Addition by Subtraction (or I hate Justin Bieber)

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Re: Addition by Subtraction (or I hate Justin Bieber?)

my dd's team had 3 girls miss our first Sat game this past weekend and this is the second tourny these same three have missed a game. 5 girls out of 11 have missed tourny games thus far. Not really what i expected when we made the commitment to the org....

 

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Re: Addition by Subtraction (or I hate Justin Bieber?)

It is certainly not my intent to point fingers or criticize anyone or any of your opinions? just simply stating mine and how I have learned to chill out a little. First off, let's all remember that the original post was concerning children who happen to play 12U travel softball. I as well as all of you realize the importance of commitment and dedication. My DD has been injured several times during different seasons and she has never missed a practice or a game. But when do these kids get to be kids? Practice, practice, practice, then weekend after weekend after weekend of games, then into the tryout season, then on to fall ball, winter training, and so on and so on and so on.

I have to say that I was once "hard core" about softball, the commitment, the dedication, and the butt reaming after an error or the big "K". But recent circumstances have led me to change and realize what is truly important.

My DD was diagnosed three years ago with scoliosis and on June 4th, underwent a six hour surgery to correct her 60 and 40 degree curves. She will be out of cheer (yes, she is a cheerleader) and out of softball until December and then slowly return to working out. During the high school season, it all started to seem so clear to me. Softball should be fun for these girls. They can give it their all and bust butt out there, but still should be fun. It shouldn't be crammed down their throats 24-7. There will soon come a day when they will have the dreaded J-O-B and softball shouldn't seem like one. When some of these teams are having 3 - 4 practices a week and then their whole weekends tied up in tournament, when do they have free time? I have seen many kids who have true potential to play at college level in different sports and by the time they are at college level.. they are done. They no longer love the game. So, now Dad and Mom have not only spent thousands and thousands of dollars for travel ball and additional training, they now have to pay for college because DD is simply burned out and no longer wish to play.

Now I know that there are still those die-hard softballers out there who only want to play softball. But that simply isn't the case with all of these young ladies. I know many girls who only say what Daddy and Mommy want to hear and they continue to play.

I am certainly not preaching or trying to slam anyone!! I really miss seeing my DD play this year and I know she misses playing. We attended two different tournaments this past weekend and she was just itchin to play. But with that said, she is sooo enjoying the free time that she has now that she is pain-free and able to get out and about. We are so very fortunate that her surgery was a success and she will be able to return to this great sport, but having to face that kind of surgery just kind of put it all into perspective for our family. Don't take these young ladies for granted and ENJOY the time they are playing, as well as the time that you spend with them while they are not playing. Even if it is during a concert!

 

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Re: Addition by Subtraction (or I hate Justin Bieber?)

Agree bear34 too many parents making too big a deal. I understand the commitment as well but like you said remember they are 12U dont shove it down their throats or they wont enjoy the game. LET THEM BE KIDS IF THAT IS WHAT THEY WANT, QUIT LIVING VICARIOUSLY THROUGH YOUR CHILDREN!!!

 

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Re: Addition by Subtraction (or I hate Justin Bieber?)

Diplomacy, really? Calling your players out on OFC doesn't seem very diplomatic to me. I can't believe you said you were teaching them a lesson. You made yourself and your club look horrible. I am all about committment, but you have to also remember taht they are 11 & 12 year old girls and from what I understand you've played a ton of ball not having to deal with middle school or high school seasons. Give them a break! They have to have some fun and be kids. I don't get Justin Bieber myself & certainly wouldn't have dropped $500 to see him, but I can remember how excited I was as an adult to get last minute Mellencamp tickets & backstage passes. I would have dropped anything that I had to in order to attend. Saying you hoped they would sell their tickets and catch him in Columbus is just laughable. Who knows if they could get tickets to that show? It's not the same thing as going to KI for the day and blowing off a tourney. This is truly a rare event in these girls lives. Someone hit the nail on the head early when they talked about burning the girls out before college by depriving them of childhood fun! You yourself have said that you failed to communicate effectly with your parent about your schedule. And one final thing if you think it's over for your team, you're crazy.It's far from over! You've created a us (the ones that played) vs them (the ones that attended the concert) senario among the girls. You've created hostility among the parents & killed any good chemistry you had going. And you've ensured that some families have a very negative view of you and the Hawks since you represnt them and will not come out for try outs next year. I know if I were one of the 3 that you have raked over the coals in such a public way, there's no way I'd return to play for you next year. Shame on you!

 

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Re: Addition by Subtraction (or I hate Justin Bieber?)

NO!!! Justin Bieber has found his way to the OFC? The sky really is falling. During the spring months my 4 year old DD would play his songs over and over on the computer. I tried to persuade her that her that he was really an alien that ate children. I don't think she believed me but I thought I was safe for a while. I didn't know anyone over 4 liked him, ugh...

My soon to be 4yr old (thinks she is Jenny Fich,wearing me out wanting to pitch every night) knows almost every word to his songs. Sings with glove on one hand and "Dora" microphone in the other:yahoo::lmao::yahoo::lmao:

 

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Re: Addition by Subtraction (or I hate Justin Bieber?)

Well Said Bear34. Glad your DD will be able to play again. Being dedicated to your team is fine but you have to put things in perspective and the girls need to have a life other than softball. JMHO

 

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Re: Addition by Subtraction (or I hate Justin Bieber?)

Wow. If practicing and playing all the time is not for you, if you think it's overdoing your kid, burning them out, DON"T commit to a travel team. Play rec or find a team that doesn't play or practice much. Don't let your kid commit to a team that practices a lot and plays every weekend and then let them think it okay to bail on that commitment and their teammates. If your idea of letting kids be kids is not practicing and playing a lot, DON"T commit to doing it. But if and when you do commit to a TEAM, TEACH them to honor their commitment. A commitment is a commitment, a PLEDGE by definition, and it's something an honorable person would live up to and a decent parent would teach their kid. This whole discussion is about honoring your commitment, your word, your pledge to several other girls, families and coaches.

Vols Fan said I'M ALL ABOUT COMMITMENT but they have to have fun and be kids. WOW. IF playing fastpitch is not fun and all about being a kid, WHY would your kid be doing it? Why would you commit to doing it?

JMHO

Diplomacy, really? Calling your players out on OFC doesn't seem very diplomatic to me. I can't believe you said you were teaching them a lesson. You made yourself and your club look horrible. I am all about committment, but you have to also remember taht they are 11 & 12 year old girls and from what I understand you've played a ton of ball not having to deal with middle school or high school seasons. Give them a break! They have to have some fun and be kids. I don't get Justin Bieber myself & certainly wouldn't have dropped $500 to see him, but I can remember how excited I was as an adult to get last minute Mellencamp tickets & backstage passes. I would have dropped anything that I had to in order to attend. Saying you hoped they would sell their tickets and catch him in Columbus is just laughable. Who knows if they could get tickets to that show? It's not the same thing as going to KI for the day and blowing off a tourney. This is truly a rare event in these girls lives. Someone hit the nail on the head early when they talked about burning the girls out before college by depriving them of childhood fun! You yourself have said that you failed to communicate effectly with your parent about your schedule. And one final thing if you think it's over for your team, you're crazy.It's far from over! You've created a us (the ones that played) vs them (the ones that attended the concert) senario among the girls. You've created hostility among the parents & killed any good chemistry you had going. And you've ensured that some families have a very negative view of you and the Hawks since you represnt them and will not come out for try outs next year. I know if I were one of the 3 that you have raked over the coals in such a public way, there's no way I'd return to play for you next year. Shame on you!

 

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Re: Addition by Subtraction (or I hate Justin Bieber?)

I think what Mustohiofastpitch is mistaking honoring a pledge for fanaticism. Obviously the girls in the original post wanted to go to the concert. Would it have been more acceptable if it was a family function,church outing or school related? Life is about choices and not every choice will make everyone involved happy. Their team still played and some girls probably got a oppurtunity to show their skills instead of sitting.

Fanaticism is a belief or behavior involving uncritical zeal, particularly for an extreme religious or political cause or in some cases sports, or with an obsessive enthusiasm for a pastime or hobby

 

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Re: Addition by Subtraction (or I hate Justin Bieber?)

There are really 3 levels of ball ... Rec - Travel (local)- Travel (not-local) : we play travel ball mostly non-local .. we will have 8 tourneys in Columbus or farther. That takes a very high level of commitment for the amount of travel we do. I have read all of the posts here and they range pretty far on both sides of the spectrum.

Are girls are far from burned out .. the team is firm, I talk to most all the parents every few days and we will be ready to hit the fields in two weeks at Stingrays.

The opportunity for division between those that were staying to play and those leaving existed from Friday morning... it is not something I created, the situation created it.

In our Sat morning game - we gave up 6 runs in the first 2 innings due to errors and lackadaisical play .. I called time out and told them it was time to play and if anyone wants to leave now, then go. We started a 9 run 7th inning with an over the fence home run by our SS and we came back to win 10-6.

As for tryouts, we will see. We picked up a very nice player and great kid this weekend to finish the year with us. I'll take my chances at tryouts, we are getting 5-10 emails a week asking about our 2011 teams and tryouts - and as for the team, we will be just fine .. the girls will come back next week for training and we will get after it again.

To quote on of my parents whose DD went to the concert and she hung around all day to watch the evening game, "We love the team and their energy, there wasn't even a chance we would not watch our girls"...

 

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Re: Addition by Subtraction (or I hate Justin Bieber?)

I think what Mustohiofastpitch is mistaking honoring a pledge for fanaticism. Obviously the girls in the original post wanted to go to the concert. Would it have been more acceptable if it was a family function,church outing or school related? Life is about choices and not every choice will make everyone involved happy. Their team still played and some girls probably got a oppurtunity to show their skills instead of sitting.

Fanaticism is a belief or behavior involving uncritical zeal, particularly for an extreme religious or political cause or in some cases sports, or with an obsessive enthusiasm for a pastime or hobby

Just about the stupidest thing I have heard in a long time. No, it is the stupidest thing. :lmao:

 

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Re: Addition by Subtraction (or I hate Justin Bieber?)

I was surprised when I heard Doug and Larry only had 8 players for bracket play. I about fell over when I heard why! Kudos to the coaches and players for fighting the good fight and not making too big of an issue of it!

 

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Re: Addition by Subtraction (or I hate Justin Bieber?)

Our schedule has been set since January. I expect all of my players to be able to attend unless an emergency. I tell my parents up front that everyone must be at all practices and all games.

If they cannot commit to this, then we are not the organization for them and they should move on.

 

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In quoting the great Ron Burgundy in relation to what a Justin Beiber is, "I believe it was an old, old Civil War battleship."
:lmao:

Due to some confusion in our schedule (I did not mark this tourney as booked until late in March) we had a parent buy $500 worth of Justin Bieber? (I am not going to bother looking up how to spell it) tickets that was last night at 7pm in Cinci.. of course, our first bracket game was at 6pm so we had our SS (3rd hitter), CF (clean-up) and first base (6th hitter) go. That left us with 8 players - including a girl we just picked up last week from a baseball team that never played fastpitch.

I choose not to add any players to the team but rather go with 8. My thinking is that it would be a good lesson for the girls there were left to have to battle shorthanded and not let the ones that left 'off the hook' by covering for them. (what would you have done?)

In the end we lost 4-2 - (we had the tieing run up with 1 out) but I saw the girls that played really grow .. they played hard, intense and they battled with a fire in their eye, knowing 2 of our best 3 players were not there with them.

Too often player look to the teams 'leaders' to win games for them, I saw other girls step up and fend for themselves. If there is such a thing as a good loss this was one...

What this heck is a Justin Beiber anyway?

 

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I think someone struck a nerve on mustohiofastpitch. I see both sides but you know what in the end its all about the kids and the ones that showed good for them and the ones that went to the show good for them. Kudos to all doing what they want. If scheduled was changed late then cant blame the players, coaches have to accept that responsibility and I beleive the original post kinda states that....

 

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dont worry about musty, he gets riled up if you forget to plow your farms on Farmville

 

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Re: Addition by Subtraction (or I hate Justin Bieber?)

Just about the stupidest thing I have heard in a long time. No, it is the stupidest thing. :lmao:

WOW I'm so hurt

 

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Hey lets give some credit to the Staic team. Our pitcher pitched an incredible game and all the kids came out and played hard. We new they only had 8 and we hit the ball where there was an empty spot. The key word being hit the ball. I think all of our players hit, which was a huge convidence booster. We hit their pitcher pretty good, and yes we might have scored on the error, but we also gave them their 2 runs on errors too, we were winning 4-0 before our late game issue. Next time we see them it will be in our team's mind that "Hey they are beatable" Doug can down play the loss but I think it was a huge confidence booster for us. A loss is a loss. A big win is a big win.

 

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nice psycho font, btw, dd0818...

 

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Wow....this thread has taken a life of it's own. We all know people in this world that say more from the words not said than from the word that actually come from their mouth. I think this is one of those examples.

What was the point of this thread, to give credit to the girls that played short handed? You could have done that without all the details. There are a hundred different ways you could have shaped this post, but you CHOSE to point out those players. Then later you chose to say that one of those players negatively affected her chances of returning next year. FAIL. .

Was the point of this post to show your coaching greatness and how you've trained your little "soldiers" to "adapt and overcome"? Pretty much all you've showed is that you have a complete inability to handle a situation. Those players play the game, they are the ones that deserve our praise. Sure, you coach them and give them the tools to use.....but they put it into action and execute. You've had them for a couple years, their parents have had them since birth. All of the positive (and negative) character traits are credited to the mothers and fathers that shape them daily, not you.

All I'm saying is this. You COULD have spun this a whole lot differently, you DIDN'T. Your organization has some very talented players and your '98 team is very competitive and fun to watch. They will be a force next year, but let's remember, the players make you as much as you do them.

Maybe in your quest to make the Hawks the "Wal-Mart" of fast pitch, you will hire someone for your P.R., so you can avoid this fiasco in the future.

And........I'm out. .

 

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Wow is right.

I did not spin anything, I put it out there because I was curious how many other teams were affected and very proud of how the 8 girls played...

(BTW: I personally emailed the other teams pitchers dad and told him how great his DD did, pitching under obvious pressure of not wanting to lose to a team playing shorthanded. and I called their coach the next day to see how they did on Sunday and congratulating him and the team.)

The post took a life of it's own with a whole spectrum of opinions. I never once said I or my coaches deserve any credit for the play - you spun that one. I do find it comical when parents get on ofc and extoll the players abilities at the discredit of their coaches. Funny, I had a 20 min conversation today with a mom from a very well know org that said their DD's teams coaching this season has been horrible and she is bringing her kid to WalMart next season for our coaching and instruction.

Wal*Mart - funny one, we are very much the opposite - yes, we are growing, but it is not at the expense of anything training, coaching or organization related. Our coaches are some of the most dedicated, trained and successful this season in terms of their teams performance and growth as any at all ages. And it is starting to show on the field in the teams success- and this is most of the teams very first season.

BTW, 10 out your 60 team Heatn it Up field came from the Hawks.

There is a reason the same coaches are successful year in and year out in any sport - they know how to train up their players and coach the game between the lines. Put those same players with another less experienced coach and watch what you get.

In hindsight I probably should have not even started the post.. OFC is pretty much a stomping ground for anyone that tries to do anything in FP and has any degree of failure or puts themselves out there. I have told our coaches that as we grow we will know we are being successful when we begin to get a target on our back and critisized on OFC. Our 'little soldiers' must be doing something right...

chstrahl said it best above... "I see both sides but you know what in the end its all about the kids and the ones that showed good for them and the ones that went to the show good for them. Kudos to all doing what they want. If scheduled was changed late then cant blame the players, coaches have to accept that responsibility and I believe the original post kinda states that...."