Pitching and Pitchers Discussion Should pitchers get a financial break?

[Ferrigno20]

Pretty simple. If you have an above average pitcher just don't join a team. Wait until late winter and jump on the OFC to browse through the 50 posts from teams still needing a number one then go make your deal. Instant discount!

So awesome!!! LOL

 

[freddieball]

Wander if colleges will give my daughter a price break for not being a pitcher.

 

[number5]

My DD pitches and this has got me thinking. I am going to start a fund for pitchers who don't get a price break and don't play for the upper level teams and who's families have no extra funds to spend on lessons. Ok I better disclose that I'm joking before I get slammed.

 

[chixdad]

DD pitches, we have never thought about it, it comes with the position.

 

[spartansd]

One could argue that a pitcher should pay more.

My DD plays 3rd. She goes whole games without getting involved in a single play and then gets to hit 3 times a game. We are playing a very large price per action. While the pitcher is involved in half the game plus they hit. They are getting a much larger portion of the game. So they should pay more.

 

[Inspire114]

I think I'll attempt to organize all pitchers in the tri-state areas! maybe we can strike and actually get PAID for playing! lol

 

[FP CIA]

Of course pitchers should not get a flat team fee discount. This discount has to be based on number of strikeouts, quality starts, and W/L record. We all know, the BIG name organizations in the state can also provide deeper discount.

 

[FastBat]

Could pitchers unionize? IMHO they are going to need lots of money to pay half of the entire team's fees.

 

[flarays]

^^^^^^^^^^^^ These are AWESOME

 

[SoCal_Dad]

i'm not up on the NCAA regulations but i remember someone saying when this was brought up before, that giving someone a break on fees (other than "need" based that is uniformly applied) could jeapardize one's amateurism status- just a thought and maybe someone knows that answer

This is a myth that's as popular as "hands are part of the bat."

Look at the NCAA's definition of a professional team (12.02.10) and the exception for playing on a professional team (12.2.3.2.1). Bottom line - NCAA has no issue with it as long as players are not being compensated beyond actual and necessary expenses. It wouldn't be any different than what's already happening on some sponsored teams (e.g. Bandits, Firecrackers, etc).

BTW, NCAA recently added new definitions to their D-I manual that set minimum thresholds.

12.02.5 Limited Benefit?Prior to Initial Full-Time Enrollment at an NCAA Institution?Expenses from a Permissible Source. Prior to initial full-time enrollment at an NCAA institution, if an individual receives expenses from a permissible source (e.g., event sponsor, club team) that exceed his or her actual and necessary expenses by $300 or less, the eligibility of the individual shall not be affected. (Adopted: 1/19/13 effective 8/1/13)

 

[MAShep]

What if she takes lessons every week and is the number 2 or 3 pitcher? They shouldn't have to pay, and the coach should refund her lesson fees??? Lol

 

[lakesoftballfan]

Maybe me and the coach should bring checkbooks to each game. If she pitches well I get a check. If she pitches poorly I write a check. We get bonuses for strike outs, shutouts. We pay penalties for walks, hit batters and any inning with more than one run.

To be serious, my daughter loves pitching and we pay for lessons so she can continue to do what she loves. No pitching lessons = no mound time.

 

[Fastball19]

Actually... First question should be, what position does your DD play? Jk

lol ok that is true!

 

[FPMom2000]

While I like the idea , its just not a fair one. No offense, but the notion that pitchers parents have more money? HAHAHA! That's awesome. I would love to have disposable income! However, I'm willing to make sacrifices to help my daughter do what she loves. Plus I really like Ramen noodles. Mac and cheese is ok too.

 

[mike_dyer]

If any player on a team can get a break on their fees more power to them. I don't care what anyone else pays, and if I didn't think what was asked of me was fair I would be down the road. It's a softball team. Go to any city, throw a rock, it will hit someone with a team.

 

[CARDS]

There are teams that have been doing this for years.
Four years ago I had a very good group of three pitchers.
After a good fall season and just before winter workouts one of the pitchers parents called to inform me they had an offer from another team for her DD to pitch and they would pay her summer expenses. (They had not yet paid their summer fees for me)...

Mom said she and DD liked the team and wanted to know if I was willing to match the offer.

I told her it was not up to me but the entire team since these parents would be the ones paying for her expenses. After a team meeting the answer was 100% no. She moved on and so did we although the lady we replaced her with was not quite as good she worked out well for us.

Funny thing was the player that bailed was back at tryouts the next fall. Needless to say, although a good player I passed...

I think this can also open up Pandora?s box, since, a lot of players are now getting private instruction for all positions and hitting, even strength and conditioning.

Know where you want to go. Do not dream about it plan for it. Set goals and Make It Happen!

 

[OHsoftball]

No. My dd goes to hitting lessons every week for $60 per lesson and we have never expected or even thought about getting a break on player fees.

 

[wow]

This is a silly question. Pitchers, catchers, hitters, whoever is investing in themselves. You pay for your lesson for YOU. A pitcher makes the team for the opportunity to be a part of something greater than themselves. The premise should always be how can I get better and contribute to help the team win championships. Not how can I get my fees reduced?.....

I have paid for hitting and pitching lessons with the only expectation is my kid works hard and gets better....

 

[mike_dyer]

What effect does it have on you if a coach takes a kid on their team and they cover their fees? That coach has obviously decided that having that player on their team is more important than some money and worked something out with her parents, and unless the kids parents are strutting around bragging about it like a couple of idiots you're never even going to know about it. It likely happens a lot more than any of us know.

 

[CARDS]

What effect does it have on you if a coach takes a kid on their team and they cover their fees? That coach has obviously decided that having that player on their team is more important than some money and worked something out with her parents, and unless the kids parents are strutting around bragging about it like a couple of idiots you're never even going to know about it. It likely happens a lot more than any of us know.

Situations like this can have a huge impact on the team. These are not really hardship situations that I have no issues with but I do have issues where a family wants or thinks they should play for free.

I know there are situations where a coach has helped out a family in need so there DD could play. Over the years I helped players that were hurt financially and had hardships by getting them candy to sell, help with fundraising activities or addressing the team. I had a player that both mom and dad both worked for a company that closed and moved so the team pitched in to pay their fees and help out with travel expenses. That is part of being a team.

Teams that do this as a practice is a slap in the face for the parents on the team that take part time jobs to pay for their DDs ball and I would never dream of bumping up the team fees to have a "slush fund" to pay out to a player and do so without informing your parents is an integrity issue I would have with the coach.

Doing this also does not guarantee loyalty to the team or program. Since the family has no vested interest they can be more free to jump ship. We had a coach that had a big heart and lowered his team fees and subsidized the team cost during 12/14U to get some good but underprivileged players. By 16U he was getting finically hurt with hotels and parents taking advantage of him not sending money for food etc and low and behold by 16U several bailed for greener pastures after their DDs got noticed by other organizations at the events he was attending.