OK -- My own SnowFlake Story

[CowboyCO]

My DS(8) played machine pitch baseball in a city rec league this year.

The coach didn't show up for three or four practices and missed 3 games without calling anyone (he has the gear bag from the city with all the bats, catcher's gear and balls). But wait --there's more. His snowflake was on the team.

His snowflake (that I coached last year) would come to practice in shorts, she would come to games wearing shorts, flip-flops and half the time wouldn't bring a baseball glove. When she would show up unprepared to play baseball when I coached, I would explain to her that the league rules, for the safety of the children, required baseball or long pants, SHOES, jocks for the boys and a glove and that she wouldn't be able to play if she wasn't wearing the appropriate safety gear.

But Daddy had her bat first in every game and whatever position she wanted to play, she could. With three games left, the assistant coach(the mom of another player) quit because she was sick of him standing up the team and favoring his daughter.

I finally lost it when he assigned positions for an inning in the next-to-last game and he had told my DS to go play 1st base. So, he headed over to first, excited because it was his first chance that game to play in the infield. Then, his snowflake comes out of the dugout, flip-flops and all, goes and asks Daddy if she can play first base. He told her that DS(8) already was playing first and she could pick any other position. NO! she yelled, "You said I could play whatever position I wanted and I want to play first base". So Daddy walks her over to first and tells my kid that he can't play first (because his snowflake threw a tantrum).

So DS tears up a little walks out to the outfield. I could see how upset he was (The coach had promised him he could play first base this game).

 

[mamacatnv]

My DS(8) played machine pitch baseball in a city rec league this year.

The coach didn't show up for three or four practices and missed 3 games without calling anyone (he has the gear bag from the city with all the bats, catcher's gear and balls). But wait --there's more. His snowflake was on the team.

His snowflake (that I coached last year) would come to practice in shorts, she would come to games wearing shorts, flip-flops and half the time wouldn't bring a baseball glove. When she would show up unprepared to play baseball when I coached, I would explain to her that the league rules, for the safety of the children, required baseball or long pants, SHOES, jocks for the boys and a glove and that she wouldn't be able to play if she wasn't wearing the appropriate safety gear.

But Daddy had her bat first in every game and whatever position she wanted to play, she could. With three games left, the assistant coach(the mom of another player) quit because she was sick of him standing up the team and favoring his daughter.

I finally lost it when he assigned positions for an inning in the next-to-last game and he had told my DS to go play 1st base. So, he headed over to first, excited because it was his first chance that game to play in the infield. Then, his snowflake comes out of the dugout, flip-flops and all, goes and asks Daddy if she can play first base. He told her that DS(8) already was playing first and she could pick any other position. NO! she yelled, "You said I could play whatever position I wanted and I want to play first base". So Daddy walks her over to first and tells my kid that he can't play first (because his snowflake threw a tantrum).

So DS tears up a little walks out to the outfield. I could see how upset he was (The coach had promised him he could play first base this game).

It always reminds me of the brat in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory....."But Daddy, I want it"
Grrrr.......I really have no respect for parents who cannot parent and let their kids rule the roost. I would have probably stomped onto the field and confronted Daddy!

I am getting vocal and confrontational with idiot parents in my old age.
I told a Dad in a restaurant to control his brat just last week. The look of shock on his face was priceless.

 

[golfgal]

Is her name Sarah

 

[mamacatnv]

Is her name Sarah

 

[SandrA9810]

kudos to your son for handling it well. I might've thrown my glove at the back of her head.

 

[krcit]

I'm usually pretty calm and non-confrontational. However, in that scenario I would have had it out with the coach right there. I would also call the higher-ups in the league and tell them about the flip-flop issue. That in itself is ridiculous. My oldest dd has been playing softball for 10 years and I have had a few minor issues over the years, but only once in all that time have I complained. When she was in 5th grade, dd made the tournament team as an alternate. The kid went to every practice knowing that most likely she would never play. No complaints, she was just happy to be part of the team. Then one day the coach gave out t-shirts to every girl on the team. Except my daughter. I honestly don't remember ever being that mad in my life. I didn't say anything to the 'coach' because I didn't want to upset my dd but another mother told him he was wrong. I then e-mailed the president of the league and asked her to give that guy some sensitivity training. What a maroon. Anyway, OP, I would be making a phone call to make sure that that clown isn't able to coach again.

 

[cats mom]

Is her name Sarah

That story made me so sad for your DS OP.

We've had both good and bad coaches over the years, but I think none as blatantly bad as that. Although the travel team coach that begged DS to skip our family Disneyland trip to play in a baseball tournament, only to bench him most of the time anyway, comes close in my book.

Maybe look at it as preparation for the politics to come should your DS decide to stick with baseball for the long haul though. Unfortunately it can sometimes be downright ugly.

This was printed on the tryout form for the high school team this year:

IT DOES NOT MATTER WHO YOUR SON TAKES LESSONS FROM OR WHAT CLUB TEAM YOUR SON PLAYS ON. THE BEST PLAYERS MAKE THE TEAM PERIOD!!!! LITTLE LEAGUE/CLUB POLITICS ARE NO LONGER A FACTOR!!!!

While I'm still reserving judgement for now, I'm hopeful.

And I hope your DS gets on a team with a much better coach next season OP.

 

[minniecarousel]

So....you say you "lost it" with this latest incident. What did you do? (just curious)

I think a call to the rec league "Powers that be" and let them know that the coach is letting a child constantly play without the proper footwear, and that he stands the team up, leaving the team without gear to play. Is it too late in the season to make a fuss? I's at least make the phone call.

 

[Katie's Butterflies]

I can’t believe the coach would let his daughter play when she wasn’t even wearing proper attire! That can be dangerous. Didn’t the ref or whomever comment about that? Imo, she shouldn’t have been playing at all let alone replacing your son. I hope you gave your son an extra hug after the game. It sounds like he handled this situation really well.

Also, did you talk to the coach and complain?

 

[Tinker'n'Fun]

Snowflake coach or not, it is the responsibility of the Umpire to make sure that the players are in proper attire, no jewelry, etc. Where was the Umpire?

If this is not a sanctioned league then I guess there really is no one to complain to.

I also feel OP's DS handled the situation correctly. I guess it is time to look for a new league for next year. Good luck.

 

[DisneyFed]

---Shaking Head---

Ridiculous, absolutely ridiculous...

Michael Jordan didn't make his Freshman Basketball team....he decided to work harder and make it next time...

We all know what happened next

Not everyone makes the team....not everyone wins....

As an athlete, I learned more about myself, and my teammates from losing, than I ever did from winning!

 

[adaygaby]

Good ol' daddy ball..!

Have you/other parents complained to your little league board of directors?

I've been on the board of directors for our local league for 2yrs and was also an asst coach this season. We have parents complaining about some coaches, but when asked to put it in writing no one ever wants to submit a letter even though we do tell them that these letters will remain anonymous. The reason that we ask for written letters is because we take them into consideration when we approve coaches for the season. If no one speaks up there's not much that can be done in current/future situations.

Coaches/Parents should always consider the safety of the children first...! I'm surprised a board member or even an umpire didn't address the situation up on his daughter not having proper attire and not being allowed to play if she was not wearing what she needed.

Again make sure to voice your concerns to your league otherwise things will never get corrected.

Kudos for your son and I hope next season works out much better for you...!

 

[pixiewings71]

So she played in flip flops?? That just seems wrong! Kudos to your DS for handling it so well, sounds like you've got a GREAT kid there.

 

[bumbershoot]

Ugh. I'm sorry for your son.


In 5th grade I went out of my shy comfort zone and tried out for a play we were doing on Greek Mythology. I got the main part. Only to have it yanked out from under me b/c another girl was dealing with her parents divorcing and really really wanted the part.

I get that divorce is horrid. Know how I know? Until that girl, I was the ONLY one in my class who was from a divorced parent background. Been there done that! So I did NOT appreciate that being the excuse to take the part from ME.

Still rankles.

(Then again, the teacher was making bad decisions all year, and that culminated in her having a nervous breakdown in front of the class in the last month or so of the year. Bunch of us talked about that during our 20 year HS reunion! Especially the fact that she came back to teach us 6th grade. )

 

[RitaZ.]

---Shaking Head---

Ridiculous, absolutely ridiculous...

Michael Jordan didn't make his Freshman Basketball team....he decided to work harder and make it next time...

We all know what happened next

Not everyone makes the team....not everyone wins....

As an athlete, I learned more about myself, and my teammates from losing, than I ever did from winning!

That's typical of very successful people. They persevere. They don't whine when things don't go their way.

I've told MJ's story to my kids several times. I've used it to illustrate the value of working hard.

 

[CowboyCO]

So....you say you "lost it" with this latest incident. What did you do? (just curious)

I think a call to the rec league "Powers that be" and let them know that the coach is letting a child constantly play without the proper footwear, and that he stands the team up, leaving the team without gear to play. Is it too late in the season to make a fuss? I's at least make the phone call.

I walked up to him after the game and let him know how much he hurt my DS's feelings when he made him leave first base and I also told him that allowing his daughter to play in flip-flops was against Parks and Rec rules and that he was endangering her and opening the city up to liability by letting her practice and play without proper shoes. Lastly, I let him know that many of the parents, myself included had made notice that his DD batted first in every game and that she was dictating where she would play and the P&R rules state that every player, regardless of ability are to receive equal playing time, infield time and batting order because is it is a recreational, learning league.

He just stood there nodding his head. Last game, snowflake was still batting first, but DS(8) was playing first base - for the whole game....

What a numbskull.

The season ended last week and several parents spoke with me (because they know I coach in another division) and they all agreed to write a letter to P&R director to complain and request that he never be allowed to coach again.

 

[scrapquitler]

But Daddy had her bat first in every game and whatever position she wanted to play, she could. With three games left, the assistant coach(the mom of another player) quit because she was sick of him standing up the team and favoring his daughter.

This would have been a good time to have a discussion with the league's board of directors.

I mean, not only was this favoring one child over another, it is/was a safety issue. I'm sure the league's insurance carrier wouldn't have been happy if those flip flops caused the child to trip and suffer an injury that led to an ER visit.

 

[minniecarousel]

eh - the season's over. Great idea that the parents write letters to the P&R Dept, for the future.

 

[adaygaby]

The season ended last week and several parents spoke with me (because they know I coach in another division) and they all agreed to write a letter to P&R director to complain and request that he never be allowed to coach again.

Glad parents will be writing letters. Not sure how your rules are stated but in our league, parents are allowed to write a letter to the board requesting that their child not be picked by "x coach". It is only allowed if that player has been coached by that person in previous seasons. Prior to drafts, we give a note/talk to the coach letting them know that they are not allowed to select "x player" on their team. We don't give them any reasons the parents gave us (if they did give a reason) just notification that they can't draft the player.

 

[luvmarypoppins]

Just wow. I bet everyone is glad the season is over. Good you told him what everyone else observed.

I hope the letters are successful and that no one will see him coaching next season.

OT: how is Claire doing?