To
Whom It May Concern:
Below is the email I sent coach Mark Holmes during
the last baseball season.
Wan recommended that I send a letter to the league
regarding this coach’s ongoing bad behavior.
Coach Holmes continued to lose his temper not just
with the children but with the empires on and off the field of play.
Please do not come back to me with, “We have talked
to him about his behavior, blah blah” since my understanding is that this has
already been tried and failed.
Furthermore, seeing the coach being sexist calling
the boys by girls names despite the boys thinking it funny perhaps even
initiating this “play acting” it is in my view degrading to women and should
have been discouraged.
This is a conditioning that has been going on for
far too long to be treated with a simple slap on the wrist.
Both my children now age 12 and 15 (girl) have been in
team sports since age 5 and this is by far the worst coaching I have witnessed.
I won’t let my son be influenced by such a poor role
model and want Jonathan to be placed on a different team
Sincerely,
Marie Dion [Gevisser]
From: Marie
Dion [Gevisser] - mdg42203@sbcglobal.net]
Sent:
To: Mark Holmes – M
Cc: rest; John Ben Stewart - Coach
Subject: "My sun JoNathan" [sic].
Attention:
Mr. Mark Holmes - M
Dear Mr. Holmes,
In
my view coaching is all about empowering the kids to think on their own two feet,
giving them enough knowledge to make the right decisions.
A successful team needs to
be united and kept united all the way through the weakest link. It should be
the coaching staff’s job to help build that solid base.
Dismissing the mistakes of the
stronger members of the team while pointing a finger at weaker members only
serves to break that unity and the team’s fighting spirit.
Additionally,
we shouldn’t sit idly by as someone so trusted puts down a youngster going
through “growing pains” learning the skills of life.
I will not watch quietly as my son who you keep
calling John makes a detour to avoid your reprimand clearly intimidated by your
remark, “I have nothing to say to you!” and maybe dreading what was
coming next JoNathan decided to continue wearing his baseball helmet through
your post game speech so as to protect his head from your blows.
Teamwork
should be fun and empowering and although this is recreational and neither you
nor the assistant coaches are being paid for your services, good judgment
should be exercised in words and actions.
This is not the first time I notice overreaction on
your part or hear comments that I consider inappropriate for an eleven year old
such as “Coming in second place is like kissing your sister and you don’t
want to do that!”
Good communication skills are needed in order to get
a positive response when pointing out the negatives. Even more emotional
maturity required when dealing with a young audience.
Losing one’s temper only shows a lack of emotional
control that interferes with the task of coaching.
Kids are impressionable, credibility is key to
winning the hearts, minds and souls of our youth who are all our futures.
I will encourage JoNathan to see out the remainder
of the season but my goal is to find him another team to play on next year.
Good coaches like good teachers like good parents will imprint you for life.
Marie Dion