Originally posted by FrodeMk3
Now, it's not terribly serious like he's on drugs, or got his girlfriend pregnant(He's only 8 anyway!) but here's my dilemma:
I am a coach on his Jr. league football team. My son is fairly well sized for his age, He's not the fastest kid on the team, either. Since I handle the defence and the lineman, I have been choosing the starting spots for those positions. Now, I'm not the only parent that's coaching (2 others, and 1 uncle.) My dilemma is this: I don't want to start my own son, irregardless of his ability, because in the past, I've seen other coaches play their own children, over others that were much more suited, simply because they thought more of they're own kids than what they actually were.
Am I in the wrong? My son Brady enjoys football, They get they're pads, helmets and other gear next week. I don't want the fact that he's not starting to be a letdown. However, The other coaches have been plenty quick to play their own kids(The one that's starting QB is atrocious, compared to 2 or 3 others), But I've tried to balance the diplomacy between parents and coaches by NOT starting my own boy.
What do I do? I know I'm being unfair to Brady. But if I give him a starting spot, I'm an instant Prima-Donna. He's a good enough Lineman, either O or D. Should I wait and see what happens when Full-gear practices start up, and see who man's up, or who withers on the vine?
I've had a lotta anxiety about this for the last 2-3 months of pre-season practices now. Hopefully, he'll hit hard enough to justify anything I do with him.
Dude I salute you for your mindset.
All to often I've seen coaches put their kids in the so called glamor positions they werent suited for. simply because they were their kids.
And all to often I've seen one of two types of parents.
The kinf that think their kid is better then they really are.
And the kind that thinks their are worse then they really are.
When I was coaching on my sons team I absolved myself of this by handing him over to the other coaches the majority of the time
And when I was coaching him I treated him like everyone else.
there was one coach who had joined out team late.
About 2/3 of the way throught he season he said " I've been here over two months and I didnt know TJ was your son untill about 5 minutes ago when your wife told me."
I said "Yep"
He complimented me and told me you would never know they way I treated him
I treated him like any other kid there. As for playing time. other then the minimum play rules He got no more or no less then he deserved from week to week just like everyone else. And I explained that to him. that that was going to be how it was.
Some weeks he got more playing time. Some less depending on how he performed and how much effort he put into practice.
Just lke everyone else
And when he was under me. I put him where he was best suited to help the team and not just my,or his ego.
I looked at it this way.
Whatever kids were under my charge at any given moment were all MY kids
and just as I would do for my own kids. I gave all the kids a equal chance.
That was just the way I looked at and handled it.
Also remember.
Your kids only 8.
this isnt the NFL LOL
And at that age the emphasis should be more on teaching the various positions and proper technique then anything.
Try not to grade out your own kid.
Your sure to be overcritical of him
Let one of the others handle that
And remember. Have fun
