Closed practices

[ohiosportsmom]

How can the board of Minford little league tell parents of the 9-10 all-star softball team that practices are closed and the parents can't attend? They have to drop their kids off at the parking lot.

[oldtrojan]

Good for the coach. Parents are always screaming for little Johnny,or Johnette to do this or that. He does not need any more distractions. It's hard enough to keep their attention at that age.
Please don't come back with comments bashing me. I have been a coach on all levels and a Parent on all levels as well. It was pretty hard for me to keep my mouth shut at times also. Those that know me knows how hard that was for me to do at times.
Good luck to the 9-10 year olds, their Parents, and Coaches. Enjoy the expierence, they are only little for awhile.

[softball10]

There is no way they can do that. Little League is for all parents/coaches/kids. Call Williamsport. This board has a very big ego problem. I bet if all the parents got together and refused to have their girls play then matters would change pretty quickly. I wouldn't trust one person around a bunch of girls anyway!!! That is the craziest thing I ever heard. Do they have some kind of secret weapon or something? That is the funniest-craziest thing I have ever heard. I would not leave my child in that situation.

[BlindWhiteHat]

Why is it so difficult for parents to allow coaches to coach their kids? I'm sure the coaches would just like to have the kids' attention without them looking to their parents.

If the parents don't like it then I guess they should pull their kids off the team. I don't think calling Williamsport will do any good because they are not going to tell leagues or coaches how to run their practices.

The comment about a coach being alone with the kids is crazy. I'm sure there will be more than 1 adult on site. Plus, if you don't trust your coach because you think he/she would do something illegal with your child then you shouldn't let your child play for him regardless of who can be around during practice.

[Peanut]

This is minor league for goodness sake not high school. This is a time for parents to spend with their kids and support them. I could not imagine not being able to have this time with my daughter. I am a coach and I will coach no different in a game than I would in practice. Just give me the reason for it?

[BlindWhiteHat]

I'd say the coaches want the girls undivided attention without any interference or distractions from the parents. I've seen many kids who look at their parents every time they pitch, bat, make a play, etc. The coaches would obviously have a hard time getting through to kids like that while parents are in the stands.

I'd like to hear what the parents concerns are and see if the coaches can work those issues out. As a coach, I'd love to have closed practices except for fear that someone would be injured or ill during the practice. If the coach has someone there he/she can trust in a medical situation, then I see no reason the coach can't expect to be allowed to host a closed practice.

This just seems to be a problem because the parents refuse to give up any control of their kids and allow them to be coach by someone else.

[Peanut]

Control of their kids, please---how about just being there to support their kids!!!!
It seems to me it is the coach who needs control, not the parent. My kid would not play for this person, that is a fact!!!

[BlindWhiteHat]

Can't you support them at the games?

It is the coach that needs control, that is why he is asking the parents to allow him to coach the kids without interference.

Would you let your child play for this person if your child told you that's what he/she wanted?

[oldtrojan]

How about a compromise?

The parents can watch practice, but most remain silent at a distance...

GOOD LUCK WITH THAT!!!

[Trojanbuckeye]

I see parents on these sites bash the board, bash the district, bash the coaches, bash each other, the easiest way to solve the problem is this. Join you local board, become a coach. Take every weekend from January through July, take every week day from daybreak until you finally have to turn the phone off at night because everyone is calling to complain. Get cursed out by parent, coaches and sometimes kids. Get the fields ready, do the paperwork and don't forget the monthly meeting with district. Sit in their shoes for 1 season, it will totally change the way you get on here and gripe, moan and bellyache because a coach want to teach your child to play the game without parents screaming at them and the player, or a board makes an unpopular decision, appoints a coach, rules against a coach. Come on, join your local board, sit on the other side for a while and let everyone tell you how wrong you are and that you don't know what you are doing.

Sorry, just tired of the coach, manager, board, district bashing going on here....

[oldtrojan]

I see parents on these sites bash the board, bash the district, bash the coaches, bash each other, the easiest way to solve the problem is this. Join you local board, become a coach. Take every weekend from January through July, take every week day from daybreak until you finally have to turn the phone off at night because everyone is calling to complain. Get cursed out by parent, coaches and sometimes kids. Get the fields ready, do the paperwork and don't forget the monthly meeting with district. Sit in their shoes for 1 season, it will totally change the way you get on here and gripe, moan and bellyache because a coach want to teach your child to play the game without parents screaming at them and the player, or a board makes an unpopular decision, appoints a coach, rules against a coach. Come on, join your local board, sit on the other side for a while and let everyone tell you how wrong you are and that you don't know what you are doing.

Sorry, just tired of the coach, manager, board, district bashing going on here....

Well stated. Been there done that for about 25 years or so .
Think if I decide to get back into coaching after a 3 year hiatus it will probably have to be at an orphanage!!

[favabeans]

Having a closed practice is no big deal. I've been around enough sports practices and competitions to know that there are always one or two parents who can't keep their mouths shut and it changes the way the kids act. The coaches only have an hour or two to work with these kids.

Just because you're not sitting at practice does not mean you aren't supporting your child. When they get to jr high and high school do you still have to support them and go to those practices? Those practices are usually closed too.

[BlindWhiteHat]

Having a closed practice is no big deal. I've been around enough sports practices and competitions to know that there are always one or two parents who can't keep their mouths shut and it changes the way the kids act. The coaches only have an hour or two to work with these kids.

Just because you're not sitting at practice does not mean you aren't supporting your child. When they get to jr high and high school do you still have to support them and go to those practices? Those practices are usually closed too.

Excellent post.

[biggdowgg]

hell when I helped coach we didnt have to worry about this,,,,the parents hardly came to games let alone practices

[TIGERS90]

I think if it were possible...that a closed practice would get rid of a lot of head aches...I know from my experience from coaching...it's not the parents that want to help out that are your problem...it's the parents that either sit watching their children practice and want their kids to be the star...although they aren't willing to do anything to help out that seem to always cause the majority of the trouble...as far as Ironton little league goes.....Some of the board don't support parents wanting to help out their kids and go as far as actually telling some parents that they can't even step onto the field for personal reasons...such as their wife not liking the coach...etc...then giving reason's such as that they practiced too much when they were coaching...or that they came down to the field on a sunday with their child and when other children showed up...that they allowed kids from other little league districts to play...even though it was a pick up practice...I feel that people that have done this and discouraged parents from being a part of helping kids only for personal gain should be banned from the board..or at least banned from making any decisions that affect kids...as in this year...there weren't enough parents as usual to help out the kids...most kids were sitting on the bench for the majority of practice...and the people that made the parents not help out were no where to be found....never even showing up to donate their time to the coach who needed them, while the parent's sat watching their children with their hands tied while children sat disgusted because they weren't a part of practice...I feel that unless the parent has done something to hurt a child...that the parent should always be allowed to help out...especially if the head coach asks for the parent's help...as this year was the case....I also feel that the people who are responsible for what happened this season should resign...and allow someone who is qualified to make decisions do the job. It's a sad day when a little league board is going to make a decision that a parent can not help out their own child...especially when the parent has shown that they can make a difference to the lives of children in a positive way...and allows children to sit watching and not being able to participate because there isn't enough help...as was the case this year and every year since I have been in the Ironton organization. I hope that the parents come out this year and get a board in place that looks out for the children's best interest...not their own personal interest at the expense of the children....I am hopeful though as many Ironton parents have been frustrated for years of politics...that the AABC is coming to town with at least two teams this year...both having their own fields..and complete rosters...I feel that if Little League doesn't get their act together that many parents that actually want their children to learn baseball will go this route..as this league gives the kids all-star caliber competition game in-game out...throughout the season. and relies on the parents participation to make the kids better....As far as the closed practice goes...I feel that if it is in the best interest of the team...and that there had been parents who have caused problems for the coach to get his kids to play to the best of their ability...that they should be able to do so...kids even at the 7-8 age group still want to win and still want to learn...with this they also like to have a great deal of fun...if there are parents interrupting any of this...I feel it's fine to close a practice when it comes to tourney time...but the board needs to get behind the coach that they have picked to coach...not stab their coaches in the back because parents complain that little johnny didn't get to play second base...as has been the case with the Ironton Little League for many years...that is what the board is for...unless the coach has been proven to have done something wrong...don't believe everything you hear...some people will say anything to get their way...Ironton seems to just go with whoever has the biggest wallet...and forget the people that make a difference to the kids...They need to back up their coaches and kids....do the right thing!!!

[wemufans]

I think if it were possible...that a closed practice would get rid of a lot of head aches...I know from my experience from coaching...it's not the parents that want to help out that are your problem...it's the parents that either sit watching their children practice and want their kids to be the star...although they aren't willing to do anything to help out that seem to always cause the majority of the trouble...as far as Ironton little league goes.....Some of the board don't support parents wanting to help out their kids and go as far as actually telling some parents that they can't even step onto the field for personal reasons...such as their wife not liking the coach...etc...then giving reason's such as that they practiced too much when they were coaching...or that they came down to the field on a sunday with their child and when other children showed up...that they allowed kids from other little league districts to play...even though it was a pick up practice...I feel that people that have done this and discouraged parents from being a part of helping kids only for personal gain should be banned from the board..or at least banned from making any decisions that affect kids...as in this year...there weren't enough parents as usual to help out the kids...most kids were sitting on the bench for the majority of practice...and the people that made the parents not help out were no where to be found....never even showing up to donate their time to the coach who needed them, while the parent's sat watching their children with their hands tied while children sat disgusted because they weren't a part of practice...I feel that unless the parent has done something to hurt a child...that the parent should always be allowed to help out...especially if the head coach asks for the parent's help...as this year was the case....I also feel that the people who are responsible for what happened this season should resign...and allow someone who is qualified to make decisions do the job. It's a sad day when a little league board is going to make a decision that a parent can not help out their own child...especially when the parent has shown that they can make a difference to the lives of children in a positive way...and allows children to sit watching and not being able to participate because there isn't enough help...as was the case this year and every year since I have been in the Ironton organization. I hope that the parents come out this year and get a board in place that looks out for the children's best interest...not their own personal interest at the expense of the children....I am hopeful though as many Ironton parents have been frustrated for years of politics...that the AABC is coming to town with at least two teams this year...both having their own fields..and complete rosters...I feel that if Little League doesn't get their act together that many parents that actually want their children to learn baseball will go this route..as this league gives the kids all-star caliber competition game in-game out...throughout the season. and relies on the parents participation to make the kids better....As far as the closed practice goes...I feel that if it is in the best interest of the team...and that there had been parents who have caused problems for the coach to get his kids to play to the best of their ability...that they should be able to do so...kids even at the 7-8 age group still want to win and still want to learn...with this they also like to have a great deal of fun...if there are parents interrupting any of this...I feel it's fine to close a practice when it comes to tourney time...but the board needs to get behind the coach that they have picked to coach...not stab their coaches in the back because parents complain that little johnny didn't get to play second base...as has been the case with the Ironton Little League for many years...that is what the board is for...unless the coach has been proven to have done something wrong...don't believe everything you hear...some people will say anything to get their way...Ironton seems to just go with whoever has the biggest wallet...and forget the people that make a difference to the kids...They need to back up their coaches and kids....do the right thing!!!

Feel better? I don't believe in closing practices until Middle School. JMHO

[sportsfan9572]

I've have also been on both sides of this fence and can agree with both sides. I had to miss a lot of my sons stuff just because of my work schedule and practices sometimes were the only time I got to see anything. As a coach, I had no problem telling the parents during the beginning of the season that they were welcomed to watch but that I would be coaching the team and I had no problem telling the kids that if they were told to do something but kept looking at mom or dad to see if it was ok, then they could go sit with mom or dad.