jse107
09-15-2010, 10:10 AM
A little background. DS (who just turned 6 in Aug.) played t-ball last spring. We didn't have a great coach and DS got frustrated with the situation. To be honest, DH and I were frustrated too. We wanted DS to get some instruction and for it to be a good learning experience. So, a the end of the season, the "T-ball Commissioner" had an afternoon where kids could try machine pitch baseball and decide if they wanted to keep playing t-ball or go up to machine pitch. DS did well and decided he wanted to move up to machine pitch. All the parents were told that the fall league would be more laid back that the spring. So, I assumed this meant fewer games and more relaxed (not that we were stressed out with t-ball). Scores are not kept in this machine pitch league. We signed him up for the fall league and I requested that he have an experienced coach. Fast forward to now...
The fall league has more games than we had for t-ball. We now have games 2-3 times per week, plus one independent practice, plus showing up an hour before each game to practice.
We've got an experienced coach. He runs a real practice with the kids practicing various drills. (Disclosure: DH was the captain of his highschool baseball team and played baseball the whole time he was growing up. In addition, his dad has a field named after him at the Little League complex in our hometown. Yes, I've asked DH to coach, however he doesn't want too.) However, the coach is very intense and runs things as though the kids are 10 year-olds. The kids range from 5-7 years old. DS is one of the smaller kids on the team and one of the younger kids. He's pretty good for his age, but compared to his teammates and the coach's expectations his age shows.
The first game was last Sat. There are 14 kids on the team so not everyone could play at once. No big deal, I thought. DS cried the first 3 innings because he didn't get to play. DH and I empathized and then told him to get a grip and be ready for his turn. (DS is a VERY sensitive kid with Sensory Modualation Dysfuction and has a hard time keeping his feelings in check.) At any rate, DS went in for the last three innings and had two hits. All was well.
Our 2nd game was last night. We were there an hour early for practice before the game. The youngest kids are already spent from a long day, and now we need to focus and practice! DS hangs in there, but when it's time for the game, he's sitting the bench again. He sits for three innings, coach finally puts him in, he bats once, and then coach ends the game due to darkness. DS batted once, most of the rest of the team batted 3-4 times. Game ends, DS is in tears again. I'm sure DS's crying annoys the coach, but he's 6. The coach's son never even talks--even DH said he seems afraid of his dad.
Of course, the coach's son played 2nd base for the whole game and batted 4 times.
The coach is running the games as though it's being scored and it really matters. The best players play the first 3-4 innings and then the other 3-4 kids sub in. Am I wrong or unrealistic to be frustrated with this situation? DS is a decent player, but young, small and sensitive. I didn't really expect this type of coaching for a few more years! I'm still trying to convince DH to coach in the spring.
I'm mad about this! http://www.smiley-faces.org/smiley-faces/smiley-face-mad.gif (http://www.smiley-faces.org) If i had known this is the way it was going to be, we would have signed up for instructional soccer for the fall and waited until the spring for baseball where there would have been more teams and coaches.
Advice? BTDT? Help! Cause this is what I'd like to do...
http://www.freesmileys.org/smileys/smiley-angry011.gif (http://www.freesmileys.org/smileys.php)
The fall league has more games than we had for t-ball. We now have games 2-3 times per week, plus one independent practice, plus showing up an hour before each game to practice.
We've got an experienced coach. He runs a real practice with the kids practicing various drills. (Disclosure: DH was the captain of his highschool baseball team and played baseball the whole time he was growing up. In addition, his dad has a field named after him at the Little League complex in our hometown. Yes, I've asked DH to coach, however he doesn't want too.) However, the coach is very intense and runs things as though the kids are 10 year-olds. The kids range from 5-7 years old. DS is one of the smaller kids on the team and one of the younger kids. He's pretty good for his age, but compared to his teammates and the coach's expectations his age shows.
The first game was last Sat. There are 14 kids on the team so not everyone could play at once. No big deal, I thought. DS cried the first 3 innings because he didn't get to play. DH and I empathized and then told him to get a grip and be ready for his turn. (DS is a VERY sensitive kid with Sensory Modualation Dysfuction and has a hard time keeping his feelings in check.) At any rate, DS went in for the last three innings and had two hits. All was well.
Our 2nd game was last night. We were there an hour early for practice before the game. The youngest kids are already spent from a long day, and now we need to focus and practice! DS hangs in there, but when it's time for the game, he's sitting the bench again. He sits for three innings, coach finally puts him in, he bats once, and then coach ends the game due to darkness. DS batted once, most of the rest of the team batted 3-4 times. Game ends, DS is in tears again. I'm sure DS's crying annoys the coach, but he's 6. The coach's son never even talks--even DH said he seems afraid of his dad.
Of course, the coach's son played 2nd base for the whole game and batted 4 times.
The coach is running the games as though it's being scored and it really matters. The best players play the first 3-4 innings and then the other 3-4 kids sub in. Am I wrong or unrealistic to be frustrated with this situation? DS is a decent player, but young, small and sensitive. I didn't really expect this type of coaching for a few more years! I'm still trying to convince DH to coach in the spring.
I'm mad about this! http://www.smiley-faces.org/smiley-faces/smiley-face-mad.gif (http://www.smiley-faces.org) If i had known this is the way it was going to be, we would have signed up for instructional soccer for the fall and waited until the spring for baseball where there would have been more teams and coaches.
Advice? BTDT? Help! Cause this is what I'd like to do...
http://www.freesmileys.org/smileys/smiley-angry011.gif (http://www.freesmileys.org/smileys.php)