'My father ... The best coach I ever had' by Matthew M. Burke
MONUMENT BEACH — Ed Morris Jr., 40, crouched low, intently focused on exhibiting perfect fielding form. He bounced up and down slowly, his knees slightly bent, the freshly mowed grass of the outfield under his feet. His son, Jake, 10, who stood nearby, smiled, mimicking his father's movements. Both had their baseball gloves out in front of them, the elder Morris' on the ground, his right arm extended flat, positioned slightly above the leather.
Morris reached over and gingerly pushed his son's glove to the ground. "Stay low," he said, in a soft, soothing tone. "On the balls of your feet... Alligator... Like an alligator," he added, making a snapping motion with his arms as he simulated using two hands to carefully embrace a slow roller.
Jake looked over at his father lovingly — as if for approval — determined to emulate his every move, down to their matching seashell necklaces. Today is Father's Day, and across the Cape fathers who coach their kids said they have a wide range of reasons for doing so, from continuing tradition to catching up for lost time to charity.
No matter what the reason, they all agreed the experience is rewarding, and an opportunity for a significant bonding experience.
For the Morris family, the experience spans generations. He grew up in Windham, N.H., and played second base for four years at Keene State College. He has fond memories of how his relationship with his father blossomed through the game of baseball. His father Ed Sr. coached him as a youth, which was highlighted by a state championship victory at the age of 15.
"Coaching takes a lot of time, but it's something we can do together," Morris said. "My dad always coached me growing up. He was the best coach I've ever had, in baseball and in life in general. He did it for me, so I want to do it for my son."
Jake's love for the game began to grow after watching his father play for the Orleans Pirates in the over-35 Baseball Veteran's League. It was his choice to try it out, and he said it has been great. There is no pressure on him to continue to play if he doesn't want to.
Working on the game with his father seems to be paying off. Last year, Jake was on the traveling all-star team, and as of Thursday, his American League Red Sox were undefeated with 12 victories, a far cry from a dismal previous three-victory season.
Morris said coaching is not without its challenges, however. Knowing your son or daughter's ability can sometimes make it almost impossible not to be too critical. He tries not to come down too hard on his son by bequeathing some of the coaching discipline to his assistants.
Win or lose — fun, hustle, and respect have always been the three focal points of the elder Morris' coaching philosophy, which also includes good sportsmanship.
"He is really a great guy," Bourne Youth Baseball and Babe Ruth President Tom Gibson said of Morris. "He teaches the fundamentals and has such a great time with not only his son, but all of the kids. The kids love him."
Mark Wilson, 42, of Brewster started out coaching his children trying to catch up for lost time, but now he does it for the pure enjoyment.
He coaches his 10-year-old son Andrew's Little League team, and assists with his 8-year-old daughter Caroline's team. She is one of only a handful of girls who play with the boys in the Brewster youth baseball league.
Wilson decided to get involved after he was discharged from the Army in 2005. He had been deployed to Iraq and then Egypt, and really wanted to get involved in his kids' lives when he returned. He started volunteering in baseball, basketball and Pop Warner football. "It's always more rewarding when the parents get involved," he said enthusiastically. "The gratification comes when you can see the kids evolve through a season."
Caroline netted her first basket during a 2006 youth basketball game, while Wilson was refereeing the contest. He called a timeout to stop the game and ran over to give her a big hug, a moment he will always remember.
Wilson said it's hard sometimes keeping things fair and deciding which child's game to go to since they sometimes conflict. He doesn't want either of his kids to think he is playing favorites.
Roy Catignani, 53, of West Barnstable began coaching Barnstable youth soccer 15 years ago to be closer to his son Brian, who is now 20. He continued, even coaching his daughter Emily, a 14-year-old sophomore at Bishop Stang, through this year, which he said is probably his last. As he looked back on his lengthy career, which included several years as the president of Barnstable Youth Soccer, he paused, deep in thought.
His reasons for coaching have changed over the years, Catignani said. When he started, he wanted to be closer to his kids. As time passed, he felt more and more that it was his duty to give back to his community. "You learn over time that it's not about your child," he said. "Your time is divided by sixteen. You have to be fair-minded and share your time with others. It's a great reward to see the kids you coached all grown up. I felt it was my calling to give back to the community."