"Not or no longer a good fit"

[1bzymom]

Just curious~ Why is it when asked by a parent or even player for the reason she is "No longer a fit" for a team a coach won't respond?
Constructive criticism is what makes a player better.
If they are not afforded the knowledge they won't know what to do to better themselves.

[jonriv]

Just curious~ Why is it when asked by a parent or even player for the reason she is "No longer a fit" for a team a coach won't respond?
Constructive criticism is what makes a player better.
If they are not afforded the knowledge they won't know what to do to better themselves.

My DD was "cut" by her first TB team in this same manner. She used the fire from "I'll show them!" to motivate her for years following.(all the way to college) Finally played them three years later and smacked them around...


"No longer a fit" is the travel ball version of "I just want to be friends" and can cover a lot of reasons

1- we found someone better
2- parents are a pain
3- you are taking playing time away from S____ and her Dad is a big sponser!

BTW- #3 is what we found out was the reason

[AlwaysImprove]

Just curious~ Why is it when asked by a parent or even player for the reason she is "No longer a fit" for a team a coach won't respond?
Constructive criticism is what makes a player better.
If they are not afforded the knowledge they won't know what to do to better themselves.

Cause they really know this is just an argument, one that they cannot win.

Most coaches that have been around have been put in this situation. Once as an assistant coach we had a girl, she was an outfielder. During tryouts, she did reasonably ok. We thought some drills, some coaching, we could make her better. From tryouts on she could not track the ball, not even a little bit. Ball would be hit to her side of the field, she would stand perfectly still.

Everyone else, parents and kids, on the team were losing their minds. They felt we were playing her way to much and she was costing us too many games. Really, she was only getting a few innings a weekend.

Even with decreased play time, she was still was wanting back on the team the next year. We had to sit her down and suggest another team would be a better fit.

[xyzdude]

Not a good fit is way better than
-you are not as good as we thought
-you haven't gotten any better
-your Dad is a pain in my butt and I cannot take it anymore
-all of the above

[jonriv]

Not a good fit is way better than
-you are not as good as we thought
-you haven't gotten any better
-your Dad is a pain in my butt and I cannot take it anymore
-all of the above

I love the third one.......

[1bzymom]

Even with decreased play time, she was still was wanting back on the team the next year. We had to sit her down and suggest another team would be a better fit.

At least you sat her down. Today is the world of the impersonal arena of the internet and email.

But, as a coach, if one of your actual players came to you and asked what they could do to better themself would you not answer them? Why not the same consideration for someone who asking in a non confrontational way what the player could do to make them a better player?

[jonriv]

Even with decreased play time, she was still was wanting back on the team the next year. We had to sit her down and suggest another team would be a better fit.

At least you sat her down. Today is the world of the impersonal arena of the internet and email.

But, as a coach, if one of your actual players came to you and asked what they could do to better themself would you not answer them? Why not the same consideration for someone who asking in a non confrontational way what the player could do to make them a better player?

You would think they would have the common courtesy to do that. A true coach would try to help the player find an appropriate team

[TooOldToCare]

At the end of every season, summer and fall, our Gold team does an end of year review with each player. We tell them their strengths and weaknesses and what they need to work on. Just seems like the right thing to do. For both the player and the staff!

[superfan]

Perhaps the coach doesn't want a confrontation with you and wants to spare DD feelings. Sometimes the love for the game and the desire to play with the best does not always match the skills or potential of the athlete. To be a successful elite athlete it not only takes natural talent but also hard work.

I would be thankful they said something instead of keep quiet and sit my DD on the bench. Sure it would have been nice to hear a little constructive criticism, but who knows...perhaps it would have been very hurtful and not well received.

If my DD was told that and cut from a team and still interested in playing I would find another team, even if it meant a weaker level, where she would get plenty of solid coaching coupled with game experience. I would also invest in private one on one lessons.

[AlwaysImprove]

Even with decreased play time, she was still was wanting back on the team the next year. We had to sit her down and suggest another team would be a better fit.

At least you sat her down. Today is the world of the impersonal arena of the internet and email.

But, as a coach, if one of your actual players came to you and asked what they could do to better themself would you not answer them? Why not the same consideration for someone who asking in a non confrontational way what the player could do to make them a better player?

I guess that is my point. I was only an assistant coach at the time. I can say that it went horribly. The player kept saying she did not understand, and insisting that the coach explain, and when he would, she would disagree. I felt for him, he was in a very difficult position. It was like watching your buddy get in a fight with a girl, but worse. More like watching someone get fired at work. He kinda had to win the points on why he felt a different team was appropriate, or let her back on the team. Letting her back on was not going to happen, as everyone else was pretty committed to leaving if she stayed. Lot's of tears.

Ended with the girls parents yelling, 'Thanks a lot pal!', 'You guys are so awesome!', 'You have destroyed our little girl!'. They then proceeded to air everything that the coach said to the girl in the meeting. Happened in front of our teams parents, opposing teams parents who we just eliminated from nationals and a couple of other games of parents. Then they took their kid and stomped off. Rest of our parents of course acted aghast at what was said, until problem parents were out of earshot, then goofed on them.

In the end this ends up being on the coach. After watching this one play out, it would be my advice to go with the 'not a good fit' and leave it at that.

I can give you another one that did not go so well.