Derek Bingham: The Hard Part of Coaching Other People’s Kids While Raising Your Own

Rhett Parker: welcome back to Surviving Youth Sports. ⁓ And a special guest for me personally, a guy that I have shared the dugout with, And ⁓ I'll other people decide who maybe the better coach is, today we got Derek Bingham, someone that I work really closely with. And I'm not even going to go over all your coaching accolades being like, because it's so many sports. I mean, you've been doing it for so long. I'll let you talk a little bit about your coaching background Derek Bingham: Yeah. First of all, thanks for having me on, Rhett. Appreciate it. Probably split down the middle in terms of who would say is a better coach, depending on who you talk to, right? So, ⁓ yeah, it's, coaching ⁓ high school I've been the coach at Lake Washington for now 21 years, which seems like a really long time. ⁓ Rhett Parker: That's fair. That's fair. Which is up right, but just for people to know it's up right by Seattle. Yep. ⁓ Derek Bingham: Yep, Kirkland, Washington. Yep. So East side of Seattle. that's kind of my passion is the baseball one. Right. I've been like, I was an assistant for, one of my mentors, Craig Bishop at Ingham more high school, which is very nearby. And then got the head coach at Lake Washington. ⁓ and then over the course of time, kind of started dabbling into some other sports, ⁓ our middle school at the time. ⁓ in the Lake Washington School District, the email went out from our athletic director and said the middle school is desperate for coaches. So hopped on the basketball train, ⁓ lot of fun with that. Now I've kind of worked my way up to about as high as I'm going to go on the basketball world, which is a JV coach, varsity assistant. That's almost as far as I'm going to get, which is fine by me. And then also ended up coaching golf last couple of years at Lake Washington for a similar reason. Golf coaches kind of. Rhett Parker: There you go. That's all right. Derek Bingham: resigned right before the season, needed a golf coach, told the AD, I'm probably not your guy, from a perspective, right? Rhett Parker: Yeah, but but all all I is we are good coaches, because the the and people don't understand this and you three kids to that the sacrifice ⁓ that you make as a coach I mean, you're Derek Bingham: ⁓ yeah. Rhett Parker: paid less than minimum wage for the actual hours you put in. So you have two boys and a girl and you're another one of those guys that I would put in the category, you I ask you questions sometimes to realize, where you failed so that I can make a mental note and then I don't necessarily do that, which is what a lot of us are trying to do is figure out, God, okay. Derek Bingham: Yeah. ⁓ I do. Rhett Parker: what do I do? talk a little bit about, I mean, you're helping all these other people's kids, right? And then you have your kids. And I'm in a similar boat, not as much as you. And I'm like, oh, God, I gotta rush to this, to this, to this, to this. And you're like, oh, man, am I enjoying what I'm doing? And what sacrifices that you have to make to do those things? Derek Bingham: Yeah, I mean, you're totally right. It's a passion project. Coaching is a passion project for all of us that do it. And for the ones that are fortunate enough to whether they're doing it in Texas or get to do it at a higher level, that is their job. And so they don't have to do four other jobs to make the coaching work. Now, at the same time, Right? I've been able to work myself into a situation where I do what I love for a living. So it doesn't necessarily seem like work, right? And you talk about the sacrifices. I think there's some benefits too, for sure. Like I was just, just moved into a new place and I was setting up my son's room and I went through, I was going through some old pictures or whatever. And I have a picture of Maddox, who's my youngest. He's a junior at Monroe High School. I think it's 2014 is the picture and it's at Lee Johnson Field. We play all of our games and we're shaking it up with the other team at the end of the game. And here's little Maddox, like a five year old, like in full uniform, right? Kang's hat, like full uniform in the line, shaking it up with the other team. So while there are sacrifices, there's certainly like really cool benefits that your kids do get from those types of things, experiences that they get, like being around. older kids being around role models, right? Like those types of being around Rep Parker, right? I mean, what else? exactly. but they get to experience some things that, they wouldn't if their dad wasn't in that type of position, right? And obviously it's a very small thing compared to what it might be if you're coaching in college or professionally, but the reality is what you love is what you want to share with your kids. And so I've been able to do that, which I think is great. Rhett Parker: I don't know if I'm a role model, but yeah, yeah, yeah. Derek Bingham: At the same time, to your point, like there's a lot of parts ⁓ you're coaching 20 other people's kids a daily basis. And all of us that coach in high school realize that you them during the season more than you see your own family. Right? And so you got to make sure that you aren't losing sight of what's really important because as much as we all love coaching and we're passionate about it and know, family is always what needs to be first and your kids need to like make sure that they feel like they are getting enough of your time, right? And so one of the major sacrifices is free time, right? Like, and no regrets whatsoever. Like I would always rather give my kids my free time than spend it by myself. But during the season you've got three hour practice or two and a half hour practice and then you're in traffic rushing to get. to the little league field just to make sure you get to the next thing. Rhett Parker: throw to the to the next thing because the because you can't short one kid over and did you ever run into because I'm running well you went to Kenny's game you didn't come to my arm like ⁓ my gosh went to Kenny's game ⁓ but game because I'm I'm the coach like ⁓ I to be there and I'm trying to hustle over to your stuff too and it's Derek Bingham: Correct. Yeah. ⁓ yeah, ⁓ yeah, let's just... Correct. Rhett Parker: because before we get on, you mentioned this and it is one of the reasons I coach. I control the And so when you control the schedule or know people that do wink wink to all my tournament director friends out there, you are able to go ⁓ watch other kids play. And a lot of people don't control the schedule. And so they're having to choose Derek Bingham: correct. Rhett Parker: Where do I go? And is it fair? because your daughter didn't play softball for very long, right? She was into basketball. ⁓ Basketball. Derek Bingham: Yeah, one year, one year softball, ⁓ multiple years of soccer and then basketball was the sport she played through sophomore year of high school, yeah. Rhett Parker: Awesome. Awesome. I think there's some weird expectation too. ⁓ And, I mean, I've, I've even felt it right. And to people perspective here, Lake Washington High School won the state title last year in the, in the, well, the highest classification now, people said they couldn't compete when they moved up classification. ⁓ We'll let We'll let Washingtonians, ⁓ deal with that how they will. But your kids are supposed to be good and have the same and because you coach and how I mean, ⁓ how many how many do have again as a high school coach 300? Okay. Why because you're a really coach and you played should automatically your two sons be good. Okay, don't Derek Bingham: Over 300, yeah. Correct. Yep. Rhett Parker: I don't understand is it and part of me is like, God, are they really rooting against my kid because they don't really like me. There's plenty of people when you're sort of, especially when you're on top that don't like you for only because you're winning. But isn't that just where there's just a huge issue? Derek Bingham: Mm-hmm. For sure. Right. Yeah. Yeah, and as much as it's like stressful for us as parents, mean, think of the pressure on the kids, right? That's where it goes for me. my kids love baseball, right? My daughter actually might be biggest baseball fan of the three, even though she only played one year softball, right? And I would the pressure on her wasn't as much because she was playing sports that I didn't play or I didn't coach at the time, right? And so. my boys, both baseball players. ⁓ Rhett Parker: And like, they're good players. They're both pitchers. One pitch in college, one... Yeah. Derek Bingham: Yes, they're good players. They're good players, both pitchers. They were blessed with my speed, didn't, you know, so ended up turning into pitchers. And they're both good. They were both good high school baseball players. My oldest son, Mason, had a chance to go to Shoreline for a year, ⁓ community college up in the area. And then my youngest, Maddox, he's junior at Monroe High School, which is up kind of near where I live as well, north of Seattle. Rhett Parker: This is their community college. Derek Bingham: He's good, he's solid, he's second team All League last year. neither of them are cream of crop, five star type of kids whatever you wanna call them. They're not high recruits, they're gonna be junior. They love the sport, they'll be junior college players. Maddox ⁓ would like to have the chance to play beyond and he ⁓ might have that opportunity. Rhett Parker: Yeah, they're good players and they love the sport. love the sport. Derek Bingham: it's, it's, it's difficult. And I think that's so what the question I get the most often to be honest is like, well, why, why don't your kids go to Lake Washington or why aren't you the coach at Monroe? Why are you the coach at Lake Washington? And I have, there's a couple of things behind that. You, you see it coaching your own kids. it's a special, unique trait to be able to coach your own kids. Um, and, and, and not have it impact what kind of coach you are overall. Right. And I'm not sure that I'm the best at that, at the higher levels. And so I kind of made a decision when I was younger, like my kids, I will be fully involved with their stuff. I'll coach them all the way up through probably middle school. And then I'm going to turn them over to somebody else. I want them to earn what they get and not have it be because, or perceived because that their dad is the coach, right? Correct. Rhett Parker: Because you can't win. You cannot win that battle because if they do earn it and they're giving it to them and you give them playing time, half the people are gonna like, oh, they didn't earn that. So and so would be better. And then if they don't earn it, then you're a bad person, Dad. You cannot, I swear. You said a special coach, I'll add to that. Not a special type of son or daughter. Derek Bingham: Yeah. Yeah. Correct. Rhett Parker: or player, like specific kind. ⁓ have to be able to be coached, because there are kids that can handle that. man, it's, don't feel like that pool is very big. Derek Bingham: Yes. not, and Mason even experienced it and I wasn't the coach. Like he came back from his junior year. He was a JB player as a sophomore. Actually sophomore year was COVID year. So he didn't have that. ⁓ so junior year he goes, tries out for varsity. He makes it, as a pitcher and literally had a kid tell him, it's only cause your dad knows the coach, right? ⁓ We can't win. And don't think the kind of get it. Rhett Parker: Mm-hmm, mm-hmm. You can't win! Derek Bingham: on both sides, right? Because if you're the coach, you're probably, listen, my personality, I would probably play them less maybe than what. Rhett Parker: I sort of had to take a step back too and be like, okay, am I like going extra hard because he's my son? Because I don't want people to think, oh, well, he's doing it for this reason. And it's such a like, you gotta thread the needle and people don't understand. And unfortunately not all coaches probably care as much as maybe me and you do when it comes to this, whether it's the 12U stuff or 11U stuff that I've been doing. Derek Bingham: Yeah. Mm-hmm. to the needle. Rhett Parker: or it's high school, or middle school or whatever that you've done. But ⁓ ones do, when you treat poorly, it affects them because we care about having relationship with our sons ⁓ and getting the other kids and trying to be fair to everybody. Derek Bingham: Yes. Rhett Parker: And it's such a difficult thing to navigate, especially when, you I mean, you did play in a celebrity softball game summer, I believe. when you're a public facing figure in Kirkland, Washington, which I've been out with you in Kirkland, I can't go steps without a former player, a former parent, ⁓ say, ⁓ coach Bing, coach coach Bing. So you're sort of, a public figure ⁓ in, yeah, in Kirkland. Derek Bingham: I did. Yeah, to a certain extent, for sure. Yeah. Rhett Parker: like the Marcus Freeman thing the other day. Dude, know, guy just wants to watch his son is going to Cornell wrestle. That's it. He doesn't want to be bothered. you could like, there was like a video of him. You couldn't even tell it was him. He had like a hoodie and a hat. And it was like, he just wants to sit and be, I think his son's name is Vinny, Vinny's dad. He doesn't want to be coach Freeman. And I feel like Derek Bingham: Yeah, yeah, correct. Rhett Parker: There's so much pressure on people like Vinny and Mason and Maddox sometimes. This is not fair. Derek Bingham: No, I'm with you. also like, so first of all, we knew Notre Dame would get on the podcast. I we knew that was coming. Yeah, I'm sure it has. Different podcasts, different podcasts for a different day. It's funny because like, obviously Marcus Freeman, like he's going to watch this kid play. I experienced same like similar, like certainly on a lower level, but like, especially, especially because of our Rhett Parker: It's been on a couple times. That's what we talked about. If the CFP committee came up, we won't go down that rabbit hole. That was a different episode. Yeah, yeah, there you go. you go. Derek Bingham: the stuff we do for pack, right? Like so. Especially now with Maddox being at the age where like he was a sophomore last year and as a junior big recruiting time for kids. So every time I show up to one of his merchants games, it's like I'm getting questions of like, how's the season going or those types of things and ⁓ the blessing that have is Maddox is a PO, just a pitcher. So if he's not throwing, I'll chat it up, but I've let it be fully known that if he's pitching like no offense, but we're not talking like. Rhett Parker: Mm-hmm. I've tried to get a hold of you a couple of times when and it's a the ending is okay. Let me call it like having all this happen and this and this and like you're it because you want to see them have success and be supportive, which is great. And it's tough because you also coach and do other things. So you can't be at everything. I it's possible. So when you're there, we got to get coach, I mean, coach Bing is ⁓ dialed in. Derek Bingham: and I... Yep. Locked in, locked in and I. find the the corner of the of the field where nobody's at and. Actually, we play at Lee Johnson is kind of fun, because there's like you can go up behind home plate and stand up up top and like you're basically isolated and good view of the game. And so that's kind of been my perch when he's throwing and but you did this year too. I mean, we talked about you eventually set and sit in center field right at one of Kenny's games. I think it was. ⁓ Rhett Parker: Mm-hmm. I did. ⁓ it great. It's great. Because the tough part is, especially when you're watching your kid play the sport that you're involved in, wants to talk to you. Like everybody, I'm like, dude, I'm not, Rhett Parker here. I, know, I'm Kenny's dad or Knox's dad or Karen, Kylie's dad. Like, I just want to sit watch the game. And then you get the, what would you do? Or this is wrong, right? And I'm like, Derek Bingham: Yeah. Yes. Yes, Kenny's dad. ⁓ Correct. Rhett Parker: What? I- Like, no! Yes! Yes. Derek Bingham: Meanwhile, have some dad that's a volunteer that's doing absolutely the best he can and giving his time to making sure that like these kids that he's coaching have the best possible experience and yeah. Rhett Parker: Yeah, well, so let me touch on that. Okay, because this is the thing. This is a really important thing because you got such a unique perspective, right? there's very few people that can watch this, but where we're at, Kamas Little League, there's either going to be five or six coaches. Generally speaking, I coach Little League. ⁓ I coach, quick tee ball, coach pitch. And then I kind of take a step back because the AAA coaching and I had no idea what All Stars was. And I know way more than I would ever want to know about how pissed people get about something that really isn't that relevant. Okay. Which is, which is nuts, but there is a particular coach in campus little league that I have flat out told people and a lot of the board members, there's kids play on my 12 18. My son will not play for that person. And it has nothing to do with baseball. There is some weird like they do all this base running stuff where they're like it's a pickle every time but it's at like AAA Little League in Canterbury, and people can't play catch. So people have already gotten hurt and and I'm like Derek Bingham: Yeah, check your pulse. Rhett Parker: Like, so what do you do? Cause I haven't handled it. Again, I said this on one of the previous episodes. I'm not perfect. I probably say and do things I shouldn't do because I feel like I have some, experiences and stuff where, ⁓ I should say something. And it's not, there's times I shouldn't, I should just shut up. But like, what do you do, man? Cause you're sitting there watching this. it's not important. Derek Bingham: Mm-hmm. Rhett Parker: And like the guys have volunteers and you're not volunteering, but what like Bing, what the hell do do? Like you're like, God, dude, you gotta stop. You're gonna hurt somebody. It's not winning or losing. could care less. You're gonna hurt somebody and you're not teaching kids the right stuff on ⁓ many You saw how big my eyes got there. What do you do? ⁓ Derek Bingham: Mm. Right. ⁓ yeah. Yeah, it's hard. hard. so as. Yeah, yeah, so I mean we it was this younger when the boys I think mad at Mason was like probably six or seven, so it didn't really even matter that much at the time, but. Played on a soccer team and like ⁓ don't know the first thing about soccer. Obviously, I mean you have kids in soccer and so I'm sure you've learned a lot more about it as you go, but like. Rhett Parker: Cause I know you've dealt with it. I know you've dealt with it. Derek Bingham: It's not even the sport. It's to your point. It's not even the sport. It's like you have to teach to the level, right? Like, and I think, the biggest challenge that I would see when I would come from, coaching high school to then coming down and watching my kids play or coaching my kids or whatever is, the the amount of people that like treat Triple A or majors or whatever like it's the major league baseball playoffs like You do it. I remember vividly. I'll tell this story all the time. I'm like coaching against Mercer Island who was one of our bigger rivals on a Friday night and there's big crowd and an important game and and then I could show up the next day and I'm like why does this feel like? Like why do these people making this out to be bigger than what we did last night? This is Rhett Parker: Even high school, even high school. Mm-hmm. Derek Bingham: 10 and 11 year old kids playing baseball, right? And here's the other thing too, and again, you talked about accolades and stuff. I don't know if you experienced this or not, I would always be the assistant. I wanted to be the head coach when I was younger, and then I realized I don't have the time to do that, but I want to be involved, right? So I would find a head coach that I trusted for both boys and... I would say I will help you every possible second that I'm there, but like, I don't want to ⁓ be decision maker because I'm not there at the start of ⁓ those of things. I I would distinctly remember like other coaches ⁓ and teams like. making it out to be some big deal that they could beat our team because like, there's the, he's the high school coach. It's almost like they're trying to put it their little league coaching resume that they beat Rhett Parker's team or they Derek Bingham's team, right? And meanwhile, I'm like, I don't care. ⁓ Rhett Parker: Right, right. I get, I, as soon as I get home, I listen, whether it's AAA Little League anywhere, or it's high school or the, know, the 12-year team that I got, hey man, I want to win. Why the heck would you want to play and not try and win? But I also like understand the actual score, which is what do we do to get better today? What lessons can we teach? Are we being competitive? Derek Bingham: For sure. Rhett Parker: Are getting better as baseball players? Because I think as you get older, ⁓ becomes more relevant. ⁓ trust I get it. The worst for me is, ⁓ and very I'm trying to keep a low profile. ⁓ I am, and ⁓ am not a deal. I'm not. ⁓ I pretend like am all I want, ⁓ but the reality is not. However, Derek Bingham: Yeah, neither of us are, yeah, for sure. Rhett Parker: In this little sphere of the northwest. Derek Bingham: Mm-hmm. Rhett Parker: In some people's eyes, we probably are a little bit bigger deal than maybe we give ourselves credit for. Cause a lot of people know this and I've been doing this for a long time. Own tournament businesses. I've taken players all over the country, helped, thousands of players with colleges and scout teams and different stuff, which we still do. I know so many people. And it's like, I went to a tournament last year and all of a sudden it was up in Seattle. look across game one. former player. game two, former player, game two umpires, former players dad, former players dad. And it's like, so my parents are like, dude, what is going on? then you're running into club coaches that you've known for 15 years and other turn and you're like, then there's umpires down here that play for and it's like, like ⁓ Derek Bingham: You It's crazy, it's funny, like we talked about walking around in Kirkland, I had the benefit, the pleasure of taking my kids to the Mariners playoff games or whatever this year was super fun. walking down and somebody stops me and says hello and wants to talk for a minute and I hear from the back, I Maddox ⁓ Mason, they've clearly talked about this, like, there's number 476 that knows dad everywhere we go, right? It's crazy. ⁓ Rhett Parker: Right, right, right. But it's... Derek Bingham: But it's your point, it's not a big deal. But it's also like that, that what you just experienced. It's probably of, if not the most like rewarding parts of what we do, right? Like, ⁓ like, ⁓ had the pleasure of coaching this kid and now he's out here giving back to his own kids or these other kids. know, like Washington's a great example. I was telling somebody the other day, like I, I have struggled like in the past to find coaches. It's hard, right? Rhett Parker: I I agree. Derek Bingham: We have 10 myself plus nine other people on staff this year and seven of them played at Lake Washington for me. Right? Like that's, that's the best part of all of it. All of it. Right. Like, ⁓ Rhett Parker: Amazing. It's amazing. Yeah. And your kids are like, they just I'm trying to explain to my kids because obviously know a lot of people, right? And my son was able to go on a Northwest elite trip this year, which I started that 15 years ago to travel together, stay together, fly, ⁓ wear your polos. And which was an amazing experience for me, but. Derek Bingham: Mm-hmm. Rhett Parker: I sometimes feel like, and your kids are a little bit like this too probably, you you've coached big leaguers, a million people in baseball and this person, that person. And then there's like, ⁓ I think a part of it's like, ⁓ well, everybody knows. Everybody knows, ⁓ Richie or Xavier Nines or Corbin Carroll or Kai Carré, who's a bench coach for the Mets. Everybody knows those people. it should be easy. No. It's actually the opposite. Very few people know those people and like you're lucky to like know them and have your dad or your mom or whoever know some people that are in sports that are willing to help you too. So it's interesting, that from a kid, but I want to talk about one more thing. Okay. And it is Little All-Stars because I know nothing about your League All-Star experience. Derek Bingham: Yeah. ⁓ yeah. Rhett Parker: I know you were involved in Little League. That's why I'm asking this question. not involved in Little League other than I've coached, know, kind of ⁓ my younger kids and, whatever, T-ball and quick ball and coach pitch. And then I ⁓ stepped back Little League and I probably will never coach AAA because it's just the toxicity of AAA Little League is just massive, I feel like. All-Stars, what ⁓ is the, I get it. Like, I don't understand what, like, what is it? It's one of the, It's one of the nastiest things out there in my opinion. Derek Bingham: Yeah, it's I'll say this. So the little league that my boys played in was rarely competitive at the the district level, right? Like. And much smaller to than canvas, right? Monroe Sky Valley Little League out Monroe. ⁓ we probably would have three or four major teams every year like, yeah. ⁓ Rhett Parker: Okay. Mm-hmm. Okay, five, five or six. Derek Bingham: so a little smaller and then we're in the same district as like Mill Creek Little League and, Pacific. Yes, Pacific Little League. Yes, exactly. So, so I would imagine in those leagues and leagues like Kamas where you actually, have a legitimate chance to get out. It's a big, and not that it wasn't a big deal in Monroe. I mean, it was, ⁓ and the ⁓ Rhett Parker: mean the ones that sometimes go to the actual World Series? Like, yeah. There's some good players. Mm-hmm. Derek Bingham: the voting process, the old, like the politics, so this kid got screwed, right? Like it's wild, it's wild. And actually, right. Yeah, so I actually, coached both teams as assistants, Masons and Maddox's teams. Rhett Parker: 12. 12! I'm not even in it. I'm not even in it either. And I know it's wild. to slip, just to slip your kid into the thing. Cause that's a thing. That's a thing. ⁓ Derek Bingham: I had to get him up. It is a thing. had to get him on there, so, ⁓ and honestly, as much I agree with that it's kind of a joke, like, like in terms of how much people care about it, like, ⁓ the experience is very cool. And one of the biggest regrets of COVID for me, and my kids was Maddox was 12. So it was this 12 year old All-Star year, they're supposed to go to Cooperstown. Rhett Parker: It's a cool experience. agree. Hmm Derek Bingham: Like this was still all that cool stuff and he didn't get to experience that 12 year old year, right? So like. Yeah, stuff, But yeah, it's, I think it's, because here's what it is. It's the first real time where like, there is this level of like cuts or like this level of this, right? It's sad, right? It's sad. And so like, it's not making the All-Star team is like, is their version of going, trying out for the high school team and not making it, right? Rhett Parker: Yeah, which is sad. It is hard. Derek Bingham: And so like that's, think where it comes from, because I mean, to be fair, like we're both in the, know, quote unquote select baseball world or travel baseball world. Like if you want to be on a team, you'll find a team. Rhett Parker: Mm-hmm. ⁓ Derek Bingham: There's double A teams for like there's teams for they exactly there's teams for everybody. So you might not make the team you want to make, but then you'll go down the street and find a different team and you'll be on it. Right. Yes, exactly. so, so like that, like, but there's, there is no, you can't go to a neighbor in little league and get on an all star team. It's like, you have to play with a little league that you go to. So maybe that's, maybe that's what it's part of it. Maybe it's like the first taste of like, Rhett Parker: Mm-hmm. Derek Bingham: Hey, I've actually got to make this right. And if I don't make it, it's a big deal. Rhett Parker: Yeah. And but that's what we should be selling. Like you have to work for this. Like what did what did you do to like to make that team? But ⁓ as wrap up here, give us your biggest takeaway could be a parent player coach. that that we're all to survive. We're all trying to survive you sports. give us your biggest takeaway that ⁓ other people can use. Derek Bingham: Correct. Sure. I got two. So number one, and you can't necessarily do this when you're a new coach, like head coach or whatever in high school, but like don't ever miss something that's important for your family, for, for your kids because of a practice something like I, I've been able to like, I guess maybe I'm fortunate with the staff that I have. Like I missed probably four practices last year to go watch Maddox pitch. Rhett Parker: Love it. Derek Bingham: Right. And it worked out okay for us. Rhett Parker: He's only gonna pitch for this amount of time. You can't miss. You gotta go. Derek Bingham: Correct. Can't miss it. ⁓ And it was ⁓ because unique because that is the one thing that sucks about like he doesn't go to like if he played for me at Lake Washington, I would see him every day. He doesn't, which is our choice. But like I'm not going to miss those opportunities. And I, ⁓ know, one of coolest things that has ever happened is the KPSL last year at UW. Right, and I thank you for letting like Washington be a part of that. But the KPSL foundation tournament that we played at UW happened to be like Washington versus Monroe. Rhett Parker: at University of Washington, not University of Wisconsin. But you got to play your son as a coach at University of Washington for a charity tournament. I remember, because I couldn't actually be at that particular game because I was coaching. ⁓ The call I got after was a memory that I always have with you of like, it's one of the best days of my life coaching. Derek Bingham: I'm sorry, yes, the universe. Yeah. Yep. Well, and then I found out two hours beforehand that he was starting on the Right. The coach called me and was like, Hey, we're going to start. Like, how cool is that? And he shoved on us by the way. We did win. We did win. Well, and so just quick little story. First batter of the game. like I, before the game, getting the team together, I'm like, if you ever test my loyalty, like I'm going to give you a full scouting report on my kid. Right. Very first batter of the game. Rhett Parker: But plus you won. Plus you won though. ⁓ Right. Derek Bingham: Aiden Melberg gets a triple off the wall off Max. And I'm like, he gets the third base, he's like, I'm so sorry. so sorry. Like apologize. Yeah, exactly. You're competing, but hey, he did great. He had one run and three innings and it was good. And he like, that's a cool picture of him walking off the mound with a smirk on his face. Like, I don't know if I've shared that one with you, but like looking at me as I'm walking across. So that was cool. But so yeah, number one, don't miss the important things. Like nothing is as important as those memories because to your point they'll be gone. Rhett Parker: Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm. ⁓ okay. No, we're competing now. Mm-hmm. Mm. Yeah. Derek Bingham: Right. And then the second thing is, like, at least in my personal experience, like, Don't your own free time. over your kids, meaning like just because you're busy coaching and you get home and you're tired, like push through it, dude, push through it, be there until eight 30 until their games over, take them out for ice cream afterwards. Right. Cause I'm at, we're at different stages. I am at the stage now where I have the free time. Well, the eighth, right. Rhett Parker: hard. Bottom of the eighth, you're bottom of the eighth. Top second, bottom second, I'm somewhere in that ballpark. Derek Bingham: Yeah. Right. I can't go back and recreate those and I wish every day I could. Rhett Parker: ⁓ Okay, I mean, at some point, someone's gonna make me cry on here, because every time and we've had a bunch of guests already, you guys say that a little bit is like, my kid is one day older than he was yesterday. ⁓ he will never be the same age as he is today. And it's I'm pretty nostalgic person like, man, it just, I just I got I don't like hearing it because it makes me sad. But on the on the other side, Derek Bingham: Mm-hmm. Rhett Parker: I love hearing it because what you just said sometimes I catch myself I'm like dude I'm beat I coach ⁓ speaking it I'm getting ready to go pick my kids up right now and then optional baseball practice is actually have Sun in Washington here and ⁓ then got pick somebody up and drop another person off at a different bank and race all the way back around and I'm gonna get home tonight and I'm gonna be exhausted Derek Bingham: It's wild. One day you'll have one at one out of college, one in college and one just about finishing up high school and you will wish that you were tired. Yeah, I know. I'm not that old either. I'm not that old. Not that old. Yes. Rhett Parker: Bing, okay, All right, let me live. Let me just try and enjoy the moment. And I think that's what you're saying is enjoy the moment, but really appreciate coming on. This has been great. And for me, this is really cool because of our friendship and thanks for coming on and helping people keep on surviving new sports. Derek Bingham: Absolutely, thanks for having me on and appreciate what you're doing, not only in the baseball world but in this situation too. think the stuff, the content we're putting out is gonna be beneficial for people that are our position. ⁓ thanks for that. Rhett Parker: I appreciate you, Awesome.