Expert: John Priest - 10/28/2008

Question
How can a coach be making decisions and relaying those to players before try-outs?  Our coach is about to violate the state athletic rules and is asking all parents to agree to help violate these rules before the tryout date.  He is ignoring certain players in school hallways and letting other players know who will be playing and who won't be.  He has no idea who is attending the "non-mandatory" practices even though he uses them to help decide who really wants to play in his cuts.  He didn't view all off season players and had no idea some were playing on a summer league.  Last year, freshman year, his favorite players were moved up to varsity positions and occasionally moved back to freshman team.  During the times his players were moved, Varsity lost and freshman team won.  It was the opposite when he moved them back. Varsity record was .160 for the season.  

Is this normal and when talented kids are quitting because of his ways, how do we as parents deal with kids who are now angry and depressed and hating the school they once loved?

My son once loved his school and now is angry all the time.  I spoke with the coach knowing where the anger was coming from and was shocked that this coach was acting this way.  I am more concerned that a coach can have such a negative impact on the entire student and wish to minimize such things.  The son will continue to play summer ball and maintain contact with his college playing coach.

Answer
Carolyn,
Unfortunately this does happen but usually not often.  You could turn the coach in for violating state rules, but if you do there will be no baseball season for anyone.  If you do have a problem with the coach you should confront the athletic director.  The athletic director should do something about it because he will not want one of his sports on probation.  Most high school coaches do know who will start and make the team before tryouts.  It seems to me that this coach needs to retire because he is losing interest and his drive to win.  In the meantime you son needs to keep working hard and proving himself, everything will work out in the long-run.

Good Luck with this,  
John Priest