From: Marie Dion [Gevisser]
Sent: Sunday, August 29, 2004 4:38 PM
To: jpatek@san.rr.com
Cc: 'sdenato1@san.rr.com'; '
Subject: Poor role model
Attention:
John Patek, Player Agent –
Mr. Patek;
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]
Sent:
To: Mark Holmes – M
Cc: John Ben Stewart - Coach
Subject: My son Jonathan
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
[Gevisser]