Daddy ball invades HS!

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I need some advice for a friends daughter. She is a junior and returning varsity pitcher, she has been told by the new coach whose daughter is also a pitcher and now a sophmore that she will mainly be used as a DH. She is not being put on JV because they want the freshmen pitchers to pitch. Let me first say, I do believe that just because you were a starting pitcher on Varsity last year you should not be guaranteed a spot on varsity this year, but I know this girl, she has worked extremley hard in the off season to become a better pitcher and had a decent year last year as well. Indications are she would be an asset to the team. Last year she split time with a junor who is now a senior. So they had 2 returning pitchers and now daddy's little girl!

Saying that, this girl is very hurt and wants to play. If she transferred to a school with Open Enrollment, is there a way around sitting out for a year?

 

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She could transfer to a private school today and play tomorrow (if the private school needs a pitcher).

 

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I would venture a guess that there's more to this than you're telling. Let me play the devil's advocate here and say that just maybe this girl is a marginal pitcher at best?? What summer team did she play for? Is it just possible that the coach sees a different picture that is actually not colored by nepotism?

I've heard these stories many times, but I withhold any judgement until I've heard from both sides. Wouldn't you?

 

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let me say this, she is an above average pitcher, not marginal. What team she played for last year or this year has no bearing on her HS team. I am not holding anything back and being completely honest. Comparing both her and the coaches daughter, they are very similar in talent.

Let me also say this, i know the posting comes off as trying to bash the coach, I am really not, its his team he can choose what he wants to do, I am just asking if there are alternatives to her sitting out if she wants to transfer. I can tell you there are many HS programs in need of quality pitching.

We see this a lot in the travel ball side where dads put teams together for their daughters, but I have not come across it before on the HS side. Seems to me if the dad can not be truly objective then he is not being fair to the program. thats my only point.

 

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About the only other thing that you could do would be to actually move her into another district (like with a relative and establish a residence) then you can avoid the sit. It is iffy at best but a possibility.

 

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A glaring problem is allowing a parent coach for a high school team. Most schools don't allow that in middle school, let alone high school. Regardless of the fact that maybe this coach got the job years before his daughter was even born, this is a sticky situation. To me, travel ball is different, but I'd be VERY leary of a high school coach with a daughter on the roster.

 

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I agree, how can he be objective? He is a first year coach, his daughter was on JV last year, but apparently is good enough now to not only make varity, but bump one of the other starting pitchers last year to DH.

 

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Look up Mount Gilead, Ohio on the map, move on down! She would be a happy camper here!

 

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Not on this subject but, responding to a couple of comments. If the player transfers to a private school the one year wait still must take place.

Bylaw 4-7-2

 

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i think there is a clause that allows them to be released if the first school will allow it

 

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Honestly i dont think taht would be the best thing for yr daughter. But dont go by what i say, but if you jsut run away from the problem aren't you showing yr DD that everytime there is a problem she needs to get away ASAP now if the other young lady is honestly better then yr daughter then you shouldn't mind knowing that a better pitcher is coming in, but if the pitcher is not better then yr DD then maybe have you and yr daughter talk to the coach and see what he thinks, what might help is knwoing what yr DD needs to work on more to get that #1 spot.

 

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Here is the exemption I think you are referring to which would not apparently apply.

EXCEPTION 6 ? Subject to the provisions of exception 7 below, a student may transfer
to a different school and be eligible provided the superintendents of both districts enter into
a written agreement that consents to the attendance and specifies that the purpose of such
attendance is to protect the student?s physical or mental well-being. Only one such exemption
shall be permitted in any four school years. The student shall not be eligible until
declared eligible by the Commissioner upon submission of the exemption form.

 

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I know how you feel......... Parents should not be allowed to coach..... It always has reprecussions. I have found that HS ball is all political..... What parents do the most for the team. whose parents suck up the most I am just glad my yr is almost over and we can move on to college...

 

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Posted by: xSoftball Lov3rx Posted on: Today at 12:46pm
Honestly i dont think taht would be the best thing for yr daughter. But dont go by what i say, but if you jsut run away from the problem aren't you showing yr DD that everytime there is a problem she needs to get away ASAP now if the other young lady is honestly better then yr daughter then you shouldn't mind knowing that a better pitcher is coming in, but if the pitcher is not better then yr DD then maybe have you and yr daughter talk to the coach and see what he thinks, what might help is knwoing what yr DD needs to work on more to get that #1 spot.

This girl is not my daughter. She has spoken with the coach and it is my thought that the coach told her he was going to make her a DH and she would not get much pitching time in the hopes that she would get frustrated and quit. he obviously did not want to cut her. It's not about a #1 spot, its about trying to receive some pitching time at all.

 

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I really think you have to remember it is the beginning of the season.....the coaches are forced to put upperclassmen in the starting positions and it is theirs to lose....a good coach will make this a quick process to save their season.....last year we started with a kid on first and another in lead off only to have this change after the second game an they never returned to those positions....but the parents could not complain because DD was given her chance to make the position hers.... Yep HS ball is all politics....Good luck to All this season
Besides it is also important to learn how to be a good TEAM player and put out 100% wherever the coach puts you on the field....he is saying she will get playing time that is more than some of the kids that were cut or put on JV are hearing......Yep , summer can't come soon enough . Go Shoregals, Go ICE

 

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Stop crying.....If she was good enough then she would have been a starter. And no I dont know you or the girl but why are so many parents so sensitive when it comes to ther kids in athletics....Listen in travel anything or Highschool not everyone should make it just because they work hard they should make it because there good on the field and in the box!!!

And just so you know were Im comming from The stupidest thing that I have ever herd come out of someones mouth is that if a kid doesnt succeed then its the coaches fault...Bull crap!!! If a kid was good enuff then they would have succeded!!!

 

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I wouldn't say that ALL high school ball is about politics...our high school coach came very very close to losing her coaching job because she did not play the politics game (and I know that is against the norm). Parents & players rallyed around the coach and fought with her to get her job back.

They also instilled a policy last season that no parents were to coach. There was one on varsity and one on JV (but the jv coaches daughter still did not play varsity). I agree; does not make for a good scenario when parents are coaching at the high school level.

 

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It's almost impossible to comment on the situation in the first post since we have no way to know the talent level of the players involved.

Don't tell her to transfer to a private school. Without a sign off from both Superintendents because of a physical or mental condition existing for her at her current school, she will be ineligible. If she is attending a public school right now, about the only way to move schools and be eligible would be to move.

Because nobody is going to change the coach's mind by talking to him, I see only three choices. One, the girl just does the best she can and hopes to change the coach's mind with her performance. Two, the girl quits school softball. Three, the family moves.

 

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Big Daddy wake up and smell the bed or roses and maybe take a course in spelling while you are at it that hopefully is NOT political when it comes to you passing it

 

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Just my opinion but..although Jr. High and High School Teams, (not just softball) can and are influenced somewhat by politic's I really think most school coaches will play the better players, or look a bit foolish in not doing so.......I also look at school ball as "Spring Break" for the players before the much anticipated start of travel ball season. I also think there is something to be learned be it a life lesson, good coaching, bad coaching, politics, whatever it is all part of life's lessons.
Most of the people I know with aspirations of playing beyond high school are keeping very accurate portfolio's of their playing resume. Video, statistics, class after costly class of pitching/hitting/fielding and more importantly the player academics will ultimately determine if and where they may play after high school. More and more scouts are going to travel ball and high school ball games to find players. Sure....high school coaches can play politics but most do not as it does not bode well for the longevity of their employment as a coach....same can be aid for travel ball coaches....have met many coaches I respect alot because they have continued to coach long after thier son or daughter has left the game....they do it for the kids and because they love the game.