I'm usually the last person to complain about anything, much less go to this extent.
The South Jersey Thunder Baseball U9 coach, Steve Kells and his assistant coach Chuck Ramsey, have no business coaching/instructing kids to play baseball. It was obvious from the first day that the kids stepped out onto the dirt that those coaches are not cut out to do the job.
This league presented themselves as an "elite" organization where the kids would get the best training and instruction that money can buy.
Far from it!
These guys have zero motivational factor. The field was so quite during some of the games you could hear crickets while you watched a couple of the kids kick dirt and grass around with little to no action from the coaches.
Many of the kids endured snide, negative comments from coach Kells' kid "Buddy", the entire season. All the while keeping their heads held high.
I personally witnessed numerous kids, 9 year olds mind you, ask these two coaches to teach them how to play a certain position and the response was an astounding "NO" on numerous, separate occasions. The kids are there to learn.
$1200.00 to play a single season of baseball for a 9 year old is extremely expensive. I was assured before we handed them any money that they utilized the finest coaching staff in the area. BULL!
These particular coaches are volunteers with no history of coaching baseball at an "elite" level.
Halfway through the season I, with 24 years of baseball and softball playing experience, decided enough was enough and confronted coach Steve Kells.
I asked why it was that he refused to work with his existing teams pitchers and decided to allow 2 more kids from another little league division, who had not practiced with South Jersey Thunder a single time, to step in and start pitching and playing every inning, of every game, while other kids who were there from day 1, were sitting on the bench.
He informed me that neither myself, or any other parent for that matter, is allowed to question his authority.
For the time, effort and dedication from the kids that were on the bench, I told him he was wrong for doing that and tried to make him see why it was that many parents were concerned and complaining.
He actually agreed with me but it was just a ploy to try and shut-up the complaining parents. Nothing changed. He then seemed to start letting the kids whose parents were complaining play even less while kids who didn't show up for previous games or practices got to play regardless.
After a few weeks, I asked why there have been no changes and was told that he was only interested in winning and that's how he was going to play.
He informed me that no kids on that team are given any individual attention. Isn't that what a coach is supposed to do to some extent?
I complained that it was not a positive experience to see kids cry, pout and pitch a fit when they struck out, walked batters or missed plays.
He actually asked me if I had been elected spokesperson of all of the parents who were complaining about him.
Parents were again reminded, via email, that they have no voice when it comes to his team.
If you are teaching my kids, I will have a voice in how and what they are taught, as well as who it is that is teaching them!
He then decided to kick my 9 year old and another off of the team with no warning and no consulting with any of the parents of the affected kids.
Since then, the president of the South Jersey Thunder Baseball league, Dave Smolenski, has not returned any calls and seems to be ignoring me as the coaches did the kids.
Several of the tournaments that they were scheduled to play in were cancelled, many of the games missed due to the weather were not rescheduled and many games were cancelled due to other teams not having enough players because they were playing for other little league teams.
We were told, by Steve Kells, before the season started that my son should not be allowed to play for any other teams or any other sports that may impact his ability to play for South Jersey Thunder.
Don't fall for that line!
This organization is unprofessional and for what it costs to join, combined with the lackadaisical, inexperienced coach who only practices as his schedule permits, not even allowing his assistant coaches to lead without him, the blatant disregard of the kids requests that denied them the opportunity to excel, the sit down and shut-up attitude of the coach toward the parents and the unwillingness to try and make improvements to the existing team instead of bringing in new players because they were losing every game makes this league a RIP-OFF!
Don't waste your money! There are better coaches elsewhere.
Demand better quality instruction for your kids and don't just sit there and say/do nothing.
"Teach your children well"
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