CoachSR

3-2 Oakland

Bottom of the 5th....tied one...one. Game called because of rain. Still working on the date for make-up.

The games today start with Varsity at 3:00 pm....followed by JV. Just FYI

Get your names right.....it's Amanda Vaught. And good luck to Lebanon in the districts. Should be interesting to say the least.

Things have not changed at all since my days in HS. I Played Football..Basketball...Baseball...and Golf. I also worked for the athletic director the last 2 years of school, so I learned a few things about what coaches can and cannot do with athletes who play other sports than the one they coach. A coach of a certain sport CANNOT force or pressure you to attend practices or games while his or her season is not in session. There are rules for this that they have to abide by. I understand that some will tell you "If you don't practice with the team...you are going to loose your spot" or... "You need to be spending all your time working on THIS sport and forget the others". This in part comes from their need to win to keep their job. If they were only concerned about the players...and the players˜ future...they would not be acting this way. Sooo...what can you do about this? Well 1st of all...you can sit down with the coach and explain YOUR views on your future. Tell them what you like about their sport...and others. Tell them what you have dreamed of doing when you finish HS. If they don't seem to be listening...and they continue to pressure you or try to force their sport on you by means of threats of less playing time...then by all means..go over their heads. Get to know your athletic director. Most are approachable people. Talk to them and tell them your concerns...as well as your dreams. They CAN help. Another way to get your coaches "onboard" with your other sports is to have them come see you play. Let them know how hard you are working to improve your overall skills. Because if softball IS your ticket beyond HS....then I'm sure you are lifting and running even while your season is going on. They need to see that you are a committed athlete in EVERY sport you play. And remember this....there are ALOT of basketball, volleyball, and track coaches that think this "softball thing" is just something girls do to have a little fun while they are in the off season of THEIR sport. Some haven't seen a game or even know what Fastpitch Softball is all about. I could go on longer than you want So I'll close with this. It's not easy playing multi-sports in HS. But it's well worth it. And the dreams you have are not just by chance YOUR dreams....God put them there so you could see what will make you happy in life. And HE don't make mistakes Keep your chin up....and keep working hard...and your dreams will come true.

I've played (coached) at all of the above fields between HS and Travel ball....and I have yet to find a better field to play on than the Blackman HS field. Great infield....awesome outfield....and when MOST infields are dried up and hard....it's great to play on one that's just been watered down.

I've coached for the better part of 14 years. Never have I had a problem with parents coming to watch practices. My feeling is this....as long as they are not a distraction to the girls (i.e. Talking to them or yelling at them to do something) it's great to see them involved. I've got nothing to hide....and I'm very open to hear what the parents' opinion is. Sometimes you can actually LEARN something about their child. But then I coach both on an individual level..as well as on the team level. So finding out what motivates them individually is always a help. I just find it strange that a coach would want to have a completely closed door policy on practices. (Except for certain circumstances like getting ready for a major tourney or game) I DO however agree with the "Let the coach be the coach" philosophy. It's just hard to do when you hear that they are using "unnecessary" foul language with your child. ANYway....I think that these cases are few and far between and that for the most part..the HS coaches do a great job with our girls. Kudooooz to you all

I read the original post...never once thought about Catch being an instructor...and took it one way. He has a daughter on a team that has a coach that yells and swears alot. I take it that he's paid alot of hard earned money to have instructors teach his daughter...only to have a "non-instructing" HS coach tell her she needs to forget what they taught her and do things his/her way. Frustrating to say the least. But isn't life like that ? My daughter has been subjected to the same thing....more than a few times. She comes to me and says...."What the heck am I supposed to do Dad" ??? So I tell her.....let the swearing roll right off your back...and try to find something good about what he/she is saying....and just add that to what you've learned. If you take every coach that you have had....and walk away with only the "good stuff".....you walk away a MUCH better player. Now how do you decide what the good stuff and the bad stuff is ? You try it....and if it works...it's good stuff As far as the swearing or "adjustings onesself" Look at this coach daily. Yea...go to practice and watch. You DO have this right. You may not be able to hear what he/she is saying....but you can tell what's going on. And....if it's something disrepctful to the girls...DO something about it. You have lots of avenues you can take. (not gunna go into them because we all know what they are) All in all....if you have a strong kid (which is what we parents make them away from the softball field) then she will make it though just fine. I always tell me girls this: There's not a single coach out there that can steal your dream....if you don't give them the power to do so.

is there an update on saturday yet

is there an update on saturday yet

I started this tread to hear opinions on HS Softball fields....NOT HS softball fans. I've coach many games at CC's field during travel ball. Great field to play on ! Congrates go out to everyone that have left their sweat out there working on it to make it what it is ! Now....Lets hear about some of the other HS fields

I saw a thread on the Baseball board that asked what schools had the best fields and thought it would be interesting to see what everyone thought were the best Softball fields out there. Forgetting the fact the they are ALL under water right now !! Sooooo....what do yaz think ?