and it's hard to charge someone when your doing something you enjoy and can see the rewards. I guess your only supposed to get paid to work or do something you hate doing???
But the other side of it is that my time is indeed worth something and I should be compensated. All the time away from my wife and children to the benefit of others. I know my family loves softball, but they would really enjoy seeing me around the house more. Plus when I'm teaching someone else's child, I could in fact be working or playing with my own.
And still further...if I were not to charge, at what point does the lesson not really mean anything, the child stops working on their own, and the parent stops encouraging to work, and it starts to become a waste of my time.
In Howard's case, and I could be wrong, he doesn't see most kids on a weekly or even a monthly basis, so the above is less likely to happen, but if Howard were to see kids every week and it was to become redundant, I would imagine Howard would do as he stated, "don't come back."
I see nothing wrong with paying for lessons, or free ones. But I don't think anyone is going to give away weekly free lessons for any extended period of time and feel that the student or instructor is really benefiting.
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No Manito you didn`t hit a nerve. Tell me though what is wrong with charging for a lesson when it does not go to me but to my team as a fund-raiser and the facility were I give lessons? Does it not teach the girls the value of hard work? Is it better to have a 50/50 raffle or other event where the people really receive nothing in return?
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Lady Knights great post I agree 100%. I have been batteling the same issue. Even though i have been offerd money in exchange for my time, i have yet to take it. Its tough when the demands of somethnig you love doing come to that point. I had simular thoughts as to charging Mr and Mrs Parent so in their eyes they would have something at stake.
I guess the look in the childs eyes when she accomplished something, or the look of astonishment on their parents face, or maybe even the excited sound of a voice on the phone telling you how well they hit in a game was always payment enough.
The tough economic times dont help much either, everytime i think of charging , i think to myself their feeling it as much as i do, maybe when the economy turns around and we all have a little more free money i will have a different thought process.
One thing that keeps banging away at the back of my head, If I charged and it became business, would i get the same smile, the same excitement, are those worth the money we should get paid for our time, I honestly dont have an answer wich is why I still do it for the love of doing it.
I guess the look in the childs eyes when she accomplished something, or the look of astonishment on their parents face, or maybe even the excited sound of a voice on the phone telling you how well they hit in a game was always payment enough.
The tough economic times dont help much either, everytime i think of charging , i think to myself their feeling it as much as i do, maybe when the economy turns around and we all have a little more free money i will have a different thought process.
One thing that keeps banging away at the back of my head, If I charged and it became business, would i get the same smile, the same excitement, are those worth the money we should get paid for our time, I honestly dont have an answer wich is why I still do it for the love of doing it.
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To be honest , i could care less if you give lessons for free or charge 100.00 an hour !! i just asked a question and you got ****ed and attacked me ... this thread is about howard and how diceman really appreciated his help with his dd swing ... you come in give us the 3-5 elbow movements in a swing and ramble on to justify how good you are... start your own thread==
HOW TO TRACK DA BALL BY TRAKIN DABALL
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this dude helped me recently because i have a broken wrist and he gave me some drills that i can do with my non-broken wrist.....it sux that my team isnt going to his clinic anymore because that means i cant thank him in person
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Very well put Boulder! I wish some of the high school coaches cared as much as you do about the girls rather than the paycheck...lol. Dont get me wrong...I think many do. Unfortunately, I have seen way too many teachers coach multiple sports just for the extra paychecks. I think the measuring stick should be that you should love it so much that you would be "willing" to do it for free! God bless those who do it for those reasons!
Cincy Static
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They are still taking people. Sign up.
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Well said Tim!
I like the part when you show them how to pull the bat around. They hit it hard then there eyes get big.
Gerry
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As Gerry, Tim and Shayne posted. I do it for the same reasons. It takes away from my family time, but like them, my dd is with me most of the time helping. I figure it is paying back all those that helped me along the way. Watching a young kid smile that just hit one over the fence, is worth more than any reward I can think of. I can retire in a few years and I plan on keeping busy with this hobby , that does cut into my golf time.
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I would think that we as parents should at least try to donate something to these coaches, bring a softball or two everytime you go, or drinks, cash, or something. They do spend their time helping us and our dd.
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Howard said it best in an earlier post..."PAY IT FORWARD". We have all been helped so much and we in turn have "PAID IT FORWARD" to our daughters, players and anyone else that asks for help. My hope is that my daughter and my players or whoever else I may have helped over the years does the same.
This weekend after my two little ones basketball game we stopped in Dunkin Donuts to pick up a dozen donuts to take home. After buying them we were walking out when the girls asked "can we just eat them here dad"? The line was very long so I told them we couldnt eat donuts without getting drinks and I didnt want to wait in line again...of course they convinced me that sitting down and having a super sugary chocolate covered bovarian cream donut without a drink would be okay. Suddenly as were sitting there eating our donuts a worker comes up real cautiously with a handful of milks. He said " I dont know if you want these but a lady bought these and told me to give them to you then she left". At first I was offended thinking she may have thought I was trying to dehydrate my kids...lol. I then I realized that she must have seen how the whole thing transpired and just wanted to "PAY IT FORWARD". I am sure she was just a good deed doer! How much greater would this world be if we all had that mindset?
Coach Sonny
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I really dont think anyone cares if he had permission or not!
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So many great points have been stated within this thread. My daughters no longer play ball, but I continue to coach; first because of my love of the game and second to pay back in some small way what was done for me as a child/teen. I have asked my daughters to do the same at some point in their lives and it doesn't have to be in the softball area, but somewhere. If my coaches hadn't volunteered their time and personal finances, I would never have had the opportunities that I have enjoyed.
I have such great respect and admiration for those on this thread that give to the kids with no expectations other than the desire to be a part of the greater good. You are leaving a strong mark on the lives you touch and wish you many years of continued good health to continue your mission.
I have such great respect and admiration for those on this thread that give to the kids with no expectations other than the desire to be a part of the greater good. You are leaving a strong mark on the lives you touch and wish you many years of continued good health to continue your mission.
