March 16, 2010

The Bubba-tude has got to go!

The Bubba-tude is what I like to call small town male coaches' attitudes towards life. They feel they are above...well, everything. This is a rant, so you might want to bail now, before it gets ugly.

Let's start by saying that this town is a map dot. Everyone knows everyone and everything about everyone. This is why I don't understand why the other high school in town chose to contact Coach D about scheduling changes, instead of me. In fact, I spoke with one of their track coaches the day of the charity b-ball game, so I KNOW he KNOWS I am the head coach. Anyways, apparently, he changed the girls only track meet to yesterday. He did, however, contact Coach D and leave a message for him about the change. Why did he contact Coach D? One will never know. Then, being the organized man that he is, Coach D put the note in his truck and forgot about it for about 3 weeks. This all came to a head when I asked him to call and confirm today's meet (which was really yesterday). Then it was a "Oh Crap" moment. At that point, it was too late to get a bus and let the kids know to get their uniforms. Words can not explain how angry the whole situation made me. First off, I was mad at myself for not calling MYSELF and confirming on Friday. I should know better than to depend on someone else. I was mad at the other coach for not contacting ME, considering I am the HEAD coach. See, the Bubbas stick together. Obviously, I was mad at Coach D for not doing the responsible thing and giving ME the message right when he received it, OR he could've put the message somewhere besides the trash dump he calls his truck.

We all know what a nightmare this track meet scheduling has been for me. Three other thorns in my side are the dates the county gave teachers for professional development. We also received a memo notifying coaches that there is to be NO practice or game on those dates. Being the rule follower that I am, I did not schedule anything for those dates, even though it is causing us to miss 2 meets. You can imagine my surprise when I found out that softball, tennis, AND baseball were refusing to conform to the rule. None of these coaches are choosing to cancel practice or games for those dates. Hmmph. This also bothers me for a couple of reasons. I want to respect my principal. I like him; he works hard, and we have a good working relationship. With that being said, I would LOVE to attend a track meet or two more this season, especially since we've had recent scheduling drama. Nevertheless, I am teacher first, coach second. So, professional development it is. My problem with the other sports refusing to cancel is that at least they have the liberty to host HOME competition, so why can't they just rearrange? We have no working track, so we are left to the mercy of other schools. Why wouldn't you do what the superintendent of schools asks you to do? Why would you refuse to perform your duties as a classroom teacher? I'll tell you why- Bubbas think they can do whatever, whoever (yes, I did go there), whenever they feel like it.

Phew, it feels good to get that off my chest.

11 comments:

  1. you are dealing with such c-r-a-p. sorry, but that's the only fitting word. i'm so sorry that your first year of coaching is turning out to be marked by a season of flawed scheduling that's not your fault. ridiculous if you ask me!

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  2. That is super frustrating. I bet you expect better message delivery skills from your third graders. But remember, it's not your fault. You are doing the best you can to figure out "the system" as you go. I bet your kids are having a great time despite all the behind the scenes crapola you have to deal with.

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  3. It sounds like you are going to be dealing with these nimrods for quite awhile and you need to learn how they tick(It sounds like you already have a pretty good idea)and then take advantage of that. I've seen many coaches like this growing up in a really small town in Michigan. I'm guessing that most of these coaches get defensive very easy and if that happens and things get ugly, it is going to take years(if it's even possible)to get over a squabble. Delicately, and I mean delicately, find out why that coach didn't talk to you directly. Take the high road, and even take responsibility(even though it was your husband's fault)for not having received the message. But, let them know that you want them to communicate with you, not your husband.

    It's great that you care so much about your kids that you deal with all this crap for them. I will be tracking down my cross-country coach on my next visit back home to let him know how much running means to me now and how much I appreciate the knowledge and time he shared with me long ago. 23 years later, I can still hear the echoes of his screams through the woods, "Go Brandywine".

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  4. WOW it was as if I could see the steam coming right out of your ears while you wrote this.

    So sorry......

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  5. Anonymous3/16/2010

    oh man. why do people assume that women aren't in positions of coaching/power/whatever? like you told me a week or so ago, if you were a man this never would be happening to you. NEVER. but you are such a strong person for not losing your cool (yet haha) and dealing with this with grace. :)

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  6. UGH--that makes me mad too! I hope you're able to get the communication issue resolved with this guy.

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  7. Clarification- I am not married to the assistant coach (Coach D). K is the athletic director and head football coach, not a track coach. Funny, though!

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  8. OOOps, I should have known that. Are all the coaches there fans of Men in Black? Ha, Ha!

    How could your assistant coach have forgot about that? I could understand K having forgot about it with him not being involved with track. But your assistant? C'MON MAN!

    Track has made from some great blog material. I wonder what will take it's place when it's over. I'm sure you'll find something Coach R!

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  9. That is a big steaming pile of poo. Rant away-I hate it when rules are put in place that don't really matter because nobody cares if anyone is following them. You have a great attitude about the whole thing-I would be ready to murder someone, I'm sure, in your shoes!

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  10. You have a right to be mad! But please keep on struggling; I think you're doing a great job.

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  11. Anonymous3/20/2010

    That's a load of crap! I agree with the previous posts, you are doing a great job. Being a teacher and coach is enough work on it's own without all the bubba drama. I hope you are able to work around them if possible.

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