Random Thoughts with EB and cautionary advice for the proud parent, and the coach!

By Eric Berry

Fall Sports on NSN

I’m proud of my staff for the coverage this fall of all sports and especially the statewide coverage of Vermont High School Football. It was a tremendous undertaking that, for the most part, went very smoothly throughout the season. Almost 80 games on the gridiron aired on the web for our viewers’ enjoyment. I would get texts from all around the state and country from alumni watching from abroad, or people in town that were watching the game by their fire in the latter parts of the season. Thank you to an amazing group of technicians, camera operators, producers and broadcasters for being outstanding all fall! Here’s to all regular season football games being on NSN next year. Who wants to help?

Winter Sports and cautionary advice for the parent AND coach!

I’m on Facebook, though throughout the years I have wondered why sometimes. There was a time when I was coaching and we had lost a very tough game in overtime on the road. It was our third loss of the season and we finished the season at 17 and 3 and were to be the #3 seed in the upcoming playoffs. While I was frustrated with the loss I knew it wasn’t the end of the world and maybe, just maybe, it was good for us as we headed into round one of the playoffs. Well, much to my chagrin, one of my “friends” on the platform had already posted ‘we lost again, coaching got us AGAIN’! I almost fell out of the crappy, overly small seat on the yellow school bus. Seriously? Talk about a gut punch – or a kick you know where. Well, we went on to win the championship that year – in spite of the coaching – and did it in convincing fashion.

Why do I bring it all up? While it brings about a memory of great joy I would offer some cautionary advice to parents as the season has begun. I’ve already seen some proud parents talking about their kids making the varsity team, and they should be, but keep in mind that somebody else’s kid didn’t. I’m not liberal and I don’t believe everyone deserves a trophy but the wariness here is to be respectful of others. Also, as the season progresses I feel it’s ok to talk about the great game your kid might have had but you’re not a bad parent if you don’t either. Just because Billy or Susie hit the game winning basket doesn’t mean it has to be on social media. In fact, not doing it may show what humility is all about. I don’t think it makes anyone a “better” dad or mom by constantly posting achievements of their offspring on Facebook. I do think there’s a time and place for everything.

Further, and all parents take heed, there’s zero reason to crap on the coach during the season, or after for that matter, on social media. Most coaches will meet with you if you want to have a level headed conversation, albeit as long as it doesn’t revolve around playing time. It’s not up to you to decide how much playing time your son or daughter gets. It’s up to the coach who spends EVERY DAY in practice and is paid to assess who gets what for playing time. While you or I may not always agree with it, that’s the case. Believe me I know. I too have had to deal with it.

Now, for the coaches. I’ve seen a lot of parents proudly proclaim that their freshman son or daughter, or even sophomore, made the varsity team. Like I said, decisions like this are on the coaches. But the attention needed here for each player is – will they get enough playing time sitting on the bench? Should they play JV and Varsity? In today’s world someone can play up to five quarters on a given game night. If you’ve got someone that you’re not going to play and you think giving them time only against varsity players during practice is sufficient, well, you are wrong in my opinion. Basketball is all about situations. Seeing every one that comes at you and understanding how to react to each one as they come at you. If a player plays three to five minutes on varsity, or less, I’m of the opinion that they don’t belong there. Just my humble opinion after 30 years of coaching.

The smell of the gym and the squeak of the sneakers!

Like Pavlov’s dog when he hears the bell ring, I too start salivating at the sound of sneakers pivoting and shuffling along the hardwood floor. I live for that sound. The smell of popcorn, or North Country Union High School’s fried hot dogs, is also a favorite. Let’s get this thing going! Good luck to all teams!

The opinions expressed by EB are solely his and do not reflect those of NSN. If you’d like to reach out to EB, please contact him at eberry@nsnsports.net. You can read all of Eric’s blogs at www.nsnsports.net.