|
|
Post by fkaboneyard on Dec 5, 2017 15:53:10 GMT -6
Excuse the long post, I’ll try to be brief…
Private school, total of about 50 kids on varsity and JV. Kid (“Donald”) began playing football at the school as a 7th grader (MS program) and then tailback on JV as a 9th grader last year. He had some initial success on JV but eventually lost his spot because he couldn’t hold onto the ball. Also, he’s very fast in a straight line but can’t cut unless he comes to a near complete stop. This past year (as a sophomore) he began the year on JV as tailback and was doing well. He was quickly pulled up to varsity when the team was bitten by the injury bug.
The kid played in a couple games and it was clear he still had a long way to go. He worked hard in practice but struggled to remember his assignments and was afraid of contact. The HC has twin sons who play Mike & Will linebacker spots. He always told his sons (and the rest of the defense) to “dial it back against Donald, we need to ease him into this...” After playing in a couple games the injured starter was recovered so he was given his starting position back. The starter kid is lazy but he’s the best athlete on the field, maybe the county, at any given time. After the 7th game of the season when Donald didn’t get much playing time his dad cornered the HC and exploded on him. “Donald is the best athlete on this team, he should be the starter. I watch practices, he’s the hardest worker on the team, you play favorites, etc. etc.” The dad is a screwball with a long history of know-it-allism. The HC initially tried to explain the facts to dad but he wouldn’t listen. Among other things, HC told him, “your son is afraid of contact, I have to tell my defense to go easy on him during practice, I can tell them to go 100% if you want” to which dad says, “You f’ing liar, they’re going 100% already.” HC says, “They’re not but they will from now on.”
Following Tuesday at practice running team the Mike & Will just hammer the hell out of this kid. They weren’t trying to hurt him but they are very good and Donald pretty much pauses whenever he makes a cut which makes him a sitting duck. Kid was just getting destroyed while dad stood on the sidelines watching. Not hard to see it coming, eventually the kid gets lit up and is seeing stars. Dad hauls him off the field all the while hollering, “You did this on purpose, I’m going to sue you.” Turns out the kid has a grade 3 concussion and neuro says he can’t play football ever again. HC told me today that he, the rest of the staff and the school are being sued by the dad.
|
|
|
|
Post by blb on Dec 5, 2017 16:03:29 GMT -6
This is the world HS coaches live in now, unfortunately.
You have to protect kids from idiot parents or there may be consequences.
Problem is - if this was second or third time HC let "Donald" run the ball against "Mike and Will" knowing what may happen, and had already told idiot Dad - he may have a case.
And in situation like this sympathy is always going to be with aggrieved (injured) party. |
|
|
|
Post by bigmoot on Dec 5, 2017 16:10:49 GMT -6
HC should have never said what he did. It makes him look like he intended for the injury to happen, esp with M and W being his sons.
|
|
|
|
Post by jrk5150 on Dec 5, 2017 16:47:40 GMT -6
Turns out the kid has a grade 3 concussion and neuro says he can’t play football ever again. Is this even a thing? Never heard of "grades", all I've ever heard is that they can't tell severity of concussions or how they'll play out in the future. And "neuro" is meaningless - they don't know squat about any of this either. I thought that was the whole problem with concussions... I think it's probably a lot of hot air, as long as the coach didn't tell the line to not block or tell the D what play was coming. If he just put him out there and let the chips fall, with the same crew that plays on Friday nights...he should ultimately be fine. Especially if he can defend the original "easing up" as less of a safety issue and more of a acclimatization issue. Of course - courts suck, notorious for not making any sense, blah blah blah. And I'm sure his administration would prefer to throw him under the buss than have the balls to defend this. So probably not good for him... Last thought - never punish the kid because of the parents. I had a kid in youth ball this year that doesn't belong playing tackle football - petrified of any level of contact, controlled or not. I basically am getting run out of our program because I didn't play him some at QB - org Pres sided with parents because he didn't feel like dealing with it. My AC's told me to go ahead and play him and let him get blown up (he'd freeze under stress and would have gotten lit up), but I said no. As tempting as it was, I'm not going to put an 11 year old kid in a position to fail possibly get hurt because his parents are effing delusional. |
|
|
|
Post by blb on Dec 5, 2017 17:04:44 GMT -6
I had a kid in youth ball this year that doesn't belong playing tackle football - petrified of any level of contact, controlled or not. I basically am getting run out of our program because I didn't play him some at QB - org Pres sided with parents because he didn't feel like dealing with it. My AC's told me to go ahead and play him and let him get blown up (he'd freeze under stress and would have gotten lit up), but I said no. As tempting as it was, I'm not going to put an 11 year old kid in a position to fail possibly get hurt because his parents are effing delusional.
He couldn't take a snap and hand off three times a game?
Line up at WR out by the sideline on inside runs or plays away?
Play (DEEP) Safety?
|
|
|
|
Post by jrk5150 on Dec 5, 2017 17:59:27 GMT -6
He couldn't take a snap and hand off three times a game?
Line up at WR out by the sideline on inside runs or plays away?
Play (DEEP) Safety?
Sorry for the confusion - he got his plays (just not at QB), we have a mandatory play requirement, but Mom and Dad were pissed that he wasn't "playing and developing" as a QB. It was all between his ears - extremely contact averse, horrible confidence issues/hard on himself when he made a mistake, and too lazy to do the work on his own to avoid making the mistakes. Even just on air he'd drop about one in every four snaps, then would fail to make the hand-off (turn the wrong way, miss the pocket, etc.) probably half the snaps he got. And then he'd just stop and start hanging his head, hitting himself in the helmet, etc., while the play was still going on. He single-handedly brought out indie time to a halt because he couldn't even get a play off on air. Live, he was worse. The kid was going to get killed, so I moved him to another spot, and all hell broke loose. It's a longer story, and not my thread to tell it. Just wanted to give you enough context for my comment about not taking crap parents out on the kid. My bottom line - I am not going to put a kid in a position where he is going to fail (and in this case take the team with him), and/or get hurt. Believe me, if he could have taken the effing snap and handed off cleanly, I would have HAPPILY played him his 8 or 12 snaps at QB. My life would have been so much easier this past fall. As it is, my 13 year relationship with my home-town org is completely blown to pieces, all over a kid who shouldn't even be playing tackle football until he's mentally ready to do it. |
|
|
|
Post by rudyrude9 on Dec 8, 2017 14:26:01 GMT -6
Now the real question.
Who's the bigger dumbass the parent or the coach?
|
|
|
|
Post by 33coach on Dec 8, 2017 23:13:46 GMT -6
HC should be fired.
if you know the kid is underdeveloped, and you put him in a situation that you normally wouldnt just to spite that dad...you have no business being in the sport or around kids.
|
|
|
|
Post by 33coach on Dec 8, 2017 23:16:52 GMT -6
Now the real question. Who's the bigger dumbass the parent or the coach? without a doubt the coach. you know the kid isnt ready for 100% contact vs your D.. you dont do it. no matter what the Dad says. hope the coach never works with kids again. |
|
|
|
Post by rsmith627 on Dec 9, 2017 13:19:45 GMT -6
Now the real question. Who's the bigger dumbass the parent or the coach? without a doubt the coach. you know the kid isnt ready for 100% contact vs your D.. you dont do it. no matter what the Dad says. hope the coach never works with kids again. If all facts represented here are accurate, I don't think we have to worry about that. I think this coach is phuced. |
|
|
|
Post by 33coach on Dec 9, 2017 13:47:37 GMT -6
without a doubt the coach. you know the kid isnt ready for 100% contact vs your D.. you dont do it. no matter what the Dad says. hope the coach never works with kids again. If all facts represented here are accurate, I don't think we have to worry about that. I think this coach is phuced. IF they are (and at this point, that's all i have to go on) hes the kind of "coach" that puts a bad mark on the sport... its another headline that allows mothers and fathers to say: "why would i want my kid in that sport.". i hope hes screwed, and i hope the school learns from it.. only hire quality human beings, not scum of the earth "tough guys" |
|
|
|
Post by carookie on Dec 16, 2017 11:16:45 GMT -6
Never engage with 'Angry Parent', they are like internet trolls in that there is nothing to be gained. Let them curse you and your wife out for all you care but just walk away. Keep your AD & Admin abreast of the situation and force the conversation to be had with them present and in a controlled environment.
Even then, never bring up other player's performances up to Angry Parent (other player's are not going 100% against him in practice because he is afraid of contact); you can tell this to your AD & Admin so they know why you made your decision but thats something dad doesnt need to know.
As long as admin has your back, screw what backup RB's dad thinks. Just move along.
|
|
|
|
Post by fkaboneyard on Dec 17, 2017 23:46:56 GMT -6
Turns out, dad wasn't bluffing - he, his staff and the school are actually gonna be sued over this. The coach told me, "I can't believe this guy" and was looking for sympathy from me. I said, "I don't mean to be a prig but I can't believe you can't believe the guy is suing you. The dad was a d-bag before his kid got hurt, what did you think was going to happen? There's never any upside talking to a parent like that. If you talked to most dads like that about their kid they'd probably end up throwing down." He said "Maybe, but I'm going back to coaching basketball." I said, "Good luck with that." Funny how he thinks another school is going to hire him to coach when this is over.
|
|
|
|
Post by 33coach on Dec 18, 2017 10:59:46 GMT -6
Turns out, dad wasn't bluffing - he, his staff and the school are actually gonna be sued over this. The coach told me, "I can't believe this guy" and was looking for sympathy from me. I said, "I don't mean to be a prig but I can't believe you can't believe the guy is suing you. The dad was a d-bag before his kid got hurt, what did you think was going to happen? There's never any upside talking to a parent like that. If you talked to most dads like that about their kid they'd probably end up throwing down." He said "Maybe, but I'm going back to coaching basketball." I said, "Good luck with that." Funny how he thinks another school is going to hire him to coach when this is over. yea i dont understand his logic. im going to put a kid in a potentially dangerous situation, that the staff knows hes not prepared for, to spite the dad.... that'll show 'em. |
|
