u/Bakinguplove

As a parent, I had to do the worst imaginable - call out the coach during a game for unfair behavior and request he play my kid.

On a team of 12, my child has routinely sat the first or second inning almost all spring season. The last game, they were struggling at the plate and innings were taking 30+ min, so it was looking like a 2 inning game. The coach told my son to sit the second inning as well. I was close so I called out to the coach and said Im sorry I hate to be that parent, but he sat already tonight. The coach responded with he wont sit the next game and I reminded him that he had already sat the previous game too. The coach (begrudgingly) called to the closest kid and had them swap. They did indeed play 2 innings that night. He would have sat the whole game, and had 1 single at bat that day.

Aside from this particular game, we have noticed a lack of structure during practices and favoritism towards 3-4 kids. Everyone else gets 1-2 reps during a drill; these kids take 4-6 reps jumping back into line without correction. There are no superstars on this team - they are all around the same level and the ones who goof off the most, tend to be the favorites.

I am regularly watching my youngest during practices and games so helping during practices and games is not much of an option. What would be the best way to encourage more consistent coaching and that my kid isn’t riding the bench for no reason. As a parent who has coached other sports- I understand rotating kids to ensure playing time at 9u. But addressing someone else without sounding like an asshole is hard for me.

I have helped 3 different people apply for PSLF that didn’t know they were in eligible job roles - I walked them through the current events, consolidating if needed, and what they needed to do to apply. Followed up with them when they got correspondence and celebrated with all three while they got their green ribbons and golden letters.

Me however? Sitting in buyback purgatory, working the lowest paid position out of any of the three and counting the days until I actually get PSLF - through my $0 payments because I get paid in peanuts at my professional level state employment or the elusive buyback. I want so much to transfer to the public sector, earn more than $40k a year, and just be able to live and not be stuck in survival. At 13 months remaining it would be dumb to change without confirmation.

Just commiseration here - how are things going for you?