Anyone enjoy youth sports but shocked at the politics?

[Anonymous]

Baseball is the most MAGA sport around.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Do individual sports then

My experience parents arrested at lax and soccer games, parents drunk , parents screaming kids, parents screaming at kids in their cars , one dad called his daughter a whore and other words I won’t write here , for wanting to go for ice cream the girls were eleven at a tournament and the mothers wanted to take the girls the night before . Thanks Holy Cross parents that dad was a real peach and he’s one of yours. One Good counsel mother bought dead baby dolls to a practice and gave a graphic description of how the girls would go to hell if they had an abortion they were 12. Weekend of March for life.
Back to kindergarten to second grade soccer parents not letting all kids get a turn to play. T ball same. Parents yelling at refs who by the way were kids. Pumping kids with pain pills after injuries overplaying after injuries. Keep playing football with a concussion. Hiding dangerous coaching decisions.

I could go on and on.surburban parents are the worst.

Parent of a division one player more than one lac and soccer.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We attend a really wealthy, competitive, sports obsessive school and I am a little shocked by the politics of the children’s sports. Especially at the elementary school level. I can’t believe this even exists. I grew up in a rural area so have nothing from my childcare to care it to. We didn’t have travel sports and there were no cuts on teams. Now I realize how great my childhood was compared to this! It’s a lot of money, energy and effort for the same end result. And before iou say you can opt out, when your kid is driving their own involvement and wants to play a bunch of sports and participate in all the camps and teams you want them to also. I love watching youth sports but don’t love all the rest that comes with it.

It is a manifestation of generalized anxiety in the world. And the younger the kids are the more anxious their parents about their performance.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Do individual sports then

My experience parents arrested at lax and soccer games, parents drunk , parents screaming kids, parents screaming at kids in their cars , one dad called his daughter a whore and other words I won’t write here , for wanting to go for ice cream the girls were eleven at a tournament and the mothers wanted to take the girls the night before . Thanks Holy Cross parents that dad was a real peach and he’s one of yours. One Good counsel mother bought dead baby dolls to a practice and gave a graphic description of how the girls would go to hell if they had an abortion they were 12. Weekend of March for life.
Back to kindergarten to second grade soccer parents not letting all kids get a turn to play. T ball same. Parents yelling at refs who by the way were kids. Pumping kids with pain pills after injuries overplaying after injuries. Keep playing football with a concussion. Hiding dangerous coaching decisions.

I could go on and on.surburban parents are the worst.

Parent of a division one player more than one lac and soccer.

At least they can write coherently

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Also weighing in as a HS coach—there will always be parents who cannot see how their kids skills compare to others on the team and/or take issue with roster, position and play time decisions. There’s a ton of bs that goes on with daddy ball but by HS I’m putting our best kids out there in the positions I think they need to be in to get the W. Obviously I work in kids who are less skilled when I can and where I can, but I spend a lot of time thinking about match ups and who works well together etc. My sport is not an easy to hide a weak kid type of sport. The number of parents who question my line ups or talk to the AD trying to angle for more playing time for their kids is crazy.

In my experience you are right, but so are some of the parents complaining about “politics”. At our school:

- the varsity starters are 100% merit based, no BS. The coaches play to win.

-massive politics comes into play in terms of who makes the varsity bench, and roster/playing time on JV. Generally the more marginal players, obviously. It is SO political at our school that it is almost comical.

So the coaches are right to say “there is no politics”- with varsity starting lineups that is always true. But parents do notice the super obvious politics at the margins, and aren’t going to be happy about it when it affects their own kid…for example a better player cut from varsity so that the “connected kid” gets a jersey. Neither of those kids will play anyway, so it really doesn’t matter for the program. But it will matter a lot to the (cut) kid and his parents and they will scream about politics. And they aren’t wrong.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:As someone who was a volunteer tennis coach until 2023 at one of the big 3 private schools, and also at an FCPS school (think of Langley, McLean, Oakton, Chantilly), I can assure you that the tryouts were fair, and that the best kids made the varsity based on results on the tennis court. The results were recorded with confirmation from players. Therefore, coaches could not put a player with a worse record on the team during tryouts, while denying another player with a better record.

There were always parents demanding to know why their kids didn't make the varsity team. As coaches, we showed them results from the tryout, and we were very transparent with the process.

Unfortunately, it doesn't work like that in team sports.

I'm sure you're a good Samaritan and spend your weekends teaching underprivileged kids on the other side of the county on the weekends. Then again, you're a tennis coach so probably not, which explains why no one cares.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Also weighing in as a HS coach—there will always be parents who cannot see how their kids skills compare to others on the team and/or take issue with roster, position and play time decisions. There’s a ton of bs that goes on with daddy ball but by HS I’m putting our best kids out there in the positions I think they need to be in to get the W. Obviously I work in kids who are less skilled when I can and where I can, but I spend a lot of time thinking about match ups and who works well together etc. My sport is not an easy to hide a weak kid type of sport. The number of parents who question my line ups or talk to the AD trying to angle for more playing time for their kids is crazy.

In my experience you are right, but so are some of the parents complaining about “politics”. At our school:

- the varsity starters are 100% merit based, no BS. The coaches play to win.

-massive politics comes into play in terms of who makes the varsity bench, and roster/playing time on JV. Generally the more marginal players, obviously. It is SO political at our school that it is almost comical.

So the coaches are right to say “there is no politics”- with varsity starting lineups that is always true. But parents do notice the super obvious politics at the margins, and aren’t going to be happy about it when it affects their own kid…for example a better player cut from varsity so that the “connected kid” gets a jersey. Neither of those kids will play anyway, so it really doesn’t matter for the program. But it will matter a lot to the (cut) kid and his parents and they will scream about politics. And they aren’t wrong.

What metrics are being used to confirm that it is 100% merit based in say basketball or other team sports?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Also weighing in as a HS coach—there will always be parents who cannot see how their kids skills compare to others on the team and/or take issue with roster, position and play time decisions. There’s a ton of bs that goes on with daddy ball but by HS I’m putting our best kids out there in the positions I think they need to be in to get the W. Obviously I work in kids who are less skilled when I can and where I can, but I spend a lot of time thinking about match ups and who works well together etc. My sport is not an easy to hide a weak kid type of sport. The number of parents who question my line ups or talk to the AD trying to angle for more playing time for their kids is crazy.

In my experience you are right, but so are some of the parents complaining about “politics”. At our school:

- the varsity starters are 100% merit based, no BS. The coaches play to win.

-massive politics comes into play in terms of who makes the varsity bench, and roster/playing time on JV. Generally the more marginal players, obviously. It is SO political at our school that it is almost comical.

So the coaches are right to say “there is no politics”- with varsity starting lineups that is always true. But parents do notice the super obvious politics at the margins, and aren’t going to be happy about it when it affects their own kid…for example a better player cut from varsity so that the “connected kid” gets a jersey. Neither of those kids will play anyway, so it really doesn’t matter for the program. But it will matter a lot to the (cut) kid and his parents and they will scream about politics. And they aren’t wrong.

What metrics are being used to confirm that it is 100% merit based in say basketball or other team sports?

They certainly don't measure opportunity. It's annoying on the swim teams. Very few positions at the tryouts many of the year-round club kids barely swim faster than the summer league swimmers who only swim in the summer. Sure, after a number of years of being in the competitive programs they will beat any recreational swimmer, but gee whiz is that underwhelming and a sorry excuse for merit.

[Anonymous]

It depends on you and depends on your kid. My oldest was a good athlete but not sophisticated socially and I was a naïve new -to-the -area parent. He took the brunt of every soccer mom plot to get her little jimmy playing time. It really made for a lot of sad moments.

My youngest was much more sophisticated and I had been around the block a couple of times by then. We navigated the the coups and conspiracies and he had a great time and learned aloe of advanced lessons on what real competition is.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We attend a really wealthy, competitive, sports obsessive school and I am a little shocked by the politics of the children’s sports. Especially at the elementary school level. I can’t believe this even exists. I grew up in a rural area so have nothing from my childcare to care it to. We didn’t have travel sports and there were no cuts on teams. Now I realize how great my childhood was compared to this! It’s a lot of money, energy and effort for the same end result. And before iou say you can opt out, when your kid is driving their own involvement and wants to play a bunch of sports and participate in all the camps and teams you want them to also. I love watching youth sports but don’t love all the rest that comes with it.

Um, your answer is in the first line. Most schools aren't like this. You chose your bed, go lie in it sweetie pie

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Also weighing in as a HS coach—there will always be parents who cannot see how their kids skills compare to others on the team and/or take issue with roster, position and play time decisions. There’s a ton of bs that goes on with daddy ball but by HS I’m putting our best kids out there in the positions I think they need to be in to get the W. Obviously I work in kids who are less skilled when I can and where I can, but I spend a lot of time thinking about match ups and who works well together etc. My sport is not an easy to hide a weak kid type of sport. The number of parents who question my line ups or talk to the AD trying to angle for more playing time for their kids is crazy.

In my experience you are right, but so are some of the parents complaining about “politics”. At our school:

- the varsity starters are 100% merit based, no BS. The coaches play to win.

-massive politics comes into play in terms of who makes the varsity bench, and roster/playing time on JV. Generally the more marginal players, obviously. It is SO political at our school that it is almost comical.

So the coaches are right to say “there is no politics”- with varsity starting lineups that is always true. But parents do notice the super obvious politics at the margins, and aren’t going to be happy about it when it affects their own kid…for example a better player cut from varsity so that the “connected kid” gets a jersey. Neither of those kids will play anyway, so it really doesn’t matter for the program. But it will matter a lot to the (cut) kid and his parents and they will scream about politics. And they aren’t wrong.

That's nice. Not at our school. They could win with absolute trash since the entire division had maybe only 1 other semi-competitive team and most of the best players don't play HS. So--you could take the political picks and still win everything...and you could cut the kids or ignore the ones that go on to play D1. It was a very strange experience.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Also weighing in as a HS coach—there will always be parents who cannot see how their kids skills compare to others on the team and/or take issue with roster, position and play time decisions. There’s a ton of bs that goes on with daddy ball but by HS I’m putting our best kids out there in the positions I think they need to be in to get the W. Obviously I work in kids who are less skilled when I can and where I can, but I spend a lot of time thinking about match ups and who works well together etc. My sport is not an easy to hide a weak kid type of sport. The number of parents who question my line ups or talk to the AD trying to angle for more playing time for their kids is crazy.

In my experience you are right, but so are some of the parents complaining about “politics”. At our school:

- the varsity starters are 100% merit based, no BS. The coaches play to win.

-massive politics comes into play in terms of who makes the varsity bench, and roster/playing time on JV. Generally the more marginal players, obviously. It is SO political at our school that it is almost comical.

So the coaches are right to say “there is no politics”- with varsity starting lineups that is always true. But parents do notice the super obvious politics at the margins, and aren’t going to be happy about it when it affects their own kid…for example a better player cut from varsity so that the “connected kid” gets a jersey. Neither of those kids will play anyway, so it really doesn’t matter for the program. But it will matter a lot to the (cut) kid and his parents and they will scream about politics. And they aren’t wrong.

That's nice. Not at our school. They could win with absolute trash since the entire division had maybe only 1 other semi-competitive team and most of the best players don't play HS. So--you could take the political picks and still win everything...and you could cut the kids or ignore the ones that go on to play D1. It was a very strange experience.

“Trash”? Really?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Also weighing in as a HS coach—there will always be parents who cannot see how their kids skills compare to others on the team and/or take issue with roster, position and play time decisions. There’s a ton of bs that goes on with daddy ball but by HS I’m putting our best kids out there in the positions I think they need to be in to get the W. Obviously I work in kids who are less skilled when I can and where I can, but I spend a lot of time thinking about match ups and who works well together etc. My sport is not an easy to hide a weak kid type of sport. The number of parents who question my line ups or talk to the AD trying to angle for more playing time for their kids is crazy.

In my experience you are right, but so are some of the parents complaining about “politics”. At our school:

- the varsity starters are 100% merit based, no BS. The coaches play to win.

-massive politics comes into play in terms of who makes the varsity bench, and roster/playing time on JV. Generally the more marginal players, obviously. It is SO political at our school that it is almost comical.

So the coaches are right to say “there is no politics”- with varsity starting lineups that is always true. But parents do notice the super obvious politics at the margins, and aren’t going to be happy about it when it affects their own kid…for example a better player cut from varsity so that the “connected kid” gets a jersey. Neither of those kids will play anyway, so it really doesn’t matter for the program. But it will matter a lot to the (cut) kid and his parents and they will scream about politics. And they aren’t wrong.

That's nice. Not at our school. They could win with absolute trash since the entire division had maybe only 1 other semi-competitive team and most of the best players don't play HS. So--you could take the political picks and still win everything...and you could cut the kids or ignore the ones that go on to play D1. It was a very strange experience.

“Trash”? Really?

Yes —with mom and dad’s head up the staff’s @ss

[Anonymous]

Our high school coach went on game changer after games and changed stats to make his favorites look better.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Do individual sports then

My experience parents arrested at lax and soccer games, parents drunk , parents screaming kids, parents screaming at kids in their cars , one dad called his daughter a whore and other words I won’t write here , for wanting to go for ice cream the girls were eleven at a tournament and the mothers wanted to take the girls the night before . Thanks Holy Cross parents that dad was a real peach and he’s one of yours. One Good counsel mother bought dead baby dolls to a practice and gave a graphic description of how the girls would go to hell if they had an abortion they were 12. Weekend of March for life.
Back to kindergarten to second grade soccer parents not letting all kids get a turn to play. T ball same. Parents yelling at refs who by the way were kids. Pumping kids with pain pills after injuries overplaying after injuries. Keep playing football with a concussion. Hiding dangerous coaching decisions.

I could go on and on.surburban parents are the worst.

Parent of a division one player more than one lac and soccer.

Sounds like crazy Catholics.