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Post by wingt74 on Nov 9, 2007 7:32:05 GMT -6
So, this season, I had very few run ins with parents. Couple of comments about playing time and "can you get my kid some more time on offense"..the usual stuff.
But not to bad.
Until last night.
During the season, we had a coach's son video tape all our games. Was awesome to have footage of all our games as we haven't had that in the past. By the 6th game (8th grade football, we play 8) I had an idea to put a highlight DvD together. I have a friend who does some work on the side. I called him, and he agreed.
We also agreed. $5 per kid per DvD! $5! Highlights of all the games, a special section on "parents day" and a rose ceremony, an interview with the head coach (yours truly...don't ask), professionally designed DvD case, DvDs themselves had our logo and information on it.
Music, credits, players names/positions. My buddy went all out.
$5! Literally the cost of the DvDs, cases, and printing. DvDs were handed out at the banquet earlier this week.
So anyway, I run into a Dad last night in a parking lot. And here is exactly how the conversation went.
"Hey Bill, how are you?"
"Good coach, good to see you"
"Hows your son?"
"He's good, had a lot of fun this year"
"Hey, what did you think of the highlight DvD?"
"I dunno, not the best footage in the world"
I was so angry, i went home and re-watched the footage. Yeah, wasn't the best, but it was good enough to I could read players' numbers, blocking schemes, defensive alignments, etc.
I just shuck my head and said, "Say hi to James for me"
man o man.
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Post by sls on Nov 9, 2007 7:59:23 GMT -6
It does not matter at all what you do as a coach, 30% of the parents are going to dislike you.
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Post by coachcalande on Nov 9, 2007 8:25:20 GMT -6
put on your thick skin my man.
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Post by brophy on Nov 9, 2007 8:26:22 GMT -6
lol.......nothing but coaching GOLD in these responses........preach the gospel.
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Post by wingt74 on Nov 9, 2007 8:36:58 GMT -6
BAH! You guys aren't helping!!  Kidding. Yeah I know. Being critical of my coaching, or my coaching decisions, or playing time, where kids play...rolls off pretty easy. But, this...for some reason...got under my skin. |
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Post by wingt74 on Nov 9, 2007 9:16:18 GMT -6
BAH! You guys aren't helping!! Kidding. Yeah I know. Being critical of my coaching, or my coaching decisions, or playing time, where kids play...rolls off pretty easy. But, this...for some reason...got under my skin. Oh...my fault...I meant to say: "Ungrateful, unappreciative parents. What a jerk!!  To criticize something that he had no part in making? The $5 charge doesn't come close to covering the blank DVD, the cover and the time required to cut up and put together the highlight DVD.
If the footage is that bad then maybe he should have volunteered to film the games for us. F*** him and the horse he rode in on, I hope he goes blind, his wife leaves him and his dog runs away."Better? Ah, for the record, I was agreeing with your original post. |
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Post by edwardslv on Nov 9, 2007 9:50:02 GMT -6
wingt74,
Sorry, buddy, but I am afraid I am going to have to side with the others on here who said this one's on you. Believe me, I feel your pain. It sucks to work hard on something only to have others criticize. And that is exactly why I would never have a conversation with a parent like you did. I too need to work on growing thicker skin, but in the mean time I have to avoid certain situations.
Keep on fighting the good fight.
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Post by coachcalande on Nov 9, 2007 10:09:10 GMT -6
I sent out highlight dvds to my kids after the 2004 season, didnt charge anything and the feedback was great. We also had some lame footage mixed with some very good footage...if someone would have complained I probably would have said " where were you when we were looking for someone to film the games? I had to hold the camera in one hand while I called plays off my wrist coach on the other sometimes!" (true story)...
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Post by coachcalande on Nov 9, 2007 10:13:05 GMT -6
Let me add this about parents and fans...
Marty schottenheimer was run out of San Diego after going 14-3 (best season ever for the Chargers)...Bill Parcells was nearly run out of NY in his first season.
You have to have a thick skin to be a coach, especially a head coach.
recently I ran into a parent and he said "wow, you were a great coach, we want you back!"
and what I recall about him was him yelling obscenities behind my back when his kid got benched for disciplinary reasons.
Jump thru the hoops, be a great coach but shoot dont expect to please everyone. I think thats the definition of insanity...trying to please everyone.
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Post by ajreaper on Nov 9, 2007 10:23:32 GMT -6
LOL, the previous few years I'd do a hi-lite tape for my freshman teams- standard stuff cut ups of O and D with still pics of all the kids thrown in and a sound track that I typically pick because I cannot put most of the music they'd like on it and feel good about grand ma in Muncie watching it. So it's playing during our banquet and a dad comes up part way through and said it was fine until a Bruce Springstien song came on- tells me "you know he's one of those anti war types so I'm leaving" As he heads out the door I call out to him "shouldn't we all be?" he asks "all be what" my reply "anti war- ask our boys over in Iraq I'll bet they are all anti war". He gets a dumb fouded look on his face and turns and leaves.
In my experience parents fall into 3 catagories- those who will be very supportive and assist the program in any and every way they can- even if that's just not being a pain in the butt, those who you'll never hear from or see even if the kids in the program for 4 years and then there's that group who are impossible to please, they take every opportunity to cut your nutts and second guessing every call or decision is a second occupation for them.
Just something you must learn to live with.
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Post by wingt74 on Nov 9, 2007 10:36:45 GMT -6
where were you when we were looking for someone to film the games?" (true story)... Ah man...would have been an EXCELLENT response. "OH! Excellent! I'll look forward to you signing up to film games next season!" ;D |
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Post by Coach Goodnight on Nov 9, 2007 11:51:25 GMT -6
I know this much, I am trying to come up with a parent player contract. What will basically be in it is that all the criticism of coaching, players, and profanity ect will not happen or their child will not play. My wife teaches at a small school and their coach has a policy like this. I have been to every game for the last 2 years there and I have yet to hear a complaint one from the stands!!! I will share with you all when this is complete!!!!!  |
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Post by cmow5 on Nov 9, 2007 12:03:03 GMT -6
Lou holtz says "Fans want to coach, coaches want to ref, and refs want to watch"  |
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Post by coachd5085 on Nov 9, 2007 12:39:03 GMT -6
cmow5---GREAT line..
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Post by cmow5 on Nov 9, 2007 12:43:03 GMT -6
Thank you. I will be here all week  |
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Post by tcm57 on Nov 9, 2007 13:30:33 GMT -6
The best Lou Holtz line regarding parents ...
"The best place to coach is at an orphanage."
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tedseay
Sophomore Member
Posts: 165
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Post by tedseay on Nov 10, 2007 6:09:50 GMT -6
Parents: You can't live with 'em, and you can't use their flesh for shishkabobs -- unless you're Rob Zombie.
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To criticize something that he had no part in making? The $5 charge doesn't come close to covering the blank DVD, the cover and the time required to cut up and put together the highlight DVD.
