There are ways to communicate to kids that "we are going to be tough and aggressive" without physically abusing them. These sick "teachers," because that is essentially all that they are, get on an ego trip and think they are really something because they stand head and shoulders above their kids and win a game or two. Most of the time, it is not even the coach that gets a kid a scholarship, it is the work of the kid and his or her parent that spend the majority of time working on their own time. In fact, on most occasions, High School coaches are a hindrance to a kid getting a scholarship!
As a former high school coach and just a teacher as described by you, I'd like to offer a few remarks in response to your puzzling post. As I read it I couldn't help but wonder if you or your child had been mistreated by a coach at some point. I truly hope that is not the case.
First, as to your remark that coaches are just teachers, which I took as a comment intended to demean, I find that idea a bit confusing as well. I ask you, what is it that coaches do other than teach young people how to play the game. That is pretty much the definition of a coach...aka a teacher. Coaches do a lot of teaching and more than a little unteaching of things taught to young players by well intended parents who think they know a lot more about how to hit or throw a ball than they do.
Also, If you meant to say that teachers are incompetent and not worthy of respect for what they do, I challenge you to take a week off from whatever you do and volunteer to assist at your local high school. You might find it revealing. Tell me, do you look down on all teachers or just ones that take their free time to coach a school team?
But coaches get paid extra you say. Yes, they do and some of them make as much as two or three dollars an hour (based on hours worked per stipend paid) for their coaching duties but most make less than that. No high school coach coaches for the money. You could work as a pizza delivery guy and earn a lot more.
As to high school coaches and egos, yes many do have large egos. So do many parents, and preachers and politicians and so on. I have found that most high school coaches try very hard to help their players improve both on the field and in the classroom. What always fed my ego was seeing my kids graduate and in some cases earn a scholarship. Somehow I don't feel at all guilty for that.
You seem to think that all coaches coach so they can lord it over their players and take credit for their accomplishments. I very much disagree. Yes, there are a few idiots that make it into coaching, (the Hardin Valley duo springs to mind,) few last. Just like in your job.
Speaking of scholarships. Who led you to believe it was a high school coach's job to get scholarships for their players. While many coaches work very hard to do that at the end of the day, it's primarily the player and parents responsibility to put themselves in the position to be noticed, typically by attending camps and perhaps playing travel ball, and as a result earning a scholarship. I was always happy to see that happen.
Are you complaining when you say Most of the time, it is not even the coach that gets a kid a scholarship, it is the work of the kid and his or her parent that spend the majority of time working on their own time. You seem offended by the idea that a parent might have some responsibility to assist their kids. I think that is just as it should be. While most coaches do try to help, it's not their job and there is only so much they can do.
You say In fact, on most occasions, High School coaches are a hindrance to a kid getting a scholarship! I'm eager to learn how coaches do that. Do they fail to take a kid with average skills or a poor attitude and turn them into a college ready athlete with top level skills? If so, I guess you could say that coaches are a hindrance at times.
I'll conclude by saying that I am very proud to have been a teacher and a coach. I'm confident that along the way I helped several young people become better people that have respect for those that do their jobs and serve their communities well.
