Coach bans kid from playing for not cutting his hair

[CaptainCrunch]

Originally Posted by undercoverbrother

The strongest coaches always use contrived ideas/standards to build team unity.

Yeah this one time to build team unity, I took my players to a prison and issued them each a guard dog and they had to heard the prisoners into human pyramids, then the players stripped the prisoners naked and pee'd on them.

We were such a close team that year.

[WinnipegFan]

I agree with the coach. He has a long established rule that the entire town has known about for the length of his coaching. The kid wants to do something for charity, good for him, then perhaps he has to choose. Why are we so quick to make special rules for everyone who thinks they are "special." I think if this kid makes the choice to continue in the face of this situation then he gets a real experience about what charity is about. Growing his hair long is really no big deal, his willingness to suffer without baseball is just a minor experience (compared to those suffering from the disease he is fighting against) that he should embrace and stand proud of. If that is my kid he goes to every damn game and keeps cheering from the dugout until he cuts his hair for the charity. He gets to practice and improve as a player so misses out on very little. The coach is right, and the kid is right at the core, but it is how they now react that determines their character.

This young man could learn more from standing up for his choice in the face of the rules he knew about, but remain positive. We make it far to easy for kids, lie to them that they are special and the world is their oyster. That is how we end up with graduates whose parents have bullied them through to graduation with little to no skills. Then in post-secondary those same parents are ringing professors phones off the hook, again establishing how "special" their kid is. They never struggle or suffer then enter the work force as entitled no talent beginners asking for CEO compensation right away. The highlight was last week when my Uncle (CEO of his own company in Texas) got a phone call from a new employees Mother saying he deserves more pay. Real world result he ends up unemployed. It is ridiculous.

[19Yzerman19]

Because punishing someone for doing something to help out people with cancer is incredibly stupid?

The idea that in order to know what "true charity is all about" you not only have to commit a charitable act but also suffer for it is asinine.

As far as the hair for cancer, maybe the coach and the players can arrange for a shaving ceremony at the end of the year, or the coach can think its a good idea and encourage all the players to do that. That would get the idea that the kid and his mother are doing this to garner sympathy off of the table and it would be great team building. I mean who doesn't want to shave a team mates head.

I totally agree with this, though.

[CaptainCrunch]

Originally Posted by 19Yzerman19

Because punishing someone for doing something to help out people with cancer is incredibly stupid?

The idea that in order to know what "true charity is all about" you not only have to commit a charitable act but also suffer for it is asinine.


I totally agree with this, though.

Thanks as a coach I would love to do something like that with my girl players

Did this kid tell the coach about the cancer thing, it doesn't sound like it, that's why I'm a little suspicious of it I guess.

[brocoli]

Okay, so I have been following this thread for a while and I also live in Pincher Creek, so this story has been going on here for a while.

My favorite part about the video is when the kid acts as if he didn't know about the rule. He was aware of it as this coach has had this rule in place for years and any kid coming into the program is aware of what they are getting into. The coach is upfront an honest to the parents in stating that even if the kid would have told him the cause that he is doing it for, it would not have necessarily made a difference, but it would have at least gave the coach some time consider it.

Now, first off I am siding with the coach on this one simply because it is a long standing rule that does not descriminate. Yes the kid is doing a great cause, but as it has been mentioned on here before, if cutting his hair is keeping him from playing baseball, then obviously he wasn't that into it to begin with.

The entire reason that this is even a story is because of his mother video taping the conversation. This is a small town, so things get around quickly but it never would have left Pincher Creek or been a story if not for her video taping it. It is a simple rule the does not hurt anyone (physically) and is meant to make everyone have a team first attitude instead of a me first. I have volunteered to coach before as well as volunteered as a hockey ref.

Its times like these that you understand why people don't want to give up there time for people like this anymore. It also shows why here we can't even find coaches for out T-ball teams let alone for the older teams like this once this dust settles. It's only a matter of time until no one steps up and we have a much bigger problem of parents complaining that they can't find coaches for any team.

[cDnStealth]

How exactly does having long hair make a person have a "me-first" attitude? This coach has picked a dumb hill to die on.

[undercoverbrother]

Originally Posted by cDnStealth

How exactly does having long hair make a person have a "me-first" attitude? This coach has picked a dumb hill to die on.

Cuz you know shorthairdisciplinerespectnineteenfiftyhippiegetof fmylawnfossilarmygetajobfivemanelectricalband

[Locke]

This is ridiculous, if for no other reason the kid is in the wrong just because he thinks hes special.

This kind of thing is extremely common in sports. Hell, they wear uniforms and ball caps and guess what, they're all identical or, one might say, uniform.

But no. This kid is special.

[brocoli]

Honestly, I wouldn't really call it a "hill to die on". He's a volunteer, and coaches because he enjoys it and not because of money. I'm sure that it would be a horrible thing for him to get his April-June back for him to do something else instead of coaching. So I support him on this battle

[TheyCallMeBruce]

I worked out a compromise. He shaves half his head bald and grow out the other side.

Like this gentleman:


Everyone wins.

[Northendzone]

i am assuming that the resolution to this story will not be front page news.....

[ernie]

So I assume the people offended at the rule of having short hair are also similarly offended by schools/work/boy scouts etc having a dress code which, yes, can include cleanliness and appearance of neatness.

It's much ado about nothing and is something that is pretty common in youth sports, work and school. If one feels that strongly they don't need to participate on that team, or have that job or go to that school. But don't act like it's some discriminatory act because it isn't.

Actually it is discriminatory....it discriminates between those that actually want to be on the team (i.e. team first) and those that don't. Nothing wrong with the rule.

[Dion]

How did this thread turn into talking about blacks, slavery and drinking fountains

[undercoverbrother]

Originally Posted by Dion

How did this thread turn into talking about blacks, slavery and drinking fountains

Stupid policies produce stupid discussions.........?

[CaptainCrunch]

Originally Posted by brocoli

The entire reason that this is even a story is because of his mother video taping the conversation. This is a small town, so things get around quickly but it never would have left Pincher Creek or been a story if not for her video taping it. It is a simple rule the does not hurt anyone (physically) and is meant to make everyone have a team first attitude instead of a me first. I have volunteered to coach before as well as volunteered as a hockey ref.

Its times like these that you understand why people don't want to give up there time for people like this anymore. It also shows why here we can't even find coaches for out T-ball teams let alone for the older teams like this once this dust settles. It's only a matter of time until no one steps up and we have a much bigger problem of parents complaining that they can't find coaches for any team.

I really want to point out this, This is becoming very important. If I remember right the mother is part of the board running the team, she took a recorded conversation between an organizer and the coach to rally the cause, remove a coach she didn't like, that didn't treat her son with an exception?

Every year that I go to coaching certification courses, the attendance is shrinking. The turn out for the Alberrta Football one at the U of C this year had a lot of empty seats even though we had some pretty exception coaches teaching.

Even at my level of coaching, all we hear about is how horrible the parents are to deal with. And how its getting tougher to coach kids now. We're going to end up with more parents coaching and less experienced good volunteer coaches.

the posting of the recorded conversation would be an absolute game breaker for me in terms of coaching, especially by a parent.

Some people have talked about this being a stupid hill to die on for the coach. He set the rules years ago, this boy knew it when he signed up.

As far as the haircuts and uniforms, that's the coaches rules, apparently the parents didn't have a problem with it until this mother and her kid came along and made it a problem.

Sadly it just seems that coaching has to now be exception and individual coaching instead of team coaching, and the pressure on volunteer coaches who do it because they love the game and love to coach is immense.

Its going to be tougher and tougher to fill the coaching ranks and the next big complaint is the conflict of interest complaint when a parent coaches.

They revamped the certification courses recently, and we have to spend a day studying and being tested on ethics and safety and all that stuff.

Maybe kids need to take a similar type of initiation course at the start of the year and parents have to be certified to volunteer to work for a team.

[undercoverbrother]

Originally Posted by CaptainCrunch

I really want to point out this, This is becoming very important. If I remember right the mother is part of the board running the team, she took a recorded conversation between an organizer and the coach to rally the cause, remove a coach she didn't like, that didn't treat her son with an exception?

Every year that I go to coaching certification courses, the attendance is shrinking. The turn out for the Alberrta Football one at the U of C this year had a lot of empty seats even though we had some pretty exception coaches teaching.

Even at my level of coaching, all we hear about is how horrible the parents are to deal with. And how its getting tougher to coach kids now. We're going to end up with more parents coaching and less experienced good volunteer coaches.

the posting of the recorded conversation would be an absolute game breaker for me in terms of coaching, especially by a parent.

Some people have talked about this being a stupid hill to die on for the coach. He set the rules years ago, this boy knew it when he signed up.

As far as the haircuts and uniforms, that's the coaches rules, apparently the parents didn't have a problem with it until this mother and her kid came along and made it a problem.

Sadly it just seems that coaching has to now be exception and individual coaching instead of team coaching, and the pressure on volunteer coaches who do it because they love the game and love to coach is immense.

Its going to be tougher and tougher to fill the coaching ranks and the next big complaint is the conflict of interest complaint when a parent coaches.

They revamped the certification courses recently, and we have to spend a day studying and being tested on ethics and safety and all that stuff.

Maybe kids need to take a similar type of initiation course at the start of the year and parents have to be certified to volunteer to work for a team.

Couple of quick points:

• If I remember right the mother is part of the board running the team,

This is from the article:

The thing is, Jorgenson does run a team — she’s president of the Dolphins Swim Club — and in her organization, there are no such rules.

I assume it is correct, but then again it is the Sun reporting....so.....

The other thing I take away from you post CC is that you are making it about the coach (if that is incorrect please accept my apology).

Kids sports (this boy is still a kid) is about one thing and one thing only, IMO: The kids/athletes. I do and have coached a number of different sports. I have also taken many coaching courses, for many coaches/instructors they are always kid/athlete focused in their training.

This coach uses the term "It’s my team, and my rule" a number of times. In fact it isn't his team, it is the kids team. The association/team should be athelte focused and not coach focused.

I think his appraoch is all wrong, and by taking the view that this is his team, it seems he needs to create these rules to instill a sense of team. Perhaps if he took the approach that it was the athletes/kids team he would not need to take these steps to get a buy in on the team mentality.

[Regulator75]

Originally Posted by TheyCallMeBruce

I worked out a compromise. He shaves half his head bald and grow out the other side.

Like this gentleman:


Everyone wins.

Corey Feldman?

[CaptainCrunch]

Nope fair enough. I'd like to define what you mean by its the kid or athletes team?

Are you saying that you let the kids set the rule, and the coach is just there to put in a system and teach fundamentals?

Cause I'm not sure that's right, in everything I've been taught, the coach has to have control over all the aspects of the team on the field and that also goes towards things like conduct and how players carry themselves.

I kind of agree that maybe the haircut rule is something from the past gone by, and maybe its how the coach implements team discipline and cohesiveness.

Like I said, if the kid told the coach up front that he was doing it for cancer, then the coach can maybe give an exception, or better yet use it as team building.

I was wrong on her running the team, but a lady that's president of a team should know better then recording a conversation with a coach and then posting on the web without telling the coach first, to me that's an ethical breach, and not a small one.

She didn't handle it well or properly.

As a coach, I give the kids (I don't coach kids anymore by the way, its just not fun to do) a fun and safe environment and I try to make them better players, and if they get a good life lesson or experience out of it, its a plus.

I guess I'm fortunate that the age group of the ladies that I coach is from 18 to 50, but coaching ladies is a whole other kettle of fish.

BTW this coach was in response to UCB.

[undercoverbrother]

Originally Posted by CaptainCrunch

Nope fair enough. I'd like to define what you mean by its the kid or athletes team?

Are you saying that you let the kids set the rule, and the coach is just there to put in a system and teach fundamentals?

Cause I'm not sure that's right, in everything I've been taught, the coach has to have control over all the aspects of the team on the field and that also goes towards things like conduct and how players carry themselves.

I am not saying the kids set the rules. But I am saying the coach should, IMO, view his decisions/approach through the eyes of the kids/athletes. As I said, I think is it a poor coach that needs to resort to these types of measures to get buy in (but as mentioned this is my opinion). To me it is a lazt approach to coaching.

I kind of agree that maybe the haircut rule is something from the past gone by, and maybe its how the coach implements team discipline and cohesiveness.

Like I said, if the kid told the coach up front that he was doing it for cancer, then the coach can maybe give an exception, or better yet use it as team building.

I was wrong on her running the team, but a lady that's president of a team should know better then recording a conversation with a coach and then posting on the web without telling the coach first, to me that's an ethical breach, and not a small one.

She didn't handle it well or properly.

As a coach, I give the kids (I don't coach kids anymore by the way, its just not fun to do) a fun and safe environment and I try to make them better players, and if they get a good life lesson or experience out of it, its a plus.

I guess I'm fortunate that the age group of the ladies that I coach is from 18 to 50, but coaching ladies is a whole other kettle of fish.

BTW this coach was in response to UCB.

You are correct, coaching females, is a huge difference.

[CaptainCrunch]

Ever watch mean girls?