New & have a question.....

default · Aug 26, 2008

Well said eatsleep. Too many parents/players look for the greener grass. Unfortunately, that makes for a lot of first year teams that have to learn to work together, and when that don't happen, or dd don't play where mom and dad want them playing they move on to another team. This also goes for the coaches that don't want to take the time to develop a player and replace them with someone that is a shining star. There has been far too many people saying that a player was asked to return and later dismissed because the coach found someone better. Who is this for anyway? The girls or the coach? Ok enough ranting. I am thankful and our team is blessed with 9 returning players out of 11 and a few great pickups for the 2009 season. We have a great group of girls and parents that understand the longer a team plays together the better they will be. Maybe the slammers could put on a clinic on commitment and how that makes your team better and stronger!! There is a group of players and parents that have stuck it out and look at them now.

default · Aug 26, 2008

gottaluvfastpitch stole some of my thunder. "COMMITMENT" is a two-way street, the player AND the team. I save seen in my day when a player commits to a team subsequent to tryouts and by the time the spring season comes around the team make-up has changed (i.e. coaching changes, added players, etc.) to an already completed roster for one reason or another. As a result, and in fairness to all the players, playing time across the board is cut (in the one example). In my opinion, if the girls were good enough to make the team in the fall, why add additional players to the roster? In this case, the team commitment to the girl has been broken; thus, the girl is justified in leaving for her development. On the other hand, and probably more prevalent, a girl quiting their team because another girl pitches two more innings during a tournament or another girl gets three more at bats in a tournament, is ridiculous.

default · Aug 26, 2008

In softball as in life: If you mean so little to the people who coach or employ you that they don't care if you're happy and won't do anything to accommodate your feelings, then move on if you can. If you can't, then grit your teeth and make the best of it. No one owns you. If you spend your life worrying about what other people think of you, there might be a bigger crowd at your funeral, but you'll be just as dead as if you'd had a spine.

default · Aug 26, 2008

Orion said:
Reasons to leave:

1.The team she tried out for and made is not the team that will be playing next year (coach lied about who was returning). Did not find this out until after fall league. Hint: If you have to pick up players every weekend to have enough to play and are borrowing players every weekend in order to field a team and are having to cancel some games BEWARE!

2.She wanted a competitive team and SCHEDULE and was told what tournaments they would be playing in at try outs ( a couple of Core parents and Coach decided later, they would rather enter less competitive tournaments so they could win some hardware and their daughters would SHINE) Found out final schedule last of February

3. At try outs were told what positions they were looking for and was guaranteed one of these positions. She only had one specific position she did not want to play as she had played this position in travel for the last 3 years and wanted a change. WHERE did they play her in fall league? The position she preferred not to play, even tho they BORROWED players from other teams to play in the positions that she had tried out for and made. (Coach repeated several times??you will be playing so and so position next inning or next game..another lie?did not happen)

4. Were told they would have winter practices? Never heard from coach until January after several call and emails. (Another lie)

5. New openings on team in January after out of state tournament. Player asks coach and assistant if she could play one of those positions. Coach does not even give her the courtesy of an answer or discussion and lets assistant coach handle this as he just turns and walks away. GET THIS: Assistant coach tells her ?she does not have the right body type for that position?. At this point we figure out they are idiots!!!:lmao:

This is a 16U team we are talking about. Player has played sports since the age of 4 years old and has never left a team before, after committing. We would not allow it as we have been on the receiving end of losing players just as the season begins and we always stress that you need to finish season out and then make a change if necessary.

Beginning of February we sit down with daughter and access the situation together. She is somewhat resigned to the fact ( not happy but resigned) that she will not be playing in the tournaments she wanted and this team is really a step down instead of a step up for her even tho she chose to play up an age level on this team. She really struggled with the decision to leave this team as we did as well.

I explained to a 12 year old about commitment and verbal contracts. I explained that sometimes?just sometimes, it is ok to break a commitment especially when the coach had lied to her repeatedly and us about several things going on with the team for 6 months (more than I even care to list here)

I would like to thank these two coaches;& ( they read this forum) as SHE did decide to leave the team in February ( after 2 weeks of tears) (she did not want to be considered a quitter or let the team down) and was accepted on one of the top 16U teams in Ohio at the time. And guess what? She went on to accept a Division I scholarship playing in the position that she did ?not have the right body type? to play!:yahoo:

I also wonder how many of the commitment at all costs posters on here, are or have been divorced? Or changed jobs? Commitment works both ways in my book and life is short.

Orion,
thank you for your post, you put in words some of what we went through last year and waited until the season was over to make our change. If the same happens again in the future, we may not wait to make that change.

I understand coaches needing to fill rosters but don't like the pressure of having to commit before all tryouts have been completed....maybe we all can learn not to throw things on the table so quickly.

default · Aug 28, 2008

What ever your do - do what is in the best interest of your daughter and your family. If your daughter get on a team that is not a good fit it makes for a very long season for everyone. I feel until you make a financial commit you can get out at any time. I feel the best team for any girl is a team with a coach that doesn't have a daughter on the team.

default · Aug 28, 2008

I read the posts pretty quick so maybe this has already been mentioned but the ONLY commitment that is hard to walk away from is the universal contract...CASH. I wouldn't consider a kid commited to your team until you have a commitment fee in hand. Sad but true. Everything eventually boils down to money.

default · Aug 28, 2008

Thats the problem Ringer, It should never boil down to money

Your word should be your bond

Mean what you say and say what you mean!

:yahoo::yahoo::yahoo:SEMPER FI:yahoo::yahoo::yahoo:

default · Aug 28, 2008

I think at some point in time every coach has encountered that one parent that thinks their daughter is better than anyone on the team and if they aren't getting their way, they are going to walk. I say good riddance, I don't want a troublemaker on my team. Many times, it's not even the girls fault....it's her parents perception of things. Of course, it's easier if a parent would just show their true colors at tryouts so you know not to offer a position, but it's never that simple.

default · Aug 28, 2008

semperfi1977 said:
Thats the problem Ringer, It should never boil down to money Your word should be your bond Mean what you say and say what you mean!

:yahoo::yahoo::yahoo:SEMPER FI:yahoo::yahoo::yahoo:

I agree but I live in reality. I underlined the key words in your post.

Other "Shoulds" that are rarely true....

Parents should keep their cool
Coaches should keep their cool
Players should keep their cool
Umpires should keep their cool
Riseball should rise
Dropballs should drop
Players should arrive by.......
Players should stay focused and not think about boys.
My DD should be batting third and playing shortstop
My kids should do their home work
My wife should have dinner ready
Statmen should be fair with the books
TheBear should make me a moderator
DaddyDice should send me an autograph poster

default · Aug 28, 2008

TheRinger said:
DaddyDice should send me an autograph poster

I literally laughed out loud when I read that!!:lmao::lmao::lmao::lmao:

So did Daddy!

BTW is this the poster you would like autographed??

default · Aug 29, 2008

Seems like a lot of sour grapes going on today. Can't we all just get along?

default · Aug 29, 2008

Bottom line is commitment. Yes your joining and playing to learn, get experience but bottom line is you commit to play for the "team". The name on the front of the shirt. IMOP!
Ultimately, The Team needs you to be there, every practice, every game. Don't join if you cant commit.

default · Aug 30, 2008

Posts deleted....
Let me put it bluntly for a couple of folks on here - if you have a problem with someone TAKE IT SOMEWHERE ELSE!!!!

default · Aug 30, 2008

I agree the "thebear". However--parents have to keep the best interest of their child in mind. You have to spend all summer with these people. Most of the time you don't get to meet the families prior to committing. It should be mandatory that whom ever will be bringing the player to the games attend tryouts. While the kids are trying out--parents should be given a hospitality tent with all the immenities.

I would put a few "Secret Roamers" in the mix and have them start up sticky topics.

New & have a question.....

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