Parents.

Parents. Period. Most of us have children, and want the best for them. We nuture, discipline, teach, comfort, and push our children amongst many other things we do. BUT-there comes a point in athletics where someone needs to give parents a reality check.

At a JV basketball tournament I was once again amazed at how parents want to live their own dreams through their children. I watched this player, who is an incoming freshmen for her high school, play in a game. She is better than most for her age; handles the ball well, plays hard, makes good decisions, but more importantly, she looked like it was fun for her. At the end of the game, her dad runs to the score table to compare his stats, with those of the table. Mind you, this is summer league tournaments at the JV level. Here are the stats kept: indiviual and team fouls, ball possession, and points. That's it.

This parent started mouthing off at how the table should track assists, rbds., etc...
I walked over to the table, and asked if their was a problem. The man started questioning what we do, and how we do it. As he was rambling on, I loooked past him (as a married man, selective hearing comes in handy), and noticed his daughter sitting in the bleachers with her friends. The look of embarassment was all over her face as she was taking off her shoes. The other girls on the team were trying to comfort her, and I could see one girl tell her "it's no big deal."

This girl's father was sapping out the joy of playing basketball. I looked at him, not really knowing what he had been saying, and asked him one question.
"Do you see any four year schools at this JV Tournament recruiting players?", and walked away.

I saw the Varsity coach where this young lady will play, and noticed him shaking his head as well. He told me that this parent already had a meeting with AD and coach, wanting to know the philosophy of offense, etc.. Oh boy!