Article: "Student-athletes to parents: 'Grow up'"

[jTheUmp]

Saw this in the local paper this morning... not really officiating-related, but we've all seen these types of parents at our games.

Student-athletes to parents: 'Grow up' | StarTribune.com

Actually, these types of parents are one of the main reasons I started officiating instead of coaching... I reasoned that, as an official, after the game was over I wasn't going to have to deal with a particular team's parents again. As a coach, however, I'd be subjected to the annoying parents all season long.

[Bad Zebra]

I know first hand of a state championship caliber baseball coach that recently left coaching all together because in his words "It's not worth putting up with all the crap from the parents". Invariably, it was the lesser talented kids' parents that were the biggest thorn in his side.

Great article...I think it points to a nationwide trend. You can probably take this story and apply it to ANY high school in the country. Sad for the coaches and the student athletes.

[JRutledge]

These are the reasons I never wanted to coach. I saw in Little League how much parents interfered with our team and who played. I always wanted to stay next to the games, and officiating was the best way for me.

Peace

[Adam]

Originally Posted by JRutledge

These are the reasons I never wanted to coach. I saw in Little League how much parents interfered with our team and who played. I always wanted to stay next to the games, and officiating was the best way for me.

Peace

It was definitely a factor for me. I watched the crap my dad put up with from parents when he coached my brothers' Little League teams.

[amusedofficial]

Nothing worse than watching your kid ride the pine while the coach's kid plays when he wants, where he wants and for as long as he wants. I see this far more often than I see parents getting out of control with a coach. I've seen coaches pull kids from a game for a simple error while their precious flesh and blood commits unforced turnover after unforced turnover. Then there are the coaches with their buddies as assistants and no one else need apply

[Adam]

Originally Posted by amusedofficial

Nothing worse than watching your kid ride the pine while the coach's kid plays when he wants, where he wants and for as long as he wants. I see this far more often than I see parents getting out of control with a coach. I've seen coaches pull kids from a game for a simple error while their precious flesh and blood commits unforced turnover after unforced turnover. Then there are the coaches with their buddies as assistants and no one else need apply

This happens. It also happens that the coach plays the AD's kid, or the councilman's kid, because failing to do so will result in a loss of his job.

[bainsey]

Originally Posted by amusedofficial

Nothing worse than watching your kid ride the pine while the coach's kid plays when he wants, where he wants and for as long as he wants.

Not true. There are far more worse things than this. When we start treating it like there's nothing worse, we become part of the problem.

[bainsey]

Originally Posted by JRutledge

These are the reasons I never wanted to coach. I saw in Little League how much parents interfered with our team and who played. I always wanted to stay next to the games, and officiating was the best way for me.

There it is.

I've said it before. People get mad at officials for 5-10 seconds, and move onto the next play, but people hold GRUDGES against coaches. For this reason, I have a higher respect for them since I started wearing stripes.

[Adam]

Originally Posted by bainsey

There it is.

I've said it before. People get mad at officials for 5-10 seconds, and move onto the next play, but people hold GRUDGES against coaches. For this reason, I have a higher respect for them since I started wearing stripes.

I do for some of them. To be honest, I give them the same level of respect I detect from them.

I'm professional, and show them all a minimum level of respect; but the fact is I respect quite a few of them far less than I let on. Others, far more.

Frankly, in my view, character is displayed by (among other ways) how you treat those around you whom everyone else despises. This is why I have absolutely respect for that coach from Duke.

[26 Year Gap]

A guy I know who coaches VG basketball once cut a bunch of seniors much to the amazement of onloookers. When asked about it he said: "This way I only have to deal with one phone call."

If two players are about equal, take the one who took less time to get there. Same holds true in the workplace, for that matter.

[tref]

Originally Posted by Bad Zebra

Invariably, it was the lesser talented kids' parents that were the biggest thorn in his side.

I always wondered why the least skilled players cry the most, I now see that its instilled into them early & carries over to their wreck careers.