Immature Teammates

Shelbylynn said:

The immature girls on the team really are very strong players, truly they're assets to the team. It's just frustrating that the parents are right there "watching" practice and won't do anything about it. I have half a mind to say something to our HC, whom we all adore, but I'm loathe to be "that" parent. FWIW the parents are all great too. We're very lucky to be on such a great team. I guess this is our only real issue, and for that I should be grateful. It's just so ANNOYING to have the girls be disrespectful to a new AC who's volunteering his time and effort to help. Probably the answer is to drop DD off at practice and go on my merry way. At least I know she will be respectful. Thanks for responding. It always helps to hear of others experiences.

Click to expand...

I think your DD needs to be the one to help find a solution. Go over some constructive ways she can be a leader and address the issue. At this age, teen girls tend to be pretty self-correcting if left to their devices.

To me, the team is like a dog pack. Let them establish their rules, boundaries, and expectations on their own. If your girl is like mine, when she's finally had enough of the foolishness - she'll let them know. Or, she'll decide it isn't worth rocking the boat. Either way, it's about her boundaries, and AC's boundaries - not yours. It's super cool that it bothers you, though, because it shows that you're raising a respectful, hard-working daughter.

Oh and FWIW - I watch my daughter 16u DD practice because I drive her and have no place else to go, and also because I enjoy it. I joined a nearby gym and I go then pretty regularly now, but sometimes I just like watching her play because she's traveling without me now and I don't make every game anymore.

Shelbylynn said:

Looking for any advice, or at the very least, commiseration. How do you handle teammates who behave immaturely and goof off? Don't watch practice? Sit by the outfield during games? DD is a pro, shows up to work, but several, while very talented girls, are there to goof off. This is a 16u A team, with 3-4 14 year-olds. HC does a good job of keeping those in line, and fortunately there are other girls who are serious, but AC ran a practice this week, and 3 out of the 4 girls that showed up ran all over him, just like a substitute teacher. And the parents just sit there and let them behave that way. Probably the best thing to do is let DH take her to practice I guess.

Click to expand...

As a parent I took ownership of my child's behavior because anything the coaches did to try to discipline her would pale in comparison to my wrath when we got home...my DD has been put out at the front of the neighbor on multiple occasions and told she had 8 minutes to run home (@ 1 mile) and if she did not make it I would drive her back to the front of the neighborhood and make her do it again. I am sure some parents, and neighbors, consider me a psycho softball dad, but I bet my DD would tell you that the discipline and no-nonsense hard work ethic I instilled in her at 12U/14U helped mold her into the player she is today.

my DD has been put out at the front of the neighbor on multiple occasions and told she had 8 minutes to run home (@ 1 mile) and if she did not make it I would drive her back to the front of the neighborhood and make her do it again. I am sure some parents, and neighbors, consider me a psycho softball dad,

Click to expand...

Oh...don't sell yourself short. I'm sure perfect strangers would consider you a psycho softball dad.

DD and a couple other players were named team captains on their MS team.

Team was goofing off so the coaches just stayed away from them.

When they settled down they pulled the 3 Team captions over and gave them an earful.

Loved our MS coaches.

Counter opinion here, but I don't think it's the job of middle school captains to keep their teammates from goofing off. Coach's responsibility, IMO.

It was thier job to make an attempt, it was the coaches responsibility. If that makes sense.

quincy said:

It was thier job to make an attempt, it was the coaches responsibility. If that makes sense.

Click to expand...

If the captains were part of the goofing off, then I can see them getting an extra earful, if that's what you mean. They do have a responsibility to set a standard.

Them and 1 other were the only players not goofing off.

chinamigarden said:

I'm trying to wrap my mind around 16u parents staying for the practice.

Click to expand...

As others have said driving long distances to practice doesn't make sense to drop off. Several of us sit together and chit-chat, coughgossipcough. One of DD's teammates jogged by us and said "Look! It's the real housewives of (insert team name here)." lol