re: Anyone do volunteer coaching for youth sports…does it ever get better?

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What age group are you talking about?

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i was talking like 10 and up in rec. travel is different, best player should play majority no matter age. everyone should play though.

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Excluding missing practice, the "good kids" shouldn't get 90% of the playing time because the adult coach is chasing a plastic ring (not saying that is you). THe goal of coaching young kids (5-9) is to make sure they learn the game, have fun, and want to continue playing the game.

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i know you werent talking about me, i was just saying in general you play the kids that excel, atleast by 11/12. everyone should play but you shouldnt reward the kids that dont try, do practice at home etc imo

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My older son is 9 and is just starting to put it all together with baseball. His swing is much more natural and his throwing is advancing as well. However, because he wasn't a world beater at 6, he was excluded from the "good" teams and never given a chance. That is the problem with youth sports, especially in Baton Rouge. The coaches are the ones that care about the plastic rings, not hte kids. And the coaches only play kids to win, not to actually teach them (also known as coaching) the game. Excluding the "bad kids" at young ages makes them hate the sport and never want to play.

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disagree...what makes the kids hate the sport is not excelling and nobody taking the time to work with them and some kids just dont like sports and thats ok.

from what i have seen the kids care way more about winning, atleast the teams i have been around. I have kids at all levels, majors level travel ball to my older just being a league kid so i couldnt care any less about any of the winning, to me its all just competitive practice to prep for high school. but the kids care a lot. especially as they get older.

tball and even coach pitch...most rec kids dont care, will agree with that.

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Youth baseball is the worst. Absolute worst. Parents ruin everything for these kids... Neither football, basketball, track, soccer, nor lacrosse is like this. It's purely baseball parents. I don't understand it.

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lol na...thats just what you have been exposed to. atleast with travel....soccer, aau basketball and even the 7v7 football...is way worse.

In my experience, 11/12 year olds it gets better. The parents have usually been around awhile and know what their kids all about. This past year, I had several 9/10 parents be complete dumb asses. Case in point: halftime of a playoff game a dad asks me why I can't let his kid run the ball. My words exactly "you're son has never practiced offense, much less running back. Sorry". He didn't like that. I walked away.

ETA: I only spoke to him because I had never seen him before and thought something might be wrong.

I coach in an interschoolastic mountain biking league. For a rec league it's been an amazing experience. No arguing over PT everyone who wants to race can race. Parents see their kids off the start line and when they cross the finish line. No refs to yell or curse at. No crying about little Johnny's playing time. For the most part competition of friendly. Kids support each other. Mountain Bikers tend to be a pretty chill lot. Can highly recommend if you want a sport your kid can participate in.

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I have coached special Olympics and loved it.

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This is 7U Rec, it should be a fun experience with all the kids.

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Kids start too young in organized sports…just have fun until at least U9 or U10

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The kids ARE having fun, until the parents start running their mouths.

If there are kids in a league, they are parents pushing the kids.

I don't know if having NO leagues at all until U9 is a good answer.

It's a mess.

Coached tackle football, flag football, and basketball. 10+ years. Mostly enjoyable. Still do it.

I send an email before first practice, and have a parents meeting at conclusion of first practice. Be clear parents will not have say in playing time! Very clear! Let them know there is always a shortage of coaches if they want to be involved, but that they will not be involved in coaching this team. I lay out that criteria for playing time will include skill, work-effort, attendance, player's listening skills. I also explain that all players gain much of the value from being on a team in practice vs game time.

With that being said, you have to stand your ground when challenged or they will walk all over you. And you have to get some playing time for your weak players. I don't make playing time even, but always have an assistant coach help keep track of who needs playing time. I have learned to get some PT for weak players throughout the games. Winning games is always one of my goals. I try not to be in the position of getting late in a game and needing to get too many weak players in at same time.

I help coach grades 3-4 girls rec ball. I have to say that it has been a pleasant experience so far with one exception of these two meatheads coaching another team. They were fine at first but got progressively worse as we pulled away. I don’t see why people get worked up over these games. Most coaches are cordial and help the girls on both teams understand the rules.

I say it depends on both the sport being played and the organization. I coached flag football for a few years and the parents were great. Never had an issue with the parents. The kids however...made me respect educators. But at least I can yell at the kids and make them run laps.