LETTING PLAYERS GO?

[88FROM88]

I am aware that we are discussing A-ball and that expectations are higher than rec. ball. With that said, I read in post that the coach stated "letting a player go was a tough thing to do", my question to anyone that wishes to answer is what constitutes this. My dd has only played A-ball for about 1 year and I have only heard about it but not witnessed it. Is this a strictly performanced based discision? I assume that many of the posters on this site are coaches and I am curious as to what would be your reason for doing this.

[txfastptchcoach]

I'll give you a example:

I had one starting catcher last year. I knew I needed another catcher all year (wore her down over the season) but they are hard to find. I picked up another Catcher in the fall. When this Catcher is not catching she is a very good third basemen. So now I have 2 catcher's that both play third base when they are not catching (both very good sticks in lineup 4-5 punch). I have a girl that played third base the season before but I don't have room for her to play or to be honest as good as she is not enough time at 3B. So I had to let her go. Kid/Parents did nothing wrong just a #'s game. I could have strung them along and kept her stick in my lineup but they would NOT have been happy so I think I did the right thing. She is a starting 3B on another good team and I will have to deal with her stick against me now. I'm pretty sure they thought there DD was better than on of my Catcher's at 3B but two dominate catcher's are hard to find. These are some of the things that go on that people don't think about.

[Lefty's Dad]

#1 Reason to let players go? Sneaky Crazy Parents!!!!

[88FROM88]

very good point tx. just have a hard time understanding why a coach could make these kinds of moves based on performace, even at this level. Effort, probably a good reason, but results based descisions are hard to understand because of the fact that these girls encounter so many changes with growth spurts, etc.. My dd have only been playing A-ball for about a year and I have seen here go through lulls that may last one or two tournys then get it back together for four or five tournys. It concerned me at first then we noticed that it seemed to coincide with changes in her.

as far as crazy sneaky parents, ellaborate. If they don't effect the team then why punish the dd?

[Lefty's Dad]

Crazy parents always effect the team. They stir up crap for no reason in the stands, they talk about the other players or the coaching staff to other parents at the fields and on the phone. They tell their DD that it's not their fault she sits the bench or plays somewhere other than SS, it's someone else's. All of this effects the team negatively, it does suck that the player gets punished but that's part of travel and it's a very good reason to make sure everyone does their part in making sure the player is the right fit for the team. Sometimes it is best if the parent just drops their kid off at the field and never shows up for practices or games

[88FROM88]

another understandable point. bye the way, who do you coach, maybe my dd can play for you next year. id love to drop her off and just watch. i always get pulled into helping out.. lol... don't get me wrong , i support her and her team 100%,and as long as she has the drive to play and improve i will do what it takes. but if she said "i don't want to play anymore" it would hurt a little but i would get over it. lol...

[Lefty's Dad]

The only parents I like "dropping off" are the ones that are nuts. I found it very interesting going through the 12u - now 16u age range. The younger ages, the girls were full of drama but as they get older it seems they calmed down quite a bit with that. Maybe that's what makes those parents stand out more now? Of course, I might have been one of those parents a few years ago . We all live and learn.

[frito_burrito]

I prefer dropping my DD off at practice and games. That way i dont have to rag her ass for loafin at practice or not hustlin down the line during a game. Some of the parents get embarrassed when i yell from the outfield fence. It doesnt usually bother me as long as i have my coffee cup full.

[batsnballs]

I prefer dropping my DD off at practice and games. That way i dont have to rag her ass for loafin at practice or not hustlin down the line during a game. Some of the parents get embarrassed when i yell from the outfield fence. It doesnt usually bother me as long as i have my coffee cup full.

This gave me a good laugh. Thanks!