:XI need some advice. My son plays on an all-white 15U baseball league, the NOBF league. His coach's name is********** and he has played on this team (Michigan Wildcats) for 3 years now. His first 2 years, he had the time of his life. He was one of the coach's star pitchers, he played first base, third base, and short stop. His batting average is over 500 and he can steal bases by out running the ball. He loves the sport and he gets the other players going. This is a traveling team and we put out hundreds of dollars to sponsor and support the entire league. We participate in the fundraisers they have and even sign up others to sponsor this league.

This year, the coach has done a 180 degree turn on him. The coach recruited 3 new players to the team and from the start of this season, my son has sat the bench 95% of the season. The coach prides himself on being able to put practically any of the players in any position and still win. This did include my son except for this year.My sonrides the bench ALL of the time and while he sits in the dugout alone usually, the coach makes remarks like "why would I put you on first or third base when I have players like that out there." The players he is referring to are the new ones who are no better than any of the other players on the team.

Ifmy sonmakes a mistake, as they all do, he's pulled out immediately and will not set foot on the field again for at least 5-6 games. Another thing the coach is good for is he will putMy sonin for either a 1/2 inning or one inning, then pull him out. Or, he will only pinch hit or be a designated runner which means he may or may not play at all. He has even sent him to a position on the field at inning changes and then immediately take him out of the game before the inning even starts. When one of the other players make a mistake, he talks to them and keeps them playing. This is no exaggeration. A lot of the other parents are also asking why the coach is doingmy sonlike this, since they know his track record in the prior years.

This coach's attitude has the other boys distancing themselves frommy sonwhere he doesn't feel like one of the players anymore. And the catch is, if you approach this coach with your concerns of ANY sort, he gets mad and really treats your child like dirt. My son has not discussed yet whether he will return to this team next year since the coach has already stated that he wants to keep ALL of the players and have it the same next year as it has been this year.my sonis not a quitter, but I feel that if he returns next year to this same treatment, it will tear him down. I feel the coach wants him to quit so he can have his lily-white team as the rest of the teams are in this league. Can anyone offer any advice?

I suppose you have taken the coach aside and explained you concerns to him already?? Failling that...........

Im tempted to give you advice on sticking it out and telling you to be strong and stay there etc but we are discussing a child. A child who is becoming ostracised by his coaches racism. We all have to get used to racism of the world and Im sorry your young one has to see it so soon.

I would take him out of the team and find one more suited to him. As an adult you are confident and strong enough to fight racism and confront it but as a child all you see is that no one will play with you. I wouldnt use a oung one to make a racial point by making him stay there in a hostile atmosphere.... Its unfair and unncesary also I dont like the idea of you paying money to support this mans wages.

Take your money and child elsewhere and complainrelevant authorities about the coach. List all the things he has done or said and find an independant advisor and go to the sports board about him. You say the other parents have noticed the unfairness, they may or may not back you up. Im not an American so I dont know the way it works or the names of the organisations but someone here will be able to tell you. The important thing is to get your son away from there.



PS I edited out the names in your post as putting such things online can be dangerous whn added to your location

Drunk Monkey I appreciate your words of advice. It's not that I am forcing him to stay. This is all new and unfolding daily. I have talked with him and told him I will back whatever decision he makes. Like I had said we had been with this team 3 years and for the first two years everything was great. It just seems like things turned all of a sudden, without word or reason as to why the coach started treating him in this manner. My ex-husband had approached him despite him telling the parents not to and his approach was on deaf ears.

Actually I have been looking around for a different team for next year since he loves the game so much. We will keep praying. I know my God won't let us down and will help to guide us in the direction we should go. Thank you again

Good luck