High School Coaches vs Travel Managers ?

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Ok, here's the problem. I am a manager of a 18u travel team. I've been managing girls teams for 8 yrs. I've won tournaments, been to nationals, so I think I know talent when I see it. I have a young lady thats played for me since she's been 11 yrs old. Outstanding pitcher! Plays centerfield when she not pitching. One of my best hitters.

But, our high school coach does not use her when shes not pitching. She sits. The coach plays a girl that, last year didn't even start JV, but, now she is starting in centerfield and batting.
Do I throw my 2 cents in or keep my mouth shut?
Help!

 

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You might want to bring it up to the coach that she plays there and that you are her summer coach and maybe ask what his/her reason is for sitting her when she is not pitching. There are coaches out there still (and I know what I am about to say is crazy) that refuse to play a pitcher when she is not pitching not matter what. I have heard that they don't want them to get hurt as the biggest reason why. Now I don't agree with this at all, but it does happen. A civil conversation with the coach may clear this up!

 

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you could mention it but dont be surprised if it falls on deaf ears. hes made his line up and he sounds like a coach with the mindset that thinks pitchers should pitch and nothing else. theres alot (not all) of h.s. coaches that are teachers filling in and dont have the kind of knowledge or experience to use the girls elsewhere unless in the case of being short players.

 

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hitter you finally got something right, ? hs coaches with deaf ears. ? ?seriously though a lot of coaches do not like to use pitchers on the field. ? If you lose your first baseman or left fielder, ?even though they may be great players, ?most teams can overcome that. ? But most teams don't have a dominant second pitcher, ? and losing the number one can mean the end of the season, ?if your goal is to win your league and/or make a run in the state tourney.


?

 

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coach6745, if that players HS coach does not know what she did this past summer during travel season, or for that matter what she can do now, then it is my opinion that your comments would be falling on deaf ears.

I think that any varsity coach should have a clue what his players are doing in travelball. Weather they are involved with a summer program or not does not matter. They should encourage thier players to play summerball, and then show some level of interest in how they are doing.

Wanna build a good HS program.........get involved in a summer travel program.

 

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Timac4, i DO know you like to eat mexican ! lol


rich made a good point, a good h.s. coach would know what this player is capable of already, he shouldnt have to be told.

 

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Rich, I agree the only way to build a really good program is to get the girls interested in playing more. I would not approach a coach about what he is doing with his High School team, as I would hope a High School coach would not ask me about why I play his best infielder somewhere he doesn't agree with.

I currently have a pitcher that pitches for a High School South of town and he does not allow her to bat. I would not even think of calling him and telling him that she was one of my best hitters.

Brent

 

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Unfortunately some High School coaches have a thing against summer coaches. Its like that unnamed Akron High School coach who walked into the Spano Dome last year and told Frank out of the clear blue, I can teach my girls more in our high school gym in a week than you can using this Dome all year. Its all about egos unfortunately in some cases.

 

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Is the girl unhappy in her role on the HS team? I think that is the first question that needs to be addressed. If she is just happy to be helping her team in any capacity, I would leave it alone. On the other hand, if she not handling it well a round-about conversation with the coach could be helpful. Be sure not to come-off condesending or critical of his/her choices. I find that playing dumb, and using the approach of gaining wisdom from the coach works well.

Be careful either way, egos are a terrible thing.

 

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I have a daughter who has the potential to be a great pitcher, and is left handed. One of her biggest concerns is that she will pitch and pitch only. She loves to play the field and has said on many occasions that she would rather not pitch at all if she has to give up playing other positions when she is not pitching. I can't see sitting a talented player just because you're afraid she'll get hurt. I know it does happen a lot, and i'd bet there's a lot of teams losing games that they shouldn't be!

 

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My daughter is in this same situation down here with her HS team this year. It is her senior season. She did not pitch the last game but sat the bench the entire game. This is a girl who currently has a .348 batting ave with 4 doubles. Second highest on the team.

She is also the #1 pitcher. Here is the deal. Every time she gets a hit she has a pinch runner for her. Dont want her to have to slide and collide with a fielder. If she goes out into the field and gets injured before playoffs the season is pretty much over for the team. We have two sophomore pitchers who are good but not quite ready for Texas playoff ball.

Our HS coach understands the importantance of the daughter to the team and its success. Do I like it? No. Do I understand it? Yes. Did I talk with the coach? No. It wasnt hard to figure it out.

Elliott

 

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Some valid points made by all, but Elliot stated it best. I coach HS ball as well as travel ball. When it come to my HS pitcher, who can do it all, I try and take care of her. Without her our season would pretty much be a wash. In HS ball very few teams are lucky enough to have 2-3 talented pitchers, so you take care of your best horse.
Most travel teams are fortunate enough to have several top pitchers, so if one goes down there is usually someone to step in, OR you get on the web and you find a replacement. Can't do that in HS ball. Yes, I would love to let my Ace play other positions, but its not good business. HS ball doesn't allow the luxuries that travel ball has.
Another thing, try as a travel coach to put that pitcher on the bench when shes not pitching and see how long she sticks around. Most travel coaches cater to their Ace pitcher, so she doesn't jump ship. With all that being said, its not really even fair trying to compare HS ball to Travel ball. Just my 2 cents worth>

 

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I agree Lady_Knights. I have 3 or 4 Great pitchers but I have to play them in the field too as much as it hurts. I also have a solid field of other strong players who play their positions. You don't want to make your pitchers mad, but you don't want to lose a possible All-State player from the roster either. :-/

 

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I have to disagree guys.

Why is your pitcher the stud? It's because she works HARD at her game. And what's the most important part of her game? Her head - not the arm.

You can get hurt crossing the street, walking down the hall, or as I did this morning, just sitting up. I guarantee that your stud pitcher is one of your better athletes and probably better in shape than the rest of your team put together.

Keep her on the bench and play a lesser player instead - and lose her respect, a thing far worse than risking an injury.

 

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I agree with Dave. The only exception would be I would run for her when I could. My top 2 pitchers bat 3 and 4 in my batting lineup.This is because of their offensive ability not because of their pitching ability. Thats usually how it works as pitchers have to be more dedicated to put the time in they do.JMHO
Tom

 

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Whatever happened to play your best 9? I agree if they are good athletes they are probly in better shape than most. Leave it all on the field and have no regrets. Accidents are going to happen, that's why they are called accidents.

 

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As a high school coach there are times when I consult our summer coaches. Do I do what they say or suggest- only when I think it will help our team. For example, one of my freshmen is struggling at the plate. Her summer coach of the last five years has a daughter on our team so last night I asked him if he has noticed anything. He has, and told me what he thought. I am going to look at his suggestion tonight. On the other hand, he recommended something else that I don't agree with. Early in the season I had a player sick, and another get injured. I went to him to ask what his thoughts were on another player playing a position that I had not yet had the opportunity to work her out at. I also know that he is willing to listen to me for the summer.

Maybe then, all you need to do, at an appropriate time, is play dumb, and let him know that his pitcher is a pretty good centerfielder, and leave it at that. It's his decision what to do with that information. By the way, I sure wish as has been documented on here before, that I had travel coaches as opposed to community coaches to work with. The best solution is cooperation , but the coach in season has the only real say at that time.

 

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Unless a summer coach has an on-going rapport with the HS coach, unsolicited advice is probably not going to be considered or appreciated.

Maybe a nonparent summer coach can try it on behalf of a player.

But if you are a parent who has coached a lot of the players on a HS team previously in MS or summer ball and has a kid in the HS program, I think you need to keep your opinions to yourself as much as possible. Assume they will ask you if they want your advice.

This is not easy at all. Many parent coaches invest tons of time learning the game and how to utilize best the skills of the kids. You cannot help but feel a vested interest when they reach HS.

The HS players need to be their own advocates and communicate with the HS coach in a situation such as this one.

 

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Best 9 don't always play, I know situations where there are Better Freshman than JV and JV age can't play Freshman teams. Tough to swallow, but not enough girls.