Daddy Ball Bashers

[Wormburner]

I am curious about the "daddy ball bashers" that live on this forum. Frankly, I have been in softball a very short time, but I have yet to attend a tournament where I thought the "hired" or "placed" coaches knew as much about the game as the "daddies" coaching our team. Not only do these "daddies" work diligently to teach our girls the game, but they are very objective about their daughters and their playing time. The best nine play, and the best at each position plays at that position, DD or not! Frankly, I have to wonder about the motivation ($$$$?) of someone who would be coaching that did not have a daughter involved. We have a competive team, dads spending time with their daughters, and a very close-knit and supportive group of parents and players. I guess we just got lucky, but I wouldn't trade it for the other trash I read on here about other options that are available out there.

[justawatcher]

What you're describing isn't really daddy ball though. No one is knocking the dads out there putting in their time. A better example would be the head coach who puts his kid in the circle even though she stinks and it causes them to lose. Most teams dont have paid coaches but that doesn't necessarily make them all daddy ball teams.

As for the motivations, I'm sure they're different for all coaches. Sure money could be one, potential future in coaching at a higher level, satisfaction for giving back to the community, helping promote a great sport, or even the same as the dads-they just love doing it. THere;s a lot of reasons coaches coach.

[Wormburner]

It just seems to be a LARGE stereotype for such a small group of daddies that would actually do that. Most of the teams we play seem to be very focused on winning games rather than promoting their daughters. I would love to play one of those who left his daughter in the circle when she wasn't any good, but we haven't been that lucky yet. I just don't see it happening as much as it is represented on this forum.

[justawatcher]

Well as you said, you've been in softball for a very short time. Plus, it's not always the pitcher-I just used that as an example. AND-you only find out so much about a team by running into them at a tournament every so often. Who knows what is going on behind the scenes. THere are other issues involved that are considered "daddy ball" as well. Sounds like what you have is a decnt group of people who know the sport and just happen to have a kid on the team.

[sbfan]

NO Doubt, there are plenty of good daddy and Mom coach's. Plenty of good daddy coach's that know the game as well as any coach out there. Of course there are alot of Daddy coach's that play what everyone calls "daddy ball." People get a bad taste in there mouth because of Daddy ball because of these guys. I would like to say there are only a few of them but there is alot more out there then not. IMHO

There are getting to be more and more non parents coaching in all ages. I'm sure they coach for a varity of reasons.

WHAT money, some give lessons and they might make a small nickle that way. But making money off coaching a team. This is not select baseball or soccer, so no way they can make any money in this sport.

What is becoming more popular is the ex college player now coaching teams. They no doubt they have a great experience's they can pass down to the girls. But because the girl played on a d-1 school or hit 500 for there college does that mean they know how to teach girls or be able to talk to parents.

[justawatcher]

WHAT money, some give lessons and they might make a small nickle that way. But making money off coaching a team. This is not select baseball or soccer, so no way they can make any money in this sport.

Was thinking the same thing but didn't write it. I know a lot of "paid" coaches and they all have day jobs just like the rest of us. Most of them may make a little extra (as you said mostly from lessons) but it's certainly not lucrative. Not to mention that most of them give so much financially back to their teams or to the sport in other ways they'd probably be upside down-the ones I know anyway

[Wormburner]

...and we feel extremely lucky to have this situation. The head coach's daughter was playing 2nd base, but when he got a better 2nd baseman he moved his daughter to CF. One of the coach's daughters splits playing time with another girl, mostly in the outfield, one of the coaches has a daughter that pitches, but she is only one of the three that gets used, and the other coaches' daughter also plays 2nd base, but will also have to change positions since the new 2nd baseman is better. All of them tell our girls every practice that competition on the team for playing time makes the team better and prepares them for competing against other teams. I really think that most of the problems out there stem from parents failing to understand the concept of team, instead regarding their daughter as the most important cog in the wheel. Every player and parent has to understand that TEAM is always bigger than individual, the game is bigger than the individuals, and a teammate that is better than you is a part of living life sometimes. A player that loves the game of softball and parents that love that player have to guide that player in accepting that rather than always bashing the coach and his decisions. Like I said, I guess we are the lucky ones, cuz I appreciate the lessons my daughter is learning about life and about softball on her team.

[dallasFP]

The head coach's daughter was playing 2nd base, but when he got a better 2nd baseman he moved his daughter to CF.

Not daddy ball then

[Wormburner]

WHAT money, some give lessons and they might make a small nickle that way. But making money off coaching a team. This is not select baseball or soccer, so no way they can make any money in this sport.

I don't know if it is money or not, hence the question mark. I just know that it seems that a lot of egos or being fed, whether they are paid or not, based on the discussions that I find on this forum and what I hear from others. I know of no paid coaches, but figured they were out there, so it was just a question, no more.

[Wormburner]

The head coach's daughter was playing 2nd base, but when he got a better 2nd baseman he moved his daughter to CF.

Not daddy ball then

Then the bashing makes sense to me. Anyone that would knowingly leave an inferior player in a position when a better one was on the team should not be coaching. I have seen that, not on our team, but it was a sponsor's kid, not a coach's kid. I questioned the intelligence of the coach for telling me about it, and his ability as a coach for fostering it, but it was "his" team, I guess.