Release or not to release???

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I think part of the reason for this unfortunate situation is communication ...I hate to say it but a coach not only has to manage kids he has to manage parents. I believe the coach needs to develope a relationship and an understanding of what he expects and what the parents and players expect from the early beginning . Many times promises are made by coaches, and players joining good teams might say yes to a position offered to her that is not her desired position. I hear this every so often that their DD was promised a spot when in reality is that the coach said an "oppurtununity", and some parents and players arent satified with the result. None the less you have a decision to make be a team player or move on . no matter what the reason the coach should release the player, that player will have to live with the effects of quitting a team!

 

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Maybe better techniques can be shared to help detect such a thing during the tryout/signup/invite process. I know in the several tryouts we went to (and I can only speak for THOSE tryouts), nobody spoke to me to evaluate whether or not I was a jerk (they got lucky).

I've actually spent a good bit of time puzzling through ways that we might be able to get such information prior to tryouts, because as you know if it looks like you've got a really really talented player at your tryout, it's likely you are going to make her an offer on the spot. I think it's hard, because players might not want to list their prior coach on a pre-registration form, either because they don't want the coach to know they are trying out for another team or they don't think that the coach will give the player and/or the parents a good rec on the "non-athletic" issues.

But I'm thinking that if I were the head coach, I'd still require a pre-registration form asking at the least for the player's previous team. Most of us know the coaches from other teams and if that other coach is a stand-up person with a stand-up reputation and his or her team is a quality team . . .well maybe the phone call wouldn't even be necessary.

I admit that there are significant problems with my proposed "vetting" approach, but it is getting to the point where the tryouts are so accelerated that I think coaches need additional information before the tryout is held.

 

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...Now that I hopefully have convinced you that I'm dead against any family jumping ship during season, let me ask a question that could be of legal nature. We all know the policy sanctioning bodies have about signing rosters, the need, and the protocol to release a player so they can be available/eligible for play with another team. I see the need for this practice for liability issues pertaining to injury but struggle with the rest of the rule.

?Do sanctioning bodies have the legal right to tell a family you can not move from 1 team to another for any reason because your name was used on a roster that the tem turned in to a qualifier tournament, thus locking them out from participating with another team the rest of the entire season??

I know some will say they don't HAVE to play that sanctioning again the rest of the season, that it's a choice and not a right. Is this legally true? I believe some can argue this point. I'm not going to state my thoughts o this matter because I'm curious to see what others think.

Softball TEAMS enter championship play and a roster defines each team. Roster rules protect the integrity of the teams and the competition between them for championship play. Without them, dominant players could help multiple teams qualify.

The other aspect of your question is freezing rosters for the entire time a team is in championship play (e.g. ASA) versus only after a team qualifies. I've been through both and prefer the ASA model after seeing the team turmoil that happened with the other in travel baseball. I don't see ASA as being too restrictive because it only lasts while the team is in championship play and only prevents them from participating with another team in ASA championship play.

 

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Rocket ... I agree that communication is critical and can theoretically prevent a lot of the issues. For many years, I had zero issues because I think communication was one of my strengths (not sharing my weaknesses here!). Then last year I ended up having 3 girls quit due to playing time issues on Sundays, even though I had clearly laid out up front that playing time on Sundays would be based on performance, and even though I actually found a way to get them into every single game we played. It was just that they (and/or their parents) thought they were better than others who were playing more, despite the fact that I had no DD on the team and that their stats were not as good. I blamed myself on the one, because I had offered them a spot when I had pretty clear evidence at the tryout that the parents were going to be high maintenance. Either way, we quickly released all of them and picked up another girl who was not happy with her previous team, and who had been granted a release there.

 

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I know every situation isnt the same , Its very hard to get it right everytime at tryouts . I think coaches know that the field is thin especially with new teams out there looking for players. Plus coaches dont want more than 11 players ... its not fair to the team when players jump in many cases it leaves them short especially if there are other players missing for the weekend. "Hats off to the coaches that go through this and make it work'! I think most coaches know who these players are as soon as the next day., word gets around if you know what I mean .Many times the coaches are willing to take on that player in a heartbeat especially if shes talented or His team is short. Not all coaches . I dont condone it, Im just saying!

 

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?Do sanctioning bodies have the legal right to tell a family you can not move from 1 team to another for any reason because your name was used on a roster that the team turned in to a qualifier tournament, thus locking them out from participating with another team the rest of the entire season??

Yes, I would say the sanctioning bodies definitely are on solid legal ground. The key thing to keep in mind is that these are not governmental bodies. Players voluntarily join ASA or the others and are always free to quit. The "right" that would be protected is the ability to jump teams within that sanctioning body. This is not a right that is protected by the U.S. or any state Constitution, or any other law. Even if ASA were a governmental body, playing softball within ASA would not be considered any type of right, but a privilege, and thus not subject to any special protection by law.

 

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Yes, I would say the sanctioning bodies definitely are on solid legal ground. The key thing to keep in mind is that these are not governmental bodies. Players voluntarily join ASA or the others and are always free to quit. The "right" that would be protected is the ability to jump teams within that sanctioning body. This is not a right that is protected by the U.S. or any state Constitution, or any other law. Even if ASA were a governmental body, playing softball within ASA would not be considered any type of right, but a privilege, and thus not subject to any special protection by law.

Looking at it from the purely legal question whether someone could successfully challenge the roster restrictions in court, Joe has it 100% correct. It's a non-starter, and potentially a frivolous lawsuit that could cause monetary sanctions against the parties who bring the suit.

 

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as a coach i would release the player,couldn't see keeping a player from joining another team!!after all it is not about us coaches it is about the young ladies we are coaching getting out there and playing

 

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http://www.thesoftballzone.com/vb3/general-softball/43923-asa-relaese.html

This topic is a good one. Many need to grow up. See link...

 

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Maybe the coaches should take a look in the mirror and think to myself why is this girl wanting to leave? What did I do wrong? And even more so the president of the organization should take a look at their coaches and think to themselves is this the coach I want representing my organization. Each scenario is a little bit different but in the end most parents are going to do what is best for THEIR daughter not what is best for the team. So let me ask you this then if the coach picks up two new players and your daughter goes from number 2 pitcher to hardly pitching at all after they told you at tryouts that she was going to be a number 1 or 2 pitcher then does the organization give you some of your money back? Of course not, it's all about wins and losses for most coaches and organizations so what loyalty do they really have to your daughter? All parents want their daughter to improve and to be the best ball player she is capable of being so if certain things are promised during tryouts such as an indoor facility that never happened, a coach that always cancelled practices, a tournament schedule that was weak then how is your daughter getting better exactly? I mean how is your daughter getting better facing 40 mph pitching each weekend at 12U?

Maybe there wouldn't be as many players leaving if everything was in writing from the organization such as practice times, practice facilities, tournament schedules, coaching background, etc. Most tryouts parents have to go by the word of the coach. If it was a TWO way signed contract maybe players would stay, if the coach or the organization lies about something such as a brand new indoor facility and that NEVER happens then you get 25% of your money back or the right to leave for a better organization? Instead players and the girls suffering have to stick it out because it was a committment or loyalty to the TEAM but what about the committment from the organization or coach to your daughter?

 

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Maybe the coaches should take a look in the mirror and think to myself why is this girl wanting to leave? What did I do wrong? And even more so the president of the organization should take a look at their coaches and think to themselves is this the coach I want representing my organization. Each scenario is a little bit different but in the end most parents are going to do what is best for THEIR daughter not what is best for the team. So let me ask you this then if the coach picks up two new players and your daughter goes from number 2 pitcher to hardly pitching at all after they told you at tryouts that she was going to be a number 1 or 2 pitcher then does the organization give you some of your money back? Of course not, it's all about wins and losses for most coaches and organizations so what loyalty do they really have to your daughter? All parents want their daughter to improve and to be the best ball player she is capable of being so if certain things are promised during tryouts such as an indoor facility that never happened, a coach that always cancelled practices, a tournament schedule that was weak then how is your daughter getting better exactly? I mean how is your daughter getting better facing 40 mph pitching each weekend at 12U?

Maybe there wouldn't be as many players leaving if everything was in writing from the organization such as practice times, practice facilities, tournament schedules, coaching background, etc. Most tryouts parents have to go by the word of the coach. If it was a TWO way signed contract maybe players would stay, if the coach or the organization lies about something such as a brand new indoor facility and that NEVER happens then you get 25% of your money back or the right to leave for a better organization? Instead players and the girls suffering have to stick it out because it was a commitment or loyalty to the TEAM but what about the committment from the organization or coach to your daughter?

You sure did hit this on the head.... look in the mirror... then listen. And not to the voice that says "I'm so great"... "just ask me". Who owns the kids... the coaches with ego's do.

 

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Unless your name is on the birth certificate which would give you the right to make the decision - then release the player & let them find their happy place.

If a player ask me for a release I do it as quick as they can get me the paperwork - it's only fair.

Your approach is spot on...class act all the way.

 

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Why would you want to keep a player that ask for a release? Only a coach with an ego problem would do that and those coaches are retarded, just sayin. Lol. Kavin is spot on, get the paperwork and get it done before the team is torn apart over one player. Sometimes a player and family thinks it is the right fit but as it gets going they realize it is not and want released, no problem, release them. It is not always bad players or bad parents, sometimes it is just not the right fit and they want to go else where. Might be the best kid and parents you could ask for.