I need your help. I have a question.

[jtat32]

Maybe you have a good reason for leaving, and maybe the coach is fine with it - totally amicable agreement and the coach signs your papers. Now everyone else sees this and a couple of kids get offers to pick up with a more high-profile team and think their DDs would benefit from the opportunity. What is the coach going to say when they start asking for a release?

[DonnieS]

Maybe you have a good reason for leaving, and maybe the coach is fine with it - totally amicable agreement and the coach signs your papers. Now everyone else sees this and a couple of kids get offers to pick up with a more high-profile team and think their DDs would benefit from the opportunity. What is the coach going to say when they start asking for a release?

Maybe I should do a better job of building and running a team so kids wont want to leave.

[DonnieS]

My question was intended to be more of an ethical question.
So let me ask it this way.
YOU are the mgr/coach of a org./team and a player no longer wishes to play for you.
They have returned everything, are current on their dues ect, they are done with you.
Why not sign release papers for that player and let them be on their way?
Let them deal with the governing bodies and their rules and regulations of play.
Why as a Mgr./coach would you not release them?

My team was in Texas - not ... you know where. I would release any kid who wanted to be released. Who would want a family with them that didnt want to be? (am i missing something or isnt this supposed to be fun ?).

[DonnieS]

I've been very busy the last few days - but did Obama issue an executive order turning over the Emancipation Proclamation ? Other than husbands, are we allowed to have slaves again ?

[jtat32]

Maybe you have a good reason for leaving, and maybe the coach is fine with it - totally amicable agreement and the coach signs your papers. Now everyone else sees this and a couple of kids get offers to pick up with a more high-profile team and think their DDs would benefit from the opportunity. What is the coach going to say when they start asking for a release?

Maybe I should do a better job of building and running a team so kids wont want to leave.

Not the point I was trying to make. I only know you through this site, but from what I understand, you did an excellent job taking what was basically a neighborhood team, getting it to a level where it was competitive on a national level, and getting the girls signed. Very impressive, if I understand correctly.

Take that same team and move it to SoCal and let's say you only know the players/families through tryouts and their tenure on the team. Can you imagine a scenario where your team is doing well and some of your better players are approached by coaches of very high-profile teams who tell them "Your team is pretty good, but no college coaches are going to see them. Come over to my team and I'll get you looked at"? Can you not imagine some of these players biting on it?

I feel like an old-timer now. Seems like way back in the day (a few years ago) the advice would have been to suck it up, make the best of the rest of the season, and do better research for their next team.

[Sam]

My question was intended to be more of an ethical question.
So let me ask it this way.
YOU are the mgr/coach of a org./team and a player no longer wishes to play for you.
They have returned everything, are current on their dues ect, they are done with you.
Why not sign release papers for that player and let them be on their way?
Let them deal with the governing bodies and their rules and regulations of play.
Why as a Mgr./coach would you not release them?

Easy question. At 12U I carry 12 players to ensure that everyone gets a lot of playing time. That is a recruiting plus for me and a reason for each kid to join my team. Now we didn't qualify for PGF or ASA, but we are going to ASA Western Nationals. My SS is being illegally recruited by a team that, did qualify for ASA Nationals. I could go play in TCS and let her go.....problem.....I only have 11 players......and I have now opened my team to be ravaged by any team. I would rather force the kid to play for me or sit at home. She is turning her back on me and her teammates.

OBTW: it's never the kid that wants to leave.....always the stupid parents who want to be Abe to say that they went to Nationals......even if their kid never sees the field.

[Sam]

Maybe you have a good reason for leaving, and maybe the coach is fine with it - totally amicable agreement and the coach signs your papers. Now everyone else sees this and a couple of kids get offers to pick up with a more high-profile team and think their DDs would benefit from the opportunity. What is the coach going to say when they start asking for a release?

Maybe I should do a better job of building and running a team so kids wont want to leave.

Not the point I was trying to make. I only know you through this site, but from what I understand, you did an excellent job taking what was basically a neighborhood team, getting it to a level where it was competitive on a national level, and getting the girls signed. Very impressive, if I understand correctly.

Take that same team and move it to SoCal and let's say you only know the players/families through tryouts and their tenure on the team. Can you imagine a scenario where your team is doing well and some of your better players are approached by coaches of very high-profile teams who tell them "Your team is pretty good, but no college coaches are going to see them. Come over to my team and I'll get you looked at"? Can you not imagine some of these players biting on it?

I feel like an old-timer now. Seems like way back in the day (a few years ago) the advice would have been to suck it up, make the best of the rest of the season, and do better research for their next team.

One would hope that the parents could see through that line of bull$hit. Coaches do not get players seen. Players contacting coaches at schools they would like to attend account for the vast majority of signings.

Sure, high profile teams draw college attention. If your kid plays on those teams, you don't have to worry much....but if you look at their histories you will find that many of their players get rides to some schools you never heard of.....it's not an automatic ticket to the SEC, Big 12 or 10,r the PAC 12. Lots of coaches peddle horse $hit and parents get in line to gobble it up. Then they complain on UCS.

[DonnieS]

Maybe you have a good reason for leaving, and maybe the coach is fine with it - totally amicable agreement and the coach signs your papers. Now everyone else sees this and a couple of kids get offers to pick up with a more high-profile team and think their DDs would benefit from the opportunity. What is the coach going to say when they start asking for a release?

Maybe I should do a better job of building and running a team so kids wont want to leave.

Not the point I was trying to make. I only know you through this site, but from what I understand, you did an excellent job taking what was basically a neighborhood team, getting it to a level where it was competitive on a national level, and getting the girls signed. Very impressive, if I understand correctly.

Take that same team and move it to SoCal and let's say you only know the players/families through tryouts and their tenure on the team. Can you imagine a scenario where your team is doing well and some of your better players are approached by coaches of very high-profile teams who tell them "Your team is pretty good, but no college coaches are going to see them. Come over to my team and I'll get you looked at"? Can you not imagine some of these players biting on it?

I feel like an old-timer now. Seems like way back in the day (a few years ago) the advice would have been to suck it up, make the best of the rest of the season, and do better research for their next team.

One would hope that the parents could see through that line of bull$hit. Coaches do not get players seen. Players contacting coaches at schools they would like to attend account for the vast majority of signings.

Sure, high profile teams draw college attention. If your kid plays on those teams, you don't have to worry much....but if you look at their histories you will find that many of their players get rides to some schools you never heard of.....it's not an automatic ticket to the SEC, Big 12 or 10,r the PAC 12. Lots of coaches peddle horse $hit and parents get in line to gobble it up. Then they complain on UCS.

So very true - I lost players to that line of bull shit - lots of people sound better lying than I do telling the truth.

[DonnieS]

Maybe you have a good reason for leaving, and maybe the coach is fine with it - totally amicable agreement and the coach signs your papers. Now everyone else sees this and a couple of kids get offers to pick up with a more high-profile team and think their DDs would benefit from the opportunity. What is the coach going to say when they start asking for a release?

Maybe I should do a better job of building and running a team so kids wont want to leave.

Not the point I was trying to make. I only know you through this site, but from what I understand, you did an excellent job taking what was basically a neighborhood team, getting it to a level where it was competitive on a national level, and getting the girls signed. Very impressive, if I understand correctly.

Take that same team and move it to SoCal and let's say you only know the players/families through tryouts and their tenure on the team. Can you imagine a scenario where your team is doing well and some of your better players are approached by coaches of very high-profile teams who tell them "Your team is pretty good, but no college coaches are going to see them. Come over to my team and I'll get you looked at"? Can you not imagine some of these players biting on it?

I feel like an old-timer now. Seems like way back in the day (a few years ago) the advice would have been to suck it up, make the best of the rest of the season, and do better research for their next team.

Thats true - thats why I mentioned this was done in Texas. Certainly not apples to apples comparison. I did know all my kids and their families before they joined us.

[AlwaysImprove]

I don't think there is any need for softball emancipation. Just that free willy, nilly movement would be bad.

Every time I was requested we released players. Most of the time happily. One time, it had become very clear that it would break our team up. We still signed.

When the team broke up 2 of our better players ended going to the team that grabbed the wannabe outfielder that started the breakup. Those 2 players were way better then most of the players on that team and they were easily able to secure starting commitments from the coach. The wannabe outfielder found herself sitting near the end of a 16 person bench.