I guess it's been a while since I blogged about something. Can you believe? I had nothing to say until now.
We've been through flag football, girl's volleyball and have two more weeks of six of boy's basketball. There was a little hiccup in flag football but I was able to sit back down after a couple hours.
Believe it or not, and forgive me if I'm repeating myself, I don't know how each kid plays! I send the forms to the schools. They return them with both sections filled out. I cut the bottom section off to give to the coach so they will know any cell phone number or what size shirt the kid will get. Before the coach receives these forms, teams are formed and if I'm struggling to find coaches and begging high school students to do it, there isn't time for a meeting or a draft with the games starting in two weeks!
I separate the forms by grade. I turn them face down, shuffle them up and deal them out or have the kids who help me "pick a card, any card" according to how many teams that can be made. First one grade then the other. It's nice if they all have the same amount of 4th graders and 3rd graders but it doesn't always happen. I don't look at the names until I'm typing out the rosters. I know a lot of these kids but I have no idea what their abilities are. On the roster, the coaches name is blank.
After calling each kids' parent, I might hear a reluctant "sure" but most don't call me back. Darn caller i.d.! Sending an emergency email to the high school or on Facebook usually works. Thank goodness for high school students. In two days I had all the basketball coaches I could use. Even my boss and his eldest son took a team and his youngest is too old to play in this particular league.
Of eight teams, three have adult coaches. The rest are boys and girls barely 16. Some don't even drive yet. And I have to say there hasn't been any yelling at the coaches, the refs or me. Seems like everyone is in a good mood and having fun. I hear the kid coaches challenge the other kid coach, the words "dominate" and "butt kicking" are usual. All in fun.
One adult coach heard a parent's snide remark about how his son doesn't get to handle the ball. The kid also wouldn't do what the coach said. Let's just stand here and shake our head "no" until you get your way. Which he didn't but then there's another comment from the parent.
A big surprise awaits you! When your kid gets to an upper grade and he/she doesn't listen to the coach, I'm pretty sure your narrow ass will be on the bench. I'm just saying. I also didn't see you stepping up to coach your child's team either. He/she could have been the star of the team if you had control. You didn't. He/she isn't. Sit down.
The volleyball went so well I was amazed. This was the first year for this league. I didn't have to beg for coaches. The parent/coaches taught the girls well. The first game was good but the last was terrific. Even the crowd changed from the first day. They were a bit louder the last game, cheering. Both player and parent understood the game. Everyone got along. No one complained in private to me or aloud to everyone. That was probably the easiest I have had it in 8-9 years and this basketball season is going the same way...kinda.
Maybe kids as coaches is a good thing sometimes. They probably couldn't handle a full-blown verbal attack from an irrate parent like an adult would but then I have been known to shout back myself when my "That's bullshit!" meter has pegged. Not very professional on my part. Can't expect them to be either.
The kids are having fun. The adult coaches aren't complaining about or to the kid coaches on or off the court. The refs are doing a great job. My stomach isn't in knots. Thank you everyone. I really appreciate it.
