Not Just Anyone Can Be A Little League Coach

The boys' game started at 5:30. They were supposed to be at the field for a little pre-game practice at 5:00. Most of the boys were on time. We got Timothy there right at 5:00, but his friend Zack didn't arrive until about 5:15. The boys warmed up and took the field.

As the game started, Zack ran over to his parents. "I have to sit out. Coach took me out of the game because I was late."

This was the events yesterday evening at the beginning of Timothy's baseball game. Zack was really upset. His parents were upset, and frankly, I was pissed. I have never liked the boys' coach. I think he's way too hard on the boys. Some of them have never even played the game before, and he spends 99% of practice yelling at the boys and telling them how bad they are.

When the season first started, Zack's parents told the coach that he may be a few minutes late to games because they both work until 5pm. He knew from the beginning that this was the case.

This is not the kind of coaching one should use to teach young boys the game of baseball. You punish high school kids who are late to practice this way. After all, they usually have control over how and when they get to practice. You don't make an eight year old boy sit the bench because his parents have to work. He has no control over when he gets to the games, and I think this guy is a complete jerk.

Timothy has come home from practice or a game on more than one occasion sad or upset that the coach yelled at him (or the team in general), and told them how bad they played. I think he's really discouraging the boys from playing. No one likes to be told they're bad, and it makes them not want to play anymore.

Zack did end up playing in the game because another boy got hurt. Zack's mom called it karma. I called it sticking it to the coach. I feel bad the boy got hurt, but darn it. It really bothered the coach to have to stick Zack in when he thought he was punishing him. And to make it even better, Zack played a heck of a game.