Yes, I coach Aau and it has gotten worse. The area I live in publicizes kids “committing” to D3 schools so parents think there are big scholarships involved. Couple that with kids specializing on a sport and throwing tons of dollars into training, it makes the parent feel entitled and put tons of pressure on the kid. These kids don’t want to work so they look to jump to another team if they don’t get the minutes they feel they deserve.
I have fielded numerous parent calls and they all want to talk playing time yet never ask what their kid can do better.
About five years ago, D3 instituted a "celebratory signing letter" which actually means nothing. At D3, I can publicize a kid as coming to my school if they pay a housing deposit. But there is nothing binding. Hence, most of my coaches don't want to publicize until they are on campus.
The number of parents who act like idiots is mind boggling. We had a fanbase go nuts on a call where the defender was in the circle. But they do not realize 1. Primary defenders, does not matter where on the court they are and 2. It was a push off.
The coaches are just as bad...
We have one fanbase in my conference that have by far the worst sportsmanship but are the first to call/email the conference if someone looks at them...
2 funny stories, about this fanbase
1. We hosted a conference crossover volleyball tournament. 2 courts (in separate buildings across the street from each other). In our second gym, our fitness center (which was open) first match of day. Free admission. Said fanbase gets on running track above gym to watch. Our AD goes up to tell them for their and our patrons safety, they have to go down to the benches in the gym. They started going hysterical. mind you, first match of the weekend. "You guys are the worst hosts. I'm calling the conference offices and telling you to never host again. AD looks right at them and says "call the conference offices. We will be glad to never host this again"
2. Same fanbase, we we're hosting the conference baseball tournament. Said team had a player on deck who was as wide as tall. Our resident heckler basketball player starts singing "I'm a little tea pot." Kids laughing, parents are ready to fight. Police had to be ready for fanbase after game because we were afraid they would attack their coach.
As SIDs, you should see the people who go off on us about stats, especially about baseball/softball. We have ruined so many possible pro baseball careers by our hit/error calls...
