I have some Problems!! please help with some suggestions

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I'm still trying to figure out what kind of team you are coaching. Is this a rec league team or a select/travel level team. If rec, what is the philosphy of your rec organization. I've coached in rec leagues where the league wanted the players rotated through different position so they can get experience as all positions. I don't agree with that completely, but I do think if a player has had a chance at playing all positions, they will have a better understanding of the game when they finally settle into their 1/2 primary positions. That should probably start happening by 12U. If rec....you have to follow the philosophy of your league. Communicate that to the parents and let your league coordinator know what you are dealing with. That should help keep you coaching with the league

If this is a select/travel level team, I would talk with your parents one on one. Pull the ones aside that you believe have issues and simply talk to them about the team and your philosophy and their daughter. They may not like what you have to say, but it will give you piece of mind and help you get through the season. I've coached a couple teams with horrible parents. Trust me, it will start to grind on you if you ignore it and eventually you will find yourself dreading practices and games. I'm a big believer in communication. I would rather over communicate than under communicate....especially when it comes to expectations!

For travel ball it's nice that the tournaments are primarily set up with round robin games the first day or so. Our parents know that more players will get more playing time during these games. Our parents also know that when we get into elimination play, we will play the best 9 girls on the team and sub when needed, but we play to win. Our girls know that they have to earn their spots on the field and that means working hard in practices and showing improvment.
 
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this is a rec team for our county league, i manage 12U girls, i try and teach several psitions to each girl that way they learn, and also if they need to fill in
 
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I believe that there is a reason that this game has devloped many different levels and there is a reason players and parents join each level.
Rec ball is for letting all the players play and try out different positions. There is nothing crazier than parents/coaches in rec ball who get all fired up about winning and losing.
In my opinion at 12U rec ball I would be moving the kids all over and letting them experience different position and develop a love for the game. Why at 12U rec ball should kids be pigeon holed into 1 or 2 positions. That will happen soon enough. Those kids who truly love playing will PUT IN THE TIME ON THEIR OWN TO DEVELOP and then move from rec ball to a travel team that plays some local tournaments and then possibly onto a higher level travel team that travels all over the state and maybe even onto one that travels all over the country. Those players and parents who simply expect everything to be handed to them will be left behind in rec ball forever. I have watched some older rec ball and forcing softball fans to watch that could be used as a deterrent to crime.
I guess I always come back to the same thing, but I think anybody who believes that players can reach the top level without spending alot of time on their own(by this I mean with a parent usually) working on their game outside of any team practices will never reach their full potential. Most of the parents who are complaining don't understand this and NEVER will. So why bother worrying about them.
Oh and by the way the path I described above is exactly the path my daughter followed and she is now pitching at a D1 college.
 
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I don't understand a coach who has issues with kids or parents with their child in the outfield or infield. There is 9 positions, each of equal importance. It is up to the coach to determine the best of each of those positions. Don't get attached to the parents. Do what"s right for the team. If a parent has an issue tell them why their daughter is in that spot. Its that plain and simple. Some where along the way a parent heard that infielders are your better players. Tell that to every major league baseball player playing outfield.
As for worrying about what a parent is thinking or saying? WHo the heck cares, get use to it, your not perfect, you will make mistakes and you will do it again. Those parents are not your friends, they are acquaintances. Get use to that too. Thin skin get out of the game .
I agree with Semperfi. At practice you give your starting infield and outfield their practice and after you give other WHO YOU THINK could play that position as well a chance to learn that spot better.
 

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