Poaching Players

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The right place at the right time by the right people. 10u to 14u. It only takes a second for someone to say Im gonna follow your daughter. I have seen some amazing 10u players! Players at 9 that could smoke 12u girls. The talent is there so even coaching 10u, Some kids need managed- not coached. They are ready to be seen. ...

:lmao: :lmao: We have our first nominee for Wacko 10U Post of the Year!

 

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We have left a team and we've stayed on teams that we shouldn't have and learned valuable things from both experiences.

We had valid reasons for leaving as well as staying. Here's something for some coaches to think about though -choose your team in August and play those girls during your season.

Stop picking up "subs" when you already have 10 or 11the girls headed to a tourney. If a sub is absolutely necessary then you need to be clear that their playing time does not take priority over the regular team members.

Coaches that bring in subs on a regular basis and then bench three other girls that paid to be on the team can't have it both ways. We will walk away from these teams everytime - it's a waste of our time and money. Coaches learn to work with the players you selected at tryouts.

 

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Sigh ... we had a really good discussion going here, and now I bet the Bear will shut it down because someone is making veiled threats ... happens every time ...

 

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The right place at the right time by the right people. 10u to 14u. It only takes a second for someone to say Im gonna follow your daughter. I have seen some amazing 10u players! Players at 9 that could smoke 12u girls. The talent is there so even coaching 10u, Some kids need managed- not coached. They are ready to be seen. I lost a kid that would have been amazing even after i told her she would be my #1 pitcher she liked us, said she wanted to play. Lost her to a better, at that time, organization. Nothing I could do. She will be the best 10u pitcher around this year.

Billy07 - please understand that most - if not all - of the people on here that have been around read this comment and chuckle. If you only knew how many 10u studs are caught up with and passed along the way you would know why.

 

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I was warned by a very experienced parent who's DD played with some very good Ohio teams over the years that a certain team out there will have no problem chasing your DD if they are impressed, but will also have absolutely NO problem replacing her if better talent comes along. Caveat Emptor

Sounds an awful lot like college dosent it. Here is the reality of fast pitch. We as coaches of almost any org teach the kids to get better. Work on skill sets and improve the player all around. If you do not coach for one of the big named orgs your going to have to realize your best player or players that you have worked so hard to improve is going to be recruited. Its just the way it is. Especially as they get older and kids start thinking of college. Your big named orgs that have a history of putting kids in college will attract those kids. If those caliber kids do not attend their tryouts they will go hunting. They have a name and a tradition to up hold of getting the best kids and putting those kids in front of college coaches.

At 10 thru 14 a parents word should mean something. You make a commitment at that age you should stay the course and keep your promise. At recruiting level at 15 on up (and yes 15 is young but people are getting smarter and starting the recruiting process earlier) you really need to weigh your options about where she the dd can get the most bang for the buck at recruiting.

Why do coaches take it more personnel when a stud leaves the team than a normal player that's just looking for playing time? Kind of makes you wonder dosent it. Why dont you ever hear coaches complain about losing the number 8 or 9 player on the team. The coach of a lesser named team has the same agenda that the coach of a higher raked team does. Put the best team possible on the field.

Get used to it folks, its a life lesson, If your good at your job and someone offers you a better fit, more money, better benefits etc. that your present employer cannot possibly match chances are 90% of the people reading would jump in a heart beat. Softball is no different.

For us coaches that do not coach under the flag of one of the top orgs. You keep business as usual. Replace the kid with the best talent you can find, then do your job and coach and teach and make the replacement player just as good. If you cannot teach them to be so maybe you need to realistically look at your self as a coach.

Bottom line is this. You can only control what you do. Coach for the long haul, do the little things right and the rest will fall in line.


Tim

 

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Yes, that coach has an obligation to the rest of the team. The obligation is to act in a way not to bring disdain for his actions, to conduct all business in an honorable way and not hurt another team solely for the purpose to improve his/hers.

Poaching is wrong, but also is allowing your daughter to be poached. There is a difference between a player approaching you about an opening on your team and you stealing a player from another team. You have to recognize that!

And yes, I would (and did this year) fold my team because I only had one pitcher. I folded two weeks ago to give my players ample opportunity to find another team. It is called being respectful of the players and conducting my business with respect for others.

I don't disagree whith you. I just don't see what (in this instance) was done that was that out of line or so deemed him a poacher!? You folded for good reasons and could have left the kids hang. Right thing to do. But are you telling me you turned down a pitcher in the process? If a girl came to you and said she was unhappy with her current team you wouldn't take her to save yours? Even though you know she will end up somewhere anyway?

 

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This past weekend I saw the movie "Moneyball"!! Although we are not talking money, there is a strange similarity between this thread and that movie!

 

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I don't disagree whith you. I just don't see what (in this instance) was done that was that out of line or so deemed him a poacher!? You folded for good reasons and could have left the kids hang. Right thing to do. But are you telling me you turned down a pitcher in the process? If a girl came to you and said she was unhappy with her current team you wouldn't take her to save yours? Even though you know she will end up somewhere anyway?

If she came to me, I would give her a look. I would also be very curious and ask many questions to find out why she wants to leave her other team. If she is already committed and the reason for her leaving the other team isn't a good one, then I can say "Yes", I would turn her away. I would actually try to help her resolve her issue with the other team if possible. That's the kind of person I am, as strange as that may seem.

Doug

 

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I'll take the blame for this getting out of hand.... Sorry everyone.

 

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I'll take the blame for this getting out of hand.... Sorry everyone.

This is tame compared to years ago. If it gets to bad you will soon see bear eyes

 

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No poaching in s o c c e r... ;&

 

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This is tame compared to years ago. If it gets to bad you will soon see bear eyes

Yeah, but when it starts getting personal I feel bad.

 

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Alright. Everyone try to keep this all in perspective. Many teams haven't even begin practicing yet, so I wouldn't necessarily call anything going on right now poaching or team jumping. Once practice starts, then it gets .

As far as Billy is concerned, he is a first year travel coach with zero experience and no track record. There is no sense in arguing with him. It is an exercise in futility. He will continue to show himself for who he is, and people will make their own judgments.

 

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This is better than a soap opera!

 

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The OP had a valid question. Unfortunately, it only takes a small thing to stir the pot.

 

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The OP had a valid question. Unfortunately, it only takes a small thing to stir the pot.

Thanks for that, and this is better then a soap opera now. Also liked what was said a few post ago about having your word mean something at least up through 12u. I guess I was more bothered by the statement made by the other org "is there anything we can do to change your mind?". They knew she was committed and still said that.

 

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Poach.Poach. Can you use it in a sentence please? I'm going to the front Poach to think about this post!

 

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Poach.Poach. Can you use it in a sentence please? I'm going to the front Poach to think about this post!

Last week I was on vacation and I spent all week on my poach, or was it my deck.

 

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Wonder if billy7 is having poached eggs for breakfast before his tryout this weekend,lol

 

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Wonder if billy7 is having poached eggs for breakfast before his tryout this weekend,lol

Good one!