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I am relatively new to travel ball but i have noticed that most kids who quit a team in season seem to do it again either the same season or the year after. what is everyone elses thoughts.
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If you think the grass is greener on the other side, its because its fertilized with bulls#&t.....
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I totally agree with you. I was talking about a kid that was with a team and got plenty of time, then jumped to another team for more playing time. She then got more time and then was unhappy and left again. That drives me crazy but that might just be me.
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That is what our coach says all the time!
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The light has recently come on for me after two years that there is zero long term loyalty in this sport. For every parent, its about their kid. Something everyone has to adjust to.
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It could be for a variety of reasons, all which are put into the generic categories by the fine people here at itchy nose central.
It could be because you don't want the drive anymore.
It could be because the team you are on plays too many tourneys or not enough.
... because you want to pitch and you don't qualify for it on your current team.
... because you are ready to more up and your team isn't going to.
... because you can't afford to do what the team is doing.
... because the coaches/parents are a nightmare and you would rather not deal with it all.
... and on and on and on
And of course you may be the cause of your own problems and you will end up chasing yourself and your problems to a new team then to a new one then to a new one and on and on.
It could be because you don't want the drive anymore.
It could be because the team you are on plays too many tourneys or not enough.
... because you want to pitch and you don't qualify for it on your current team.
... because you are ready to more up and your team isn't going to.
... because you can't afford to do what the team is doing.
... because the coaches/parents are a nightmare and you would rather not deal with it all.
... and on and on and on
And of course you may be the cause of your own problems and you will end up chasing yourself and your problems to a new team then to a new one then to a new one and on and on.
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Let's face it ... a lot of families jump teams for the promise of more playing time, and then do the same thing again ... never realizing that perhaps there's a good reason why they're not getting more playing time ...
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I agree with WM83 and would also go one step further in saying that it would more difficult to "jump ship" if some coaches weren't so eager to pickup. players mid season at the expense of the girls who have been dedicated to a team frrom the beginning of the season. Many times the newbies are brought onto a team without the coach even discussing this fully with the girls or parents. In addition these new players then take playing time away from other girls and arent even asked to pay for any tourneys, uniforms etc. This does nothing but cause animosity and distrust, particularly when the new player turns out not to be a real asset when everything shakes out. As fpitchdad said the grass is always greener, well that can be a two way street with parents and coaches both.
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in response to karma, i guess it comes down to that 2 hr tryout. u got two hrs for tryouts and that kid looks great, well sometimes that is probably the best two hrs of that kids life, but they were choosen and gave the same instruction as other kids, but didnt grow and didnt show the same spark, so lets say that kid played half games. so now it comes to a big / nationals, ur short kids, of course u pick up big players.
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What ever happened to commitment? When a girl is chosen to be a part of a team they then decide whether or not they want to play for that team. Seeing that most girls attend several tryouts they usually have options to which team they would like to play for. Pick a team and stick with it! If it's not what it all seemed to be then look elsewhere the next season. By bailing mid season only shows the girls that quitting is acceptable. I know that there are extenuating circumstances but for the most part it's just parents trying to put the "I" in team.
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I think it comes down to the expectations from both the parents and coach. As a coach I try to keep an true eye when assessing a player's skill level at tryouts. There are times when I get fooled by a great tryout. For the most part we get it right. I am upfront with the player and parents with the kids role on the team. They can accept that role, or they can move on with no hard feelings. Every player who plays for me also knows they can lose their starting position if they don't put in the work. Parents have a hard time dealing with the fact that others don't see what they see when they look at their daughters. Bottom line is honesty...from both sides.
Mike
Mike
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I was once told that travel ball is the ultimate free agancy. It is a one year committment for both player and coach. If at the end of the year you both don't feel the same way then you move on with no hard feelings. If you are both happy then you stay. It's that simple. There are many different reasons to leave a team. Sometimes its the parent issue, sometimes it's a coach issue, maybe the team just doesn't get along that well. It could be anything, but to pass judgement on those who leave without knowing what actually happened isn't right. Let's face it, we are all different people with different thought processes. That's what makes us all human. None of us are perfect. Eventually people usually find the right fit for them and everything is ok. But at the younger ages a lot of parents are new to travel ball and it is a big culture shock. It may take a few years to figure it out.
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Hopefully you never have to experience a situation with an abusive coach. Sometimes the lesson that has to be taught is knowing when you have to take care of you.
Softball like life is about building better players/people.
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Well said MaddKennaMax! You are only committed to a team for one season. If it works out for longer then that is great. But you need to find a team that fits your dd and your family.
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Like I said, I know there are extenuating circumstances.......abusive coach would be one... but to just leave because you don't think your DD isn't getting the playing time you think she deserves is another.
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What about this example:
Your daughter, based on innings played, is 12 out of 12. She averages about 1/3 of the innings on defense and about 1 at bat/game.
Your team is playing at the upcoming ASA Eastern Nationals.
It's going to cost your family, when you factor everything, hotel, gas, food, entrance fee's, etc.... about $1500 and money is already very tight. Perhaps Grandma just had to go into the nursing home and didn't have the money to pay the security deposit. You had to help mom out with that payment.
What do you do?
Your daughter, based on innings played, is 12 out of 12. She averages about 1/3 of the innings on defense and about 1 at bat/game.
Your team is playing at the upcoming ASA Eastern Nationals.
It's going to cost your family, when you factor everything, hotel, gas, food, entrance fee's, etc.... about $1500 and money is already very tight. Perhaps Grandma just had to go into the nursing home and didn't have the money to pay the security deposit. You had to help mom out with that payment.
What do you do?
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If you cannot afford it, you don't go. Heartbreaking yes, but the family shouldnt go, kid maybe with another family, but even that is stretching it. Finances first.
No matter what sport ours were told they commit, they did for that season. Only one time one got burned, promised a bill of goods and when Oct came and only 5 girls, she left with our blessing in that case, had a bad feeling upfront, delayed paying a dime as it played out as we thought.
No matter what sport ours were told they commit, they did for that season. Only one time one got burned, promised a bill of goods and when Oct came and only 5 girls, she left with our blessing in that case, had a bad feeling upfront, delayed paying a dime as it played out as we thought.
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People are so quick to judge others...bottom line, do what is best for your daughter. Even IF you decide to jump ship over playing time! After all, there are only so many years to play this game...maybe you made a wrong choice and put your kid on a team thinking she would get X amount of playing time and you realized later that wasn't happening (maybe because of favortism/daddy ball OR her skills did not warrant it) and you move on to find a team that NEEDS a kid and its a better fit (maybe at your kids playing level, i.e. a B team) and your kid gets to play - this is very important at the younger ages!
Why stay a whole year with a team to ride the pine- sure give me that **** about loyalty etc. but heck she isn't getting played anyway so how does her leaving hurt the team????? So if you stick around, and she isn't getting "live action" (because we all know that there is no substitute for that), how is she supposed to progress? I'm just being honest here
Give these kids/families a break- especially at the younger ages when parents are just learning the travel ball scene and trying to figure out where there kid fits in
Why stay a whole year with a team to ride the pine- sure give me that **** about loyalty etc. but heck she isn't getting played anyway so how does her leaving hurt the team????? So if you stick around, and she isn't getting "live action" (because we all know that there is no substitute for that), how is she supposed to progress? I'm just being honest here
Give these kids/families a break- especially at the younger ages when parents are just learning the travel ball scene and trying to figure out where there kid fits in
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There are many valid reasons to change teams, occasionally (very infrequently I would hope) even in the middle of the season. And I acknowledge that it truly is sometimes the coach's "fault". Every situation is no doubt different, but the most common issue I see is about playing time.
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If a player is told by a coach that she is being brought on to play position 'x' and all of a sudden is playing position 'Y'....then a conversation is in order....if coach explains how he is going to work DD in to position 'x'to and you agree....but over the next six months your DD only gets 5 innings in 25 games at the position she was brought on to play AND she happens to be good at it...why would you waste an entire summer NOT playing that position? This game is played to develop young ladies for bigger things but they only have a limited number of years to play it...they won't be 13 forever...just my opinion.
