What does "Politic Free" softball mean???

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I was looking threw the new team registry section at some of the different organizations and I noticed that many of them label themselves as "Politic Free" softball teams or organizations. Just wondering what this really means. Is it that they back no particular political party? Or does it mean that they are politically neutral?

Just don't really understand why they have to let everyone know that they are "Politic Free" As opposed to what....a politically radical team or organization? Just seems to me that if someone has to sell you on the fact that they are not something, then maybe there is a reason why they have to tell you they are not something.

I noticed that the vast majority of organizations and teams out there do not make such a claim. Does that mean that they are not Politic Free? Is there something that we should know about them? Maybe we better start paying closer attention to those who do not identify themselves as Politic Free...there could be a problem there.

 

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Politic Free!!!

My understanding of this statement goes like this. We have all ran into the area REC TEAM where all the good kids get put on the same team with the SAME COACH. He ( COACH) plays his 1st Daughter at Pitcher his STEP daughter at 1st base her best friend at Short and the best friends cousin at 2nd and for the Catcher its his ( Beer Drinking Buddys) daughter! I would say this is a little political!! ( PARENTS GET XXXXXX)

If you are not NEW to the SELECT LEVEL than you should understand the TERM ( BEST PLAYER PLAYS). Your kid, my kid, billys kid whatever daughter gets the job done thats who plays the position!! Not the kids whos parents donate the most money to the Organization or whatever!!!

I understand what you are saying about the TEAMS THAT SAY THEY ARE :-? Just remember that you as a PARENT HAS TO DO WHAT IS BEST FOR YOUR CHILD!!!!!!!


JUST FOR THE RECORD---- IM REPUBLICAN!!! ;D

 

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I'm not singling out any organization, cause I'm not sure who has posted "Free of Politics", without going back and looking. But I can't imagine any team or organizations, that doesn't have some problems. Call it politics, if you want to, but they all have them.
My take on this is...if everything is running so smoothly, that no one is complaining, there's probably not much competitiveness on the team. I would hate to have a team, where everyone was just happy with what I told them to do. I like a little fire in my girls, and parents. Maybe its not politics, maybe its competitive spirit. Anyway I'm confused about Politic free as well. :-/

 

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No teams are "Politic Free". They all have things going on behind the scenes in one way or another. Call it politics or some other name.

 

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I don't think is necessarily means that no one will complain because you always have your whiners but you can have your organizations that do not play politics.

It is not about who the parents of the players are. It is about the players, their commitment, their talent and nothing else. On my team, I don't care who the parents are, how much money they have, etc. If the player is the best player on the team and does not show up for practice, has a bad attitude, she will not get her playing time. The players that give 100% to this team and EARN their spots, GET THE PLAYING TIME. PERIOD!!!!

Now, I am sure that everyone will not be happy but everyone knows this is in advance!!!

 

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To me, beinging "Politic Free" means everyone gets equal playing time, and that the playing field is equal. Just my take on it.

Let me pose this question to the travel ball coaches and parents.

If you pay equal money to play, and all things considered equal, should you get and/or expect equal playing time? Why or Why Not?

 

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While everyone pays the same amount (just think of a day when coaches/organizations start paying the parents!), we all know that now all girls on the team are of the same ability, regardless of how stacked the team is, plus everyone wants to play shortstop or pitcher, or 3rd. If all of the girls on the team could play 3rd and start and play even above average, they'd be on another team with that position.
Why do coaches DD's or assistant coaches DD's probably play more? Maybe because those are the parents that are there everyday working on their technique, spending the extra dollars for pitching lessons, or showing up early for practice continually working on their DD's game. While this is not saying that non-coaching dad's/moms dont participate at home, don't complain about politics, when, in a free market environment, you have every right to NOT play on such team. All parents should shop around and do what's best for them. Hopefully my DD will earn her playing time (thankfully, she's beginning to show it, this her second year) instead of playing more because I'm an assistant.
Yes, I do agree some parents or DD's get burned...but, they can always go on another team and showcase their skills there. That's why we have, what, upteen 12/14/16/18 teams in central ohio alone.

 

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You know that is such garbage and I am really sick of people saying that because it is not always the case!!!

My DD does not get any special treatment from me. In fact, I expect more from her than I do anybody else!! If she does not earn her position, she DOES NOT AND WILL NOT PLAY!!!! I have no problem with her sitting the bench if she is having a bad day or if she is not holding her own. She knows that and the other players on my team know that.

I also have a talented enough team that I don't have to sit anybody 100% of the time and I can rotate my players at any GIVEN TIME and feel comfortable with it. But my DD will not have 100% playing and she knows it nor does she expect it. The rules have been given to her, to the other players, as well as the parents. But come CRUNCH TIME, my best 9 will take the field and it will depend on my stats at that that given time. If my DDs stats are there, she will be on the field. If they are not, SHE WILL NOT.

So quit giving everyone that is a coach a bad wrap as if they are there just to give their DD the spotlight. IT IS NOT ALWAYS THE CASE.

She just signed yesterday to play college ball. She has worked her BUTT off academically and athetically to get where she is and SHE DESERVES THE CREDIT. It is not because of me or anything I have done.

If parents choose to put their DDs on a team that have coaches with a biological daughter on that team as well and if that coach puts their own DD in the spotlight whether their deserve it or not, that is the parents fault. They don't have any right to complain. It is a parent's responsibility to find a team that is the right fit for them.

 

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Merriam Webster's Collegiate Dictionary
POLITICS:

1 b : the art or science concerned with guiding or influencing policy c : the art or science concerned with winning and holding control.
3 a : competition between competing interest groups or individuals for power and leadership c : activities characterized by artful and often dishonest practices
4 : opinions or sympathies of a person
5 a : the total complex of relations between people living in society b : relations or conduct in a particular area of experience

 

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I have never been around a team that didn't have someone questioning playing time or abilities. Normally its a parent that has no clue about the sport. I and most coaches play the best kid , not our daughter or a friends DD. Those that don't play the best, don't last long in this sport.. I think most of us that have DD's playing for them , put our DD's on the bench more than they deserve. Just because we don't want to get this label. I like the teams that also advertise that they are coached by someone that doesn't have a daugher on the team. Someone must think this makes a good coach ! I have only been around one coach that played his DD everying inning of every game. He ruined a good team and the organization suffered till they dumped him.

 

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My take on this is that most peoples perception of politics on a team is just that, thier perception. Many different things go into forming that perception some may be accurate and some may not be. However nobody can deny the fact of the matter, and that is; to the parent or player it is only thier perspective that defines the situation.

I think that no team or person can assure any player or parent that they will have a politic free zone or anything like that because they have no control over that persons perspective.

We do not opperate in a vacuum with travel teams. Peoples perception and perspective are shaped by events that occur over the course of a season. How can anyone guarantee a politic free experience. That would be like saying "we will never allow a run, and we will never lose". That may be our intention, and it may be well intentioned. The fact is we have little control over such things.

just my two cents.

 

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We keep the innings played and game started/bench stats for our team, and our 2 coaches DD's dont even play the majority of the innings. For us, thankfully, it has worked out to the coach's DD's playing LESS than themajority. Our 2 best players, one of them being another coach's DD, play the most simply becuase they field/hit and pitch better than the others.
I would suggest that any parent keep their own stats if they can, that way they truly know whose doing what, whose playing more and whose getting the oppurtunities. That way, when politics do arise, at least you have a case. But I do agree that politics do not always stem from the head coach's DD getting undeserved playing time. If anything, their daughter's have to prove themselves even more, due to the stigma surrounding daddy ball.

 

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Very well said on both counts VStormRocks. ?I would be honored to have my dd play on your team and I have no idea who you are or your team. ? I do believe that you must be a great coach and have some very talented and hard working girls. ?

Good luck with the team and congrats to your DD on the college signing.

 

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Well said Vstorm. It is NOT easy being the manager dd, ask most players in that situation. Not only are they under the radar eye of the manager, but the microscope of all the parents eyes. Many times they are the first player's name to be brought up when a parent is unhappy with their own dd's situation or playing time.

I've personally sat my dd plenty of times and will continue to do so if the situation arises. My dd has also taken laps for giving me a dd/parent attitude during a player/coaches situation. Other players get away with much more then mine could on my team.

So maybe that could make that situation "political", but not to our own dds favor !

I think any manager or coach that plans to be competitive, plans to play the best 9 of the day (whichever the 9 is on that particular day).

 

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Thank you, A1SDad and Ram!! It is one subject that gets under my skin. I am here for all of these girls and not just my own. Even at the 18U level, there are still things to teach these young ladies. Especially how important it is to work towards a goal, respecting your teammates, superiors (coaches), etc., is so important at this stage in their life!!!

As parents it is a responsibility to make sure that your DD is at the same playing level as the rest of their peers and if they are not, it is your responsibility to go the extra mile to get them the EXTRA training in that particular area your DD lacks. EXAMPLE::: HITTING LESSONS, CATCHING LESSONS, FIELDING LESSONS!!!

If you do not, there is no one to blame but yourself.

 

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:exclamationI have all the respect for both you VStorm and Ram and I hate to think it but I expect you are a minority. I have been there in those situation as both a coach and a parent, I know exactly what you mean. ? I wish all coaches could be so sincere and honest but I realize many coaches have ?different personalities and different agendas. ?I am certain after reading your guys post, that both of you are doing it for the entire team, and work just as hard with any girl as you would your own dd. ?In fact since I have been there also, I would suspect you even work harder with the one that is not any kin. ?Besides they do listen better ?I have found. ?ha ha

Great posts guys and good luck to you both. ?:exclamation :exclamation

Sincerely,

 

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From the 2 years I've been around TB , I'd have to laugh if I saw an ad for players stating that. We have played for 2 teams, both with Dads coaching and witnessed both ends of the spectrum. Dads never taking their DD out and Dad's being hyper sensitive to the playing time issue. At this current time I'd say you not going to get many public comments about "politics" on any team, airing dirty laundry on a public board is just not a good idea. But to anwser your original question --What does it mean ? I'd say it doesn't exist MD

 

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There really is such a thing? I guess I havn't seen it all after all.

 

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Hard work should be rewarded regardless who the coach is.

If you have had a bad experience with a coach who had a kid on the team, don't assume all coaches that have kids on the team operate the same way. Our DD is currently on a team where all 3 coaches have daughters on the team and we feel that they do a very good job to improve the quality of each player and give each player the opportunity to excel at practice and on the field.

Politics come in all shapes and sizes, I don't believe any team is 'politic free' simply because you can't make 100% of the people happy 100% of the time. I think the best advice when looking for a team is to find the right team for your DD.

I don't agree that everyone should have equal playing time because we all paid the same money. If you have questions about how the team handles playing time then that should be a question that is asked before you sign on. You are not paying for playing time, the logic from most organizations is that what you paying for is coaching and the cost of operating the team, playing time is the reward for working hard and committing yourself to the sport.