Poaching Players

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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

You are probably telling it like it is but I think a parent's word should be worth something any and all times and that is the value parents should be teaching their kids. It's what built this country, what makes this a great country and what the lack of makes the middle east such a cesspool. Letting friends and teammates down should never be acceptable. Another thing to consider is this is a team sport. For every stud there were many support players who helped make her a success. It's not right to step on them for a push to better opportunities.

And it's easily avoidable. If your mind set is to take a better opportunity even if it means bailing on the current group of great kids your DD is playing with then tell the coach that right up front when you commit. The coach will take your DD anyway because she's a stud, lets face it, coaches are whores and if you do leave it's not going against your word. hehe

 

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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

got it i was told the same!!!!!

 

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You are probably telling it like it is but I think a parent's word should be worth something any and all times and that is the value parents should be teaching their kids. It's what built this country.

I wonder how American Indians feel about word given to them?

 

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You are probably telling it like it is but I think a parent's word should be worth something any and all times and that is the value parents should be teaching their kids. It's what built this country.

I wonder how American Indians feel about word given to them?

Shouldn't have been surprised as the word given to then was worth as much as the word they gave.

 

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I love how threads take on a life of their own. Lol

 

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LOL, what word did they give? Go ahead take my land? Just pointing out I take my word seriously but not to point of how this country was built. It was blood, sweat and people willing to work and fight to live here and making this the greatest country in the world.
Oops I need to get off of my high horse...

 

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Sorry American Indians got the royal screw and to act like they didn't is comical.

But with that said they are getting back. They make mad money through gambling. And along the Canadian boarder the make cigarettes and smuggle them across. So while they got the old high hard one, they have learn to hit pretty well since then.

Can you imagine some aliens landing on Earth and acting like....hey these people are not as advanced as us so we will just settle here......LOL....yeah yeah yeah... you can live over there in Arizona on that sand stuff while we settle in along the shore lines. And then feed us their preferred beverage that we all become addicted to. Oh it is pretty classic when you sit back and look at it all.

And the thread takes another turn.

 

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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

Tim-
I may not always agree with your political views, but this post was a good, heartfelt response... It really puts it out there as "how it is" starting at 10u and going through the college years. Your DD has earned her stripes making through her freshman year at D1, so you have seen and experienced it. Thanks for your observations.

 

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The above quote in that post may have been the best post on this thread....thanks.

 

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LOL, what word did they give? Go ahead take my land? Just pointing out I take my word seriously but not to point of how this country was built. It was blood, sweat and people willing to work and fight to live here and making this the greatest country in the world.
Oops I need to get off of my high horse...

What, where was there land? They moved around like nomads. They don't have a land because they never had a land. Then you conveniently skip hundreds of years and how this country was built on trust and a handshake. Which was my point. Whatever serve your political agenda. Get off the high horse and get a real horse. haha But don't fall!

 

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Just fell laughing at you... Where did you get political agenda from?

 

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What, where was there land? They moved around like nomads. They don't have a land because they never had a land. Then you conveniently skip hundreds of years and how this country was built on trust and a handshake. Which was my point. Whatever serve your political agenda. Get off the high horse and get a real horse. haha But don't fall!

Exactly! It seems however there is no honor among thieves. Never thought this would all morph into this, but has been very entertaining as well as informative.

 

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Sorry American Indians got the royal screw and to act like they didn't is comical.

But with that said they are getting back. They make mad money through gambling. And along the Canadian boarder the make cigarettes and smuggle them across. So while they got the old high hard one, they have learn to hit pretty well since then.

Can you imagine some aliens landing on Earth and acting like....hey these people are not as advanced as us so we will just settle here......LOL....yeah yeah yeah... you can live over there in Arizona on that sand stuff while we settle in along the shore lines. And then feed us their preferred beverage that we all become addicted to. Oh it is pretty classic when you sit back and look at it all.

And the thread takes another turn.

There's a good book out there by Jared Diamond that chronicles how this scenario has played out over and over, all over the world...

 

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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.

that's a bold statement! It very hard to say what pitchers will what come spring time..some may grow 5" some may just be starting to pitch and will work there butt to out do everyone.
If they were 9u and got lots of reps this year they have a leg up but way to early to say that.

 

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I want in on this I have a 9u student that swings at 70 mph

 

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Got to love it when opposing coaches from a larger organization "poach" your #1 pitcher during mid season to come to one of their practices and she says, "Sorry, but I play for my Dad!" I guess they didn't think we were of any threat so they didn't even look at our line-up card. The sweet taste of victory!

 

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So what most of you are telling me is, if your daughter is playing for sisters of the poor on a so so team and the coach from the US Junior national team calls, you would tell him you can't play on it because sisters of the poor needs her for the local rum dum tournament the same weekend the national team plays. Remember everyone you said you gave them your word, its your bond, etc... blah, blah, blah.

Give me a break, you would be a fool to pass up on the opportunity and her team mates are just as foolish if they don't give you their blessing if its a move up the ladder to help the kid out. Too many parents ride the backs of other players to try and get to the top. Let each family/player make decisions on what they feel is best for them and leave them alone already.

Most of the kids in softball aren't good enough to play at the DI level, so its the masses that complain when the elite few try to better themselves.

 

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If she was good enough to play on the US Junior National team, she shouldn't be trying out for Sister's of the Poor. They should be trying out for teams that are appropriate for their skill levels. Once tryouts are complete and they have the offers from all the teams they tried out for, discuss them and decide which is better for the player and family. Once the decision is made and they choose the lucky team, stick to it.

I've lost many great players to bigger known organizations because they are trying to better themselves and I have NO problem with that. I still follow and talk to almost all my former players and hope they are very successful where they end up. But trying to better themselves every year at tryout time and jumping ship after a commitment is made are 2 different things.

 

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So what most of you are telling me is, if your daughter is playing for sisters of the poor on a so so team and the coach from the US Junior national team calls, you would tell him you can't play on it because sisters of the poor needs her for the local rum dum tournament the same weekend the national team plays. Remember everyone you said you gave them your word, its your bond, etc... blah, blah, blah.

Give me a break, you would be a fool to pass up on the opportunity and her team mates are just as foolish if they don't give you their blessing if its a move up the ladder to help the kid out. Too many parents ride the backs of other players to try and get to the top. Let each family/player make decisions on what they feel is best for them and leave them alone already.

Most of the kids in softball aren't good enough to play at the DI level, so its the masses that complain when the elite few try to better themselves.

I agree with several of your points; especially the one stating very few girls are good enough to play D1 ball and we really need to focus on what is the best for the player. My concern is whether or not some of these "elite" organization are really "all that" and whether the opportunity is really right for their development. I lost 2 players this past season to elite teams: one during the season (GRR!) and one after the season (no issue here). The first one during the season got "sold a bill of goods" ended up not playing her natural position on a team living on their name and reputation (no sour grapes - many other coaches concur with that assessment). The second player went to a legit elite team, but we came within a run (and a matter of inches) of beating them. Even though we are not a "major name" in fastpitch yet, we beat several elite teams and played a very competitive schedule. I guess some people are more comfortable with doing the "LeBron" thing rather than being the reason for emergence.

 

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So what most of you are telling me is, if your daughter is playing for sisters of the poor on a so so team and the coach from the US Junior national team calls, you would tell him you can't play on it because sisters of the poor needs her for the local rum dum tournament the same weekend the national team plays. Remember everyone you said you gave them your word, its your bond, etc... blah, blah, blah.

Give me a break, you would be a fool to pass up on the opportunity and her team mates are just as foolish if they don't give you their blessing if its a move up the ladder to help the kid out. Too many parents ride the backs of other players to try and get to the top. Let each family/player make decisions on what they feel is best for them and leave them alone already.

Most of the kids in softball aren't good enough to play at the DI level, so its the masses that complain when the elite few try to better themselves.

That's funny. You say too many parents ride the backs of other players to try and get to the top. That's pointing out exactly what you would do. In order for the US Junior National Team to notice your DD she had to play with the Sisters Of The Poor. So you would ride the backs of those girls to get noticed by the national team and then step on them on your way up the ladder and out the door. And sounds like being proud of yourself the whole way. haha

You know, I wouldn't have a problem with that if when you joined the Sisters Of The Poor you were up front and honest and told them if something better comes along you would take it and be gone. If you let the Sisters Of The Poor decide if they want that as part of their team. But if you take a spot and just keep it in the back of your mind that you would book if the opportunity comes then you are being snaky. Fact is when you join a team for the following season you are committing to that team, to all those other girls and families. You can keep your word and finish the season, you can back stab your way to something better and just leave or be up front and honest and find a team that will offer you a spot after you were forthright about what could happen. Which do you pick?