This week I am doing a tribute to coaches all week long, maybe two weeks, in honor of my father who, last Friday, coached his final game in Meriden on the basketball court at Maloney High School. I am going to make up posts as I go, whether it is my favorite coaches of all time, the best coaches, worst coaches, etc. Today, finding good coaches at the high school level is hard to find, let alone keep them around. I am going to discuss some topics regarding the state of coaching in America. Enjoy!Up until recently I have been coaching since I got out of high school. I still get asked today if I would like to help out some teams in my area, being the high school or little league, but I don't have the time or the patience do it at this point of my life right now. I would love to, don't get me wrong, but there are other things that are more important right now. Which is sad for most of you that know me, and have seen me in action on the sidelines or in the dugouts and have seen my passion for coaching. But, problems have arrived throughout my coaching career and it really all starts with finding someone to back you up with your decision making.
From day one as a coach you are going to be scrutinized for every little decision you make, no matter the outcome. And more often than not you will get back stabbed more so than getting a pat on the back. This goes from anybody, from the school, the board for the team, and of course, how can I forget the parents. If a coach has confidence in his supporting cast, and knows that whatever his decisions are they will back him up totally his job would be ten times easier. But this is never, ever the case. Unless you have a program where you win every year, and even then sometimes it's never enough. I have been underminded, fired, and let go by many programs because I never had the support of the ones running the teams I spent endless hours on making sure we have the best chance to win with. Why would anyone want to coach especially with the way the parents are today? High school coaches don't get paid enough to put up with the crap they get from the kid's parents on a weekly basis. This brings me to my next topic...
Parents Suck! I am sorry but this is true. For a coach there is nothing worse than when a parent tries to take over your program. Second guesses your every decision. And goes home to tell his or her kid not to listen to you because you don't know what you are doing. Honestly folks a coach got the job for a reason, if you think that you could do a better job by all means take over so I can complain about you. No, you don't have the guts to be on that wall and take the heat that coaches get week in and week out. You would rather sit in the bleachers and complain about me and say to yourself, "I could coach this team." I am all for somebody helping me out, trying to critique my coaching, but not from a parent, keep your distance. Stay on the bleachers or in your lounge chairs, keep your comments to yourself and cheer for your kid. Support the program that your kid plays for. Because in all honesty, your the reason why my program is not successful, it's not me!
I f'n hate parents!You want to know why there are no good coaches out there anymore? It is just not worth it! The time spent is not worth the money that you receive. Now, coaching kids and getting the most out of them and making them into respectable human beings is the ultimate award you can get as a coach. But, I can remember while I was coaching basketball at my alma mater Wilcox Tech, the countless hours I spent in the gym, the sleepless nights, the nights going to scout other teams, the nights going through video tape. I am not the only one that does this people. All in all after the season comes to a close you probably end up making about a dollar a hour for your services. NICE! This past week, the state of Florida is in such an economic crisis that some counties are actually petitioning the removal of paying high school coaches. WHAT? Hey, if they want to do that then, you would have to promise me the support of the city, school, board, colleagues, and parents every year, every month, every week, and every day while I am not getting paid to coach a sport for a season, no matter what. The highest paid coach in my county is the 6A school's football coach in my town. Six-thousand dollar a year job. Still not worth it, because in my city you are "secretly" aloud to recruit kids to come to the powerhouse school in town. A 24-7 job for 6000 a year, who in their right mind would want to do that for free? Even if your wealth exceeds you, it still isn't worth it.
What is sad to me about the situation of coaching in America is that there are some actually great people coaching youth programs that get heat from the people watching (parents) everyday. Down in Florida, where football and baseball are life, parents get way to involved and the good coaches start stepping down. The local Little League Baseball League in my town is so bad because of the lack of good coaches, and it is really sad to me. I am not in the least taking anything away from these coaches that take the time coming to the field to help out, but their knowledge of the game isn't there and it is really hurting the kids. In Connecticut, they are making it harder and harder for the high school coaches. "You can't do this", "Can't yell like that", "You need to be certified with this". Why would anyone want to coach anything anymore?
Because if you get one kid that turns around and becomes somebody great because of you, the reward can last a lifetime. Because having a group of players look at you with the passion that you have, and knowing that they know that you are going to be there every step of the way no matter the outcome of the game. Because you love the game, and you want to instill your love with the players on your team. And because you have to, and it is hard not to do something you love and were born to do!
