Should this happen????

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DADDY thinks there is too much emphisis on some of these softball kids that they feel if they are not practicing softball year around they will be a step slower than the competition in the summer. If your competing in the ASA A tournaments and your a great talent in softball and you have a legitimit shot at college money then focus on softball. But lets face it 80 percent of the kids we see in our weekend tournaments are not in line for Division 1 scholorships, DADDY hates to bring you all down to reallity. So I think that it is important to respect the wishes of a High School coach. Honestly the only reason why I believe this is even a topic is because of the belief of the summer travel team being more competitive than the average high school team.

Daddy, I have read some pretty interesting posts from you but i think you are off a little as for the reasoning behind my original question. I have gotten some great feedback and i am greatful. For one i am not worried about competing with high school and to be honest with you we as a young 14u team would give the three high schools in our county a run for their money and most likely come out on top. #2 nothing i do in the winter is mandantory.I have never wanted my girls to choose.In the summer i stress commitment.If they play AAU BB in the summer i do expect them to play with their fastpitch team if there is a conflict,but i wouldnt tell them i will cut you if you play BB.I carry enough on my roster to allow for family reunions,vacations etc. I just dont feel they should have to choose when the 3'oclock bell rings.

 

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I still can't see how any parent would allow a coach or school to tell their kids what they can or can't do outside of school. Going into ancient history, my parents generation wouldn't have tolerated it so why should we? I have never compromised my authority as a parent and never will as long as my kids are minors. College, I can see where it would be different but in high or middle school - never.

 

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Being both a coach and a parent, I believe a coach should not tell kids or parents to refrain from other sporting activities (lessons and practice) during their season. That being said, I also believe a kid should not play multiple sports during the same time frame. It's not fair to the kids and it's not fair to the teams. A perfect example is AAU basketball and club volleyball. Multiple conflicts occur and it causes parents or children to make a decision as to which sport to attend. The sport not attended suffers greatly. It's hard to practice and run plays when a few kids are missing and it shows in their game play....not to mention parents spending good money for select ball to make their child better, only to get frustrated when their child's team cannot have a proper practice or game due to missing teammates.

Len

 

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Len makes a very good point. Which practices you choose to attend affects the whole team. Hard to work on plays and situations with only 5 people there.

 

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I cannot say I agree with an ultimatum like this, but I do understand it. Let's put the shoe on the other foot and see how we feel when our stud pitcher gets hurt during the summer playing a different sport.

Now take into consideration that a HS team cannot go out and shop for another stud to replace her because they are limited to their student population. This could be a death sentence for a season.

It is so easy for us to sit back and criticize HS coaches for all their faults, but many of us would possibly do the same things givens the restrictions they have to work with.

 

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I think many of us are already doing it. That coach wants the same thing that many of you posting want. Players dedicated to his team when it is IN SEASON. How many of you allow girls to miss, without punishment, spring and summer practices and games for JO volleyball and AAU basketball? Would you be in favor of your stud pitcher playing 2 AAU basketball games Sunday morning and then rushing to your elimination games Sunday afternoon?

 

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First let me say I am not bashing this BB coach in any way, because as a family we do like him and respect him. That being said, DD went to him before attending any of his BB "open gyms" to discuss whether she could go to "open gyms" for HS softball once the BB season got on its way. The answer was NO that it was a school rule that you could not participate in open gyms until your current sport season was over, right away DD was ready to chuck her senior year of BB. After another discussion with the VBB coach and JVBB coach (who also happens to be the VSB coach) they all came to a mutual agreement...She can practice SB on her own, where the risk of injury could present itself being unsupervised, but could not attend a supervised "open gym". I just don't get it.

Keep this in mind also, our school is small enough that you can participate in two varsity sports in the same season.

He also reminded her that if she starts BB then decided to quit (which she would not dream of doing to a team) she would not be eligable to play SB in the spring.

 

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Now take into consideration that a HS team cannot go out and shop for another stud to replace her because they are limited to their student population. This could be a death sentence for a season.

It is so easy for us to sit back and criticize HS coaches for all their faults, but many of us would possibly do the same things givens the restrictions they have to work with.

I can fully understand the critical HS pitcher situation... been there. BUT, is it fair to the pitcher? I'm as strict as they come when it comes to requiring my kids to fulfill commitments, and finish what they start. That's what being a member of a team is all about. I've also NEVER let my kids play/team practice in two different sports at the same time. However, IMO individual skill development is an entirely different thing. Pitching lessons/hitting lessons during HS basketball? No one's business. Recreational sports and pick-up games are also none of the high school coaches business. When my DD was pitching in high school, by me, she was free to go down to the rec. center and play B-Ball with a group of friends. But I certainly wouldn't let her go hill climbing on a dirt bike. By the same token, her summer softball coach had NO SAY what she did in her time away from the team. But I did as a parent.

There's a simple rule. If your stud HS pitcher is performing, what's the big deal? If she's tired and under-performing, pitch the second string pitcher. But I'm betting the stud is first string because she's NOT tired, and prepares for every game - a typical athlete. In summer ball, same rule. If your players decide to go get hurt playing football, it's beyond the coaches control. But I'm betting the kid will learn a life lesson about risk management. And that's the point - it's NOT about a coach being in control, it's about teaching a kid (and possibly parents) about common sense and responsibility.

 

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Sammy you're right about the risk management aspect. If we has a tournament where we had commitments from college coaches to watch the DD, rollerblading or other things that could cause an injury which could imact her abillity to perform in front of the coaches was out of the question.

 

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Exactly! But that decision is between the player and her parents, and should NOT be dictated by a high school coach - or anyone else for that matter.

Let me beat this horse just a little more...

Any coach has every right to tell a player exactly what to do during "team time" - practices, games, etc. Otherwise, it's none of their business. If a player shows up to a practice or a game with a broken arm from skateboarding, it's obviously a tough break. BUT - it was a parental decision to let her skateboard - maybe a stupid one - but a parental decision nonetheless.

The ONLY case where a coach should be allowed to dictate what toothpaste players use, or how shoes are to be tied is with an adult who has signed a contract (or the player is their daughter). IMO, this includes college players on scholarship.

The coach that doesn't try to run the kid's personal lives is giving them ownership - expecting them to be responsible to their team. At least her parents should understand this. For the kids who go on to play in college, the coach WILL NOT be hovering over you all summer to monitor your work-outs, diet, etc. But I guarantee the player who goes back to school in the fall 10 pounds overweight and out of shape will pay the price.

 

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Exactly! But that decision is between the player and her parents, and should NOT be dictated by a high school coach - or anyone else for that matter.

Let me beat this horse just a little more...

Any coach has every right to tell a player exactly what to do during "team time" - practices, games, etc. Otherwise, it's none of their business. If a player shows up to a practice or a game with a broken arm from skateboarding, it's obviously a tough break. BUT - it was a parental decision to let her skateboard - maybe a stupid one - but a parental decision nonetheless.

The ONLY case where a coach should be allowed to dictate what toothpaste players use, or how shoes are to be tied is with an adult who has signed a contract (or the player is their daughter). IMO, this includes college players on scholarship.

The coach that doesn't try to run the kid's personal lives is giving them ownership - expecting them to be responsible to their team. At least her parents should understand this. For the kids who go on to play in college, the coach WILL NOT be hovering over you all summer to monitor your work-outs, diet, etc. But I guarantee the player who goes back to school in the fall 10 pounds overweight and out of shape will pay the price.

Touche'