Wild Weekend?
This is a huge weekend in Morris County. Let’s start today:
MCHSS.net will be up at West Morris for the West Morris – Roxbury girls lacrosse game. These teams last met on APRIL 14, West Morris 12 (2-3), Roxbury 11 (2-1). Hopefully today’s match up will have that same all-out scoring mentality mixed with tough defense and great goaltending. High Scoring games means more video action in the recap!
Randolph travels to Morristown for baseball. Don’t judge these teams by reputation or record. They’ll both come to play, but one thing you have to consider, with SHP having a strangle hold on the conference, these teams maybe pitching-by-committee to save their arms for Saturday (and hopefully) Sunday. Sounds like fun in the sun … and maybe an underclassman may take advantage of this and shine.
Move right to softball, Morristown at Randolph. Morristown is a team that’s playing better everyday. It's a team with strong seniors mixed with underclassman who have gained valuable experience against quality competition. Randolph has had a handful of bad games, but can sure beat you if you’re not ready. The Rams are not to be overlooked. If Morristown wants to give Whippany a run for their money, they need to focus on today 1st.
Morris Knolls is back! I hope I do not jinx the Eagles … Knolls has responded from rough stretch to win a few quality games. People need to remember; not scoring in softball is not a bad thing … it’s allowing the other team to score that kills you. A 5-1 win over Livingston is great way to set up this weekend (Knolls lost to Livingston 6-5 last week). West Morris has already knocked of Knolls and Knolls is peaking at the right time. But, WMC is capable of spoiling all that. With step #1 passed, Step #2 is to get a win over WMC. Only worry about step #3 (Pequannock) when you wake up Saturday Morning.
Track: GREAT WEEKEND! The Morris County Relays! Starting today at 4:00, you’ll get the ultimate display of a solid track team. If you take a look back at the Morris Hills relays, you’ll see the teams that are the favorite to win it. Do not count out the Morris Hills Boys, they gave Hanover a run for their money and you know that both coaching staffs are working their magic to gain points wherever they can. Randolph is a dark horse, if you can ever call Randolph track an underdog, kind of an oxymoron. GIRLS, GIRLS, GIRLS: Hanover Park and state power Jackson went head-to-head at the MH relays and finished well ahead of the pack. I don’t know if any Morris County Team that was not in attendance at the MH Relays could close the gap with HP.
I had the opportunity of speaking at a clinic last night. The clinic was for 1st year coaches and covered everything about coaching that a HS Coach needs to know. My speaking topic was about coaches and the media. Luckily it was a open forum, so I was able to chime in about other subjects. More importantly I was able to listen to other great coaches speak freely. There are so many aspects of coaching that it really is its own science. Today’s HS Sports scene is not only a new animal from 15 years ago; it’s a new species entirely. Amazing all the new coaches were very adaptable to the recommendations and the subjects presented by the lecturers. The one topic that sent the room into a complete bee-hive was “Parents.” One quest speaker was a long time coach who now officiates. She first emphasized that she never had the parental problems and harassment that she sees coaches today having. Parents are now a serious problem in HS Sports. (I can tell you that more than 90% of the parents are great. They follow their responsibilities as parent and do not cross the line of being a hindrance to the team.) But there always seems to be that one or two cancer that imbeds his/her way into the bloodline of your team & fans. This cancer is the hardest thing for any coach to battle and the fact is that no coach should have to battle such a parent.
I am not going to sit here and lecture you about the psychopaths that ruin HS sports for the kids. But I am going to tell you this. In the past two weeks, I have spoken with over 40 coaches, be it at the seeding meetings, on the phone, etc; and at least FIVE coaches have expressed their strong desire to hang it up because they have had it with unreasonable, psychopathic parents. Not parents that have complaints, coaches expect that … but these people who go above and beyond to dig their way into the team’s chemistry and ruin it for the fans, the coaches and most importantly the kids, especially their kid.
My advice is to you, as a parent, is this – take a step back … Now take two more steps back. You are losing great coaches by the bucket load for one reason only. It really hurt me hear these coaches tell me of their intentions. It was one thing for me to turn retire from coaching. I knew that I was going to find another way to support High School Athletes. It ails me that these coaches may just hang it up for all the wrong reason, when are there dedicating their lives for all the right reasons.
I will leave you with one line that stuck with me from last night’s lecture. This came form a coach with over 30 years experience at every level of sports and he has been unbelievable successful at each level. “I have a hard time understanding why parents spend over $80,000 over the past 6 years so that there’s a chance their kid MAY get a $5,000 scholarship.”
