Well we are 2 weeks away from league finishing for the year. My son's league is very interesting, and what I mean by very interesting is the parents and grandparents.

 

I became entry level coach this year, and went to a seminar on teaching entry level bowling. Now before I get into this. I have never offered up a bit of advice in this league all year. I do not coach any other kid but mine. I realized on the first week that there is a lot of so called bowling "EXPERTS" in this league.

 

Well my son is bowling. Every so often I video him. Trying to do it when he doesn't see me.  As I am getting to video this old lady (Grandmother of kid on other team), starts telling he is getting his arm out to the right when he throws. I know that. So I tried to further explain to her its because of his swing, and she keeps arguing with me. I said look I am a coach....I don't talk about your grandson poor style....then she proceeds to tell me she has been bowling for 50 years. I walked away. No point talking to someone who has no clue about this sport.

 

These parents and grandparents through this whole league criticize these kids based on the result (Strike or Not) and always telling them where the kid's arm is after the follow through.

 

So if the kid throws a strike. Great! You threw a strike! Kid throws next frame (same poor style as previous strike ball) but gets a bad count. They start saying "You didn't do this or that!"

 

And I keep my mouth shut the whole time. Really ticks me off about this lady she kept up her antics after we had the confrontation. Every time my son bowled and threw it right. She shrugged her arms and nodded her head telling her husband see I told you.

 

 

These people are so STUPID!!!! ALL THEY CAN DO IS CRITICIZE AND OFFER NO SOLUTION TO THE PROBLEM! 

 

Okay .... got that off my chest....

 

 

 

 

 

While I am not a "certified" coach, I understand where you are coming from, and have been through the same exact thing when trying to help the kids here get a good start and learn to both be good AND enjoy the sport.

 

 For years I have studied the game. I worked hard to learn the ins and outs of why certain things work, and why certain things do not work. I also know that all you can "teach" is the basics of how to bowl and why it is the correct way, then let each individual find their own way to accomplish this. We are all individuals, not robots, and each of us will have our own nuances in orfer to reach certin goals.

 

 Then, after trying to help, and actually seeing improvement in someones skill levels and scores, there will come the "helpful family member" who does nothing but tear apart anything you might've been able to impart, often under the guise of "that guy is just a nobody and doesn't know what he's talking about" in reference to me.

 

 Thing is, I've been an over 200avg tournament bowler for years, and the "helpful family members" are 160avg house bowlers who can't even cure their own bad habits.

 

 Just keep going guys and doing what you're doing. In the end, it is all worth it if you help even one kid get better and enjoy the sport.

This subject is a long time interest of mine and actually I originally fought it in baseball--little league parents and

coaches.  I was a head baseball coach in a large metropolitan high school who paid his dues through assistant

coaching for many years.  I have a Master's Degree in Physical Education.  My point being that at least the

US Dept. of Education recognizes me as an expert in this field.  After retiring I continued to be an avid bowler

(who, by the way,) who only coaches bowlers when specifically asked.  It is my opinion that coaching schools

do not offer enough training for most people to become certified coaches.  However, if you have no ego and

are truly trying to help someone, go ahead.  If you are rebuffed, shut up and mind your own business.  You are

most certainly able to help family members without interference.  The major hinderence in this is that all coaches

honestly believe that they know what they are doing.  Most do not.

I have gone through this with my own son.  There is this guy who has been a coach.  I watched my son this one particular week in general.  He went high on the nose.  Instead of teaching what he did wrong, he holds up 2 fingers and points sideways.  Here is what he didnt teach/say.  "You are starting too far back from the foul line.  When you slide, you are so far back from the foul line you bend at your waist way too much to get the ball to the lane.  Because of that, you are way off balance at the line and falling off your shot."  This guy/coach that has been chirping in his ear does average a bunch on a THS but has not been through any formal coaching.  I am not "certified".  But I have been to clinics and listened quite a bit what is being said by those who are.  My son averages right at 200 in his youth league.  I keep telling him there is no reason why he cant average 215-220 though.  Fundamentally, he is pretty sound.  But, a couple tweaks would have him pretty solid.

There are a couple of things that relate to this post.  1.  Is that everyone has the right/responsibility to coach their own family or anyone else who asks for advice;  2.  Even if they have no clue, everyone believes that they know what they are doing and are fully justified in coaching others;  3.  It is not anyone elses business unless they are

directly asked.

The only thing worse than no it all parents and grandparents. Is trying to coach your wife.   I've learned to observe, analyse and then go tell the house pro to give her the coaching or advice. Took we the first 19 years of our twenty year marriage to figure that out, sadly.

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