Comments on: High School Volleyball: Flomaton Defeats Northview

By: Brenda Garrett-McCall

Brenda Garrett-McCall — Thu, 23 Sep 2010 12:55:21 +0000

Great job Lana!!!!
Gi-Pop kept me informed while I was at work.

By: Another Parent:

Another Parent: — Thu, 23 Sep 2010 12:19:08 +0000

You may not can coach heart, but you can sure cause kids to LOSE heart if there’s not enough fun and encouragement. I haven’t heard any parent that said that the girls shouldn’t run and work out. We understand why this is done. We just think that too much time is spent on these things. It seems like our volleyball team would get better if we played more volleyball. In response to, “Parents need to be there to encourage their daughters”, we are there for that. We are also there to fork out the $175 dollars or so for uniforms. We take our girls to fundraisers on many Saturdays all during the summer that take very LITTLE off this bill. We work the concession stand and donate food for different things. Many sit in the parking lot long after practice, is supposed to be over. We schedule our holidays around practice (Labor Day), and spend a lot of time and money going to the games. So forgive us if we have trouble keeping quiet when our girls are becoming more and more discouraged, and not winning games that they should be winning!

By: central athlete

central athlete — Wed, 22 Sep 2010 21:38:42 +0000

As a central athlete, I don’t know why Campbell left Central but we are all soooooo glad he did!! he made all sports miserable when that is not how sports are supposed to be.

By: NHS Supporter

NHS Supporter — Wed, 22 Sep 2010 17:00:44 +0000

The bottom line is this…let the Coach coach the team. Parents are there to encourage their daughters. It is our job as adults to help direct the players into doing their best on and off the court. They cannot do their best if they get confirmation from their parents that they are being treated unjustly, based solely on gossip. The more parents/players say negative things about the Coach or other players, the more dissention is on the team. Volleyball is a sport…it does require conditioning. The players might run because of something done during a previous game…it’s ok. It’s not going to hurt them. Any athlete at any school will tell you that they run…some for conditioning; some for errors. The players didn’t run because they lost the game. They ran because there were goals set and they were not met. This isn’t little league any more. The players are given attainable goals. It is part of coaching to make sure the players are pushed to reach their full potential. You can’t coach heart…the players don’t lack skills…they lack heart. Some of that heart will be regained when parents, players and coaches are all working toward the same goal. Why don’t we try believing in our coaches and our program and see where that takes us? Did anyone ever stop to think why this is even a discussion? Eight years ago it wouldn’t have been. We didn’t have expectations of winning or even competing then. This Coach is putting her heart into changing this program around and making NHS a competitive volleyball school.

By: Parent

Parent — Wed, 22 Sep 2010 14:03:12 +0000

To: Just a Thought I agree that what you described is true in some cases, however, this is NOT one of them. We have some good kids with great parents on our teams. I really hope that these comments can be taken as constructive criticism and maybe changes can be made to improve things.

By: just wondering

just wondering — Wed, 22 Sep 2010 13:03:16 +0000

i have been to the games. there is such a difference in the teams that northview plays. most of the other teams are having fun, laughing and goofing off and the catch is that they are winning. our girls look not only unprepared but very very unhappy to be in the game that they love. and lets face it they love volleyball or they would have never endured 12 suicides at practice yesterday as punishment for not winning. did the coaches do the suicides with them because they should take as much of the blame as the team for losing. just a thought

By: nhs vb parent too

nhs vb parent too — Wed, 22 Sep 2010 12:55:56 +0000

i am a parent too of a volleyball player and i just don’t sit back in the bleachers and judge. i am not one of those parents that makes excuses for my daughter. she just got her cell phone back after months of not having it. we have no tv in our home. she is allowed on the comp maybe 30 min a week. she is one of the sweetest and most honest girls you would ever meet. i encourage her to do her best…….i am there to pick her up after practice….i sit in the parking lot sometimes for 30 min because practice is not over yet and i have not said a word to the coach (because you know there are other children in our household, there is homework and we do have a life other than volleyball)….i do go to the games and show support. so you see sitting in the bleachers is not our only involvement… i have always taught my daughter to live up to her mistakes and take responsibility but as adults we make mistakes too and we too should say am i doing everything the right way. and for a coach to not take into consideration how parents and her team feels is a mistake. she must prevent division of the team just as much as the parents.

By: NHS VB parent

NHS VB parent — Wed, 22 Sep 2010 11:40:04 +0000

Hey, I’m looking forward to a rematch between Northview and Flomaton at the first NHS Dig Pink Volleyball/Breast Cancer Event on Sept. 28th. Good job Coach Heaton for organizing this. We’re lucky to have a coach who actually knows how to play volleyball and the skills it requires.

By: just a thought...

just a thought... — Wed, 22 Sep 2010 04:04:43 +0000

I am a local teacher/volleyball coach & I am stunned by the comments you parents are making about the coach. It’s easy to sit in the bleachers and say what should be done or what needs to be done ~ it’s a totally different thing to actually be the coach. Most coaches I know are very competitive and do not walk onto a court or field to lose a game. They don’t spend hours practicing only to settle for mediocrity effort from players. Playing sports teaches discipline, accountability, teamwork, unselfishness, responsiblity… (I could go on and on). The parents doing the complaining are probably the same ones who blame teachers or friends when their child makes a bad grade or decision. You are the same parents who make excuses for your children. You never take away the cell phone or car keys when your child is disrespectful or defiant ~ you most likely never (or very seldom) discipline your child. You are probably the parent of a “super star” athlete (in your opinion) who is only average at best! You sit around the dinner table and bash the coach ~ what does this teach your child?!?! Kids live in world of instant gratification, everything they want is just a mouse click or text away. A lot of kids today don’t have the self discipline to play sports, they are too worldly and selfish. You need to get off the coach’s back and be supportive and encouraging. Show your child that being part of a team means being a team player ~ doing whatever it takes to help the team!!!!!

By: Former NHS volleyball player

Former NHS volleyball player — Wed, 22 Sep 2010 01:35:07 +0000

Regarding (some of the parents)

Working out and Doing drills makes these girls stronger i played volleyball for northview a few years ago and at first i didnt think we should work out so much but then it made me alot stronger and you have to realize that a girl with no strength cant serve or anything coach heaton knows exactly what she is doing she is an amazing coach! And just cause the girls didnt win doesnt mean they need to work on things there not good at it means that when she does punish them by making them run she believes that they didnt try there hardest. I Have been a northview volleyball player before and coach heaton is AMAZING! So please dont judge the way she coaches. Goood try girls you’ll get them next time! & Mr. Heaton I agree with you completely.