re: Youth Sports Issue: talented kid, knucklehead parents

My wife grew up with a kid that went on to the MLB hall of fame. His parents were so worthless he had to live with a friend just to be able to eat.

His coach made sure he had the support he needed. He went on to great things.

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Youth Sports Issue: talented kid, knucklehead parents

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As a youth sports coach with 12 years experience here's my "worst" story:

7th grader who had the athletic body and skill of a 10th grader is dominating their age level. You look at the kid and project MAJOR div I player.

The family is ghetto AF and believe their baby is a meal ticket to be cashed instantly. Anytime the player is challeged to work harder, I get a call from the dad.

Player gets benched for showing up late = screaming phone call.

The parents expected everything to be provided to them for free and would essentially use people until that program was done with them before moving on to use another program.

The child had HUGE disciplinary issues at school as well and would be suspended multiple times during the HS career. It was a dman miracle the child was allowed to graduate

"I will not have anyone break my baby's spirit" was the quote I remember the most when I benched and suspended the player for cussing out their teammates and a coach during a match. Bear in mind this was a 7th grader cussing at a 30 year old coach at a middle school event.

The player didn't finish the season with our team. Flash forward to their HS career and you see them bounce from 3 different HS teams and 4 travel ball teams. The player receives no scholarships and has been lost to history as one of those cautionary "X coulda been great" stories.

All because the parents spoiled their "baby" anbd used her to receive special treatment.

I've coached several Div I athletes and many more who went on to great careers in smaller colleges. I have never worked with another family who had that level of entitlement. It was disgusting.

My baseball coach owned a Mcdonalds. He would pick up most of the team for practice and then take us to eat some Mcdonalds.

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My brother in law is a coach and had two basketball studs that would show up most of the time but miss about 1 in 5 practices. He asked them what's up and they were homeless and couldn't always get a ride to and from. My bro in law offered to drive them whenever they needed it and took him up on it.

Kids with terrible parents need positive role models in their life. A little trouble on your part could mean a world of difference down the road for those kids.

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This family had a combined income level just short of $100K

I tried to build that relationship and also had older kids in my club try to mentor her. She was raised to think that her shite didn't stink and could do no wrong.