goingbatty

Thanks, Schann.

I wouldn't have really hauled off and hit her.  I was just so upset.  

It just feels awful to be in a situation and feel completely defenseless.  I remeber just looking at the kids who were right there and thinking how am I supose to protect them.  Then to have the board member not stand up for me and essentially say I was in the wrong because I stressed the importance of being on time.  

Out of all the effort I put in and really tried to make this fun for the kids instead of such a negative environment that she and some other parents really set out for it to be, and in the end she still won, not because she was right but because she is a bully.  I just feel really beaten.  The kids I would like to have helped but these are the people they have to live with.  Sad.  I feel like the good guy never wins.

Plus I just have a lot of personal issues that have arised from being in that situation.  I was in an abusive relationship when I was young and it just felt the same, except this time in front of kids, and everyone, still no one said anything.

I just don't understand how people can treat other people like that?  I am still a person.  I am a mother.  Why do they think they can hurt other people?

I am trying really hard to focus on the good things.  My daughter is happy she doesn't have to go, I thought she didn't like baseball, but I found out she was just nervous about the games, plus she knew how negative the parents were.  So, she is looking forward to playing at home.  

I will have a lot more time with my kids and we will be able to do more things together.  We will get over it.  I will get over it, it is just really hard right now.  I am just disappointed.

Thanks for your comfort.

Thanks Coach Steve,

I agree with what you said.  I am trying to teach them the basics and make it fun but not overload them.  There are parts though that are just work and I don't expect to be fun.  Like throwing, how do I make that fun?  I line up all the kids with a ball go through the steps with them and let them go at it while I go through and correct them.

My kids don't act up, since I have laid down the rules.  WE have fun or as much of it as we can.  

The parents sit there, I have two families specifically who just sit there and talk about all of the players and what they or I need to be doing, the same that made the comment about real practice- with a mit.  I can hear them and I can feel them breathing down my neck watching and scrutinizing everything I do.

The assistant coach is friends of this family.  Her interest lie with them, not with the team.  After each practice they sit and complain about it, while I am picking up the equipment.

I have laid everything down in paper.  I have talked with the supportive parents.  I have as much as possible ignored the parents.  I have also laid down what I expect from the assistant coach and since she has ignored me.    I have been as prepared as I can and I had a sign up sheet for volunteers.

I put the kids out on the field today and practiced backing up 1st 2nd and 3rd and threw the ball around catcher-first-second-third-catcher.  I told the kids to be ready and have their eye on the ball at all times.  The assistant coach sat there and played catch with a few of them in outfield.  

She fights me passively on everything I introduced her as Coach Donna, she told them just "Donna" (when I already said I thought it was important to have formal respect for authorities, I come from the south).  I tell the kids to do something she goes quietly and tells them to do something else!

Maybe it is my drills-
I always start out with warm ups and I talk about being a team player.
Last week we learned the bases by running, making contact (not jumping on them), and yelling out the name of the bases.

I taught them how to hold the ball and then we practiced throwing by lining up at the "pitcher's mound" and hitting an upside down bucket on a tee.

Next I lined them up behind 2nd and had two buckets one in between 1st-2nd the other between 2-3 and they had to try and throw it in the bucket, (half way because their arms aren't developed enough to throw any farther, but eventually they should be able to throw to the baseman) when I yelled out "Third!" or "First."

Then we ended out the day in catching pairs.  Without a glove we learned where are hands need to be "fingers up, fingers down" and to keep our eyes on the ball.

I don't expect them to catch it, but I want them to learn not to be afraid of it and let their hands protect them as well as moving to catch the ball.

Then we meet together do a cheer and I hand out "baby ruth" candy bars as they each tell me why they deserve one.  We cheer for each person.

Today-
We warmed up
We played coyote/roadrunner running the bases
Then I introduced the glove and tee ball lined them up and practiced throwing
Put them in pairs to play catch
Then put them on the field
Handed out baseball cards and letters to parents

Next week I plan to have them on the field more practicing catching/throwing and then start to introduce hitting.  We only practice for an hour twice a week.

So, what the ###### am I missing?!  Seriously, I don't know!  I called the college and asked the softball coach if there is a team that might want to "mentor" ours to give more one-on-one attention, but haven't heard any response.

Everytime I address the parents or ask the league officials for help they look at me like I a freakin' idiot.  Like I said I can't get a hold of many of the parents, and STILL have kids who have not shown up, I e-mail/call the league don't get any response.  In order to talk to them I have to track them down at different fields around town.  Which makes me want to flip them all of too and not ask any questions, help, advice, whatever.

I went in there today confident and in a take charge manner.  I went to the library the other day and checked out every book/video I could find revolving baseball.  I still come out feeling like crap.  I now think that they are just bullying me into being the coach THEY want me to be since I spend most of my "free" time preparing for two damn hours out of a week.  

I am frustrated to the point I just want to walk away, but I am not a quitter and do not want to give up.  Now I too get heated and am at the point that I want to tell them all where to shove it, and I just need time to cool off, I didn't address the @$$istant coach today.  

Maybe it is me though?  I don't know.  I don't want to come off as incompetent or whinny, but I am just at a loss.  

Thank you EVERYONE for your help.  Regardless if I agreed or disagreed, it has been helpful.  I am sorry if I was too harsh before, maybe I unfairly vented.  I don't know if I want advice anymore, but I do apprecitate it.

Thanks,

batty

You are right I didn't read your post fairly, but I do disagree.  I think first that all the kids need to learn to be apart of the team and the same techniques BEFORE we set up stations and break them up.  

I never said we weren't getting to the glove, but when kids are afraid of the ball and don't know how to use their hands a glove does no good.  Rather than learning three or four different skills (ie. batting, running, throwing, catching) I prefer to work on catching then focus on something else, etc.  I am still covering all the same skills.

And no, they were brats because their parents act like brats, not because they were bored.  Since I have laid down the rules and the hoola hoop I have not had a problem.  We are enjoying ourselves, it is the parents that are not.  I focus on the parents because that is the problem I am having and it is interfering with our practice.  

I got on here and asked for advice, that doesn't mean I have to agree and so far the only one I haven't agreed with is you.  I have not gotten "upset" when anyone that "expresses their opinion" as you suggested.

While I don't have 18 years in Tball I do know that you are only as strong as your weakest player.  And with the proper coaching (and support) the weakest player can become a very good player.  

And thanks for the challenge, but maybe I'll get to positions after I get to the glove?  

Like I said before the most I have gained is to trust myself, thanks for helping me find that out.

THANKS Schann! This helps!

Thanks, for your opininon Preacher, but I have my own.  I don't believe at this age to focus on the good ones and hope the lousy ones figure out how to throw a ball.  This is a team sport for goodness sakes!  THAT is the first fundamental to learn above all else.  

While my capable kids may be advance compared to the other, they are the most distant and behaviorally challenged.  Again, while they are capable they do not know what they are doing, they spend more time goofying off and trying to look like a player out of the movies than working on the game itself.  

Three players might hold up the game for a little while, they do get tired and there are absences, to rely completely on three kids is ridiculous.  I question your philosophies.  I know in soccer you cannot tell who is best in each position until you actually put them in there, and it usually is a suprise.  The whole point is to learn (and there is more to learn than just the game).  ALL of them!  As a TEAM.

Oh well, if anything, I did learn from your post, is to buck up and trust myself.  I have to be more assertive with EVERYONE.  Just sucks to come into something I thought was going to be fun, volunteering my time, to be on the defense.  

Yes, the hoola hoop works, I thought about running laps but that would just be more destracting than anything.  If they don't have their behavior in check they don't belong on the field, and deserve a little humiliation to humble them!  Just MHO.  Thought it better than a cone on the head    Good thing we've never used it.