New Indy Star Coaches Confidential asks: 'What would you eliminate about your job if you could?'

[Muda69]

https://www.indystar.com/story/sports/high-school/2026/08/12/coaches-confidential-what-would-high-school-football-coaches-eliminate-parent-expectations-travel/91255894007/

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For our second “Coaches Confidential” question we asked Central Indiana high school football coaches the following question:

If you could wave a magic wand and eliminate something about your job, what would it be?

 

Selected responses are below, read the article if you want the full list: 

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“Parents telling me that their kid has to play 6A football to get a scholarship.”

 

“Year-round travel sports.”

“Travel sports.”

“Trainers and youth travel sports.”

“To adequately balance the time to be able meet the needs of the players in my program and also spend the time being a father and husband. Being a head coach is a 365-day a year job with little to no breaks.”

“Limited contact periods. We are doing too much. I love to grind just as much as any coach, but this has now become a 365-day job. There is a reason you are seeing really good coaches get out of this profession early, even after a lot of success. The time commitment is becoming a factor. We are also asking a lot of our multi-sport athletes, especially at smaller schools. I would like to see us get back to the days of lifting in the offseason (winter and spring). Ramp it up in the summertime.”

 

“Parent excuses for their kids and have them learn what it means to be committed.”

“Dealing with the unrealistic reactions of some parents who don’t seem to understand that high school football is more about boys becoming young men.”

“Parents that live vicariously through their kids.”

“The behind the scenes recruiting that is taking place. It’s already a challenge to build your team but adding those that are behind the scenes trying pull kids away is makes it even more challenging.”

“Penalize the programs that cheat … not the kids … take them out of the tournament.”

“Issues regarding players knee pads in their uniforms on Friday nights.”

 

 

 

[oldtimeqb]

General question - when coaches say "travel sports" - do they really just mean baseball?

IHSAA baseball is done for the most part by Memorial day, or the Saturday after.  As of June 1, the HS coaches don't coach their players.  To me, a HS basketball player going to another HS or college for a one day shootout or scrimmages is a different thing than a baseball player going to Atlanta, Cincinnati, Orlando, etc. with the 16u Sledgehammers National Select Elite Gold. 

[Irishman]

6 hours ago, oldtimeqb said:

General question - when coaches say "travel sports" - do they really just mean baseball?

IHSAA baseball is done for the most part by Memorial day, or the Saturday after.  As of June 1, the HS coaches don't coach their players.  To me, a HS basketball player going to another HS or college for a one day shootout or scrimmages is a different thing than a baseball player going to Atlanta, Cincinnati, Orlando, etc. with the 16u Sledgehammers National Select Elite Gold. 

My guess is some coaches meant a particular sport while others meant all travel sports. As far as baseball, I do know of coaches who see summer ball as an extension of the regular season, so he expects kids to choose baseball over football. I don't agree with it at all, but it is a reality. It has been my experience too that many kids will choose their summer club team games over football workouts. 

[Basementbias]

Just now, Irishman said:

My guess is some coaches meant a particular sport while others meant all travel sports. As far as baseball, I do know of coaches who see summer ball as an extension of the regular season, so he expects kids to choose baseball over football. I don't agree with it at all, but it is a reality. It has been my experience too that many kids will choose their summer club team games over football workouts. 

Why I like that Iowa makes baseball & softball a "summer" sport and essentially they have 4 seasons.

[Irishman]

Just now, Basementbias said:

Why I like that Iowa makes baseball & softball a "summer" sport and essentially they have 4 seasons.

I noticed that recently. I had the Marquee network on while I was working around the house, and they were showing the Iowa State finals. 

That said though, it still pulls kids from summer workouts for football. Tough spot  when it comes to programs that really need to share athletes. 

[Basementbias]

1 hour ago, Irishman said:

I noticed that recently. I had the Marquee network on while I was working around the house, and they were showing the Iowa State finals. 

That said though, it still pulls kids from summer workouts for football. Tough spot  when it comes to programs that really need to share athletes. 

It seems they have some talented multi sport athletes from it, so it seems some know how to share. Ryker Dengler is a prime example.