Pulling out just before Nats ?

[Supersuds]

I here allot of teams are thinning out due to parents pulling out just before Nationals. Is that common in past years? I know it expensive but you figure they should know that before getting involved. You spend a lot of time developing these girls and sometimes it can throw a wrench in the chemistry of the team.

[smash3]

It seems to be a pretty common occurrence. Sad how parents ride out the year and then at the last minute pull out and leave the rest of the team hanging. I understand financial hardship as we have all been there but to pull out a week before or two weeks before is plain wrong. Not only are they doing a disservice to their daughters, but what about the rest of the girls on the team? It's unfortunate but in previous experiences you kind of expect either an injury or a gripe to be really worse than it is right before Nationals.

[RACER X]

I here allot of teams are thinning out due to parents pulling out just before Nationals. Is that common in past years? I know it expensive but you figure they should know that before getting involved. You spend a lot of time developing these girls and sometimes it can throw a wrench in the chemistry of the team.

I've heard this, or variations of this same rumor...but nobody seems to mention specific teams. You say "allot of teams,"....care to give us some names?

[Sftbll4ever]

So just what do you expect those parents to do when there is no money? Sometimes it comes all of a sudden. With this economic downturn, would you expect parents that may have just received their layoff notices within the last week or so to just say what the hell lets just go and worry about where we are going to live once we spend out rent money for the next 2 months on softball.

Personally, I enjoy my kids having a roof over their heads and food in their mouths.

[bucndranch]

So just what do you expect those parents to do when there is no money? Sometimes it comes all of a sudden. With this economic downturn, would you expect parents that may have just received their layoff notices within the last week or so to just say what the hell lets just go and worry about where we are going to live once we spend out rent money for the next 2 months on softball.

Personally, I enjoy my kids having a roof over their heads and food in their mouths.

Given your scenario there is no blame, that is unexpected and nothing you can do. We try to fundraise and talk about it all the time from the beginning so there there are no excuses (outside of your above quote). Some just do not plan for it. I think there are those that cannot go, did not plan for it, yet will find another reason to bail and not admit the truth.

We had 2 leave earlier, around state, saying they will just not be able to afford it. I can respect that, they both went to new teams and off to other nationals. Who knows the truth, if they are happy they stay and they go!!! They find a way!!

[Supersuds]

So just what do you expect those parents to do when there is no money? Sometimes it comes all of a sudden. With this economic downturn, would you expect parents that may have just received their layoff notices within the last week or so to just say what the hell lets just go and worry about where we are going to live once we spend out rent money for the next 2 months on softball.

Personally, I enjoy my kids having a roof over their heads and food in their mouths.

Given your scenario there is no blame, that is unexpected and nothing you can do. We try to fundraise and talk about it all the time from the beginning so there there are no excuses (outside of your above quote). Some just do not plan for it. I think there are those that cannot go, did not plan for it, yet will find another reason to bail and not admit the truth.

We had 2 leave earlier, around state, saying they will just not be able to afford it. I can respect that, they both went to new teams and off to other nationals. Who knows the truth, if they are happy they stay and they go!!! They find a way!!

Relax Sftbll4ever, just asking for different scenarios......
However "bucndranch" brings up good points, like fundraising, constant communication about the goals, but people making excuses and going with other teams thats just wrong. some people do know about the $ part and know they can't afford it and still stick around and get all they can out team and bail.....ouch !!!

[Demonboy]

So just what do you expect those parents to do when there is no money? Sometimes it comes all of a sudden. With this economic downturn, would you expect parents that may have just received their layoff notices within the last week or so to just say what the hell lets just go and worry about where we are going to live once we spend out rent money for the next 2 months on softball.

Personally, I enjoy my kids having a roof over their heads and food in their mouths.

Given your scenario there is no blame, that is unexpected and nothing you can do. We try to fundraise and talk about it all the time from the beginning so there there are no excuses (outside of your above quote). Some just do not plan for it. I think there are those that cannot go, did not plan for it, yet will find another reason to bail and not admit the truth.

We had 2 leave earlier, around state, saying they will just not be able to afford it. I can respect that, they both went to new teams and off to other nationals. Who knows the truth, if they are happy they stay and they go!!! They find a way!!

Some families are just getting by but somehow manage nationals/travel ball by budgeting and making sacrifices. All it would take, especially in this climate, would be a couple pieces of bad news (car breaks down, need a root canal, house has termites.....name it) to f*** up the whole works. The next thing they know they're facing dispair and reevaluating their priorities. Sometimes the most sensible option is to immediately eliminate frills including but not limited to outlandishly priced youth sports activities. Even if it's at the most inconvenient time to do so.

Think about what a failure that a dad might feel like when it dawns on him after reviewing the data (and his recently f***ed up 401K) that they are not going to be able to pull it off this year. How about when he has to break the news to his dd? Bet that's a real Hallmark moment huh?

I'm sure as hell not going to pass judgement on someone from the outside for "not preparing" when that might be piling on someone who is already hating life.

[hotwheels]

I think everyone is making some good points but there should be no BUT.........

The economy SUCKS, people are broke and quite frankly softball is such a minute piece of each of our lives when compared to FOOD, MORTGAGE, JOBS, etc.....

Financially, taking a vacation is hard enough on 75% of the Nation.....Now, couple that with those of us who work at companies that frown on taking too much vacation time during these "HARD TIMES".....Upper management begins to think that maybe you are making too much money or you are expendable.......This is happening all over the Construction Industry right now......

I am curious about those who are pulling out...Did they notify the team that it might happen or just drop the bomb at once? It works both ways and I see both sides.

How many are playing on teams that SHOULDN'T be going anywhere? Maybe some of these parents just assumed that their team wasn't going and then when the team decided to go, they freaked out. There are so many variables....

Some parents and coaches feel if the team isn't good enough to WIN at Nationals or TCS, then why go.....Some feel that you have to GO no matter what the team has done all year long. I just know that there are as many BAD parents as there are BAD coaches......Just hope that people are up front and honest with each other.....

I don't see how any of us can badmouth the coaches or parents in these times......If they can't go then they can't go....Period!.....But, if it is a last minute notification then they suck!

I know that our Xpress 96 team was going to do TCS and Westerns or Nationals at one point but things (Finanacially) got progressively worse throughout the year and they decided to just do TCS.....Nothing more, nothing less....5 minute conversation and it was over......It's softball, not life and death....

Why make your parents suffer and have to come up with HUGE money when your team can save it for the next year? Some teams are better off than others financially....Just a thought because this economy WILL turn around.......I HOPE!

[upurbox]

I think everyone is making some good points but there should be no BUT.........

The economy SUCKS, people are broke and quite frankly softball is such a minute piece of each of our lives when compared to FOOD, MORTGAGE, JOBS, etc.....

Financially, taking a vacation is hard enough on 75% of the Nation.....Now, couple that with those of us who work at companies that frown on taking too much vacation time during these "HARD TIMES".....Upper management begins to think that maybe you are making too much money or you are expendable.......This is happening all over the Construction Industry right now......

I am curious about those who are pulling out...Did they notify the team that it might happen or just drop the bomb at once? It works both ways and I see both sides.

How many are playing on teams that SHOULDN'T be going anywhere? Maybe some of these parents just assumed that their team wasn't going and then when the team decided to go, they freaked out. There are so many variables....

Some parents and coaches feel if the team isn't good enough to WIN at Nationals or TCS, then why go.....Some feel that you have to GO no matter what the team has done all year long. I just know that there are as many BAD parents as there are BAD coaches......Just hope that people are up front and honest with each other.....

I don't see how any of us can badmouth the coaches or parents in these times......If they can't go then they can't go....Period!.....But, if it is a last minute notification then they suck!

I know that our Xpress 96 team was going to do TCS and Westerns or Nationals at one point but things (Finanacially) got progressively worse throughout the year and they decided to just do TCS.....Nothing more, nothing less....5 minute conversation and it was over......It's softball, not life and death....

Why make your parents suffer and have to come up with HUGE money when your team can save it for the next year? Some teams are better off than others financially....Just a thought because this economy WILL turn around.......I HOPE!

Well said DR. Phil.....

[DaMann]

My question is when is enough enough? You try to qualify out of state, not good enough, in state, not enough, regional, not good enough, out of state again, not good enough, all the long losing to teams that also aren't qualifying. With the exception of the one local qualifier (only gas & food money), the rest of these trips cost a minimum of $1K. Then when you refuse to spend anymore money the coach wants to kick you off the team. Doesn't the coach have a responsibility to the parents and players, to evaluate his team instead of just wanting to feed his/her ego?