How to approach a coach

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Two things here: First and foremost she should do all of the talking to the coach. Secondly, she should then take what the coach says and live by it with a great attitude. Both of these actions will mean more to a potential college coach than any of the other things you as her parent are worried about.

I would be really excited to talk to a female athlete who says, I am a catcher but my coach needs me to play third so thats what I do. Come watch me in the summer.

 

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Another thread talked about college coaches and HS Ball..............Colleges are in full swing right now and if a college coach did come to see someone play HS ball I am thinking it would be pre-arranged and not just a drive by stop and see who I might be able to recruit in this or that HS Game......they know what HS ball is all about and GPA, Class Ranking, did you play HS ball or not is what is important......doubt anyone will put much stock into so and so hitting .500 in HS ball and they played 8 different positions.....

 

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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.

I absolutley agree with this. Have your daughter play the position that her HS coach wants her to play and don't even question it. There are so many senerios that can be thrown out as to why he wants your daughter at 3rd vs behind the plate. The catcher he chooses to use may have a good bat so she has to be in the line-up somewhere and the team may be weaker if he places her in the field. That's one of a number of things that may be playing into this. HS coaches may preach that they have an "open door" policy but for the most part that's only to see who he/she may have problems with during the season. I wouldn't say a word, most of your college recruiting is going to happen during summer tournaments.

 

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I agree with coachjwb and others here. Play wherever the coach thinks is best and be happy you're on the field. If you know a college coach is coming to see you catch and you think the high school coach is approachable about it, and it's a non-league game, then consider asking the coach about it. The coach has the right to say no, however.

While I'm sure you believe she is clearly the best catcher, the coach might not see it that way. I have a girl who clearly believes she is the best player at "her" position, and me and my staff clearly think she isn't. She simply can't understand why she isn't starting at this position. I finally told her this week that if the only way she is going to be happy is being our starting player at that position, then she needs to find a college that is going to guarantee her as much and she should transfer.

 

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It would not be wise to approach the coach looking like this:

Sorry Bear, I couldn't resist

 

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I would not waste the energy worrying about what position she is playing in High School ball.
Do what the coach feels is best and appreciate the opportunity to represent the school and community at whatever position the coach feels he/she thinks you can best help the team.

Generally; if the player sees or hears that their "parents" are upset about things that quite honestly they have little control over, it will affect them on the field and maybe in the classroom.

If the player has what it takes it will show (even if the HS coach cannot see it). Others that can judge talent will be able to and you may find she is playing where she wants to play when it is all said and done.
If the end goal is college make sure you have a plan and make sure you as a parent are doing what you can to get the player to events that showcase their talent and that the player is doing what she needs to do in school to be marketable and the talent will speak for itself.

 

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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.

Understand that most college scouts would mainly ask to see a pitcher or catcher play their position on a certain day. A scout is probably not going to ask if a SS could play RF for them. Also, a scout would not ask to see a player in a certain position during the playoffs or a game of any importance.

Len

 

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Ouch ... Tough situation here .....
No great way to talk about this ... with anybody .....

My daughter didn't want to rock the boat with the HS coach, Although she's tough behind the plate (must be the mask) she doesn't like open confrontation. I pushed the issue for her and quite honestly I should have just kept my pie hole shut. Just makes for an uncomfortable situation all around.

My DD has played catcher since she was 8. When HS came around she played OF for Varsity - waiting her time behind the Senior catcher and then the Junior catcher last year. She didn't complain she took to center field and got to catch 3 games last season for Varsity during HS season. Caught 95% for HS during summer ball. Her answer to me was she just wanted to play ball. Quite honestly I think I was more hung up on it then she was.
I can't speak for you or your daughter I can only speak for me. And my only response is its only HS ball.
Doesn't make it easier to swallow but in HS I think its all about putting the best team together with what you have to work with. Small pool of girls to work with in HS vs. tournament ball where you can basically recruit players to your team. I am sure the HS coach is just putting her where she need her talents the most. This season we need a 3rd baseman since senior graduated. My DD actually apporached her coach about playing 3rd.
Seen your kid catch and looking forward to tournament ball this summer.
Go madness ....

 

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Understand that most college scouts would mainly ask to see a pitcher or catcher play their position on a certain day. A scout is probably not going to ask if a SS could play RF for them. Also, a scout would not ask to see a player in a certain position during the playoffs or a game of any importance.

Len

We had this happen a couple years ago Fr. started in center field for 2 yrs then her Jr. and Sr.year started at shortstop and became a 2 time All Ohio shortstop. Just so happened we where in the area of a college that was scouting her and the coach had time to come and watch her play. (Thats the only time that has ever happened at one fo our HS. regular season games) The college coach told the HS. coaches to play her where it was best for them even when she was being scouted as and out fielder. In a meeting with the coach the player said but I play SS, witch the college coach replied my hole outfield is full of players that played SS in high school. She went to that college and played centerfield her Fr. year.

 

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I say "do it with a beer in one hand and $$ in the other". LOL

 

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If my Mom or Dad complained about my position or playing time to my high school coach, I would have been mortified and humiliated. I was a travel player and we used HS ball as a warm-up for our summer season. I wasn't that worried about where I played, it was only HS ball. Sometimes I played 3rd, sometimes SS, and sometimes catcher. I was just glad to be playing and getting the kinks worked out from winter time. I think alot of times the parents get more wrapped up in the playing time/position thing than the players, most are just glad to be on the field and out of the gym.

 

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I'd stay out of it, even if it was middle school. My dd's and I talk about each time they play a position whether travel, select, or rec. My oldest, started out as a catcher at 10U, by 12U, she was moved to outfield. She hated it then. When she came to me for help, I told her, time to learn what life is all about. If you want it, go get it. The result, the coach told her she was better served in the outfield due to her speed. As a result, she stayed there and now is loving it.

 

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If my Mom or Dad complained about my position or playing time to my high school coach, I would have been mortified and humiliated. I was a travel player and we used HS ball as a warm-up for our summer season. I wasn't that worried about where I played, it was only HS ball. Sometimes I played 3rd, sometimes SS, and sometimes catcher. I was just glad to be playing and getting the kinks worked out from winter time. I think alot of times the parents get more wrapped up in the playing time/position thing than the players, most are just glad to be on the field and out of the gym.

Hi Klump, How would you have dealt with being a slow fastball/excellent junk pitcher and your coach would have said all he wanted was fast balls down the middle?

 

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I would say play the position the coach asked you to play .My understanding is that they are gonna see how you hustle on and off the field , look at swings , interact with your teamates ,leadership ability , and since you will be playing third ,you may be able to show your arm off anyways. If the coaches want to see some pop times have your pitcher and ss stay after the game . jmo

 

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Hi Klump, How would you have dealt with being a slow fastball/excellent junk pitcher and your coach would have said all he wanted was fast balls down the middle?

So.............Would a slow fastball just be another junk pitch? A fast change up maybe.

Hey, Klump. I see the hook is baited. Are you hungry? BTW, good luck tommorrow!

 

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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?

One of the beautiful things about sports, is the life lessons it teaches. It prepares kids for the real world so to speak. My suggestion is to allow her to deal with it on her own, let her figure out how to deal with this issue if its truely a problem for her. Give her some basic guidance, the do's and dont's. But trust that your raising a strong, smart, independent young lady. Then stay out of it lol.

*side note* Most if not all college coaches have not just fallen off the turnip truck lol. They know exactly what high school ball is all about, high school coaches must deal with the hand they are dealt, must field 9 players on defense, that means converting catchers to 3rd, OF to SS ..etc. If they are coming to a high school game during the season, which is not very common, they might want to see her interact with her teamates, coaches etc. If they wanted a real good handle on her ability, they would get that at their camps and in the summer. If a coach is very interested in her ability behind the plate and came to a high school game to watch her and seen her at 3rd, playing hard, being a leader...etc. I doubt it would turn the coach off. Just my opinion...Good Luck!