Be aware not all teams in an organization are the same!!!!

[default]

I know what it is lol. I had just never heard softball and iwo used in the same sentence ;&

Simply a metaphor. Not that I don't take winning seriously. What really bugs me is to see a child make a couple of mistakes and be benched while other players make error after error and remain in the game. One real pet peeve is the stunning smash hit, everyone cheering, the ball going up up up up up up and then then the outfielder trots underneath and it's caught. I'll take a little pooch over the first basemans head anytime.

 

[default]

You make excellent points. I would ask a couple of questions. Why would you have more than 9 girls on the team? How did you pick those 9? Why have practice if you are not going to hone the team members skills? Some folks drive 2 hours to practice only to see an hour and a half of molasses? With all the "travel" teams in Ohio do you seriously expect me to believe that all 16 year old teen girls are going to prepare for an Iwo Jima landing? Again I like your points but just asking a few questions.

Why would you have more than 9 girls on the team?
Simple: Tournament teams, sooner or later, are going to have an injured player. My opinion differs, but I put a strong emphasis on travel ball = college prep. Some folks play travel for the sheer joy, with no intention of their kid being on a college ball track. (I compare that to buying a sprint car for your everyday driver... why???) Problems arise when you have clashing mentalities (and goals) on any team. A kid on a college track knows they have to battle for their spot. Mom & dad beating on the coach about playing time is heading down the wrong path.

How did you pick those 9?
Simple again: Rather the best 13 to 14 that show up to the tryout, or the known athlete that calls you with an interest and commitment to the team. The best 9 play in any given game. The other 4 or 5 are committed team members with a desire to win a starting spot - without interference from adults.

Why have practice if you are not going to hone the team members skills? Some folks drive 2 hours to practice only to see an hour and a half of molasses?
It all depends on what your definition of "team practice" is. The analogy I always like yo use is to that of an orchestra. All the members learn their parts (music score > individual skills) ON THEIR OWN TIME. Only then do they assemble as a group to "practice as a group", and put it all together. Why should a coach waste valuable time at a team practice (when people drive 2 hours) trying to teach a kid who didn't practice at home on their basic skills? How can you hold a "TEAM PRACTICE" when your first baseman can't catch a ball? Or the outfielders don't know the first thing about shielding the sun with their glove? Just like in an orchestra, if 3 of the violin players don't know their musical parts, how can they effectively hold a rehearsal (practice)?

With all the "travel" teams in Ohio do you seriously expect me to believe that all 16 year old teen girls are going to prepare for an Iwo Jima landing?
No I don't. And the simple result is that those kids are playing recreational ball in a travel ball setting. They are the ones playing at lower tier "tournaments". Bottom line: Just like anything else in life, softball is a sport where you get out of it only what you put in. Choose NOT to get better, and you probably won't. Choose to work your tail off, and you may make a higher level. Expecting a coach to "hand out" playing time in a tournament ball setting is nothing more than a carryover rec. ball mentality. Guaranteed there is usually an adult behind the scenes stirring that pot. Instead of preparing for Iwo Jima, they took the shortcut to the paintball course.

 

[default]

Instead of preparing for Iwo Jima, they took the shortcut to the paintball course.



NICE:yahoo::yahoo::yahoo::yahoo:

 

[default]

Simply a metaphor. Not that I don't take winning seriously. What really bugs me is to see a child make a couple of mistakes and be benched while other players make error after error and remain in the game. One real pet peeve is the stunning smash hit, everyone cheering, the ball going up up up up up up and then then the outfielder trots underneath and it's caught. I'll take a little pooch over the first basemans head anytime.

Maybe the one thats benched dosent bring as much to the team at the plate, who knows... mentalities are different at different groups. 10,s and 12,s all being even, you can rotate players in and out to offer more game times to all, there comes a point though when a coach has to make the nasty decision at the older level what player brings the most to the team at what position or batting order.

Alot of the conversations here that get heated are either from different age groups trying to put their 2 cents worth in, because what they know is what they see and have experienced at their level of play...... its all relative to what you have experienced.

Or on the other side you have a group of rec parents that are not as seasoned as some travel parents and what they see and feel is foreign from where they came....... games move faster, more intense, and coaching decisions have to be for the team as a whole not one individual.

My comment to any parent that is disgruntled at this is to relax . the seasons go by to quickly, before you know it youll be a seasoned burned out parent whos kid is fixing to go to college and youll soon discover that these complaints are as consistent as the seasons....... Just enjoy your time it goes by to quickly

Tim

 

[default]

Hitter:"I laugh at the coaches who bring on replacement players towards the end of the year or do not play a kid and loose 11 to 1 and blame it on the kid who never got on the field for three games and they lost all three games. How did they score 11 runs and why did you only score 1 run? Maybe the replacement player hit a home run! Should have replaced all 9 of them however you would have still come up short!

Wow does that hit home!;&

 

[default]

isn't it about competing for a spot? There is so much controversy over playing time in travel ball nowadays that it seems like a carryover mentality from rec. ball.

Boy this hits home. Some feel like they don't have to earn it but are entitled. ;&

 

[default]

Boy this hits home. Some feel like they don't have to earn it but are entitled. ;&

Klump please do not take this wrong however who is THEY?

Parents?

Players?

 

[default]

My comment to any parent that is disgruntled at this is to relax . the seasons go by to quickly, before you know it youll be a seasoned burned out parent whos kid is fixing to go to college and youll soon discover that these complaints are as consistent as the seasons....... Just enjoy your time it goes by to quickly

Tim

You have learned well grasshopper..

 

[default]

You have learned well grasshopper..

Outstanding Chris ! :lmao:

 

[default]

Why would you have more than 9 girls on the team?
Simple: Tournament teams, sooner or later, are going to have an injured player. My opinion differs, but I put a strong emphasis on travel ball = college prep. Some folks play travel for the sheer joy, with no intention of their kid being on a college ball track. (I compare that to buying a sprint car for your everyday driver... why???) Problems arise when you have clashing mentalities (and goals) on any team. A kid on a college track knows they have to battle for their spot. Mom & dad beating on the coach about playing time is heading down the wrong path.

How did you pick those 9?
Simple again: Rather the best 13 to 14 that show up to the tryout, or the known athlete that calls you with an interest and commitment to the team. The best 9 play in any given game. The other 4 or 5 are committed team members with a desire to win a starting spot - without interference from adults.

Why have practice if you are not going to hone the team members skills? Some folks drive 2 hours to practice only to see an hour and a half of molasses?
It all depends on what your definition of "team practice" is. The analogy I always like yo use is to that of an orchestra. All the members learn their parts (music score > individual skills) ON THEIR OWN TIME. Only then do they assemble as a group to "practice as a group", and put it all together. Why should a coach waste valuable time at a team practice (when people drive 2 hours) trying to teach a kid who didn't practice at home on their basic skills? How can you hold a "TEAM PRACTICE" when your first baseman can't catch a ball? Or the outfielders don't know the first thing about shielding the sun with their glove? Just like in an orchestra, if 3 of the violin players don't know their musical parts, how can they effectively hold a rehearsal (practice)?

With all the "travel" teams in Ohio do you seriously expect me to believe that all 16 year old teen girls are going to prepare for an Iwo Jima landing?
No I don't. And the simple result is that those kids are playing recreational ball in a travel ball setting. They are the ones playing at lower tier "tournaments". Bottom line: Just like anything else in life, softball is a sport where you get out of it only what you put in. Choose NOT to get better, and you probably won't. Choose to work your tail off, and you may make a higher level. Expecting a coach to "hand out" playing time in a tournament ball setting is nothing more than a carryover rec. ball mentality. Guaranteed there is usually an adult behind the scenes stirring that pot. Instead of preparing for Iwo Jima, they took the shortcut to the paintball course.

Sammy, Again good points. And again a question. If you believe a girl to be a "slacker" Do Not leave her to the bench. Go to her parents and simply state that they should move to another team and give them their money back. If you play 4 bracket games with 9 girls while leaving 3 to sit the bench for insurance is wrong. Let them go elsewhere. The girls are either a team together or 9 players with the rest being taken advantage of. My DD played a pickup tourney this summer and played a key role in getting her team into the championship game on Sunday. The coach had taken his error prone daughter off of first base and put her at third. My DD played a very strong first base. One error in 6 games. Second tourney the coach was sick and his older daughter took over the coaching. She put her younger sister on first and the errors at first cost the team the first bracket game.

 

[default]

Sammy, Again good points. And again a question. If you believe a girl to be a "slacker" Do Not leave her to the bench. Go to her parents and simply state that they should move to another team and give them their money back. If you play 4 bracket games with 9 girls while leaving 3 to sit the bench for insurance is wrong. Let them go elsewhere. The girls are either a team together or 9 players with the rest being taken advantage of. My DD played a pickup tourney this summer and played a key role in getting her team into the championship game on Sunday. The coach had taken his error prone daughter off of first base and put her at third. My DD played a very strong first base. One error in 6 games. Second tourney the coach was sick and his older daughter took over the coaching. She put her younger sister on first and the errors at first cost the team the first bracket game.

Wow, Give them their money back. . .maybe a slight pro-rating for the beginning of the season, but the uniform is yours, the helmet is yours, the insurance follows you. . .Why should those things be refunded. . .I have a feeling your situation is far different than anyone else has experienced, but your putting out a lot of thoughts that personally I just don't get. . .IF you want a refund are you going to give everything back less the insurance cost? Just curious because you can't have it both ways. . .

You keep restating how bad everything was, but we never seem to get the whole story at one time. . .Not picking on you, but it just is a little difficult to follow your thought process. . .

 

[default]

Not all parents in an org. are the same either. Stating the obvious with this thread?

 

[default]

Wow, Give them their money back. . .maybe a slight pro-rating for the beginning of the season, but the uniform is yours, the helmet is yours, the insurance follows you. . .Why should those things be refunded. . .I have a feeling your situation is far different than anyone else has experienced, but your putting out a lot of thoughts that personally I just don't get. . .IF you want a refund are you going to give everything back less the insurance cost? Just curious because you can't have it both ways. . .

You keep restating how bad everything was, but we never seem to get the whole story at one time. . .Not picking on you, but it just is a little difficult to follow your thought process. . .

I do not want my money back. I understand that Sunday you want to win. I understand pro-rating. What I do not understand is not telling folks their little Suzy is not good enough to play but can sit the bench in case we need her. Why even get to the uniform part? The coach knew when he took the money that this girl was going to be a pine rider. This not just about my experience. It is what I see. I see parents dreaming of their little Suzy playing top pitcher at Arizona State. The poor little girl doesn't have a prayer at Div. III much less I. What is really galling is to see little Suzy go out for a stint at 3rd and be so scared of making an error and getting jerked out that is the only thing she can do. The coaches favorite can make 5-10 errors a game {please do not tell me to go look at some steenking book kept by the coaches wife} and remain in. Game after game after game. As to the whole story at one time. That would take a thesis.

 

[default]

Wow, Give them their money back. . .maybe a slight pro-rating for the beginning of the season, but the uniform is yours, the helmet is yours, the insurance follows you. . .Why should those things be refunded. . .I have a feeling your situation is far different than anyone else has experienced, but your putting out a lot of thoughts that personally I just don't get. . .IF you want a refund are you going to give everything back less the insurance cost? Just curious because you can't have it both ways. . .

You keep restating how bad everything was, but we never seem to get the whole story at one time. . .Not picking on you, but it just is a little difficult to follow your thought process. . .

Yeah, I don't take enough time to fully explain in lawyerese. That can lead to misunderstandings. They did discuss for a year and a half the shape of the negotiating table to end the Vietnam Conflict. And that was face to face, not on a message board. The simple point I have tried to make is either your 9,10,11,12,13 players are a team or they are not. Get RID of the ones who you do not wish to play and do it as quickly as possible. Or Play Them!

 

[default]

Yeah, I don't take enough time to fully explain in lawyerese. That can lead to misunderstandings. They did discuss for a year and a half the shape of the negotiating table to end the Vietnam Conflict. And that was face to face, not on a message board. The simple point I have tried to make is either your 9,10,11,12,13 players are a team or they are not. Get RID of the ones who you do not wish to play and do it as quickly as possible. Or Play Them!

Sounds to me like the decision should be yours, if you are not happy with her playing time, then she needs to work harder to get onto the field, or move to a team that she can play on. Coaches are not the only ones that need to be evaluating at tryouts, do some research and be honest about your DD's chances when at a tryout, why put her on a team that everyone knows she doesn't have a chance to play much on and then come on her and rip the coaches. Every team needs extra players for various reasons, it is the players responsibilty to earn her playing time, not the parents or the amount of money spent.

 

[default]

Yeah, I don't take enough time to fully explain in lawyerese. That can lead to misunderstandings. They did discuss for a year and a half the shape of the negotiating table to end the Vietnam Conflict. And that was face to face, not on a message board. The simple point I have tried to make is either your 9,10,11,12,13 players are a team or they are not. Get RID of the ones who you do not wish to play and do it as quickly as possible. Or Play Them!

You have mentioned WWII and now Vietnam when relating to Softball! Lets see if you can add Korea to the list. Maybe a Frozen Chosen remark;&

 

[default]

Sounds to me like the decision should be yours, if you are not happy with her playing time, then she needs to work harder to get onto the field, or move to a team that she can play on. Coaches are not the only ones that need to be evaluating at tryouts, do some research and be honest about your DD's chances when at a tryout, why put her on a team that everyone knows she doesn't have a chance to play much on and then come on her and rip the coaches. Every team needs extra players for various reasons, it is the players responsibilty to earn her playing time, not the parents or the amount of money spent.

Take this man advice and run with it!

 

[default]

I understand your point and I think the BIGGEST misunderstanding between coach and parent that causes most trouble is playing time. Like you said, get rid of them or play them. But what is your definition of play them? A pinch runner? A DH? Infield? Outfield? In batting line up only? A flex player? ALL these positions and more are very important to the team and if a coach is only allowed to carry the 9 players who start on the dirt so we don't hurt the other players and parents feelings, how are we supposed to play the game. That is the biggest misconception, that if your dd isn't in the starting infield or #4 in the batting line up than they aren't playing. Every girl on the team has her role and every role is important. If you aren't doing your job because you feel slighted, than the whole team suffers for it. Accept your role and play it to the best of your ability. This is a team sport, play for the name on the front of your jersey not the name on the back!

 

[default]

I understand your point and I think the BIGGEST misunderstanding between coach and parent that causes most trouble is playing time. Like you said, get rid of them or play them. But what is your definition of play them? A pinch runner? A DH? Infield? Outfield? In batting line up only? A flex player? ALL these positions and more are very important to the team and if a coach is only allowed to carry the 9 players who start on the dirt so we don't hurt the other players and parents feelings, how are we supposed to play the game. That is the biggest misconception, that if your dd isn't in the starting infield or #4 in the batting line up than they aren't playing. Every girl on the team has her role and every role is important. If you aren't doing your job because you feel slighted, than the whole team suffers for it. Accept your role and play it to the best of your ability. This is a team sport, play for the name on the front of your jersey not the name on the back!

Well Said!!

 

[default]

I understand your point and I think the BIGGEST misunderstanding between coach and parent that causes most trouble is playing time. Like you said, get rid of them or play them. But what is your definition of play them? A pinch runner? A DH? Infield? Outfield? In batting line up only? A flex player? ALL these positions and more are very important to the team and if a coach is only allowed to carry the 9 players who start on the dirt so we don't hurt the other players and parents feelings, how are we supposed to play the game. That is the biggest misconception, that if your dd isn't in the starting infield or #4 in the batting line up than they aren't playing. Every girl on the team has her role and every role is important. If you aren't doing your job because you feel slighted, than the whole team suffers for it. Accept your role and play it to the best of your ability. This is a team sport, play for the name on the front of your jersey not the name on the back!

Right on the money Julie:yahoo: Tell me though, how hard is it to tell a player and their family they are a role player and what that role is?