LETTER: Actions Of SMS Boys Coach Concerns Parent on The Cannon Courier

By: TnTnTn on 2/22/12
I too have a son that played on the Short Mountain boy's team this past season. I went through Ms. Litchford's letter line by line asking my son about each issue to get an accurate(hopefully) insider's perspective. I asked him to tell me the truth about the issues whether it be good, bad, or ugly. My son didn't like running 'suicide' drills because yes he was/is out of shape and certainly can be lazy. I have told him the same things myself. He didn't recall being called lazy by the coaching staff but remembered hearing that the team as a group was out of shape. He would come home redfaced and footsore as I would expect; and barring medical issues I think the physical activity was beneficial to him and the others hopefully. I asked if he noticed that any of the coaches 'picked on' any particular player and his response was 'no'. My son did improve and got into better physical shape as the season progressed.

I was not at and did not witness the 'hands on' incident at the East Side game. My son did see it and did not think that it amounted to much. And I understand that a parent might view the same event in a different light.

Personally I think the coaches and coaching staff did an admirable if thankless job under difficult circumstances. Coaches can never please all the parents, players, and fans all the time. Wins would be nice but that is not going to happen when your players are literally 1/2 the size of the other Cannon Co. teams. For me, winning, while nice, is not everything; participation, exercise, social interaction, confidence building, and Lack OF INJURY are far more important.

There are differing views and opinions regarding any subject or set of circumstance. This is my view as an unbiased observer with an inside connection to the issue.

Roger Cunningham

Liberty, TN

By: beachlover on 2/23/12
I have not had this experience with a coach but one on my children did with a teacher many years ago, calling them stupid, brain dead, etc. It wasn't acceptable then and isn't now either. These people are mentors...or should be anyway to our children. I know I got upset as I don't even say those things to my own children, I be darn if someone else is going to! In our case the teacher was repromanded and a letter put in their file. This shouldn't be allowed period! Keep pursuing if it persists!

By: rain2002 on 2/23/12
Pjk, I went to the principal as well as the Director of Schools. I am now considering my other options. Thank you for your support.

Mr. Cunningham, you are correct, everyone is entitled to their views and opinions. I apologize, I should have been more specific when I stated she was calling them lazy and out of shape. It was said toward the team as a whole but, even though I am most definately out of shape, I would not want to be told that I am on numerous occasions. I think it would eventually wear even the best of us down. I think it is unfair to the boys, as a team, to play with all the heart they have against boys twice their size and then get told they are out of shape after the game. I personally noticed changes, for the worse, in at least two players this year. Comments were being made by other parents from different schools about things they noticed that did not seem right. So, if I'm seeing it and parents that have no connection to Short Mountain are noticing something, makes a person start wondering what is going on. Now, to be fair, I did notice huge improvement in some of the boys. I am extremely proud of the entire team. Short Mountain's boys played with all the heart and fire they had. I do however believe with better guidance and less verbal abuse they could win games and still have fun while doing so.

By: rain2002 on 2/23/12
As for the child that was singled out, even though comments were made to the team as a whole, comments were made toward just him also. On more than one occasion one of my children would get in the car after a ball game and say, "Mom, they said........to ______." On another occasion, "Mom, they weren't very nice to_______ tonight." As far as the "hands on" incident, maybe it appeared to be no big deal to your child but, it is to me and my child.