I have never been so infuriated with one person in my entire life. This kid who is coaching my son's team is about to see a side of me that is rarely seen and never forgotten. Once again we went to a game for my son to be stuck out in the outfield for half of the game and benched for the other half, while kids who were brought up from the younger team played infield for the entirety of the game. Not to mention he left a group of players and parents in town, and was extremely rude to the parent who went out of her way to pick up one of his players.
What gets me even more is that my husband isn't doing anything about it. I have been on him since the game let out to call the coach and have a calm collected man-to-man discussion with him. He says it's too late, well duh it's not too late he's just getting back just like us. He probably works during hte day so will not be available to talk tomorrow. I swear I'm going to have to handle this and it's not going to be pretty because for some reason, I think the kid is threatened by me. I approached him at the last game in an adult fashion and calmly, and he got all defensive straight off the bat. I'm going to call the lady in charge of the league in the morning, and if my husband doesn't call the coach, I guess I'll do it and maybe he'll be less threatened over the phone. I don't know what the kid's problem is.
My son went from being a starter at first base last year to being benched half the time and thrown in outfield the rest. Not to mention that he sticks other kids who deserve a chance just as much as he in the outfield and never gives them a chance at infield. It's got to hurt these poor kids. It's not like this is the major leagues or anything, and how are they going to learn anything if they are never taught or given a chance. For all he knows there could be some real talent on the team , but he'll never know because he has his favorites. I'm not putting up with it though. If talking to him like an adult doesn't work, I'm going to have to do something. I'm considering asking all of the parents to have a meeting, because it's obvious that I'm not the only one who is upset with his behavior. You know he had the nerve to go and tattle tale to my mom after I confronted him at their last game. What ticks me off thoroughly is that she didn't put her foot down too. She claims she was unhappy with Cody's treatment and when given the chance to express it she shirked at it.
Anyone have any suggestions? I don't want to kill this little brat, and the husband gets all fake macho and says he's going to beat him up, but I don't see that happening, because he won't even call the kid. Not to mention, that I don't want to see that happen. The last thing I want is for my husband to go all postal on the brat. You know, last time this coach had the nerve to puff up like he was going to do something to me. I guess I could just let him, I wouldnt' have to worry about him coaching anymore.
Jess, this is exactly why we never encouraged our sons to participate in organised team sports, and when my youngest insisted, the same reason he stepped away half way through his second season.
Is your son enjoying this, or does he feel humiliated? If the latter, time to reevaluate the importance of baseball in his life and perhaps get him involved in something else. If it's not this coach, then it may well be another, and the affect this might have on him down the line could be really damaging. Personally, I don't think it's worth the fight. I've always said to pick one's issues, and in the grand scheme of things, baseball doesn't measure up to an issue worthy of my energy, or that of one of my loved ones. Just my take on it, hon.
Thanks for hte advice Kae, unfortunately baseball is huge in his eyes. He's not great at school work no matter how much we work with him, not a music buff like myself, and my late grandfather used to spend so much time playing baseball with him, added to the fact that my other grandfather was in the minor leagues before going off to war, I think Cody feels a connection to them when he plays. I wouldn't say he's humiliated, just thoroughly ticked and upset, as am I.
When I was younger softball and baseball were the funnest times of my life. One year I had a coach who was just like this little brat, except he played favorites with his daughters. It was terrible the other girls on the team were so bitchy and would only play one certain base. He was dumb enough to give into them every single time. Anyways, i think I am going to call a different town's league. We put Cody on Kincaid's team even though we don't live there because last year his coach was just wonderful. We live in Taylorville, and a fellow church member sends her son to ball here and says that it's such a positive environment everyone is a winner, everyone plays infield on a regualr occasion and unfortunately since there's more than ten kids everyone sits out for a while not just one kid every time.
I am giving the league leader lady a call here in about an hour to see if there is anything that can be done, and if Floyd doesn't call the coach I'm going to do so, and I might even have my step dad or his coach from last year have a chat with the kid. They've both been coaches before and maybe they can help him as nicely as possible because it is his first year. Cody has played ball since pre school. He had to be brought in even though he was technically too young to fill in for kids who blew off games and practice. These kids are now getting preferrential treatment.
I think that besides talking to the league lady to make sure she knows about the problem...your smartest bet is to just put him on a different team. You dont want him to be stuck on a team where he cant play...What if he is to be really good, you said he doesnt like school...maybe he can play ball well enough to get him into college. So good call on maybe putting him on another team.
I think that will be the ultimate restult of it all, he's a darn good ball player. It's so cute because he's short and a little stalky, but he's a power house hitter. He's also got tons of energy because he's got ADHD he's all over the ball any time it comes close to him. Other kids will not even hustle after a ball if it gets past them. I've worked a lot with Cody, more than the coach works with the kids. His two assistant coaches are both good kids, and unlike him they know a thing or two about the game. I might call them also and talk with them. Even though the kid's ticking me off, he should be told that he's making a lot of parents mad and oh what am I saying, I just think they'll do more good than he will.
I pointed out to him today that Michael Jordan didn't make the basketball team his first year and that Pujols supposedly had the same issue in little league ... i don't know if it's a good thing or bad, but now he wants to sit the bench ... something about making Craig look like an idiot in the future ... oh no
Jess, just to add, and I do understand your quandry here, but please be very careful how much importance you allow your son to put into baseball. It's been my experience over the years that the kids that excelled at these sports, and made their successes in them a large part of their self worth, didn't amount to a hill of beans later. I've seen the star football, baseball, soccer, rugby kids end up swinging sledge hammers for a living, while the "nerds" are buying half a million dollar homes by the age of 25.
Nothing will serve a child more than the love of learning, and that's where I spent my energies as my guys were growing up. I'm so glad that I did, as are they, NOW, lol.
thats very true Kae...I went to high school with Richard Jefferson who now plays basketball for the New Jersey Nets...we all thought for sure he would go from high school to pro but he actually went to college and played for U of A i think for 3 years (might have been all 4, I really dont know) and was then drafted. I havent a clue what he majored in but at least he has something to fall back on should he not become the next Michael Jordan...who knows.
Oh if i could hae my ways Cody'd be a nerd, but he just isn't I've found it hard, but I've gotten on the sports bandwagon. I just wish there was more around here for him to participate in?I'd love to move back up to Woodridge, there's just so much more there, it's a shame that all they offer for boys is sports, on a funny note, he wants to go to the golf camp sponsored by the y.
