29 replies to this topic

[ace]

I hear the basketball faithful keep the boys in the gym and don't want them on the ball field. Any truth to that?

How about looking at the coaching. That old coach thought he had to play all the seniors when he had better 9th and 10th graders on the bench. Now they lost interest. Play the seniors or build for the future?
No discpline, no hustle, and alot of bad mouthing. How about some parents that complain alot. You cannot blame that on basketball. I say bring all the kids in and say: look at these programs that are good, like Defiance and tell them those kids play baseball, basketball and football. You can play more that 1 sport and still put the time in to be good.
Terry Dockery Jr has done a great job with that little league program. 2 B teams and 1 A team is alot of kids coming up.

[FrOnT RoW JOE]

This is sad.........What can we do, we have been terrible for years, that has alot to do with it, alot of kids look at it as a joke, just plain rediculous...from everything I hear, this coach is doing good with what he has......maybe its time for some other coaches to encourage these kids to play more sports?? Dont know what else to do.....

[Common Sense]

Just be glad you don't have football or you may not even have spring baseball.

This isn't just a Continential thing. Kids are more and more going away from spring sports to play AAU basketball, club volleyball and get ready for football. Most track programs allow kids to come and go and be "part time" athletes. It's really sad.
Generations ago, every kid grew up playing baseball, but the push to excel in one sport has pushed baseball and softball out the door.

[FrOnT RoW JOE]

after many of the crazy stuff this year, I hope to see this coach stick around....

[labatts69]

after many of the crazy stuff this year, I hope to see this coach stick around....

ditto there joe. i think he has alot to offer, is young, and not afraid to make waves. seems like he has the program going in the right direction and has been in every league game for the most part. with only have 2 experienced pitchers and then a couple kids that are learning he had did a nice job competing. i hope the kids listen to him, continue with their current winning from this weekend, and make a little run in the tournament.

[coach's wife]

Might want to look at the kids quitting and not going out (and their families) instead of blaming extraneous things.

[labatts69]

Might want to look at the kids quitting and not going out (and their families) instead of blaming extraneous things.

yeah, let's talk about the kids and why they quit. i know why 2 of them did and if they were my kids they would be making apologies to the coach instead of parents making it look like the coach's fault. 1- not making it back to the bus on time for a 4:30 game to pandora and bus leaves without him at around 3:30. rest of kids were there and ready but not kids fault???, 1- not hustling after fly ball and being taken out and saying he quits after that. i don't think you can put any blame on the coach for either of these two. when will some kids be held accountable for their actions and show some respect? the 3rd i can only make a guess at as he made track his priority and was not at many practices and games. kid had alot of upside but hard to play all the time if you are not there to make yourself better.

as far as kids not going out, it is what it is and the only way to get them to go out is to turn around the program with what you got. tell me how to convince families to get their kids to go out and you will be made a hero. i will personally take you out to dinner and say thanks as i love the game of baseball and would love to see the program get turned around.

no one person has all the answers but i think the current coaches are trying to get to where everyone wants the program to be, competitive and successful. rome wasn't built in a day and the program can not get turned around in one year. winning the Ayersville Invite though is definately a step in the right direction. I can not recall any Continental team in the last 20 years winning this tourney.

[coach's wife]

Sounds like the staff is on the right track - wasn't aware of reasons for quitting (IMO there are few good ones) but knowing today's youth, those reasons sound about right. Sounds like this program has fallen to very low levels. IMO, when that happens, you start with a youth movement (plus those upperclassmen that are really buying in). I like what I've read about the discipline above (late for bus and not hustling). Best of luck to the Pirates.

[Common Sense]

Part of the problem is kids are allowed to make too many decisions today. Parents just go to the old, "I'll support what ever decision my kid makes". Huh? That's not parenting, that's trying to be a friend. 15-16-17 year old kids don't know how to make big decisions, it's too emotional for them.
It saddens me when I hear kids who've graduated from high school regret they didn't do more. 95%+ of these kids athletic careers end in high school. Why cut yourself? It's one of the great advantages of a small school, you can do so many things! Why limit yourself?

[coach's wife]

Part of the problem is kids are allowed to make too many decisions today. Parents just go to the old, "I'll support what ever decision my kid makes". Huh? That's not parenting, that's trying to be a friend. 15-16-17 year old kids don't know how to make big decisions, it's too emotional for them.
It saddens me when I hear kids who've graduated from high school regret they didn't do more. 95%+ of these kids athletic careers end in high school. Why cut yourself? It's one of the great advantages of a small school, you can do so many things! Why limit yourself?

Couldn't agree more. "I'll support whatever decisions my kid makes" is a cop out.