This coach should NOT be coaching youth!

[cz fastpitch fan]

In a recent end of the year jr. high tourney game, a ball was hit towards the second baseman. She chose to alter her course to not run into the runner, then fielded the ball & threw to 1B.

NOTE: - This is NOT a discussion about whether or not this is interference or obstruction, because there is a very recent thread that covers that very thing. This thread is about the coach and what was said to the player after that play.
I was coaching 1B and could not believe my ears.
The coach said, and I quote "Next time, you run that runner over to get to the ball. I want you to BULLDOZE HER OVER. to make sure you can get the out."

Could not believe what I just heard. Being a youth coach myself, I couldn't help myself but ask this coach "Is that what you teach? Are you really saying you want her to intentionally plow the runner over, to get an out???" The coach said yes and I was appalled.

I will not reveal the team, the tourney, the game or the coach's name. Don't ask. I'm not into public smearing for the sake of smearing. In fact, I've been careful as to conceal the gender of this coach, so it isn't obvious whether the coach is male or female.

QUESTION-should I e-mail this coach's AD, to let them know what this coach is teaching the players? These are 13 & 14 year old girls being instructed to possibly injure another player!!!

 

[daboss]

None of this would be said if umpires would get the call right or make a call on the subject of interference or obstruction. Many coaches have lashed out after a "no call" situation but it doesn't mean they are serial killers. I read your post and without hesitation felt this might be more the case, even after reading of the interaction between you and the other coach. They were upset and reacted to your question in frustration. Personally, I feel they thought you got away with one here and your question just rubbed salt in the wound.

Many coaches out there believe they are doing the right thing and many make mistakes. Even the best have their moments. Many exaggerate to get players to understand the importance of execution but additional follow up instruction with a more in-depth explanation many times completes the lesson. You don't know if this is the case. I suggest you leave it alone. If this coach is truly messing up their own people will take the appropriate measures and handle things. You get involved and you may end up with a reputation of your own that may not be what you want. Nobody was hurt. Life goes on after the game. My guess is the coach is still talking about the no call in that game without thinking that umpires are human too. Worse yet, they may have been wrong about the no call! lol

 

[coachjwb]

Slightly different situation, but the thing that used to irk me the most was when defensive players not making a play on the ball seemingly stepped into my baserunner's path. I will admit to yelling on more than one occasion loud enough for the opposing coach and umpires to hear ... "unless they're making a play on the ball, you own that base line ... if they run into or interfere with you, that's on them!"

 

[Long Baller]

I've heard coaches say much, much worse to their players at 10U and 12U. Sad but true...

 

[sftball follower]

I tell the girls not necessarily to bulldoze the runner over, but I do tell them NOT to let the runner determine the outcome of the play. Same thing at first base when coaches teach their 1B to stretch in the baseline. My girls are told not to slow down. I think you would be surprised how many coaches actually teach their girls to do the above mentioned especially at the younger ages.
Shame.........

 

[wow]

Interference or obstruction. Not always a EZ call. See this get messed up all the time. Love to see the two teams arguing. "she had a right to the ball" " she had a right to the base path".

Most of time you hear a coach say something like that is out of frustration. Emotions typically lead to dumb comments like this.

Fastpitch is not a full contact sport and if a coach does teach that the likelyhood his kid gets hurt is high.

 

[tjsmize3]

... Many exaggerate to get players to understand the importance of execution but additional follow up instruction with a more in-depth explanation many times completes the lesson. You don't know if this is the case. I suggest you leave it alone.

Well said daboss. I am as guilty as anyone in exaggerating things for my players as well and this is one of those things that others may misconstrue. We NEVER... EVER try to intentionally injure another player, however, it is imperative that the base runner be taught to NOT alter their course to avoid an infielder who IS NOT making a play on the ball, and that an infielder be taught to NOT alter their course to the ball for a base runner if they ARE making a play on the ball. Sometimes we say crazy things to help a player override that natural instinct to get out of someone's way, but as any football player can tell you avoiding contact can be a bigger cause for injury sometimes than the contact itself. No one is generally advocating plowing over a defenseless player to intentionally injure, and most coaches are probably good about talking to the player behind the scenes and putting their words into perspective. Not every coach has the time or feels it is necessary to make sure the opposing coach (and their players and family) understands the intent of everything they say to their players.

 

[pride1]

This has been a sore subject of mine and it comes up often. I have brought up to the powers to be within the ASA to make this rule clear to any and all umpires. It goes back to any sport trying to eliminate unnecessary contact in sports and reducing concussions! The problem really lies with the umpires who still think contact is necessary to justify an interference or obstruction ruling! In fact the rule reads clearly "impedes" not "contact" so on the reverse side like the above mentioned out of frustration you have coaches telling there players they have a right to the ball or base dont let anything prevent you from making the play.

 

[maddball44]

I have told my dd, who is a ss, stay the course, play the ball and brace for impact. She has never followed my advice. She has always taken the alternate rout. She has never made the play and she has never gotten the call. Maybe one day she'll learn.