You'd be amazed at how much time volunteer coaches and instructors spend helping our children.

Ten or more hours a week working with a program isn't uncommon for some of these unselfish men and women, many of whom have returned to action in recent weeks as the spring sports season gets underway in Simi Valley.

With several practices a week, plus games on the weekends, their sacrifices can be huge. There's no question about it: Coaching youth athletics takes time and commitment, not to mention buckets of patience. A coach who's in charge of a group of adolescents must be parent, babysitter, role model, general and teacher all rolled into one.

Unfortunately, the scene at any ball field can turn ugly when dissatisfied parents start complaining about the lack of playing time or attention their child is getting.

Sometimes a coach will come home from a long day at work and find a phone message waiting from a parent who's upset that their child wasn't treated like a star athlete. Some parents stage protests and have even been known to yank their kids off the field in the middle of a game.

What's next, a lawsuit? Parents, please get a grip.

Our coaches and their assistants give their time freely because they love their sport and care about the kids. It's also no secret that coaches want to win and sometimes play favorites, but in the end, most of our youth leaders play fair and make decisions that are in the best interests of the group.

As a parent, you don't have to be the No. 1 fan of your child's coach, but you do have to grant them the respect of letting them do their jobs. If you don't have something constructive to tell a coach, keep it to yourself.

Youth sports are a huge part of growing up in this community. A handful of future professional athletes and countless success stories received their first lessons in teamwork and leadership on the playing fields of Simi Valley.

Give credit where credit is due: to the volunteer coaches and assistant coaches who make it all possible.

Most important, cut them some slack so they can do their jobs. Without them, where would our kids be?