teams breaking up

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We talk allot about all the new teams starting up and the unknown that goes with them. How many of you have heard about teams and organizations breaking up this year? I do not want to list organizations names but the rumors are running rampid about some teams that have been around for a while breaking up for different reasons. I have only been on the site for about a year and I was wondering what percentage of current teams break up each year on average?

 

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Teams don't break up, players and parents vote with their feet when they don't feel that their needs are being met. ?

I don't think you will find many organizations raising their hands and saying "we are going to bust up our 12U team this year because they weren't very good."

Teams fade away for a few reasons:

• The general feeling is that the coaches or the organization are not treating the majority of the players fairly - as defined by the amount of playing time they get weighed against how much they think they should get. So people go where they think they will get a better deal - i.e., more playing time.
  
  A significant number of key players move up the food chain to stronger teams because that meets their personal development needs. (No hard feelings - DD just wants to play a more competitive schedule.) Those gaps can't be filled, so the balance of the team disbands.
  
  A group of strong personalities pull the team apart. When DD is supposed to be the star player, but other people are getting recognition and innings, often those families bolt after a year or two. All a team needs is two or three player/families like that to self-destruct over the course of a season. (My opinion is that is a coaching defect. It is the coach's job to keep egos in line and set expectations early and often.)
  
  Once in a blue moon an organization will break up a team. Sometimes it is for selfish reasons, because the team isn't winning to the organization tradition. But usually it is because the personality confilcts on the team are beyond the tolerance of the organization to bear.

So, find the symptoms, and you can find the teams that might not be around next year.

 

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Great post, Sideliner.

One other sad truth is the "fade away" of many upon HS graduation, as so many other things (hopefuly all good things) compete for their attention. ?

 

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I agree, very well said sideliner. MD

 

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Sideliner,

You forgot to mention feuding coaches that make the entire team miserable... when the coaches' main concern is playing time for their own daughters and not the development of the team...and they don't even agree with each other! The other players are caught in the crossfire. (The dugout is verrrrry quiet.)

 

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never mind

 

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How very lucky and blessed our family and DD is to be a part of a team where you are totally unable to figure out who the daughters of the coaches are...thank you Coach Pat and Coach Terry. ?

 

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I wonder why all the "new members" always pick these threads to post in??

 

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Possibly because they anticipate their daughter sitting some more if their coach finds out who is posting. Obviously, these newbees have had it!

 

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Uh..Oh! ?I feel the dark tension approaching..I see it can you? ?Hold on tight and keep all arms and feet in the ride. ;D

 

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welcome to travelball. parents that have kids that shine in rec ball often find it hard to adjust when they do not start on a good travelball team. It takes a year or so to adjust and thats if they really take a good look around. The best piece of advice is continue to encourage your kid, and do not make any excuses. If you want them to get better, then allow them to. If you want a nice social atmosphere for them to participate in then stick to the more local stuff where you know everyone, and can have some influenece on where your daughter plays. just keep in mind she will get out of it, what you allow her to put into it.

 

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hey Ringer, sign these parents up quick, i see alot of potential 7-pitch, .600 slugging percentage studs to make a run at ASA Nationals!

 

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Hi Ram, I hope many girls take advantage of trying out and play for those two, as they are a class act, with a class organization and any child will learn allot from them. I know mine did in 2006 and actually had fun doing so, HMM is that word allowed?

If anyone would like to know what org. and tryout dates, PM me, you will not be sorry.

 

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You know, it is almost time to reshuffle for 2007-08 and chase your wildest and most psychodelic softball dreams, in a nice green pasture on the other side of some fence, where children & animals play nice together, and the birds sing, somewhere over the rainbow .....

For all those out there who "have had it" (now, who hasn't at some time or another), how about just sucking it up for a few weeks and allow the girls to finish strong, have some unity, some fun with each other withoput being the victims of parental meltdown, and make the most of things? Is it about the kids' experience or the parents' egos? Is the situation, wherever you are, ... THAT BAD?? If we parents act like adults, maybe the kids will too. Things may not be so perfect, or even good for you (or me) personally, but what are we doing to make it better? Or are we making it worse, ... for ourselves, ... and others who just want to play ball and avoid the psycho-drama?

Come on?? - there is a time and place for everything, and a professional adult way to handle things.

 

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How come is it that only the "good" players parents complain? There has to be a serious coaching problem in Ohio because all of the "good" players are sitting the bench!!! Is this why we can't compete with SoCal teams. Do SoCal coaches really think "good" players are gooder than "not-so-good" players. :-? Pffft, can't be.

ATTENTION ALL OHIO COACHES: DO NOT LEAVE YOUR GOOD PLAYERS ON THE BENCH! THEY CAN HELP YOU WIN.......uh I forgot, It's not all about winning.

Coach's hint. When evaluating players, do so from behind a chain link fence.

 

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I second that Ram... Pat and Terry are two stand up guys. I would recommend them highly to anyone.

 

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...... professional adult way to handle things.

*points at Ringer*

 

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We also need to consider that "Somtimes change is needed" There may not be any chemistry between the players if that is the case maybe some changes are in order. Also maybe your team has two lights out players at the same position and the one player wants more playing time.

I know a player that has been with 3 different orgs in 3 years. Each time it was a positive move. She continuded to excell and in turn moved to higher calibur teams/org each year.

 

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It is really hard to just blow it off and let the girls finish the year when the coach gave everyone releases as of the end of the month because they were being questioned about the funding and how we can be out of money when we didn't play in two tournaments that we paid for and we still had three more tournaments to play in that were also paid for. And, no, before anyone asks, the tournaments were not prepaid.

:-[ :-[ :-[

 

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No offense Dix..., but for the life of me I cannot pick 5 tourneys that would not have wanted payment in full by now. Please tell us all what these were, I'm just curious.