Sorry this is a long one. I really don’t know where else I can talk about this. I’m coaching rec little league again the is year. AA which is 8-10 year olds.
When the boys were 5-6 I just helped where I could cause the coach had no one and he wasn’t very good.
Last year that coach wasn’t allowed by the league to coach anymore for reasons I don’t know and no one stepped up to be the head coach so I did. We had a fun year and the boys improved.
This year for AA I am the head coach again and we are having a blast. In my opening speech to parents I reminded them we are a developmental league and my goal is to make sure they have fun and get better from day 1 to the last day. I let them know I don’t care if we win a game as long as we have fun and play hard. I play each kid in all different positions, every kid has to play both infield and outfield so that we can develop. Yes limited kids pitch and catch. On pitching I have 4 kids that want to be pitchers, including my son, so I pitch them every game and when another kid wants to try I do get them out there. I have 5 kids who want to catch so I have them each catch 1 inning a game.
We have fun practices, we have fun on the field and the kids say I am their ultimate hype man as I let nothing get me down and I always support them no matter what. Im not in it for egos, I am doing this because I want the kids to have fun and like baseball so that they come back next year.
My son and one of his best friends, B, play year round together and my son also puts in a ton of practice at home on his own.
Fast forward to this week. Practice was a different vibe for some kids as we had just lost for the first time last Saturday, 8-7. I tried to remind them we are gonna lose it’s baseball and we played an amazing game. B all week was putting people down in practice telling them they suck and are holding us back. I told him that’s not appropriate we are a team and we have eachothers back. B’s mom is one of my assistant coaches too as she’s great with the boys, and she also was on him about the behavior.
My son was pitching in or scrimmage, fielded a ground ball back to him and missed the tag, he knew he should have thrown it to first. B runs up to him and screams at him “you’re a F’in idiot, you should have thrown the ball.” As he pushed him. My son said yeah I know I messed up and turns to walk away. B pushed him in the back again calling him an F’in idiot. Mind you they are supposed to be best friends and have been for years. My son finally had enough when he got pushed a third time and turned around and smacked b in the chest with his glove. B then grabbed him by the arm and tried to hit my son in the elbow. I separated them and benched my son for the rest of practice. I didn’t know about the pushing at that point and two of my assistant coaches had told me later. Bs mom was off I don’t know where when this happened. That night I called her to tell her there was an incident between the boys and she said b has been having emotional stuff lately and we had the boys talk it out. Thought all was good.
In the game yesterday we played great. All the boys having fun. B wanted to try pitching, so he got out there and did it and pitched well. In the last inning B was playing first base as it’s his favorite position and he made an error. He came in the dugout and I was like no worries just shake it off and gave him knuckles. His mom then told me not to speak to him and I said no problem just let him know he’s doing an amazing job.
After the game b and his mom left abruptly and my told my wife he’s in mood because of “adult energy”.
My son went to another teammates and friends house for dinner and when the parents dropped my son off they told me Bs mom is telling all of our friends that I am too intense of a coach and that I play daddy ball with my son. Those parents I was talking to disagreed with her and told her that yes while I am always trying to keep the boys up it’s cause I do it because I truly care for them and want them to succeed. They told her they never got the feeling of daddy ball as yes my son pitches but he also plays outfield 2 times a game (more then others) and third and catcher. They can tell the comments hit me deep and I feel terrible about it.
They told her she doesn’t see the hours and hours I put in at home to make sure I have good drills, detailed notes etc to make sure the boys have fun and improve.
I tried to sleep it off but woke up still very hurt by what’s she is saying to our friends and others teams parents behind my back as I believed she was a good family friend since our sons are best friends. I don’t know how I should feel or proceed here.
Sorry for the long rant I just needed to try and blow off some emotions.