dads' teams

[supporter]

Can travel ball withstand the influx of teams coached by dads' that do not have the integrity, ability or moral standards of a good coach ?

[slapperdad]

Probably, hopefully there's video!

[Mick]

If the dads (and moms) don't coach, who will?

[Joe]

Can travel ball withstand the influx of teams coached by dads' that do not have the integrity, ability or moral standards of a good coach ?

Shut the hell up...you frickin' idiot!

[Battle]

Can travel ball withstand the influx of teams coached by dads' that do not have the integrity, ability or moral standards of a good coach ?

Shut the hell up...you frickin' idiot!

[clayface74]

There is nothing sudden about it...It has been done since day 1. a friend of mone started an organization 9 years ago so his daughter would have a better experience than rec had to offer. 9 seasons later that group has evolved from a strugling 10u group to an 18u team that won an NSA championship. Along the way multiple girls have come in and out of the system. 2 NSA series championships later he is still going strong and mentoring young jackasses like me to be sure the game continues to have an influx of excited energy filled good coaches that are here for the the growth of the girls not their own egos...

I suppose that is how dad's teams will withstand the influx of teams coached by dads' that do not have the integrity, ability or moral standards of a good coach. The coaches that lack integrity find a way to weed themselves out most of the time..

[looking in]

This is new?? How many single guys/girls(or kid less) want to coach a bunch of teenage girls??

[slapperdad]

This is new?? How many single guys/girls(or kid less) want to coach a bunch of teenage girls??

There was a white creeper van spotted at Sport Zone over the weekend!

Seriously, at some point, women who've played/play need to step up to the plate. My DD is 15, I've expressed to her that she expects a lot out of Softball. And with that comes a responsibility to give back. Last summer she helped a local 10U start up travel team with their practices. She helped with all facets of the game. She's the local high school hero, the girls look up to her, she was not that long ago a 9 year old girl starting out, so she relates to them. It was a win/win in my opinion. I discovered that I need to quit thinking of my DD as a 9 year old, she knows this game way better than I give her credit for, and she's a pretty good teacher, even though she had no idea that's what she was doing. And with a bunch of just starting out dads running the team, they learned a lot as well.

Women who've gone to college or even played travel ball thru high school, need to give back. Look at any other sport, this is how they operate. Softball to a large extent is a new group of dads reinventing the wheel every year. And I completely understand the concept, believe me I was there too not so long ago. Fortunately I stumble in the right direction thru dumb luck.

Now with all that being said, we need to be clear on a couple things:
1. There are some great women coaches who do exactly what I'm talking about, in my opinion there just aren't enough.
2. There are some great male coaches, and I am no way trying to say that women are better coaches than men. At times we as men, don't relate well to women/girls. By far the largest demographic playing Fastpitch is women, it stands to reason we should theoretically have more female coaches. Case in point, we played at SZ this past weekend and my DD didn't play particularly well. We had a long discussion about the weekend coming home, no, not what you're thinking, but it was really eye opening for me, that her take was so much different than mine as far as the issues that she/her team had this weekend.

[madwhit]

Thank you Slapperdad!

I am a woman coach for the Indiana Gators 99 and I love it.

This is a way for me to give back. Unfortunately so many coaches are men/dads of a player but they honestly do not have a clue. What is scary is if they don't agree with the coach they just run out and start a new "travel team". I can promise you that none of them have ever played WOMENS FASTPITCH SOFTBALL. (well I assume that..LOL). However, when you can stand in front of these young ladies and tell them what they have to do to make it to the next level because you have been there and done that you now have credibility. Not everyone can say that. I wish I saw more women coaching in travel ball but some can be intimidated by that irrate, loud, and harsh male coach that can sometimes forget he has impressionable young ladies watching.

That being said I have also seen some of the best male coaches who truley know the game and understands that these are ladies that are looking to learn how to play the game of softball and the game of life.

Please know your role as a coach is not always about the sport.

Cynthia Whitaker
Indiana Gators 99

[Joe]

Thank you Slapperdad!

I am a woman coach for the Indiana Gators 99 and I love it.

This is a way for me to give back. Unfortunately so many coaches are men/dads of a player but they honestly do not have a clue. What is scary is if they don't agree with the coach they just run out and start a new "travel team". I can promise you that none of them have ever played WOMENS FASTPITCH SOFTBALL. (well I assume that..LOL). However, when you can stand in front of these young ladies and tell them what they have to do to make it to the next level because you have been there and done that you now have credibility. Not everyone can say that. I wish I saw more women coaching in travel ball but some can be intimidated by that irrate, loud, and harsh male coach that can sometimes forget he has impressionable young ladies watching.

That being said I have also seen some of the best male coaches who truley know the game and understands that these are ladies that are looking to learn how to play the game of softball and the game of life.

Please know your role as a coach is not always about the sport.

Cynthia Whitaker
Indiana Gators 99

Listen up sister...

If it wasn't for dads taking the reins... there would be no such thing as fastpitch softball. I've had decades of experience with idiots who stand up when they visit the restroom and the same with your so-called experts who have played the game. The fact is...good people is good people. Male or female...it's a parent's responsibility to seek out the the best for their child....and THAT has nothing to do with who wears a jock strap or a bra...