by Christopher Walton, Santa Rosa Correctional Institution in Milton, Florida
The first and only time I ever coached baseball happened as a fluke. I went to sign my step son up to play T-Ball at the Tampa Heights baseball complex. While I was in the office, the commissioner of the league, Monty Bostick, asked if I was interested in coaching one of the teams. At the time my schedule was pretty hectic so I initially declined the opportunity right away and went ahead and I said no.
A guy walked into the office, smelling as if he’d just finished smoking, the loudest blunt ever, and asked Monty if he needed another coach for the Lil’ Gits. At that exact moment my step son, who was standing right next to me, tugged on my pants leg and asked me, “Daddy am I going to be on his team?” I looked down into my son’s excited eyes, looked back at the super thug and then to Monty and told him that I’d re-considered and would take him up on his offer.
To be honest, I wasn’t any more qualified than Mr. Thuqalicious. I mean, I didn’t know jack about coaching Baseball. But I wasn’t going to leave my kid in the hand of dude who couldn’t keep his pants from hanging off his backside and who ended every sentence with: “kno’ wha’ I’m talkin’ bout?”
Every time I hear about the issues that occur when it comes to youth sports think back to that episode and it dawns on me that the biggest problem coaching as long as he or she is willing to do the job there is no real screening process. If a person knows someone running the show he or she can be on a sideline in a dugout or standing court-side yelling at children.
There are no coaches that have degrees or who were former student- athletes themselves unfortunately, though there also exist problems on that level because the men and women helming the program tend to mimic the individual they were groomed under. The person they learned from was one of those old school screamer who couldn’t evolve with the times and who felt as though he was decreed by God to run his domain. It’s more than likely that anyone who came up under that type of leadership will exhibit the same kind of stubborn and overly aggressive behavior.
The reason why there appears to be so much conflict between coaches, parents and players at sporting events is largely due to the person tasked with running these programs, being ill-equipped to handle everything that comes with the gig, Part of which includes being able to deal playing time, while also orchestrating, game plans that will ultimately lead to victories. Granted, it’s a fine line to walk, but the best in the business figure out a way to get it right by exhibiting a certain degree of understanding and communicating effectively with all parties involved, while at the same time practicing extreme humility.
What a lot of coaches tend to forget while chasing Pop Warner championships and state titles is that their job is only about accumulating wins And Avoiding losses. It is also about using Athletics as a tool to teach children how to work with others ly achieving a common goal and having then develop in to upstanding human being in the process.
As far-fetched is it may be a good idea for all leagues from the super midgets to high school varsities to expect new hire to be certified in public relations and sports psychology before granting him or her a position within their organization. ‘Of course the higher requirement may also call for candidates to become better compensated. But if the effort leads to less stressful environments for the young minds and bodies affected, I think the investment will be well worth every penny spent.