When to call it quits....

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I work with someone who has a daughter on a 14U team.
Problem is her team still needs 3 or 4 players.

I have told him to get her on another team asap.

When should parents and players start looking if their team is still short 3 or 4 players ?

Our 14U is full.

 

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3 or 4 short is a lot to be short this time of year.

I would say by April 1st ... a team that doesn't have enough ( like you stated in your scenerio ).... then the coach should disband thus offering the girls an opportunity to find a team to play on.

 

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Ohio Danger 13u is still looking for a utility type player. Must be 13 years old or younger though, looking to keep this team together through 18u. If know anybody interested have them call me at 937-605-9877.

Thanks,
Paul Moore
Ohio Danger 13u

 

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3 or 4 short is a lot to be short this time of year.

I would say by April 1st ... a team that doesn't have enough ( like you stated in your scenerio ).... then the coach should disband thus offering the girls an opportunity to find a team to play on.

Have to agree.....alot of teams are still looking for 1 to 2 players and not finding them.....3 to 4 players short at this date is pretty hard to do. Unless alot of HS girls have not yet committed at this age group. Which is not usually the case. Dad/Mom at least needs to be contacting some coaches and putting a back up plan into place.

 

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I admire the team for trying to stick together but at this stage, if you don't have 9, its time to let the girls find a new team.

 

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It could be a case of the coach attempting to keep the team together so that he/she would be able to coach his/her daughter. (See DaddyBall...) Unfortunately, we see this too often - and it hurts the rest of the players because they won't have a place to go unless another player on another team gets injured.

 

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Louuuuu touches on the core problem with many teams and I'd like to support it. It hurts the girls to attempt this and is a selfish move on the coach. To get back on topic, I would suggest any high school age group without enough players to disband before March 1 and a good coach will help make contact with other teams to get them settled on a roster right away. For kids not in school ball, I suggest no later than April 1 to go shopping.

Coaches, do this for the right reasons and be in this for the kids. A young lady's "career" is too short to miss a summer. If you are unable to fulfill your obligation with a committed roster by Feb.-March, don't let the kids down hanging on for a miracle. Most the families will understand if you call it in time for them to move on but none will forgive you if you cause them to miss a season. 3 or more players needed by now are too many to hope for. Do your own daughter a favor and find her a home, then enjoy the summer yourself.

 

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Another great post by DaBoss.

 

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Although I generally agree with the responses so far, I'd like to know a few more facts. Like specifically how many team members are committed. If there are 10 members already committed, we've had successful teams with only that many players. And there can indeed be players who based on their first year of HS softball would like to get into the travel scene.

On the other hand, if the team doesn't yet have at least 9 committed players and you suspect that the coach will go to all lengths in an unreasonable hope that the team will stay together (daddy ball would be one example, as previously pointed out by another poster), then I don't believe you have a moral obligation to stay with the team until the ship sinks.

The moral obligation that the departing player DOES have is to announce to the existing coach her intention to find another team. That might just be the reality check the existing coach needs to fold up the team and release the other players to find new teams.

JMHO and I'm sure there could be additional facts that would change my opinion.

 

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I agree with knowing when to say when. Our 12u was struggling this year and I had to make the hard decision to disband the team. Always a tough decision, but you have to think about the girls first and foremost. I called it in Late November for several reasons; 12u practice throughout the winter and you want those girls to have all the time they can to acclimate to their new coaches & teammates, uniform orders take time to get completed and you don't want to add that stress to the family or new team, it takes time to find the right fit and you want to give them that time.

 

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"The moral obligation that the departing player DOES have is to announce to the existing coach her intention to find another team. That might just be the reality check the existing coach needs to fold up the team and release the other players to find new teams."
I absolutely agree with cgs here. the only thing I might add would be talk to the coach and give them a date when you will begin looking if they have not already filled the spot. For example. "Coach, you have been looking for players since January and have not had any luck. My daughter definitely wants to play this summer so as of (choose a date) we will begin exploring options for another team, unless our team has at least 11 committed players"

 

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It is way too hard to find 3-4 players this close to the season. If you don't have 9 committed now, I'd fold.

 

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@Msutt1 : If the team should disband I hope you can make sure you can tell the other parents that there is a section in the OFC to post " Player looking for a team" .. so maybe some of these 14u coaches can advertise for the players/position they need and the girls that want to play can find teams to do so. And all have a happy ending to a stressful time by finding teams.

Player Looking For a Team link: http://www.game-ex.com/vb3/forumdisplay.php?f=86

Good luck.

 

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@Msutt1 : If the team should disband I hope you can make sure you can tell the other parents that there is a section in the OFC to post " Player looking for a team" .. so maybe some of these 14u coaches can advertise for the players/position they need and the girls that want to play can find teams to do so. And all have a happy ending to a stressful time by finding teams.

Player Looking For a Team link: http://www.game-ex.com/vb3/forumdisplay.php?f=86

Good luck.

Quakerman- my daughter's team is not folding, I was just sharing my opinion about how to handle a difficult situation. I do agree with you that hopefully someone will guide the girls who are losing a team to OFC so they can find a new one.

As far as a coach stringing players along at some point it is the players/parents fault for not making a firm decision to leave and sticking to it. While not an easy decision sometimes it has to be.

 

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I agree with you 100% percent. Good topic for reference actually.

 

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It depends on what the team is looking to play.

If the team is looking to play an A schedule even if they have 9 at this time its going to tough to find "Quality" players to fill the roster.

If they are only playing a local schedule B/C level they may be able to get 2 or 3 to fill the void and grow some other talent.