Coaches Need to Teach More than X's and O's

[longbat]

All the talk about NTX softball being in trouble is a bunch of horse hockey! The number of softball players represented in NTX has to be top five in the country...and there's nothing unhealthy about that! With the exception of SoCal, or perhaps Houston, DFW has to have the largest number of participants in a metro area. These kids have all the options too...from rec, to B ball, to hard-core travel A ball, and plenty of conduits to college ball if that's what they want. Justaburger simply has too much time on his hands and wants to bitch about something...like who's number 1,2,3 or 4 at last week's get together in Keller. Honestly...who gives a rat's ass justa? Get a frickin' life dude...

The only real reason to worry is because of the the state of our rec or intermediate leagues. Like Big Dave pointed out, if it ain't fun, many of these kids will find someting else to do...like volleyball, cheer, band, chasing boys... Not everyone wants to play college ball, but the game beyond 14U is all about recruiting and is geared to exclude those who enjoy a day or two on the dirt. The fun for the kids and parents is gone and it's all about the business of rounding up some coin for college. Back in the day, you took care of your grades, played the game for pure enjoyment, and didn't pay much attention to jonbovi and his endless, worthless advice and Q & A sessions...

There is a division in NTX because of the ASA/VTD split...but for a few headcases and homers, it's softball as usual...the same parks, TD, coaches, and kids playing a game. When you get down to brass tacks...it doesn't matter who sanctions the tournaments, at least locally. Almost... all is well with DFW softball and it's about time some stop their bitching and get on with the enjoyment of watching their kids play a game.

[pbj2000]

Agreed...so all the ASA Homers please stop blaming the watered down NTX teams on VTD...same people stating NTX was watered down two years ago are saying the same thing now...just have someone different to blame it on now.

[Southpaw729]

All great posts here. As a long time coach I would say there really is no excuse for continuing to pound a team like that. The detrimental damage being done to both teams is unnecessary. The winning team learns poor sportsmanship and the losing team is humiliated; not a good thing for girls to experience.

I wrote an article on the subject you may enjoy reading http://www.softballsmarts.com/2011/09/winning-at-all-costsdoes-that-really.html.

Let's hope this coach is the rare exception in your area!