Using substitute players on your softball team

[wow]

Everyone has had to use sub players at some point. Whether its due to a player sickness, pre arranged commitment, injury or midseason loss. As many have already posted its all about communication. Set expectations with the Sub, the parents, and players.

As, also already stated, I believe many team coaches subscribe to subs batting last, sitting first inning or two, and then rotating in. In bracket play sometimes you need to adjust with who is hot.

If your a sub you want your time to be valuable and not be a "extra" so I think everyone understands from the subs perspective. The concern is the current players and how they may have lost at bats and have defensive innings lost. This is unavoidable but is the HC job to let everyone know it will be done amicably. The disconnect a lot of times is when set expectations are not met.

The cardinal sin is to allow sub players to take over because its just easier to "upgrade" than it is to develop a player.

 

[Hilliarddad3]

One thing is if you're going to try and make a run in a 7gg weekend or national event, you are not going to do it with 10 or 11 girls. When it's hot and humid and one or more gets sick or injured with that few, it's a miserable time for everyone. Having the sub with explanation to all about playing time, etc can be a valuable thing for all parties. We've had both ends of the stick and it can work as long as it's explained. I hated when mine subbed and played over others who paid to be on the team, but that was a coaches decision based on all the factors above. The coach has to manage the exposure in the weather elements and strategize to get the most out of the entire lineup over those hot days and long nights possibly. Exhaustion sets in and if the goal is to play long into a weekend or week, 10-11 girls will not usually cut it.... With that said one time, our one thought she was only going for a weekend in a national and ended up there til Thursday, she met some great kids and they welcomed her and another with open arms..... So it can work if it's all communicated..