I used to coach Little League Baseball over ten years ago; it was the best and worst two years of my life.
I signed-up as a volunteer coach for my son's team because they had no one to coach and manage every team. Begrudgingly, I took on the task and was rewarded with lots of sleepless days (I used to work graveyard), cleaning and keeping inventory of equipment and a couple of parents (one in particular) that made it hell with their unattainable standards and uncompromising ways.
I've seen the bad:
- Parents that live vicariously through their kids even though these kids have no talent or don't have any interest in the sports at all.
- Coaches (parents) who thinks they are in the Major Leagues and take everything too seriously.
- Parents with poor to no sportsmanship.
- Parents who complain to the League Commissioner after every game and every week.
- Backseat coaches who know it all. Yes, it's the parents.
But I've also seen the good:
- Kids behaving like kids enjoying the game and one another.
- Kids learning how to throw and catch a ball.
- Kids actually paying attention to your instructions and following through. They even start mimicking and start barking things you said to the team during the game.
- Kids learning to love the game.
- Parents supporting the kids and one another.
You see, the good always outnumber the bad and there are mostly good parents and a few bad apples that ruin it for everyone else. Unfortunately, those "bad parents" are the ones that receive the media attention when something bad happens, but the majority of the time these parents are supportive, loving, caring and know what to expect. On the other hand, I didn't what to expect when I signed up as a coach. I do admit that I had delusions of grandeur of winning the championship until our first practice and realized most of these kids never played baseball before. Reality set it and I adjusted my expectations and the only thing that mattered on that point was that kids learned the game and had fun doing it.
I also got to witness a set of twins who couldn't even catch a ball or hit the baseball in the beginning gradually improve. By no means are they going to the next level, but seeing them develop and improve was well worth it. Some of these kids ended up going to the same school as my kids and these kids are now grown-up and in college. There are still a couple of kids who I coached and would still call me "Coach" when I run into them.
So what does this story have to do with this review?
Gellert Park was one of the places we regularly played at and we practiced here every Sunday. The park has three baseball fields, 1 soccer field with artificial turf, playground, picnic area, basketball court, 3 tennis courts and a community room. It's a good park and very well cared for by the city. Every time I am here to walk my dog, I am reminded of those times I was coaching. Even more so when it's baseball season and I see kids practicing on the field. It takes me back to a place in time that I wouldn't mind doing it over again, even having to deal with a few bad apples sprinkled in between. I wouldn't change a thing. read more