Middle school baseball coach allows boxing; parents complain

Earlier this week, a few parents of baseball players at Philadelphia Middle School in Loudon, TN called to voice concerns over the practice strategy of Coach Brian Curtis.

Curtis, who has a boxing background, provided gloves and supervision to those students who wished to participate in a boxing competition, but reportedly did not force anyone to.  Curtis is now under fire from local school adminitrators for his unorthodox training regimen.  He does, however, have the support of other, more sensible, adults in the area.

Steve Oody says he has kids that played for Curtis for 11 years.

“I’m real thankful for what he did for mine and there’s a lot of other people that should be too,” Steve Oody said.

This is yet another case of the child-athlete’s parents trying to manipulate and control the environment of their children.

The bottom line, over-protective parent, is that if you are concerned with the way your child is being taught the athletics of choice, don’t let him play.  If you choose to allow your son to try out and make a school sponsored sport, under the direction of the school-appointed coach, you have relinquished your right to being the coach.

There are plenty of AAU and Little League options for youngsters with many available coaching and administrative opportunities for the parents.  But if you choose to allow your child to compete for his school in front of his peers, then do so knowingly.  And do so in full understanding of your role: a supportive parent, a cheerleader, a driver, and the provider of Gatorade and snacks.  Not as an instructor.

Stop harassing coaches for doing things differently, or even inventively.  Just pick your kid up, drive him to the local rec center, and sign him up for something else.  That is, if he’ll let you.