Why do Parents and Softball Players leave Teams in the Middle of Travel Seasons.

[Admin]

1.) Why do Parents or Softball Players leave they're current organization in the middle of Travel Season?

2.) Does it matter if leaving your daughter current Fastpitch Softball Team right in the middle of travel season will upset the complexity of the team?

3.) When you made that commitment to the organization, we're you as a parent or player making that commitment to the other parents and players to stick it out until the end of the travel seasons? Or only if you remained happy?


#TeamTSZ

 

[Pacerdad57]

1. If the softball team doesn't show the player the same respect the player showed the team...I.e. replacing players halfway thru season with subs. Coach, you picked 'em, you stick with 'em. No changing horses in the middle of the stream.
2. Complexity wasn't changed by the players leaving, but by the coach changing the complexity/dynamic of the team.
3. It's a 2 way street. We made the commitment to the team, we held up our end until the organization showed no intent of holding up their commitment. At that point imho, all fair in love and war.

 

[chixdad]

Biggest reason I have heard lately is promises not kept, not playing the schedule you are told you will or not being happy with coach as you get to know them. Surprisingly we had an bad experience with a coach last year and everyone stayed on.

 

[wvanalmsick]

Because the coach's insatiable appetite to win and/or showcase just certain players overrides the promises that he made to players. Promises like playing time, tournament schedule, recruiting possibilities.

 

[Ri-domination]

Maybe sometimes people are just fed up with a situation.

 

[geowardjr]

1.) Why do Parents or Softball Players leave they're current organization in the middle of Travel Season?

2.) Does it matter if leaving your daughter current Fastpitch Softball Team right in the middle of travel season will upset the complexity of the team?

3.) When you made that commitment to the organization, we're you as a parent or player making that commitment to the other parents and players to stick it out until the end of the travel seasons? Or only if you remained happy?


#TeamTSZ

What do you define as the middle of Travel Season?

1 - Hard to say what motivates players or parents to make the move ..... there are too many potential reasons and/or factors which lead to a departure to list.
2 - Sure it matters - again, need to see the entire picture to determine what is motivating a person to move.
3 - Yes, everyone should make the decision with intentions to "stick it out" until the end of travel season; however, "remaining happy" is such a small reason to stay with a group if you discover players / parents are not on the same page or have similar goals. Again, there are so many valid reasons, it really depends on your situation. "Remaining happy" is on the lower end of the decision process.

I do take this topic personal. I am guilty of moving both of my DD's after committing to a team. It was an extremely difficult decision, which included the input from our entire family. We felt that making the move in December would allow our team to recover from our departure. I also felt that since I already paid for both of my girls that they could use our monies to offer spots to potential players ... I never asked for a refund. In my eyes, that was the least I could do for putting them in the position we were leaving them in. Our motivation was not simply "remaining happy". After a few decisions from everyone involved (coaches / players / parents / organization) I felt that based on the age of my dd's that we had to find a group who had similar goals as fast pitch players and families. I am not getting into every point that made our decision, we simply felt that we could not let another valuable season slip past us. In our case, it was my fault for not confirming that everyone involved was on the same page and willing to make the same level of commitment as we were willing to make.

 

[manitoudan]

Sadly teams do sell themselves above what the actual truth is in attempts to hold good talent . They lie about commitment from other players and families , they lie about schedules . Maybe lie is a harsh word , maybe " inflate" is more politically correct. Nah they just lie . Talked to a parent last night with a case of buyers remorse already . It happens . Bad for both parties .

 

[travelinmom]

The few kids I have known over the years who quit a team during the season are the one who are challenging to coach and their parents are loud, argumentative, and negative about the coaching. A couple of them have repeated the process at least twice each.
No one is ever happy with coaching decisions 100% of the time. People in general need to grow thicker skin and get over themselves, there are way too many girls who want to play and are willing to be coached, even if they aren't happy all the time.

 

[SMc4SMc]

Playing time. Families don't want to waste time and money traveling to see their player sitting.

 

[wow]

You see it more and more both before and during the season. I think the biggest concern is getting what you want out of the team and from the kids. Coaches, who are not happy with W/L bring in fill in players all the time. Parents who are not happy with W/L do the same by leaving one org and going to another. Its a two way street and has been discussed countless times here before. Very hard to keep a group of 11 kids happy for 11 months. Not to include their parents!

Top 5 reasons kids leave.

5. Grass is greener mentality- Its better over there mentality. Its not always better every team has "issues" find out which ones you can deal with!
4. Playing time- My kid is D1 and getting a full ride. She just does not get the playing time at "x". If we go to "Y" things will be better
3.Schedule/opportunity- Coach said we would all fly first class all over the country, stay at beachfront condos, and play showcases for my $550 fee. Now we are not doing that schedule.
2. Development- My kid was playing tee ball last year and now at 16U she cant field or hit the 61 MPH fast ball. Team "Y" develops their kids better!
1. Kids don't leave organizations they leave coaches. Great coaches set expectations, communicate with parents and know how to manage the "High Maintenance" ones.

 

[03softballfan]

Sometimes it's promises made that are not upheld by the coaches. Mommy ball an daddy ball sometimes are big factors. There are so many teams anymore this just becomes so easy to make the grass is greenier decision. Personally I think coaches should give there opinions at tryouts but make any promises. Just roster spots an commit to do there best to make players the best they can be. Fall ball really should be used really to get to know your players an not as win driven. We all like to win but unless your are returning a huge number of players with just one or two additions everyone should get some opportunity esp in the younger age groups. There is some really good up an coming coaches an definetly some that are playing for blood an winning at what ever cost. But by the spring the best nine take the field definetly at that point everyone should have had a oppertunity to develop an prove where they belong an not just be getting the oppertunity because they were promised it at tryouts an didn't improve IMHO

 

[Ofcheat04]

Imo, I think it's sometimes due to the selfishness of parents. Some parents don't understand that it takes a team effort consisting of nine girls to win a game. At times we as coaches put players in spots to better help the team and I think it's hard for some parents to understand that. We as coaches sacrifice so much and give many hours to better our teams and when a player isn't utilized the way a parent likes they jump ship. I know this isn't always the case but many times it is. Again this is just my humble opinion.

 

[Fairman]

I regret the two seasons with two different teams that we didn't leave once the coach's intentions regarding my dd became extremely clear. We were intentionally baited and switched. Those two seasons were h--l on my dd and on our family with very few fond memories.

Fortunately we found a team/coaches that did what they said they'd do and valued my dd for her last two seasons of travel ball. (She was named all-confernece her sophomore season in college, so its come out alright in the end)

If I could do it again I would confront the coaches in December and find a different team in January. We wasted two years being loyal with no reciprocity from the organization or the coaches.

(I'm still a little bitter...)

 

[MD 20/20]

There are a million different reasons why player/families leave teams. I had one quit last year without notice. I'm waiting for her to show up at a tournament and the family never had the decency to let me know they were not coming. I still have not spoke to them, but the only reason I can figure was that she practiced that week in the OF. I agree that everything is a 2 way street and I'm not trying to insinuate that teams/coaches/managers don't drop players for new shiny toys, but there is the other side to the street as well.