Post by coveyboyz1 on Sept 17, 2008 8:59:00 GMT -6
I volunteered to assist a friend of mine in coaching my sons 7-9 yr old pop warner team. We ended up with 62 kids signing up and it was decided that there would be 2 teams. I called my friend who is also the commisioner of the association a week before practice began to reassure him I was still interested. At this time he told me there would be 2 teams and that I would be the HC of the 2nd team I was like OK thanks for the notice. I have coached before and have been a HC, but it was older kids. My wife and I both caucasian adopted an African-American child about two years ago btw he is wonderful kid yes sir,no sir excellent athlete and student 3.6 gpa last year big 7yr old 73lbs and chiseled. I played 10yrs of semi-pro football 7-time all-star in my league played all five OL positions and DT. I grew up in Gainesville, Fl and live in a rural community outside of Gator Central I work and live in a community whose major employer is the 5 state prisons in a 20 mile radius. Most of my parents went to school together and have known each other there whole life. Let me get back to my point we had a draft after two days of practice I used Coach Daves games to evaluate players. Like I said my son is 7 so I drafted young players I have 12 seven year olds out of 31 kids and only 5 second year players I knew we would take our lumps, but my parents think we are the B team because of Key names in the community are on the other team and the unpopular parents are on my team. We are talking feelings cliques from high school. I grew up in the city and black white relations were not a big deal. Here's where it gets rough my son is one of the fastest kids on the team and fastest with the ball in his hands. He is the 1 back in the SW and has scored 3 of our four offensive touchdowns in three games all 65 yards plus TD runs. I have put out fires all year with parents complaining about the way the team was put together,uniforms, equip various league issues. I've defended the silly SW and my coaching practices and experience,I've played more football games than anyone around me has went to football practice. We have lost all three games 26-14,26-13,19-0 only nine penalties in three games with a almost all 1st year players we are pretty disciplined only three procedure penalties. I can take about anything the parents dish out, but now the parents are attacking my child saying he gets the ball too much even though he has scored 3 times on about 20 carries and I'm not calling plays I'm the HC. The thing that angers me I know its a racial thing because I heard comments in the beginning from parents about their child not being a skill player even though they were in the top group on laps are kidding me laps. My top 12 kids are fairly athletic and there is not a ton seperation but I promise the kids are in the right spots and making changes as I see the need. I dom't know the family politics and don't care who is who isn't that what parents say they want. I don't if can satisfy my parents. My Question is do I have responsibilty to the parents, even though I know I'm doing right things. We are very young and I knew this going in is it about being competitive,learning and fun. Or is it a popularity contest. Either do I have a right or should I defend my child or is it pointless even though it could mean not gettting to coach my child anymore because of redneck small town politics which is at the heart of it all. I would think after producing talents like Gerard Warren,Andrew Zow,Bennie Alexander,CJ SPILLER and Kevin Alexander this little town would be over this foolishness. I'm sorry this was unorganized but I needed to get this off my chest. Thanks.