Player Leaving Mid Season!

[Coach11]

I've seen this before at an indoor tournament. The issue was that the games were at some ungodly hour. Luckily this didn't happen to our team, but the teams that were scheduled to show up, mind you after already losing in the main bracket, and then again in the "losers" bracket, just said "No, we're not doing this." The entire "consolation" bracket was cancelled because it was just insane.

I've witnessed that as well. Thankfully I've never been in the position of having to return to the field for such a ruse.

If it's an "extra game" fine.....but when it's simply a means of the tournament organizers meeting their promise of minimum games played.....when they know full well nobodys coming back....it's a scam.

[Fanof12]

I think quitting halfway through a season without first talking it over with the coach is really poor. They should try and work out what the issues are.

Instead of sending an email to the coach, the player/parents should stand in front of the whole team and tell then they are leaving. That's who they are hurting the most.

[Judd]

I can see what you are talking about, but even if you did hope to get some time in the circle,would you have up and quit over that? especially without even talking to the coach? My point was that they wanted out, and that was the excuse they were waiting for.

No we wouldnt leave over that.

[softball_parent]

Just to point out it happens the other way also. What do you think about a Gold coach who cuts a player who has been with him over 3 years and that he has known for over 8 years in the middle of a showcase tournament where she has sent out letters to college coaches who are coming to watch and tells the parent on the phone and is never even willing to talk to the player.

[ArmChairCoach]

Instead of sending an email to the coach, the player/parents should stand in front of the whole team and tell them they are leaving. That's who they are hurting the most.

Couldn't have been said better!

[GIMNEPIWO]

Just to point out it happens the other way also. What do you think about a Gold coach who cuts a player who has been with him over 3 years and that he has known for over 8 years in the middle of a showcase tournament where she has sent out letters to college coaches who are coming to watch and tells the parent on the phone and is never even willing to talk to the player.

Sort of sounds like there may be another side to that story ... I'm just saying ...

[Iluvblue]

I think quitting halfway through a season without first talking it over with the coach is really poor. They should try and work out what the issues are.

Instead of sending an email to the coach, the player/parents should stand in front of the whole team and tell then they are leaving. That's who they are hurting the most.

They arent hurting anyone. And do you think a travel coach can MAKE any parent do anything? especially if they are leaving the team. The best thing to do when someone wants to go is wish them luck, no hard feelings, and see ya around the park.

Nobody leaves a team unless they have a reason to leave. Either the team stinks and the player is good, the team is good and the player stinks(thus little PT), The coach is not very good, or the coach treats people like crap. No matter what the reason is, just go your seperate ways and keep things as peaceful as possible.

I have asked players to not return and years later those same parents and players still come over and say hello. No need to get all pissy with anyone.

[REALLY]

I think quitting halfway through a season without first talking it over with the coach is really poor. They should try and work out what the issues are.

Instead of sending an email to the coach, the player/parents should stand in front of the whole team and tell then they are leaving. That's who they are hurting the most.

Better yet you can always go out on a public message board and call out the Coach and Manager in an informal multiple choice quiz so not only your team but all the competition knows as well.

Or how would this one go....


My daughter didn't get her way we own the number "Insert DD's favorite # here" it is her birth right... so stick that in your pole barn and smoke it....

Once you reach that level of distrust and division any coach would prefer a quiet parting with fake smiles and head nods at the park to follow....

[Elatomico]

In many cases if the player/parents & coache(s) are not getting along, the best solution is to just walk away. Why try and make something work if the friction is there. I've heard many occassions where after the player is signed, coaches refuse to release the player if the family decided to walk away. Personally i think you cause more problems doing so and end up looking pretty selfish in the end. Unless the family owe's $$, or uniforms it's better to release and move on. At the same time, as parents, we shouldn't jump ship over minor issues or for no reason what so ever.

[D00bie]

At the end of the day, you have to do, as a parent, what is right for your daughter. If that means leaving pre-season, mid-season, post-season. Then so be it. I would never apologize or feel the need to explain to anyone for leaving and doing what I feel is best for my kid. If the team only had 9 girls and leaving means the team is left with 8, then it is probably a crappy team anyways and a crappy coach. I would Inform the necessary parties, do my duties to return uniforms, pay back fees, etc. yes, absolutely. But nothing beyond that. Just like I don't expect some coach to give my kid a free ride and not cut her if she needs to be cut. I haven't signed a player agreement yet that didn't have weasel language like "a roster spot doesn't guarantee playing time..." or "players are expected to do XYZ to maintain their roster spot..." or "paying doesn't guarentee playing time or a starting position..." . If they want to keep it business like, I will do the same, in my head I have my own player agreement too.