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**Grandpa** · 02-20-2014, 10:47 AM

Originally Posted by DirtyD

I don't remember specifically telling anyone EXACTLY how to parent? I just said be a parent, and not a best friend. Read, dipshit. Here we go with your bullshit "experience" rants again. I clearly have no idea what I'm talking about, but yet that's what I see everyday. Just because someone doesn't have kids of their own doesn't mean they don't know how to be a parent. What I said is exactly what happened to both of my cousins in high school, of whom I watched become drug addicts and constantly run away from home. I watched it with my own eyes. But again, it's something that differs from your opinion, and because it doesn't agree with your opinion, it's not true/fact/believeable/whatever the hell you want to call it.

Did I say it would get physical? Or are your just automatically assuming that so that you can go ahead and form an opinion off of very few words? I vote the latter. This forum has started to become a bust lately with all the same old shit that continues to pour out of a few mouths from some of the same old people.

Dipshit?You in a mood or something this morning? Yes, another experience reply, because yet again you are giving an opinion on something you have no firsthand experience with. Seeing what some parents are dealing with, and being in the position of dealing with it are two entirely different things which someday will find out for yourself and you will agree with me later.

You were the one who worded their statement "it wouldn't turn out good for them" implying you were going to do something, which we both know you really wouldn't without your keyboard.

Now, if the board is a bust, feel free to leave. No one is forcing you to stay here. If you're having a bad day, that's fine. Just relax and stay away from the board today if you can't deal with it and concentrate on work. Otherwise, kick back, relax and get off your high horse.

blownaltered · 02-20-2014, 12:05 PM

Originally Posted by DirtyD

I don't remember specifically telling anyone EXACTLY how to parent? I just said be a parent, and not a best friend. Read, dipshit. Here we go with your bullshit "experience" rants again. I clearly have no idea what I'm talking about, but yet that's what I see everyday. Just because someone doesn't have kids of their own doesn't mean they don't know how to be a parent. What I said is exactly what happened to both of my cousins in high school, of whom I watched become drug addicts and constantly run away from home. I watched it with my own eyes. But again, it's something that differs from your opinion, and because it doesn't agree with your opinion, it's not true/fact/believeable/whatever the hell you want to call it.

Did I say it would get physical? Or are your just automatically assuming that so that you can go ahead and form an opinion off of very few words? I vote the latter. This forum has started to become a bust lately with all the same old shit that continues to pour out of a few mouths from some of the same old people.

Ok this is going a nice long response so just stay with me.

As for your friends that ended up being fuck ups, good for them. My best friend growing up had parents that partied with us every weekend. Hell even smoked pot with us. Now he makes about 200k a year has a hot wife that makes over a 100k a year. Lives in DC and has a huge uptown apartment in Dallas he rents out and a 200k house in Richardson he rents out. Sounds like parents that were friends with their kid wasn't the problem here. I actually know more kids that their parents were real strict on them that are fuck ups. But hey your experiences are the only ones that count. Sometimes it doesn't matter what type of parents you have, a fuck up is going to be a fuck up no matter what.

As for yelling at kids on a baseball team. Well I guess I do yell from time to time but that is because I'm on the other side of the field and that is the only way they will hear me. As for making them run laps, yes if you don't behave get your little ass running. Now if the kid is standing right in front of you and you are yelling at him, you are in the wrong and shouldn't do that. As a parent I would have a huge problem with you yelling in my kids face and it would only happen once. I can promise you it would not be me with the problem.

To sit back with no children and tell people with kids how to raise them, is a joke. You have no idea what its like. I can also tell you as a parent your not going to let some jackass scream in their face. Raising kids is not easy, it is the hardest thing you can possibly do but one of the most rewarding things you can possibly do. Once you have kids you will realize there is a fine line on being a parent and being a friend. You have to be both, not just one or the other.

Lastly stop with the name calling, it will get you no where.

txfiremn · 02-19-2014, 05:39 PM

Bert- I totally understand patience! I was trying to teach a kid the machanics of throwing, I'm sure I had to say Look at me a dozen times! I've also have had the kids that just are little brats too. We had a kid last year that just flat didn't want to be there. His mom made him play to get him out of his room.

We made it pretty clear to the parents that we want the kids to have fun but we would not tolerate constant acting up. We told the parents that the kids will be made to run if they continue to act up. That's a pretty standard discipline in sports. The parents seemed to be fine with it.

blownaltered · 02-19-2014, 06:42 PM

Originally Posted by txfiremn

Bert- I totally understand patience! I was trying to teach a kid the machanics of throwing, I'm sure I had to say Look at me a dozen times! I've also have had the kids that just are little brats too. We had a kid last year that just flat didn't want to be there. His mom made him play to get him out of his room.

We made it pretty clear to the parents that we want the kids to have fun but we would not tolerate constant acting up. We told the parents that the kids will be made to run if they continue to act up. That's a pretty standard discipline in sports. The parents seemed to be fine with it.

Having kids that don't want to be there is the worst. We had a couple in fall ball that could of given a shit less about baseball. At the beginning of the season we made sure they played equal amounts of time but by the end of the season we were like fuck it. Let the kids play that want to play, so they would sit out more than one inning in a row. The other part that kills me is when at the end of the season you tell a kid to go to right field and he doesn't know where it is and you have to take them out there. I get pissed because I have shown that kid in every practice and every game, but he doesn't care so I get to show him again. Parents if you kids don't want to play don't force them, it makes our jobs harder.

**BERT** · 02-19-2014, 07:13 PM

My priority was to make sure they were having fun. If they aren't having fun, then I'm not having fun and no one wants to be out there then lol

and speaking of using profanity. I cuss like a sailor when I talk most of the time and I was surprised at myself on how well I was able to control my language when I had to. Yay me

**Grandpa** · 02-19-2014, 07:58 PM

Originally Posted by BERT

My priority was to make sure they were having fun. If they aren't having fun, then I'm not having fun and no one wants to be out there then lol

and speaking of using profanity. I cuss like a sailor when I talk most of the time and I was surprised at myself on how well I was able to control my language when I had to. Yay me

LOL, I know the feeling. I swear so little now that I find being able to say FUCK outloud is actually stress relieving. Cruising out to the meet being able to listen to my old school west coast rap or any other inappropriate for kids music. When my 5 year old is in the truck I'm stuck listening to Taylor Swift most of the time. lol

**BERT** · 02-19-2014, 07:16 PM

Don't really feel like coaching again until the kids start to pitch. That's when it'll become really fun for me to coach.

Oh and it doesn't help me wanting to coach when my little cousin is one of the worst players on the team and one of the little shits I'm always having to tell to pay attention and "don't do that and sit down!!" when in the dugout. You would think the kids have never drank or seen water before

**BERT** · 02-20-2014, 12:42 PM

That was one nice long response

blownaltered · 02-20-2014, 12:47 PM

Originally Posted by BERT

That was one nice long response

I warned you

**El_Tortuga** · 02-20-2014, 03:28 PM

Its a great experience. Some of the best times of my parenting career. Do it. Your appreciation and understanding of the game will be greatly enhanced. Our teams were always competitive, and I'm most proud of the impact I had some of the little Johnnies. Managing talented kids is easy. Its really hard to get production, fun, desire and skill into the bottom of the order types. I was actually pretty good at that part, mostly because I know what it feels like to love the game but be lousy at it. I took the absolute last player in the draft (yeah that kid), and he earned the leagues sportsmanship award. By the end of the year, he was catching balls in the outfield, and progressed from a 3 pitch strikeout (nearly every time) kid to even earning a few walks and hits by the end of the year. Very satisfying, maybe even more than my kid's perennial all star status.

Mine just finished a great high school career last year, 3 year letterman, 3 year playoffs, garnering all-district honors all 3 years on varsity. First home run in high school was a varsity grand slam as a sophomore. After that, they couldn't keep him off varsity.

1st team all-district, and the team's silver slugger (best hitter) for the last two years.

I'm kind of in the heartbroken stage. It looks like his college career has flamed out almost before it started. He could/should be playing in many scenarios, but not the one that has occured. Its been a heck of ride. On the plus side, its currently cheaper paying for college than what we paid annually for select ball, lessons, equipment, travel, etc. He's looking for adult leagues to play in, and now umpires for the same league he played in.

As far as resources, the Little League/Harold Reynolds DVDs are great. PM me, I may still have a copy of all 10. Barnes and Noble used to have a great selection of "coaches" books. For the time being, you are doing great to keep them from chasing butterflies, learning skills, and having fun. With my kid, I stopped practices early while he was wanting more. It was really effective in building up the desire, and love of the game.

I was most effective as a practice coach, not as much as a game manager but I loved the chess match aspect, and got a lot better at it. Practices always worked best when I taught a skill, they practiced it, then played a simple competitive game using that skill. They absolutely loved it. You've always got more to work on than time, so plan accordingly.

Post game talks are great teaching time. Give away a few cheap baseball cards for great plays, or great effort, and you'll find them fighting for recognition.Mini Baby Ruth bars work great too and I hear that some coaches like candy too. Game balls for the big star of the game and even if you have to give away two some games, make sure every little Johnny gets one over the course of the season. You don't have 12 kids on your team. Its more like 36, and the parents can be the biggest challenge. When you get to drafting teams, after all the talent is gone, draft based on parents. Hot moms are in short supply.