Pick up players !!

[softballjunkie801]

Just want to see how everybody out there feel's about their players picking up with other teams duriing the fall season..

I put down a no pick up playing rule right now for the fall and i am catching some flack for it from a couple of the parents and coaches from other teams (which I dont care about ), my feeling is right now i have 10 players with couple of new players thrown in and the focus has to be on what we are trying to achive and i cant afford to have anybody get hurt , .. I do encourge my girls to pick up through out other times of the year but i feel fall is time for building for next year and not a time for picking up, but maybe i'm wrong so give me some feed back good or bad!!

[3Bsnag]

I would think that the Fall would be time for your players to pick up if they want/need extra dirt time as long as their team is first priority.

I know a pitcher that wants to pick up because she's #3 (great utility- gets playing time at other positions), but wants some more mound time. Coach has a no-pick up policy because other teams try to recruit his players.

We used to play for a coach that had no problem with it at all. His feeling was if you missed practice on Sunday because your pick up team was still playing, that was much better practice.

I understand the injury angle though. With volleyball in full swing, basketball and cross country around the corner, her team, and trying to pick up, the chances for injuries are much greater.

[sscoon]

I think it would depend on several factors...how many tournaments are you playing in during the fall, if you are only playing in 3 or 4, you should let them pick up. There is no better practice than live game situations. Drills are great for development, but they only pay off if they can put them to use when they don't know where the ball is going. If you are playing all but one or two weekends in the fall, I would say you are certainly within your rights to forbid picking up.

Do you practice often? If between the practices and tournaments the players are getting a lot of time with your team, I would say you could limit the picking up.

Do you often pick up players? Would be a little hypocritical I would think if you expect other teams to let you pick up their players if you do not let your own players do the same.

It could also depend on the age group as well. For instance in an older age group, let's say you have a player on your team that needs to attend a certain tournament that your team is not participating in so that a certain college coach or coaches can see her. I would absolutely think you should do the right thing and let her pick up with a team in that tournament.

[softballjunkie801]

we are a 12u making the jump to 14u ,We practice 2-3 days a week . in utah you are some what limited as far as tournaments in the fall because of weather . we are going to two tournments this fall, both which are out of town. with 3-4 friendlys mixed in .. so i know it's not a lot of play time but it's all we have out here . the girls have been asked to pick up in friendlys.. Thanks for the feedback..

[2down1togo]

Our team plays at least every other weekend throughout the fall.....

When we do not play, we practice on Sunday....

Our coach asked everyone to refrain from "jumping" on our off weekends and instead practice with the team...

His points seem pretty good:

1 - Practices are most effective with full participation.

2- You have a committment to others on the team, if you don't have adequate numbers at practice those who do show up lose the value of a full team practice.

3 - Our coaches commit their time to running practices, instead of taking their daughters to other tournaments as a jumper.... If they've committed their time you should as well....

Peace ---

[Judd]

If its not interfering with practices etc, I dont see the harm. Some kids like my DD dont play other sports, so she may be interested in picking up.

[Texas19]

IMO your team comes first, as far as practice compared to game time. I think playing in a game is better than practicing. My DD was asked to pick up in the Ronald McDonald in Houston But our team is playing in a local tourney so we can't go. Your team always comes first just MHO.