Issues with HS same as a lot of posts....what do you do?

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I have been reading and hearing a lot of stories about girls that do not want to play High School Softball anymore. I never thought that my own daughter would be one of those. But, she is in a situation similar to those that have been highlighted here with many other OFCers. She loves the game and wants to get better but, I agree that she is limited learning and improving at the High School level right now in the program that she plays in:
-Coach continually bunts his 3,4, and 5 hitter with one out and runner on 1[SUP]st[/SUP] base.
-He kept 14 girls, and brings a girl from JV that does not even start JV, to travel with varsity
-Girls on the bench get little playing time other than running for pitcher and catcher
-4 girls on the team still swing like they are in coach pitch (and have been in his program for multiple years), the batting cage fixes it all.
-Continues to yell swing level, and does not know anything about swing mechanics
-Only calls fastballs and change-ups, expects location to do it all.
-Does not even know what his pitchers can throw and does not care
-Has a catcher that cannot get the ball to 2[SUP]nd[/SUP] base, JV catcher has twice the catching skill as varsity, but needs work hitting, which he cannot teach, thus she stays on JV
-Has every OF girl throw a 30 foot throw to the cut-off, when two of the OFers have best arms on the team.
-If they do not make that short throw threatens to bench them

Last night instructed daughter to bunt, which she did. Moved runner to 2[SUP]nd[/SUP], and following two hitters did not make any contact. Her 2[SUP]nd[/SUP] time up he came up the line and told her, ?I know you were ****ed off I made you bunt in that situation, now you can strike-out so I can prove to everybody why I had you bunt?. She was hitting around .425 for the year with 9 doubles, just a little inconsistency in her swing. That true vote of confidence does a lot for girls? morale. We have had a least one girl quit already because of no playing time, and bringing a non-starting JV player with varsity. Needless to say, this team is loaded with talent. They are 7-7. With a good coach, they would easily be 11-3, or better. What do you do? What do you say to your DD, when she has been talked to like this, and she knows the true story which she points out everyday?he does not understand the game like he should.

 

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If we were 7-7 it wouldn't be an issue, 0-17 is another story.I think we have only played 5 or 6 full games.

 

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Wow......I feel your pain though, we may have won 3 games last year!!

 

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TaJJ, I'm telling you if a coach either in high school, travel, whatever talked to my daughter like that him and I would be having some words after the game. There is no tolerance to tell a girl in front of other players, fans, other teams that now you can strike out to prove that I'm right? Obviously that is wrong, trust me my daughter has been yelled at by many coaches in volleyball, basketball, and softball but typically it's because they know she is better than the way she is playing and they are trying to motivate her to push herself, I've never had a coach belittle her in front of everyone. I would contact the school's AD, get a petition going to get him replaced, etc. As far as letting someone talk to my daughter like that... nope it ain't going to happen and if it does it will only once.

 

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TaJJ, I'm telling you if a coach either in high school, travel, whatever talked to my daughter like that him and I would be having some words after the game. There is no tolerance to tell a girl in front of other players, fans, other teams that now you can strike out to prove that I'm right? Obviously that is wrong, trust me my daughter has been yelled at by many coaches in volleyball, basketball, and softball but typically it's because they know she is better than the way she is playing and they are trying to motivate her to push herself, I've never had a coach belittle her in front of everyone. I would contact the school's AD, get a petition going to get him replaced, etc. As far as letting someone talk to my daughter like that... nope it ain't going to happen and if it does it will only once.

I agree with you 100%. Sometimes teen girls are hard enough to get motivated. Oddly, many parents complain, but put all the blame on the players, which is far from the truth. He did not bother to take advantage of the OHSAA rule changes with contact time. He is only in it for a check! Not for the girls who want to play in college, or building the program! We need a real coach. It is sad my younger daughter says, "Dad there are better coaches coaching in 12U than on our oldest daughter's HS team".

I know if he had come behind the dugout....it would have only happened that one time!

 

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I took the advice and called the AD. He must have confronted the coach. He benched her for an undisclosed period. He made up some BS story for benching her, but it comes down to the fact I called the AD.

 

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Clearly, if the coach said what it says here, that's uncalled for. While I might think something like that, I would never actually say that to a youth player. Is it so much that I would recommend a parent going to the AD if they didn't already have a relationship with him, probably not. Did he say it just like that and loud enough for others to hear? How did he know she was P'd off ... did she roll her eyes or actually say something about it to him or her teammates? Not saying it's the case here, but speaking from having raised 4 kids myself, we don't always get the whole story from them ...

 

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Just calling and talking to the AD will only get your girl benched. No AD will interfere with the interior workings of a coach's team but bad behavior in the 21st century will get him replaced ASAP. The system will protect its own and close ranks.

If you declare war on a coach then you must go all in. Meet with the principal, meet with the Superintendent, take a few other parents, contact the School Board. His ineffective team management or his lack of ability will not get him fired. Complain about the swearing and his personal behavior to your dd.....etc.

It is possible to get a coach replaced but it has a very high degree of difficulty. Good Luck.

 

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Trust me when I say there is NOTHING you can do about the situation- talking to the AD or the superintendant or whoever will do no good - they are instructed to side with the Coach because otherwise it opens the school up to liability.

 

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I agree with it not doing any good.......it is what it is! Softball is a non-revenue sport. I guess they will continue to have no scholarship offers to girls from our school. The program is terrible at younger ages as well as at the HS level. If you coached HS softball, wouldn't you know what players can play where, where your arm strength is, fielding ability, power hitters, and at least know your pitchers, and be able to call a game and keep your girls competitive? I'd like to think all HS coaches would follow that thought process. Teachers are expected to get students ready for school, or life at the next level, and coaches should be held to the same standards. It is a damn shame, given the talent at our school!

 

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Our HS coach schedules a Noon game on the day of ACTs. He forgot about ACTs. He tells the players to "hurry up and finish the test, so that you will be here for the game".

 

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Lol!!

 

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Our HS coach schedules a Noon game on the day of ACTs. He forgot about ACTs. He tells the players to "hurry up and finish the test, so that you will be here for the game".

No doubt.......just like girls on DD's team that said if sectional tournament game is same day of prom, they will not be at the game!!