BROTHER MARTIN....Woodlawn Style

[rivers2]

A handful of parents and administration teamed together to let the Woodlawn Soccer coach be dismissed this week. Coach Baham who has led Woodlawn to the state playoffs the last two years and had the team on the brink of challenging for District 4 honors as well as the development of a number of All District selections was released this week.

Coach Baham's downfall was with certain parents whose children would rather moan and groan than to put forth total effort on the practice as well as playing field. Baham was also guilty of trying to run Woodlawn's program like a High School program instead of a rec league program. It is known throughout District 4 that Woodlawn's parents have traditionally held back the program. Some of these parents even advocate equal playing time for all players. Why for the love of God can't parents understand that every child can not be All District. Let the coaches coach and let the parents support.

It is such a shame that a young man like Coach Baham who possesses a wealth of soccer knowledge and was committed to moving the program forward was let go because he expected effort from all the girls and felt that honors be won on the field and not because of the involvement of the parent in their support roles. Those of us who supported Coach Baham failed to voice our support in time to an administration that had been duped. It appears Woodlawn is doomed to never reach parity with the top teams in District 4. The top teams put their coach on the field..... at Woodlawn they all sit in the stands.

Coach Baham would be a credit to any soccer program in need of a coach. Thank you for all you did at Woodlawn and accept this parents apology for the shameless and baseless way inwhich you were blindsided.

[futbolfan19]

I think it is a stretch to compare Woodlawn Girls soccer coach to a mature, experienced, Championship winning soccer coach from Brother Martin.

[rivers2]

Has nothing to do with a comparision of coaches. It's about parental interference with a program and an administration at the school that catered to the wishes of a few. The reference to Brother Martin was only used because of it's notoriety. It plays on the theme that a good person was let go by some misguided set of circumstances.

[PumasFC]

I have tried to avoid weighing in on this matter, since I had something of a stake in the matter.
Rivers2 comment were made because he saw (as several others- who won't comment due to repercussions against themselves or their children who presently or will be shortly playing at Woodlawn) the hypocrisy of what the school has done to a coach who while young gave everything he had to build a successful program to have the rug pulled out from under him without the benefit of having a chance to have his side of the story told.
The version that has been circulating is that a small handful of parents felt that their daughters were being treated unfairly (not receiving "District Honors" in favor of players that play "Premier Club" ball rather than "REC" ball). Players that work year-round to get better, trying out for ODP to see where they stand against their peers, play in the 7 v. 7 league in the summer to increase their skills in a non-competitive arena. Who should win these honors someone who laces up there boots the first day of training in Nov and throws them in the closet on Feb 1 or those that work for them?
Did the last coach make some mistakes, from an old dinosaur coach's (over 20 years coaching U-5 through HS with a premier stop along the way) perspective? Yes, but he is under 25 and this was his first head coaching experience (wish I could redo my first coaching job). He will correct many of the mistakes he has made at this stop. Hopefully, he won't be too discourages to try again somewhere else.
If someone thinks it is just rivers2 that is disappointed with this situation, they are sadly mistaken, several key players are presently wondering whether to come back in the fall or to opt to play in the BR Open League next winter. Not playing High School soccer isn't going to impact those players chances of having an opportunity of moving on to the next level, most if not all (even the premier players) are not going to be wooed by College Coaches, to come to their schools. It is going to be through hard work in the classroom, that they will get scholarships.
Parent interference is the BANE of every Principal and Athletic Director at every school through the nation. In the opinion of this humble writer, the administration at Woodlawn High School did a grave injustice to it's soccer coach and sent a negative message to the rest of its coaches - "If the parents come whining to me 'YOUR FIRED' ".
I pity the new WHS coach she comes in with the reputation of being a youth Recreational coach, who was put in place by a minority of parents who's children played for her when they were younger. The respect of her peers is mixed as far as a High School Coach goes.
With the departure of of Tara from the district and the addition of Dutchtown, and early unrest among the players, including resentment of each other, making the playoffs just got tougher. The AD may not care about that but those who support the team have come to expect at least that much from the girls, even if it does mean a 7-0 (out-shot 50-1) shellacking at the hands of Comeaux in the playoffs.
There is a meeting scheduled for Monday after school to introduce the "new Coach" not at a time when any of the parents can be there (not that they should be other than as a courtesy) but at 2:30 in the afternoon, which means those that ride the bus will have to find another way home. This seems a little odd to me but in a way it does keep out more parental interference like someone asking any questions of the AD like "Was this job open to anyone to apply for or was it all done by a secret deal in private between yourself and these few parents?" The former coach had a highly qualified asst who was never contacted by the administration, and offered the opportunity to turn the job down.
At the end of another long ramble I wish to express the hope that Coach Edwards is more successful than Coach Baham. Her first task is going to be to heal some very deep divisions within the team itself, not including the rift among the parents that she will need to support her.

[rivers2]

Pumas FC calls himself a DINOSAUR but his insightful comments go to the heart of the matter and sometimes the wisdom that is accumulated in becoming a DINOSAUR enables one to see something for what it really is. At Woodlawn a group of parents decided what is best for the team and went about bringing it about. The irony is that they were successful in their interference by using as a ploy that since they have a hand in the payment of the coaches salary they should have a say in who it shall be. The argument they use to replace the coach is then denied the rest of the parents who while paying the coach as well are denied due process. If that wasn't slick enough they hand pick a coach whose resume includes coaching the parents own kids in rec league! A neat plan but one that requires duplicity which was readily found in the administration.

Every backstabbing has a silver lining if searched for as does this situation. Important life lessons are learned and none greater than never sit on the sideline in silence thinking people will do the right thing and be fair. It just won't happen when folks are dead determined to promote their own personal agendas over all other considerations. Always instill respect in the character building of children ; lack of respect passes down from you to your children so that your lack of respect is reflected in the lives of your children towards those in authority.

Being a DINOSAUR as well tells me it's time to move on. To not support the new coach no matter how she came to us would promote the same kind of tactics that I so abhor.I will not let the personal agendas of a few detract from a sport my daughter loves. Pumas mentions rifts between parents and players. This is a byproduct when parents leave their support roles and actually want to run the team. Adults are famous for screwing up their children's sport programs....it starts in little league and carries to high school. If there is a rift between players that is a tragedy but another byproduct of parental interference. I hope if one exists it can be resolved thru hard work on the field and victories. I wish the new coach all the success in the world....she will have my support and respect ...something I wish had been afforded our last coach. A word of advice....... be leery of upsetting your players.... at Woodlawn it can and will cost you your job.