Poaching Players & Jumping Ship

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So to sum it up, poachers are lower than whale poop and should be tarred and feathered.

Communication is the key to keeping families on a team.

 

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The fact that it is easier to poach girls when a girl is having problems with her current team does not justify the actions of the poaching coach. These are two entirely different issues. Similarly, if someone is on their death bed and has a week to live, if I come in and shoot them, it's still murder! I don't get a free pass by saying, well, you were dying, anyway!

 

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Unless your name is Kavorkian!!

 

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Players leaving a team is hard to pass judgment, you don't know all the circumstances. I think it is pretty low to try to poach players from other teams. I have seen coaches pass out business cards to players and parents after a game. NOT COOL!!!! Not only will I not poach a player, I would be skeptical of any coach that would. If you are on that team how do you know he will not replace you if they can find a better player mid season. We commit to our players for a year, then have open tryouts. If the players are not what you want, keep looking. Don't give them a spot until you can find someone better.

Ding ding ding!!!


That's the ticket right there. There will always be tougher kid in the sandbox. How do you know if and when you will be replaced?

 

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You can never say never when it comes to people interacting with each other. People with the best intentions can find themselves in situations that may seem intolerable. Yet, both my wife and I feel, that once our daughter makes a commitment to a team that is where she will be until the season ends.

 

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As a parent, still relatively young in the travel ball experience, we're still learning. Yet I can see, especially at the younger levels, a coach coming up to you and handing out a card with contact information could be pretty intoxicating.
Last summer, our dd loved her teammates, but had a miserable relationship with her coach. If we had been tested like that, it would have been difficult to say no. There were girls on the team who did quit and who did jump to other teams for the end of the season tournaments. Our dd stayed put.

 

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what about players that that fill in for teams that need players for winter indoor tournaments then that team offers them spots on there roster??

 

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Same thing as poaching in my book Doomleader. Stick a boot up their @ss!!!!

 

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Danger
Agree

 

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Most decision my daughter has made throughout her travel years I have let her make on her own with guidance... I would not let her make a decision she wouldn't be willing with her head held high to tell a College Coach that she has made. JMHO

 

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what about players that that fill in for teams that need players for winter indoor tournaments then that team offers them spots on there roster??

Same thing as poaching in my book Doomleader. Stick a boot up their @ss!!!!

Danger
Agree

I also agree and shows no class IMO. Should be a "man's" word when you borrow a player. Regardless of how good she is or your need for players. Should be a "clean" situation. Temptation shouldn't overcome your word...

That's just it, borrow... for the predetermined and "approved" time period. I've done this several times as others have and it should go off without a hitch. The Hawks and Static have done this several times in the past couple of years.

 

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Well I am going to give my take on this. This is my daughters first year of travel ball. So knowing that here it goes. I would not want another coach trying to get her to switch teams in the current softball year. However I would not be opposed to a coach talking to me about where they think she is skill wise and ideas to help her improve. If they would be interested in possibly looking at her for the next year. Now some of you may not agree with that, but as a parent IF I was to consider a change for the next year I would want to do my homework. I would want to watch a few games being played by those teams. I as a parent would want to watch and see this coach and staff during a game. I would also want to see how they treat the girls, during the Game and in between games. Then I could compare where we are and decide. Because just maybe the grass is not greener on the other side. So I would want the oppurtunity to watch and Grade each coach and organization. I would want to eliminate from consideration the coach that would not be a good fit for the dd. Also I would be able to sit in the stands and hear what parents of current players say about the coaches.
I would not want my daughter to switch after commitment! After the year is over I think every parent should sit back evaluate everything. First and formost would be the dd. How did she play, skills, and growth since start of season. Did the coaching staff help her
grow, did they play in tournaments that will help her to go to the next level, did they teach her the "game". Does your daughter want tell you she desires to play at the next level? Does she have the potential, drive and work ethic. If she does which coach will help her get there is it the one she has or not.
I have a lot to learn this season. I hope to meet great people and learn more about the game. I also would not discuss anything with my daughter during current season. She is committed and want her to play that way. But being 11u and being first year I would have to decide if she stays with her team through 18u would that expose her to the right people? I also would have to evaluate tournaments that they play and don't play.
Wow that's alot of stuff.
Mike Barrett
Ok now you can tell me how wrong I am in my thinking!Lol

 

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I have to say this is a fun and interesting topic.

We recently just had a girl leave and the parent wants a refund. While we are going to back out costs and give her one, I would rather give them nothing. The reason is quite simple. At tryouts she was told she was a 2nd-OF player on this team. The mom felt she was a catcher/3rd type. Regardless of my opinion or the mothers. She was told up front that was were she would play and that playing time would be earned. The daughter has not earned more playing time. So now the mother has gone and played for some other teams and is jumping ship and wanting a refund. And we are left looking for another player..............I HATE looking for players. I feel like this parent accepted the spot because she knew our team was good and had good coaching and then jumped ship just before the season to a lesser team that would allow her daughter to play were she wanted.

The bigger issue we have is that the team is quite good (12U level) and finding another player is almost impossible. We are going to spend a whole summer I fear patching up our line-up. With only 10 girls it is just going to be a pain. While all 10 are very dedicated, injuries and life happen. A team needs 11 minimum and 12 to be solid IMO. And now we are we facing the possibility of going through a season short handed.

I would never allow my daughters to leave a team after tryouts..........period. What ever happens is a life lesson good or bad. You make a commitment and you honor it.

 

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Mike (tippys dad) ... very well stated and I agree!

 

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This topic always makes for interesting conversations......
I too have been around for a bit of awhile........I dont agree with coaches poaching from other teams, I dont have a problem like Lester and Danger13 that if you are picking up a player to help out that is what they are there for to help out. When your seasons are over if you would like to approach that player about her fit on your team that is acceptable I think. To ask them to come to your try out and see what they think.
The team my DD is with......the Coach is very up front at all times IMHO, if he isnt clear enough for you......then you have a real problem with listening and paying attention. This also goes for the parents, he is very much a communicator of feelings, and expectations.
I think some problems also arise....as many have stated that the parents expectations are higher than the DD's abilities. As a parent of 3 DD's, I have only allowed 1 to quit her team.....all avenues with the coach where explored prior to this decision being made. Coach explained what they wanted to see, daughter did as was asked and things did not change. So she quit.....did we go to another team, NO. She was just done and that was that. We as parents also need to remember that we have some pretty smart kids...they learn and pick up on alot more than we give them credit for sometimes. They know if they are not doing everything they are being asked to by the coach, and some are wanting to play a favorite position but not earn it. That is a disgrace on the Coach if they let that happen IMHO.

 

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I know this is a bit off topic. But I do not get the coach who lets their DD play where ever. My wife and I are both extremely hard on our DDs when we coach them. And if they want to play a position then they need to be the best on the team.....period. It can not even be close. You are not doing your kid any favors if make life easy. Life is hard, and the sooner they learn that and develop the skills and work ethic to deal with this the better for them.

My oldest DD will be playing school ball (middle school) for a coach that is a complete @sshole. This is the type of coach who (and I have seen this) will wait until some girls she does not like come to practice without sliding gear on and then call a sliding practice and laugh at how effed up they get. She is everything I hate in coaches, but my DD needs to learn that this type exists and she better be mentally tough enough to push through.

That which does not kill us only makes us stronger. And if a child wants to be successful in the athletic world they need to understand what it means to compete and what it takes to succeed. The earlier these lessons are learned the easier it is for them in the long run. And that IMO is the great lesson athletic teaches. It just gives immediate feedback, which allows for a steeper learning curve.

 

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As classless as it is to poach players, it remains common. All of you know at least 1 classless coach (poaching related or not) who either truly doesn't believe their actions are that bad or couldn't care less because they want the win. I have noticed that a lot of these "poaching" or otherwise classless coaches are not able to develop players, that's why they try to poach the good ones from somebody else. They lack the knowledge/skills necessary to teach the child how to properly play the game. Anybody can win with a team of "studs". It's the true coaches who can take a bunch of cast-offs and teach them to be a winning team.

JMHO

 

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I can sum it all up in two words............. It happens........... If your a parent take it as a compliment, if your a coach take it in stride. At one time or another if the kid is any good she will get recruited from another team, heck sometimes during a game. Its competitive travel ball.

If the team isnt a good fit or if there are promises that have been made that have not been kept or the coaching staff treats her like they have a bill of sale for her And try to tell the parents what they can and cannot do with their own child when she is not with her team then by all means move on.

If the coach has been upright and honest with you and your dd has made progress with her team then by no means should you jump ship to just jump.

Tim

 

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My oldest DD will be playing school ball (middle school) for a coach that is a complete @sshole. This is the type of coach who (and I have seen this) will wait until some girls she does not like come to practice without sliding gear on and then call a sliding practice and laugh at how effed up they get. She is everything I hate in coaches, but my DD needs to learn that this type exists and she better be mentally tough enough to push through.

While I agree that your DD needs to know that coaches like this exist, there is NO WAY I would let my DD player for someone like that. Rapists exist too, would you put your DD well being in the hands of someone like that as well? This is a sport, a sport where your DD came be permanently injured by a ignorant coach that gets their jollies by pushing around pre-teen girls. Life lessons shouldn't leave permanent scars!

That which does not kill us only makes us stronger.

This has got to be the most overused saying there is and it is complete ****. This saying was coined in sports about physical conditioning and at some point it started being applied to every aspect of life. It has become an excuse for inaction and/or abuse in every facet of life.

And if a child wants to be successful in the athletic world they need to understand what it means to compete and what it takes to succeed. The earlier these lessons are learned the easier it is for them in the long run. And that IMO is the great lesson athletic teaches. It just gives immediate feedback, which allows for a steeper learning curve.

Success means different things to different people, for some it culminates it a D1 scholarship and in others it is life-long memories and friendships.

Okay enough, I guess I am in a mood today. I'll blame it on lack of sunshine.

 

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If the team isnt a good fit or if there are promises that have been made that have not been kept or the coaching staff treats her like they have a bill of sale for her And try to tell the parents what they can and cannot do with their own child when she is not with her team then by all means move on.

If the coach has been upright and honest with you and your dd has made progress with her team then by no means should you jump ship to just jump.

Tim

I agree with this! Very good points Tim.
Mike Barrett