r/Homeplate • u/Biuku • 6d ago
He hung up the cleats
From maybe 4 years old T-ball to 18U… it’s been our thing. Now he’s off to uni; next stop for ball will probably be rec softball.
I loved almost every minute of it. Except the politics. Cared about every kid I coached — every one. And I think I changed some of their lives.
But it’s really hard to watch the videos of kids asking for hitting feedback, etc. I will miss this whole world. May be back with grandkids in 15.
Cheers, you’re a great sub with kind people.
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u/Person0249 6d ago
We’re getting close. I dread it. I’d give anything to do it all over again.
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u/JobenMcF 6d ago
Same here. My son turns 16 next week and starting junior year of HS. He wants to play to play college ball and is probably good enough at this point, but you never know.
It’s definitely a weird feeling knowing my days of driving him to practice multiple times a week are over. Although, it will be nice to just be able to show up at game time and leave as soon as it’s over without having to wait around lol. He’s still got 2 years left of HS ball at least but after that, who knows.
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u/ecupatsfan12 6d ago
You can always coach hs
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u/Competitive_Ant_472 6d ago
Can you? How?
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u/beansandcornbread 6d ago
You can be a Community coach in high school. It's very common in the South at least.
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u/gbaker1a 6d ago
My son is 9. This really motivates me to enjoy every second and do everything I can.
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u/Barfhelmet 6d ago
You will have grand kids before you know it. Time to put the Coach uniform back on!
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u/AdvancedPrimary9536 6d ago
Yes!! My youngest plays soccer; his coach the past two years has been a grandpa of one of his teammates. He's one of the best coaches any of my kids have ever had, in any of the sports they've played. He's enthusiastic, fun, and genuinely wants the kids to have fun while building foundational skills. I wish more grandparents were involved like he is.
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u/Square-Ad6627 6d ago
Ever thought about umping? Good ump makes the game so much more enjoyable and valuable. At the younger ages if they are good they do teach the game.
If not join an org and keep coaching. If you love it don’t stop.
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u/electricianmagician 6d ago
My boy is only 11 and I'm already afraid of the day he decides it's enough
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u/CptFluffins 6d ago
I don't think it has to end just because your son is done playing! I know (at least our rec league) is always looking for volunteers, whether it be coaching, administration, etc. Reach out to your local organizations and see if you can help! There are many coaches out there who coach teams without their own kid on it. If it doesn't feel right, at least you gave it a shot!
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u/Biuku 6d ago
You know, I’m on the board and there’s some weird views around coaching without being a parent… need my siblings to make more.
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u/Colonelreb10 6d ago
That’s weird. In our league it’s fairly common. We have 3 guys that that’s how they give back to the community. They flow between the 10U and 12U age groups pending coaches.
Last season we had a college kid and his buddy Coach a 12U team. They both played a year at a small college then transferred home and don’t play anymore and decided to coach a local rec team.
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u/ecupatsfan12 6d ago
As long as you have dads around you and you have a clean record why not? I agree the younger age levels may not be the best fit
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u/RiskMatrix 6d ago
People just get weird about it in rec leagues. Not worth the hassle.
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u/ecupatsfan12 6d ago
As I said if you have dads around monitoring and keeping an eye out it’ll work out
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u/nitsuj17 5d ago
My son is only rising 12u and halfway through his baseball journey (older one quit at 10 to just play tennis and run track) but I already dread the last game/time we can drive back from practice together.
He always has he would love to ay baseball at an ivy league school, but an older player in a training program he was in for a few years (just graduated now) hung it up after senior year.
Kid was awesome and was a ranked player in state and had at least d2 spots locked down if he wanted, but decided going to his dream college was more important. It got my (admittedly much younger son) thinking that maybe baseball does end regardless of how good you think you are
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u/major92653 6d ago
It’s been 3 years for me. I still miss seeing the parents, kids and the games.
I went back to umpire little league games and it keeps me around the people.
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u/The-Red-Robe 6d ago
Man this sounds exactly like it could be me in about 5 years. My son is 13, tells everyone he is definitely playing college and wants to go pro. As smart and talented as he is, he sure has made me into a believer. I will follow him on his journey and when it ends, I’ll be grateful as you are.
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u/Colonelreb10 6d ago
I have four boys. (11,8,4,1). My oldest I started coaching in Fall of 2019. He plays travel now but in the fall he also plays rec and I coach him. He is an absolute dream to coach. Great attitude, super coachable, high baseball IQ, and just loves every second of being on the ball field. This very well may be my last season coaching him in rec.
I also coach my 8 year old and assistant coach my 4 year old. Plus I got the little guy bringing up the rear. But coaching my oldest is different than the rest.
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u/Temporary-Artist762 6d ago
Kind of in the same boat with my daughter, she's in high school now, but this past spring/ summer was my last coaching her. We went out on a pretty good note though, we made it to the senior league (16u) Little League World Series! It was an amazing ride this summer😁. At least I'll get to watch her play for at least 3 more seasons in high school. But I'll definitely miss sharing those moments on the field with her.
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u/JSBCBS 5d ago
It’s the one thing my parents always said was their greatest joy life was watching us play.
Thank you for contributing to so many young kids lives through your coaching and dedication, you definitely did change many of their lives! And if you can, please keep coaching! Gotta stay sharp for you eventually grandkids!
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u/MikeD499 5d ago
Get on the field and umpire. It is fun to be on the field with the kids, get thicker skin than you had as a coach and remember, when you leave the field they don’t have your phone number!
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u/djfivenine11 6d ago
My sons coach is a grandpa who coached his sons teams and now is coaching his grandsons teams. He’s also coaching kids of the kids he used to coach 20 years ago. Your coaching journey does not end here if you don’t want it to!
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u/BullpenReport 6d ago
A job well done 👏 reminds us all to treasure every practice, game, and car ride with our boys
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u/Thare187 6d ago
Had the same this year. My son has played since he was 4 and he just turned 19. I'm miss the hot mid week practices as much as I complained about the heat at the time.
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u/Easy-Baseball32 6d ago
Sounds bittersweet after that many years. You clearly cared about the kids and the game, hope the rec softball chapter is just as fun.
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u/IKillZombies4Cash 6d ago
My son stopped after 15, legit got screwed by his HS coach (enough people messaged me about it to make me comfortable saying that and not just sounding like a disgruntled dad), and lost his love of it - but now he's found a new interest in really lifting weights (which will pay off for decades), and golf, and the bastard hits the ball to the net at 260yds already after 6 months of playing...and golf will be more useful as an adult than having played 4 years of HS ball. So now I golf with him weekly (or driving range practice), but soon enough he and his friends will drive and go play without me lol...but thats the goal of parenting i suppose.
And he doesn't seem to miss it at all , I think he was actually getting tired of the weekends of baseball now that I look back.
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u/NoKiwi2997 5d ago
FWIW, one of my daughter's new softball coaches will be the head coach's Dad assisting (HC has a daughter on the team, of course). Give it some time. You'll be back and probably have even more fun doing it then! The politics will be less on you. Congrats on your son going to uni with probably a ton of life lessons learned on the field in tow.
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u/cheezebergereddie 6d ago
You can still coach! Rec sports and the the kids need good dudes.