Quote:
Originally Posted by HemiEd
They were discussing this on the John Tesh radio show yesterday about how parents have created a shortage of umpires, officials in all youth sports. They just don't want to put up with the parents crap.
They are out of control and in my own personal opinion it is related to the fact that early on all kids are now treated as "special" and get participation ribbons, trophies for doing jack shit.
If they suck, both the parents and the kids need to realize it and either practice or do something else.
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I've coached youth sports for at least 10 years.
In that time I've seen quite a bit, even though I have mostly coached at the younger levels-T-Ball, Coach Pitch 6-7yr olds and a little bit with the older kids. Last year, I had a kid pee all over me while I was putting the catchers gear on a kid during the first game...like fire-hosed. I tried to protect him from embarrassment, and his mother made a big spectacle and made sure everyone knew what happened....so dumb.
Other interesting things....I had a parent call me(T-ball mind you) after teams were announced.....to inquire about my "qualifications to coach T ball".....after listening to him suggest he was concerned that I might "Mess up his kids swing"..I laughed and said "he's 4...he doesn't have a swing yet".....and when he again asked about my qualifications...I said "I'm not a sex offender, and I'm willing to do it....that's my qualifications".
Last summer I got on a plane in Alaska flew and airport hopped all day, got in my truck and drove straight to the LL fields from the airport(1hr drive) and changed my shirt in the parking lot and coached the game with 20 minutes to spare. During that game, an otherwise likable mother made a comment to me that I wasn't having enough practices after her kid made a basic error"....I was coaching 1 team, my wife another, had my own kids on 3 separate teams and we both tagged in to help the 3rd team.......plenty of coaching opportunities for know-it-all parents......My response shut her up....."I woke up in Alaska today and I'm here coaching this game before I even went home to take my standard I've-been-traveling- dump....."
I've had a few parents that were a pain, but over all I've been pretty lucky. I'm sure it's much worse at older ages and higher competitive levels. Those parents and coaches can be absolute asspipes sometimes.
It's pretty easy when you remember its' all about the KIDS.