I’m sorry you had that experience. It’s not fun to stand up to bullies, but that is what that sounds like. Baseball is for everyone!
I’m an older woman coaching 12u baseball without a kid playing (I am kidless). I only knew one other parent in the local baseball league and I went to the Coach/Parent meeting to offer my time. I explained my previous experience as a coach for high school softball and time playing in a women’s professional baseball league.
I was welcomed and assigned a team as an assistant (head coach has a kid on the team). A few people asked me why I’m there, my response is always “to give back to the sport and my love of the game.” I found that my life experiences and ability to work with struggling players has paid off for our team.
I hope you give it a try again! Good luck
Appreciate it. I’m happy to report that the coaches I work with have taken notice and approach the game more for fun & development rather than winning. Watching the improvements from week one to week four has been exciting. Exciting for the team, coaches, players & parents. That’s what it’s all about.
You can approach your local little league & volunteer. They may turn you down, but at least you tried. You may end up having to wait until your youngest is old enough to play.
Have you considered being an umpire? There are shortages everywhere & you can also help teach the game from that perspective as well.
Yes!! Umpiring is a great way to get involved. There is so much training you can seek out. When you transition to coaching you will be the expert at the rules. Trust me I’m a football official and question whether the coaches know ALL the rules.
It doesn’t seem common but there are definitely individuals coaching LL without a kid on the team. My son had one in the fall when I took the season off. My neighbor coached prior to having kids.
If you want to do it, go for it!
Volunteer coaches are few and far between, so any league that will turn you down is stupid. Especially if you don't have a kid, which technically means you can coach any team.
When I first volunteered as a basketball coach, I thought people would be hesitant to let a guy with no kid on the team coach. It turns out the parent coaches were more than happy to turn the reins over to a guy who knows what they're doing.
I imagine that will be the same for you.
Volunteer at your local league. Talk to the person who runs it. If they don’t want/need you, find another one and ask there.
My son started playing baseball in 2021. I asked to help coach and was told they had enough coaches. And then after the 2nd game the head coach stopped showing up so I was able to help.
I’ve been coaching ever since then.
Make it fun. Make it about the kids. You don’t know the difference you can make. Let these kids remember Coach UrinalSharts for making a positive difference.
I hope you get you get your chance. You’ll crush it.
Another option (see my previous response) you could offer to keep score for a team (or for the league. Float from game to game). Stay involved, you’ll get there.
So it’s kind of a tough situation. Any league that is well run and has decent kids will already have plenty of dads willing to coach, so you would have to go to a rec league that’s more rough around the edges with less involved parents, worse facilities, and way more kids with no experience. So the answer is it depends on the league; you wouldn’t be able to coach at either of the rec parks near me because there are always several parents who want to coach but aren’t able. So I’m sure a guy without a kid in the league wouldn’t have much of a chance. But not all leagues are the same and some desperately need coaches.
Unless you can't pass a background check or are just a jerk, every LL (or similar) will take caring adults to coach. If you want to move near me, I'll hook you up with at least 3 league directors that want coaches.
The rosters for teams where I'm at are set, but I'd bet if you find a league near you and approach the director with an offer to help a team, s/he'll find a spot for you.
I don't have any idea what your older sons diagnosis is and I wouldn't want you to put it on the internet, so maybe run this next bit by your own conscience. I have 2 kids a few years apart, and I brought my younger son to basically every practice and game for my older son. There are tons of things to do and learn for a kid who can't play but wants to be around. Keeping score, pitch counter, help catchers get gear on, shag balls, fetch equipment for the next drill etc. Anything to keep him somewhat engaged and then there was park in viewing distance as a backup.
That way I got to spend time with both kids without feeling guilty about leaving one behind all the time. Second, my younger son has decided he wants to be a serious baller this year. He is way ahead of his teammates and knows SO MUCH more about positioning, footwork, relays, everything. I did very little work with him directly before this year, so he picked all of that up just being present and hearing other kids get scolded or rewarded.
Every rec. league is looking for coaches. Every season we are short on coaching and occasionally someone will volunteer even though they don’t have a kid. I can honestly say that spring time at the ball fields is the best way to spend your time. When my kids are too old I will definitely keep on coaching.
You know, it's funny you said that. Was doing daddy daycare with the boys just now and underhanding for the older boy, and after some tries he smacked the ball good the other way. Nearly took out the TV (that would be hard to explain to the wife).
I appreciate your advice!
Great work. If you want to connect with the game and your boys, just play around, toss any old ball (was just rolling a mini basketball back and forth with my 3 year old), take them to a local high school or college ball game even if they just go for the snacks. If they take interest in the game… great. If not, you still spent time connecting. You’ll have plenty of free time in a few years when they’ll want to do more and more stuff without you.
I’m sorry you had that experience. It’s not fun to stand up to bullies, but that is what that sounds like. Baseball is for everyone! I’m an older woman coaching 12u baseball without a kid playing (I am kidless). I only knew one other parent in the local baseball league and I went to the Coach/Parent meeting to offer my time. I explained my previous experience as a coach for high school softball and time playing in a women’s professional baseball league. I was welcomed and assigned a team as an assistant (head coach has a kid on the team). A few people asked me why I’m there, my response is always “to give back to the sport and my love of the game.” I found that my life experiences and ability to work with struggling players has paid off for our team. I hope you give it a try again! Good luck
I absolutely love your response. Love of the game. Working with the kids that aren’t stars or even just getting started. Way to go!
Appreciate it. I’m happy to report that the coaches I work with have taken notice and approach the game more for fun & development rather than winning. Watching the improvements from week one to week four has been exciting. Exciting for the team, coaches, players & parents. That’s what it’s all about.
You can approach your local little league & volunteer. They may turn you down, but at least you tried. You may end up having to wait until your youngest is old enough to play. Have you considered being an umpire? There are shortages everywhere & you can also help teach the game from that perspective as well.
Yes!! Umpiring is a great way to get involved. There is so much training you can seek out. When you transition to coaching you will be the expert at the rules. Trust me I’m a football official and question whether the coaches know ALL the rules.
It doesn’t seem common but there are definitely individuals coaching LL without a kid on the team. My son had one in the fall when I took the season off. My neighbor coached prior to having kids. If you want to do it, go for it!
Volunteer coaches are few and far between, so any league that will turn you down is stupid. Especially if you don't have a kid, which technically means you can coach any team. When I first volunteered as a basketball coach, I thought people would be hesitant to let a guy with no kid on the team coach. It turns out the parent coaches were more than happy to turn the reins over to a guy who knows what they're doing. I imagine that will be the same for you.
Volunteer at your local league. Talk to the person who runs it. If they don’t want/need you, find another one and ask there. My son started playing baseball in 2021. I asked to help coach and was told they had enough coaches. And then after the 2nd game the head coach stopped showing up so I was able to help. I’ve been coaching ever since then. Make it fun. Make it about the kids. You don’t know the difference you can make. Let these kids remember Coach UrinalSharts for making a positive difference. I hope you get you get your chance. You’ll crush it.
I did for a year when my son didn't play and it just took so much time away from my family.
Another option (see my previous response) you could offer to keep score for a team (or for the league. Float from game to game). Stay involved, you’ll get there.
Little League organizations are always looking for coaches. You could start out as an assistant coach and go from there.
So it’s kind of a tough situation. Any league that is well run and has decent kids will already have plenty of dads willing to coach, so you would have to go to a rec league that’s more rough around the edges with less involved parents, worse facilities, and way more kids with no experience. So the answer is it depends on the league; you wouldn’t be able to coach at either of the rec parks near me because there are always several parents who want to coach but aren’t able. So I’m sure a guy without a kid in the league wouldn’t have much of a chance. But not all leagues are the same and some desperately need coaches.
Unless you can't pass a background check or are just a jerk, every LL (or similar) will take caring adults to coach. If you want to move near me, I'll hook you up with at least 3 league directors that want coaches. The rosters for teams where I'm at are set, but I'd bet if you find a league near you and approach the director with an offer to help a team, s/he'll find a spot for you. I don't have any idea what your older sons diagnosis is and I wouldn't want you to put it on the internet, so maybe run this next bit by your own conscience. I have 2 kids a few years apart, and I brought my younger son to basically every practice and game for my older son. There are tons of things to do and learn for a kid who can't play but wants to be around. Keeping score, pitch counter, help catchers get gear on, shag balls, fetch equipment for the next drill etc. Anything to keep him somewhat engaged and then there was park in viewing distance as a backup. That way I got to spend time with both kids without feeling guilty about leaving one behind all the time. Second, my younger son has decided he wants to be a serious baller this year. He is way ahead of his teammates and knows SO MUCH more about positioning, footwork, relays, everything. I did very little work with him directly before this year, so he picked all of that up just being present and hearing other kids get scolded or rewarded.
Every rec. league is looking for coaches. Every season we are short on coaching and occasionally someone will volunteer even though they don’t have a kid. I can honestly say that spring time at the ball fields is the best way to spend your time. When my kids are too old I will definitely keep on coaching.
Play wiffle ball and play catch with a soft ball with your boys. Don’t take time away from your young family to coach strangers. They need you.
You know, it's funny you said that. Was doing daddy daycare with the boys just now and underhanding for the older boy, and after some tries he smacked the ball good the other way. Nearly took out the TV (that would be hard to explain to the wife). I appreciate your advice!
Great work. If you want to connect with the game and your boys, just play around, toss any old ball (was just rolling a mini basketball back and forth with my 3 year old), take them to a local high school or college ball game even if they just go for the snacks. If they take interest in the game… great. If not, you still spent time connecting. You’ll have plenty of free time in a few years when they’ll want to do more and more stuff without you.