In my 15 plus years of kids' sports coaches, I've seen it all.
My kids have played a variety of sports: T-ball, girls' softball, baseball, basketball, track and field, cross country, soccer, soccer and more soccer.
At various times of my life on the bleachers and on fold-up chairs, I've been the mother of the best kid on the team, the kid who would run in place for 5 minutes before he'd get 2 feet from the ball, and the kid who was literally picking daisies in the outfield (my daughter held club meetings on the ground between second and third base and often had a pretty good turnout). Most times I was the mom who brought the snack.
Just once I joined the ranks of the coaches, for my daughter's U6 soccer team. I was the assistant coach for the Purple Tinky Winky Super Grapes. I spent most of the season wiping noses, fixing ponytails, tying shoes, taping pierced ears, holding barrettes and passing out hugs. The one game I had to head coach lost me a whole night's sleep, because I think I didn't play Jill as much as the other girls.
Throughout the years, my kids had all kinds of coaches. We had the best (too many to name) and the worst (too polite to name) and a slew in between.
If you don't like your child's coach, remember, she doesn't have to be there. She could be at the office, or at home watching TV, or on the bleachers with you. Tell your kids to say "thanks, Coach," at the end of every practice and every game.
Read Teaching Good Sportsmanship.
And if you are a coach, check out these two articles:
