How to approach a coach

[default]

DD has a passion for catching and is currently a junior on the Varsity team. However, due to a couple of injuries last year, she was asked by the coach to play third. Being the team player that she is, she did so without hesitation and did a pretty good job at it.

The bad news is she thinks he has her penciled in at 3rd for this year (even though through winter ball 3 other girls played 3rd base and she mostly caught). And of the 3 catchers, she is clearly the best (calls her own game, strong arm, great instincts, etc). She came home upset last night with how practice went.

We have told her to have a meeting with the coach to explain her situation, but she thinks he is going to say he needs her at 3rd and will be left at that.

Also a couple of coaches have mentioned that they will come see her during her high school season. Does it hurt her chances if she is not playing the position she wants to play in college? (Does the coach think to themselves, "she can't even start at catcher on her high school team" or does he think, "I like her versatility"?

Any suggestions on how your daughters approached this situation?

 

[default]

This is a touchy situation! I have to believe the coach is putting her where they think she can best help the team win. I know a few years ago my DD was in the same spot, and I told her to let the coach know her feeling, but she was willing to do what ever the team needed. That did not work very well with that coach! Many phone calls later, from him, and nobody was happy. I think it would depend on how secure the coach is with what he is doing.

Good luck

 

[default]

I think it totally depends on the coach. Some coaches do not like to be told in any way shape or form what to do with their teams, and others look for the input from the players. I always take the players position choices into consideration, a happy team is a team that plays well.

 

[default]

A couple of thoughts ... first of all, I would also recommend talking to the coach, explaining that she really loves to catch, and wants to do this in college, but is willing to do whatever he wants her to do. Secondly, if she does end up playing 3B, I would recommend she sends a note to those college coaches who were going to come and see her that if they do, that they will see her playing 3B because that is where her high school coach has said he needs her. If she doesn't complain about it, I think those coaches will see that as very much a positive, because that is exactly what they might ask her to do in college!

 

[default]

It depends on the coach. Personally I'd rather have the player come to me and share their thoughts. It also gives the coach an opportunity to explain their thoughts and the teams needs to the player. The player might not always get the answer they were looking for, but hopefully they'll have a better understanding of why they are playing the position they are. Open lines of communication is never a bad thing.

 

[default]

A couple of thoughts ... first of all, I would also recommend talking to the coach, explaining that she really loves to catch, and wants to do this in college, but is willing to do whatever he wants her to do. Secondly, if she does end up playing 3B, I would recommend she sends a note to those college coaches who were going to come and see her that if they do, that they will see her playing 3B because that is where her high school coach has said he needs her. If she doesn't complain about it, I think those coaches will see that as very much a positive, because that is exactly what they might ask her to do in college!

Bingo... and if she has the dates where the colege coaches are coming to see her in writing... maybe the coach can work the non-league schedule and let her catch for the college coaches.

 

[default]

Just a question here. Many people have brought up discussing what she wants to do in college and what the college coaches will think. Which is totally understandable from the players' standpoint (and parents) but does the high school coach have any responsibility to take college ball into consideration when planning their high school line up?

OK, Let the bashing me begin.

 

[default]

I think the fact that your dd works with the varsity pitcher year round would be a huge consideration. When a HS coach only gets to spend 4 weeks with a player (not even in game situation) they need to use the advantages that are presented them.

If it were me as the coach and knowing many of the players you have on your squad, your catcher is going to make or break your season. I want the best players touching the ball as often as possible and limit the touches by the less qualified. For me that means your dd is behind the plate, no question about that.

I only wish I had some magic statement for you to use to help the coach see things more clearly. Good Luck to both your dd's this year.

 

[default]

Just a question here. Many people have brought up discussing what she wants to do in college and what the college coaches will think. Which is totally understandable from the players' standpoint (and parents) but does the high school coach have any responsibility to take college ball into consideration when planning their high school line up?

OK, Let the bashing me begin.

I think the HS coach/travel coach has a moral obligation to showcase talent. If the coach could help a player reach the next level, they should do so in my opinion. If a college scout approached me and asked if they can see a player at a certain position, I would do it. A HS/travel coach is not in it for the right reasons if they ignore a college scout.....JMHO.

Also of note, college coaches like versatile players. The position a player plays in HS or on the summer team is not necessarily the position the player will play in college.

Len

 

[default]

I would assume that she catches on her summer team, so the college coaches if they are really interested will get the opportunity to see her catch. High school coaches have to find a way to get their best 9 on the field (many of them are criticized here on OFC for not doing that). If the coach feels his best lineup includes your daughter at 3rd then you should support that decision and tell her to go play 3rd as best she can. There is absolutely no guarantee that she will catch in college anyway so versatility helps. It sounds like your daughter is the type of team player who can do this and help her team win.

 

[default]

If a high school basketball team has a 6'7" center who is very athletic and being recruited to play shooting guard in college, should the high school coach put him at shooting guard and the 6'2" backup center in the game whenever the kid's future college coach is in attendance?

Also, I agree that I want my best players touching the ball as much as possible so it sounds like this girl should be behind the plate, but the original post seems to be clear that the coach is aware that she would rather play catcher.

I'm just not sure how she could approach the topic and still come across as sounding team first since the basic concern is that she would personally rather play another position.

Good luck and I hope everything gets resolved to her satisfaction.

 

[default]

If a high school basketball team has a 6'7" center who is very athletic and being recruited to play shooting guard in college, should the high school coach put him at shooting guard and the 6'2" backup center in the game whenever the kid's future college coach is in attendance?

Only if the college scout asks...otherwise no. A coach has to ask him or herself if they are in it for them or for the kids. I know many top summer baseball teams conform to the scouts for the benefit of the kids, like Walt Terrel / Kentucky Colonels, as well as HS baseball coaches.

Len

 

[default]

Is she playing catcher in the summer?

 

[default]

Just play the position the coach says to play and don't question it or complain. High school is about trying to put the pieces of the puzzle together as best you can even if it means playing a kid out of her preferred or "natural" position. My daughter is in a similar situation. High school coach says "play first" so she plays first. She picked her travel team based on what they needed (primarily catcher with some first base). Travel coaches have the luxury of being able to pick the best available for a certain position. High school coaches do not always have that luxury. Also, I think the "college coach might come watch and I will be playing out of position" concern is probably bogus. By and large, college coaches don't come watch springtime high school games. They don't have time because they are going through their college season at the same time. Save the showcasing and recruiting for the summer - that's where you will see the college coaches.

 

[default]

I think backstop has it right, although I find it hard to understand how a team can be better without their best catcher behind the plate...but I suppose if the team has absolutely no infield supporting cast and the second best catcher can only play that position, then somehow that makes sense.

As for a coach's moral obligation to the player, I feel there's an equal, if not greater obligation to the team of players at the high school level. And if the team is better because of the coach's decisions, then that helps 12 kids, not just the one trying to be showcased. If college coaches come and see her during the high school season, she still can show them her hitting.

 

[default]

I think the HS coach/travel coach has a moral obligation to showcase talent. If the coach could help a player reach the next level, they should do so in my opinion. If a college scout approached me and asked if they can see a player at a certain position, I would do it. A HS/travel coach is not in it for the right reasons if they ignore a college scout.....JMHO.

Also of note, college coaches like versatile players. The position a player plays in HS or on the summer team is not necessarily the position the player will play in college.

Len

I have to disagree; a high school coach's moral and ethical obligation is to coach the team and do what is best for the team. That might mean putting a player in a different position because it makes the team better and gives the team the greatest chance to succeed.

Now if college scout asked to see a player in a certain position I would do my best to make it happen but I couldn't guarantee it. It would depend on the situation.

 

[default]

Have to agree with Heavy Hitter on what the coach's obligation is. With that being said, I certainly would try to accommodate showcasing a player if we could without negatively affecting the team. Would also like to add 2 things ... first of all, its pretty unlikely that college "scouts"/coaches are going to be coming to regular season games, so I would believe that when I see it. Secondly, don't think very many college coaches would ever consider asking a high school coach to play someone in a position that wasn't best for the team.

 

[default]

I think backstop has it right, although I find it hard to understand how a team can be better without their best catcher behind the plate...

In our high school's case, DD is #1 catcher, 1st baseman, and right fielder. She plays all three in summer ball. Our other HS catcher is very good so we don't miss much by having her there and DD at 1st. If we were to have our #2 1st baseman play 1st and DD catch then we would be a weaker team than if DD was playing 1st.

Make sense?

 

[default]

I would recommend that this is your daughters fight. It should be up to her to initiate the conversation with the high school coach and drive it to conclusion. The coach will have an easier time talking to her alone than with two parents, the AD, an administrator and a perhaps a board member. The school will close ranks around the coach. Its time she grew up and took the bull by the horns IF it is really important to HER. If the parents show up the coach will feel defensive and little good will come of it.

I am not particularly worried about colleges casting your dd as only a 3rd baseman. They will make that judgement for themselves and they don't really get to see many high school games. If they like her and think she'll do well in left field it will make no difference where she played her junior year in high school. Her forms will list catcher as her primary position and now 3rd and her secondary.

The high school coach has to put his best team out on the field. It is his opinion; if he wins games then he was proved out. That best team may have a weaker catcher and your dd at 3rd to give him a great left side. The next kid at third maybe just terrible. On top of all this discussion it is just possible that your dd will be a great COLLEGE third baseman but only adequate behind the plate. Perhaps the high school coach is onto something; heaven forbid.

Its good, that she'll be the catcher on her travel team at all those showcases and tournaments this summer. She'll have some 50 games to impress the colleges this summer. Good Luck!

 

[default]

Good story .. during tryouts and pitchers/catchers period my DD (freshman) was asked to come and catch ... DD has caught and played 2nd/3rd the past 3 years on the Hawks - she loves 2nd / 3rd and really wanted to try and land one of those two positions on varsity if she could. She was afraid that she would be asked to be the JV catcher because they needed one and not get a good look at varsity in the other positions.

She came home the 2nd tryout day and said the coach asked each player to write down their preferred 3 positions.. I asked her what she wrote down - her answer "2nd, then 3rd and last catcher (in very small letters)"

In the end she made varsity and is working hard to start - she came home yesterday and said she doesn't care where she plays - she just wants to play every dayon varsity - the outfield would be fine with her.