Bigger than the game!!!!

[C'MON_Blue55]

I was at a "pre-allstar" tourney this past weekend at the local Dixie Baseball complex and I noticed something that made me wonder why some people coach. I was not calling this game, but I noticed on the field down the hill from the field I was on that a coach was wearing baseball pants, baseball socks, and a tight shirt. This was in an age group that does not require the coaches to dress in baseball attire, unlike Dixie Boys and up. It was 9/10 year old baseball in a tournament that means nothing more than practice. With asking around the consensus was that the coach is a jerk to the umpires and one of those coaches who think he is bigger than the players and the game. I was wondering if any of you have had an experience with a coach that was "Bigger than the game"

[mstaylor]

Did the coach do anything besides dress in a uniform. It's possible he plays softball and had a game later, I've seen this before.

[C'MON_Blue55]

ohhh no this was an every game attire for him..Coaches are only required to wear shorts and team shirts in this age group. He wore this attire during the whole season from what the local umpires told me. Had stop watch, spray chart, and all other stuff just for 9/10 Dixie Youth!!! And no this guy is not a coach at the higher levels and was not a player in the majors at one point.

[scrounge]

Sounds like a wannabe....kinda like Pop Warner football coaches who want to teach zone blocking or some other advanced stuff to 9 yr olds.

[mjr_2013]

Did a 10U tournament last weekend where the biggest jackass coach of them all wore a team jersey ("Coach" on the back), and these tight black baseball pants that made me think of this "Bad News Bears" clip...

http://www.hark.com/clips/dfyzdrbwjl-do-you-think-people-like-seeing-your-nuts#

[umpcoachfather]

Sounds like the Joe Torre wanna be that I have witnessed. As soon as you walk on the field and see a coach like that a huge Red flag pops up.

[soapbox]

I know two of these coaches. I've written about both. They don't dress in uniform, but they make the game about them and not the kids. Interestingly enough, yesterday I worked with a partner who just started out this year. He's done mostly softball, but yesterday he was on the big diamond with me. He's working his butt off to learn and asked for bases so he can get down mechanics as he's done a lot of small diamond solo games. While we waited to start, one of the coaches for the HT walked up to us and told my partner that 3 years ago, he hated my guts as we coached against one another at the LL level. For me, it was never about winning, just about getting better, having fun, and trying your hardest. His philosophy was win at all costs. We used kid umpires at the time and they made many mistakes. When the time was appropriate, I would instruct them on a rule and tell them where they could find it. I never once asked for something to be reversed. I didn't care. I just wanted to teach them, like my players. He wrote a long letter to the LL Board that I should not teach the umpires rules. Long story short, he tells my partner what an ass he used to be and never got it. The light bulb went off a year later when he finally got what I was about. Now he runs to me at each game and throws out a situation and asks me to rule on it so he better understands. The 2 knuckleheads above won't ever get it. One I should have bounced and didn't and it's my biggest regret, the other was my first real eject of a coach in my life for his unbelievable behavior.

[JaxRolo]

I see coaches like that all the time they just don't realize that there isn't anyone bigger than the game than an Umpire!!! :D

[MPLSMatt]

Yeah, it's funny how there are just some coaches that you know are going to be a pain. For me the easy sign is either the guy who 1) doesn't listen or starts to walk away before you are done with the plate meeting or 2) the guy who is overly friendly and tries to talk a lot during the plate meeting (other than asking a question). Without fail, when a coach is one of these two, he's going to be a problem later in the game.

[johnnyg08]

I guess I'd rather see a guy in uniform. I've met plenty of moron in cargo shorts and a t-shirt what the only difference here would be a moron in a uniform.

[Jocko]

I like the guys in a pair of plaid shorts, underarmor polo shirt, white socks, crocs, and a visor. it's gonna be a long game.

[BT_Blue]

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I guess I&#39;d rather see a guy in uniform.  I&#39;ve met plenty of moron in cargo shorts and a t-shirt what the only difference here would be a moron in a uniform.<br />

<br />

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</p>

It buys us an inning or two being in proper uniform... figure it would for them as well.

[soapbox]

Matt, I'm with you. The overly nice coach. The one who gets you between innings and introduces himself while asking your name because, "I like to call you by your name" and I quote. I don't know, but the overly nice and I want to get to know you is sure signal that I'm in for a long day.

[Jocko]

Matt, I'm with you. The overly nice coach. The one who gets you between innings and introduces himself while asking your name because, "I like to call you by your name" and I quote. I don't know, but the overly nice and I want to get to know you is sure signal that I'm in for a long day.

I introduce myself as "Fish" at the PM, and write their names on the lineups. I refer to them by name and prefer to be called "Fish" than "Blue." I don't let them get chatty though.