Travel vs School?

[Blind Squirrel]

No, don't go. Tell me more about how the girls disrespected the high school coach by having their own signs/signals and how you condoned it. That is awsome. I hope I can teach my dd half of what you seem to teach yours but that is probably too much to hope for. You are a smart one. I will give you that.

Well, since you insist, I'll stay a bit longer. (Thanx for your interest - I think I'm blushing)

The ignore sign was wiping the bottom of one of their cleats with their hand. Want more?

Would you care to show what a smart one you are and describe why the rationale I provided for condoning an isolated act is wrong in your omniscient eyes? Oh and I didn't just condone it. When I heard about it I thought it was pretty funny. Still do. Oddly enough, after that season my demon spawn acquired this nasty habit of turning her head around 360 degrees.

Hey, this one might be easier for you to attack if you're not up to the previous task: I take my kid's softball playing about as seriously as I would take her stamp collecting if that is what she enjoyed rather than playing softball. I consider both activities to be equally deserving of my interest/support. I don't consider her abilities in either pursuit to be a reflection of her quality as a person or, by extension, mine. Her effort is a different matter.

BTW, I'm just a normal parent who has done the best they can. Neither of my kids has been arrested or done time yet but they still (hopefully) have many years left to realize my dreams for them (i.e., Incarceration in CA, Reynoldsburg, Ohio AND Indiana).

Sobbing Squirrel (who eagerly awaits enlightenment)

[DLauck]

Grizzled Veteran? First I find out that my centerfielder from my 93’ 14 –under Stealer team just landed the head coaching job At Warren and now I’m the grizzled veteran. Ouch!!!! I thought I was just hitting my stride!

This is such a great thread, great comments by all; I have to admit that I have enjoyed coaching both venues over my 20 plus years. Parents can be a challenge at times in both HS or TB. I think each group has its own distinct characteristics. When I came to HS ball in 99 it was a major adjustment. Instead of looking at 14 girls with one dream of college scholarships, I had 14 girls with goals across the board.

I think most of us coaches want to be a positive influence on our young ladies. Some just do it better than others.

Don’t give up on HS ball, it teaches one great lesson in life, how to adjust and adapt.

Either coaching in 110* in Dallas at 4:30 in the afternoon or in a snow flurries in Greenwood, its all good!

Again great comments. Great thread Mavrick, Dave I can’t wait to meet you; I heard super things about your program. Kim this is going to be more fun than I can stand!!! D.A.S. you know I love it!!!

Don Pietz
Lutheran High School

Coach Pietz,

Likewise, I'm looking forward to meeting you and hopefully we meet on the field this year. More than likely you'll be facing Floyd Central in the first round of our varsity invitational; they are a very good team (4A state finalists last year) and well coached. We were fortunate to beat them by a run last year, after squeaking past your Lutheran squad in the first round by a run. That outcome was due to the fact bucket boy's dd left the game after the 9th inning. Those were two very, very good HS softball games!

It appears we have a shot at playing in the County tourney as well if we both get out of the first round. We will have our hands full with Franklin Central to start off, and it won't get any easier playing Lutheran in the second round. Looking forward to both opportunities!!

I have to make one last comment about the parents, in general. They all want what's best for their dd's. And I agree that both TB and HS coaches have to put up with the parent issues. But as someone stated very well, in order to maintain balance in your program it is a MUST to have the parents on your side. If a coach can't handle the "parent pressures" they won't last long. I'm very fortunate to have had a great group of parents over the course of the last 5 years; they've been very supportive and giving of their time and talents. The efforts and great communication by parents have made my short stint as a HS softball coach rather enjoyable, to say the least.

[snoop]

Coach lauck,
Is that draw online anywhere? That's just a crazy draw! What did us southsiders do to pi$$ somebody off? Thats got to be the 3 favorites to win it this year! Oh well, got to beat the best to be the best! Good luck! Go FC!

[2fatoverdaplate]

No, don't go. Tell me more about how the girls disrespected the high school coach by having their own signs/signals and how you condoned it. That is awsome. I hope I can teach my dd half of what you seem to teach yours but that is probably too much to hope for. You are a smart one. I will give you that.

Well, since you insist, I'll stay a bit longer. (Thanx for your interest - I think I'm blushing)

The ignore sign was wiping the bottom of one of their cleats with their hand. Want more?

Would you care to show what a smart one you are and describe why the rationale I provided for condoning an isolated act is wrong in your omniscient eyes? Oh and I didn't just condone it. When I heard about it I thought it was pretty funny. Still do. Oddly enough, after that season my demon spawn acquired this nasty habit of turning her head around 360 degrees.

Hey, this one might be easier for you to attack if you're not up to the previous task: I take my kid's softball playing about as seriously as I would take her stamp collecting if that is what she enjoyed rather than playing softball. I consider both activities to be equally deserving of my interest/support. I don't consider her abilities in either pursuit to be a reflection of her quality as a person or, by extension, mine. Her effort is a different matter.

BTW, I'm just a normal parent who has done the best they can. Neither of my kids has been arrested or done time yet but they still (hopefully) have many years left to realize my dreams for them (i.e., Incarceration in CA, Reynoldsburg, Ohio AND Indiana).

Sobbing Squirrel (who eagerly awaits enlightenment)

Yes please. Do tell and give details but talk slow so that even I can understand. Also, if you don't mind, tell me what omniscient means. I'll go out on a limb here and say that it's a color or a smell but I'm probably wrong. Oh, well......I'll wait for you to explain it to me. That is a real big and impressive word though.

[Coach9337]

Coach Pietz,

Likewise, I'm looking forward to meeting you and hopefully we meet on the field this year. More than likely you'll be facing Floyd Central in the first round of our varsity invitational; they are a very good team (4A state finalists last year) and well coached. We were fortunate to beat them by a run last year, after squeaking past your Lutheran squad in the first round by a run. That outcome was due to the fact bucket boy's dd left the game after the 9th inning. Those were two very, very good HS softball games!

It appears we have a shot at playing in the County tourney as well if we both get out of the first round. We will have our hands full with Franklin Central to start off, and it won't get any easier playing Lutheran in the second round. Looking forward to both opportunities!!

I have to make one last comment about the parents, in general. They all want what's best for their dd's. And I agree that both TB and HS coaches have to put up with the parent issues. But as someone stated very well, in order to maintain balance in your program it is a MUST to have the parents on your side. If a coach can't handle the "parent pressures" they won't last long. I'm very fortunate to have had a great group of parents over the course of the last 5 years; they've been very supportive and giving of their time and talents. The efforts and great communication by parents have made my short stint as a HS softball coach rather enjoyable, to say the least.

This looks like it’s shaping up to be a very interesting 2010 schedule. We joined the Indiana Crossroads Conference this year and our schedule has been changed quite a bit. The County looks very competitive from where we are in the bracket, that's for sure. The team that plays on Monday will have earned the right to be there!

I have a lot of good memories playing Roncalli in the county tourney, a lot of my TB gals played there back in the day. Watching my DD pitch against her TB teammates that played for Roncalli, was some of my fondest softball memories, not to mention the fact that my Assistant coaches’ daughter played there. It made for some great conversations when June came.
Floyd Central will be an exciting game to play and the Roncalli tourney is a great way to get ready for Sectionals. Is it March yet????

[watcher]

All I can say is WOW!!

I am sooooooooo glad DD's are in college now

[2fatoverdaplate]

Yes please. Do tell and give details but talk slow so that even I can understand. Also, if you don't mind, tell me what omniscient means. I'll go out on a limb here and say that it's a color or a smell but I'm probably wrong. Oh, well......I'll wait for you to explain it to me. That is a real big and impressive word though.

Hey fattie, you should probably just let it go, you are way out of your league

Wow spazm! Now that's funny. It's not like you to resort to name calling and not make fun of someone's spelling. Surely I mythpelt something. I couldn't find "fattie" but if you meant "fatty", I'm trying to lose weight. I just can't stay away from the fattie foods and I never said that I was in your league although I am trying to get there. I'll let it go though because you are the boss.

[DonnieS]

Yes please. Do tell and give details but talk slow so that even I can understand. Also, if you don't mind, tell me what omniscient means. I'll go out on a limb here and say that it's a color or a smell but I'm probably wrong. Oh, well......I'll wait for you to explain it to me. That is a real big and impressive word though.

Hey fattie, you should probably just let it go, you are way out of your league

Wow spazm! Now that's funny. It's not like you to resort to name calling and not make fun of someone's spelling. Surely I mythpelt something. I couldn't find "fattie" but if you meant "fatty", I'm trying to lose weight. I just can't stay away from the fattie foods and I never said that I was in your league although I am trying to get there. I'll let it go though because you are the boss.

My kids have done the same things that John describes to their coaches. They have done it in situations where they have more information available to them than the coaches. They have over ridden my signals, they have overridden school coaches - in situations where they saw something that told them, they needed to make a change. If that is disrespect, I suggest you talk to Peyton Manning about it as well. I generally know it when they do it to me - I asked them about it, it will be something like - "well after we called change-up, we heard the 3b coach say 'here comes the change-up' so we changed it to screw-rise " , things like this. This is a thinking game and I want my girls to think. Doing whatever you are told exactly as you are told may work for you if you work for the government - but if you are out in this world, you better know how to think on your feet and react to changing situations. Like John, I applaud it.

[2fatoverdaplate]

Yes please. Do tell and give details but talk slow so that even I can understand. Also, if you don't mind, tell me what omniscient means. I'll go out on a limb here and say that it's a color or a smell but I'm probably wrong. Oh, well......I'll wait for you to explain it to me. That is a real big and impressive word though.

Hey fattie, you should probably just let it go, you are way out of your league

Wow spazm! Now that's funny. It's not like you to resort to name calling and not make fun of someone's spelling. Surely I mythpelt something. I couldn't find "fattie" but if you meant "fatty", I'm trying to lose weight. I just can't stay away from the fattie foods and I never said that I was in your league although I am trying to get there. I'll let it go though because you are the boss.

My kids have done the same things that John describes to their coaches. They have done it in situations where they have more information available to them than the coaches. They have over ridden my signals, they have overridden school coaches - in situations where they saw something that told them, they needed to make a change. If that is disrespect, I suggest you talk to Peyton Manning about it as well. I generally know it when they do it to me - I asked them about it, it will be something like - "well after we called change-up, we heard the 3b coach say 'here comes the change-up' so we changed it to screw-rise " , things like this. This is a thinking game and I want my girls to think. Doing whatever you are told exactly as you are told may work for you if you work for the government - but if you are out in this world, you better know how to think on your feet and react to changing situations. Like John, I applaud it.

Although that is very well explained, we are talking about HS ball aren't we? Manning's offense is centered around him making changes to plays and more so with him than most other QBs. If the coach knows that the girls are thinking on their feet and changing the call, then fine. But, the fastest way to find yourself getting a drink of water while the rest of the team is on the field is to change a HS coach's call because the mentality in HS is "coach knows best". Right or wrong. So no, I don't applaud an insider between the girls and making the coach look foolish but I do applaud a coach teaching the girls to think on their feet. I'm glad that it worked out for John's dd but I'm afraid that it wouldn't be the case with most DDs so advocating this is rediculous.

[watcher]

Well my kid has changed pitches "many,many" times, Like Payton she knows the hitters much better than the H.S. coach's do. Although most of the time they didn't even know it had been changed. Now they didn't go off & steal bases when not given the sign, They didn't hit-away when given the bunt sign.

Yes this H.S. and most of the TB players know the opponent better than "most" HS coaches.
All this insubordination has not propelled her into a life of crime or even pushing a shopping-cart around town picking-up cans & bottles. No, She earned a spot behind the dish, Calling pitches & running the defense.