loyal

[24volley]

why do travel coaches tell there players be loyal to the team(mates)coaches, then at the end of summer they look for new players to replace the ones that struggle . instead of keeping them and coaching the player to get better or be loyal to that player that was loyal to them.

 

[bell27]

Sometimes it is more than loyalty. My daughter was loyal to her team and them to her last season. The chemistry with the girls has to be right. If you have one that picks on another that is not a good situation for my DD or the team. I love my DD old coaches dearly but she is on a different team this coming season. I think it is a better fit for her. I believe in the long run she will be a better player because of it. Her self esteem is already better. She misses many of her teammates but is very happy. They will see each other and have opportunities to be "frienemies" playing each other. Just my 2 cents

 

[Commonsensex2]

why do travel coaches tell there players be loyal to the team(mates)coaches, then at the end of summer they look for new players to replace the ones that struggle . instead of keeping them and coaching the player to get better or be loyal to that player that was loyal to them.

Not only are players and parents searching for the "Holy Grail" in softball, so are coaches who want to be recognized in the travel ball world. Unfortunately, the "what have you done for me lately" mentality is everywhere. Stability (in coaches and players) and chemistry among teammates is crucial to putting a good team on the field. Jmho.

 

[Pacerdad57]

Not only are players and parents searching for the "Holy Grail" in softball, so are coaches who want to be recognized in the travel ball world. Unfortunately, the "what have you done for me lately" mentality is everywhere. Stability (in coaches and players) and chemistry among teammates is crucial to putting a good team on the field. Jmho.

Great response! You can't put an experienced cohesive core team on the field if you are not working with and keeping that core season to season. Way too much of the "man I think I gotta have that kid she's so great" mentality with a lot of coaches.

 

[GeneralsDad]

It's different case by case, but if a player isn't working hard on her own to improve her game and skills, then she isn't being loyal to her team. It's the coaches responsibility to manage and run productive practices. It's the players responsibility to identify areas that need improvement and work on them in her own time. I've seen it many times, where a player out works her teammates and seeks teams with like players. These players are said to have no loyalty. Or the player who doesn't hold up their end of the deal and is replaced by someone who does. Now the team isn't loyal. Bottom line is if everyone isn't working someone will be upset.

 

[Commonsensex2]

It's different case by case, but if a player isn't working hard on her own to improve her game and skills, then she isn't being loyal to her team. It's the coaches responsibility to manage and run productive practices. It's the players responsibility to identify areas that need improvement and work on them in her own time. I've seen it many times, where a player out works her teammates and seeks teams with like players. These players are said to have no loyalty. Or the player who doesn't hold up their end of the deal and is replaced by someone who does. Now the team isn't loyal. Bottom line is if everyone isn't working someone will be upset.

Another good post by the general. Good coaching, players and parents being realistic, and players love of the game certainly enter the equation.

 

[Commonsensex2]

Seen that mentality far to many times by coaches. That's why high school sports, excluding open enrollment violations, is such a pure sport in that a coach is dealt a hand and he has to play the hand dealt to him if honest. Now you coach and make those marginal players better if he,she wants to win and keep their job. Studs are studs, you don't over coach genuine talent. The good coaches take less athletic players and make them better.

 

[Commonsensex2]

Maybe we need to bring back an old but good phrase......"Coach 'em up, COACH!"

 

[crystlemc]

There are organizations that, if you don't produce at a certain level, the team is no longer. In those instances, chemistry is great, but if the team as a whole is not competing at the required level, personnel changes must be made for the team or there will be no team. Many of the high level organizations are a great example of this

 

[Irish196]

1. Perhaps she's loyal but just not good enough to be competing at the same level and all the coaching won't get her there (or the girl isn't committed to practicing enough).
Or
2. Perhaps it's a coach that looks at the girls only as a commodity- a winning machine- and if they don't live up they are expendable (as it is easier to puck up a stud in tryouts than to take a chance on a girl that is "almost there" and invest the time and effort it takes to get them there.

Not to mention personality/parent issues (I didn't address those as your post seemed to focus on playing issues).

I'm sure both #1and #2 go on. Hopefully not as much #2.

 

[SoftballMom1]

I guess this is a double edged sword. As a parent having a daughter trying to break into an organization who already has established players/families, I can tell you it is hard from the other side seeing your daughter be passed up for girls who've played in the organization already but didn't put in much effort at the tryout. Coaches probably feel like someone's going to be mad either way. Do they stay loyal to last year's players or do they choose the girls who earned that spot at the tryout? I don't know what the right answer is, I'm just saying there's another perspective on this. All I think we can do is tell our girls to give 100% and the rest is out of our hands.

 

[joboo1drew]

SoftballMom1, some kids do not look good in try outs, however they perform when games are on the line. Some girls look like superstars at try outs that cannot perform in game situations with the pressure. Not saying this about your specific situation, but I do know this happens as I know players in both ends of the spectrum.

 

[SoftballMom1]

Sure. I'm just pointing out that there's multiple ways of looking at this situation and not a single way that's going to make sense to everyone. What one person sees as the fair way to do it might not seem fair to someone else. That's why you just try hard and let what will be, be.

 

[joboo1drew]

Sure. I'm just pointing out that there's multiple ways of looking at this situation and not a single way that's going to make sense to everyone. What one person sees as the fair way to do it might not seem fair to someone else. That's why you just try hard and let what will be, be.

Agreed. I know it is hard not to take things personally, but I am a firm believer in things happen for a reason. We might not understand the reason, but if it is meant to be it will happen.

 

[Commonsensex2]

There are organizations that, if you don't produce at a certain level, the team is no longer. In those instances, chemistry is great, but if the team as a whole is not competing at the required level, personnel changes must be made for the team or there will be no team. Many of the high level organizations are a great example of this

Could personnel changes also include coaching changes? Everything doesn't always fall on the players. Just saying.

 

[crystlemc]

Yes it could. That is what I meant by the team as a whole.

 

[Chad Strahler]

SoftballMom1, some kids do not look good in try outs, however they perform when games are on the line. Some girls look like superstars at try outs that cannot perform in game situations with the pressure. Not saying this about your specific situation, but I do know this happens as I know players in both ends of the spectrum.

My dd to a T... Never does well at tryouts and often overlooked but always one of the top 3 ba's, obp's, least k's on the
team at the end of her travel season. And pretty high level tourneys I might add and young 16u. Oh forgot to mention she is a pitcher so they not looking at her bat as much

 

[coachjwb]

While I understand why some of the top organizations have the philosophy they do about upgrading talent each year, I have a different personal philosophy than they do, which is one reason why I won't coach in one of them again or ever run such an organization.

In my mind, if a player and parents are a reasonably good fit for the team, then I just can't cut them loose or go through a process of making them try out again ... and I guess that would be considered loyalty. Now what do I mean by a reasonably good fit ... the player should be at least close to the level of the other less talented players on the roster, be willing to continue to work hard on their skills, and they have to be a good teammate and accepting of their role. Meanwhile, the parents have to be good supportive parents as well, and not be griping about their DD's role either.

I'd also love to have players and parents who are loyal as well, and understand that it's more about the continued improvement of the player's skills and the chemistry of the team. I do understand if a player has an opportunity to move "up" to one of the more elite teams, but I was disappointed many times in my coaching career when players left for what their parents thought was greener pastures (which weren't), and by at least one organization head who blew up an odd age team that had done pretty well and had a lot of promise and replaced it with another which had had more success.

Again, I get it, but that's just not me or for me.

 

[crystlemc]

Jeff, that would certainly be an ideal situation. But, as you know, not all orgs function that way, so some coaches have to "play ball", so to speak. And if an org doesn't feel one of their coaches is doing their job, they are subject to the ax as well.

 

[coachjwb]

Crystle ... I get it. If a coach is abusive to players, not a good representative of the organization, is incompetent, or is in over his/her head, they absolutely should make the change. All organizations can and should do that. My point is that I would only coach in the future for an organization which measures its coaches by their knowledge of the game, their ability to represent the organization with class, and most importantly by their abilility to develop their players ... and not strictly by their win/loss record.