follow up on response/little leaque substitutes

Question
John, thank you so much for responding to me so quickly.  I have been trying so hard to recieve some kind of advice.  You have helped me alot.  I know now from hearing others talk about the game that I haven't seen nothing yet.  I do believe that my sons first year has been a bust, but we will not give up.  Especially if my son continues to want to play.  There is more to the story far as the coach is concerned.  Trust me I am not a person or one of the whinny parents.  I realize my son may be weaker than the others that have been playing already.  I just thought that he would get a little more out of the game if he was rotated around in the outfield.  I don't expect him to play infield right now, but he just stands in the cornor on the field or in the dugout.  But anyway, We have practice more with him than the coach.  We have had numerous times when practice was at a certain time and none of the coaches would show up.  And we very seldom knew when practice was supposed to be.  I believe there are two types of coaches out there.  One like you  willing to work with each player whether they are strong or weak.  Just to teach them.  And the other is the Win Win Win just as you stated.  We will continue to practice with our son and take some of your advice to heart.  As far as the batting order My son has been called out to bat in position and then called back in, I am not sure on this either.  This has happened several times.  Whenever I ask no one ever gives me a straight answer.  It is heartbreaking to see your son with so much enthusatium and then it goes away in seconds when this happens.  The same when he runs out on the field to play and is called back in.  He now knows the routine and drops his head.  I know you probably not interested in all the drama so I should close.  But again Thank you so much for the advice.  We will keep trying.  Thank you Amy  

Answer
Hi Amy,

you sound like a parent from our Association!  I am so fustrated with our association in allowing unqualified coaches to neglect weaker children.  They are only interested in grabbing the cash from parents and forget the children in the field.

Now I understand what you meant by being "called back".  From your comments, it would appear that the coach is changing the line-up and that may or may not be allowed, depending on your association.  

My strongest advice is to look for a good baseball summer camp for your child.  Believe me when I tell you...these camps will take weaker players and really improve their game.  If you want to find a good camp (they are usually 1 or 2 weeks long; some can be just for weekends) I can help. Just let me know which state or province you are in and I'll do the rest.  

It really gets me upset to hear about coaches and associations who neglect novice and weaker players.  It fustrates me to know that there are men (women usually don't do this to children) who have no compassion for those kids who are learning the game.  I see this problem from a different perspective than you.  My own local association is full of men who care only for their kids and their friends children.  Sponsors kids get better treatment too!  Its scandalous and the problem is deeper rooted than most people think.

I've been in a position where I've seen a player of mine leave the field with his head down.  I try to explain that changes have to be made.  I also keep his disappointment in the back of my mind and find some way to raise his morale.  With 12 to 16 players, its not easy.  You think its hard with 2 on the bench...I've had 7 on the bench.  The rotation was crazy and my assistants hated it.  

My association would not form two teams and so 7 kids were supposed to be cut from the team.  I've coached for 8 years and knew most of the kids.  Instead of cutting them, I decided to carry them.  The association refused to help but I did it anyway.  It was the hardest summer of my baseball coaching career.  My two trusted assistants thought I was nuts to carry so many substitutes but I just could not see those kids being abandoned.  

Long story short....we won our Regional Championship despite the lack of support from the local association.  We had the largest team and some of the weakest players but every child was reminded that they ALL contributed to our success.

So Amy, if you are unsatisfied with your coach and if you have no support from your association, speak to the local recreation authority who sponsor baseball in your area.  I'm sure the city you live in own's the ballpark and funds the baseball program.  Its your tax dollars that are being spent.  Maybe city hall will help you.

Your complaint is so very, very familiar.  I would not be surprised to learn that you are a parent in my very own community.  I have advised parents to either escalate their concerns to higher authorities:  local baseball association, regional baseball association, city hall.

Meanwhile, talk to your son.  Tell him that with practice and patience, he will improve.  Its important for him to know that everyone starts out as a weaker player and as they practice and play, they become better.  There will be hard moments at first but eventually the game will come easier to him.  He just has to keep trying and NEVER, NEVER GIVE UP.  Have him show the coach that he is a hard worker and has a positive attitude.  We all go thru this learning period in baseball.  If it was easy, they'd call it soccer!  (thats a coaches joke)

Baseball is one of the most complex sports there is.  It takes years of hard work to become good.  No one learns this sport in a year, its just too difficult.  Just keep trying and work on developing a positive attitude.  I always say, baseball is like life.  

Let me know if you need help finding baseball camp.  ABC baseball camps are found in the US and Canada. They have excellent coaches for all levels and the price is reasonable.  I have no affiliations with them...I have seen players who came back from their camps and was amazed at the improvement.

Yours in baseball,

JohnMc