Team player vs being taken advantage of?

KPower said:

DD is far and away the best outfielder on the team. She can track the ball, catch the ball and throw the ball. Plus she is FAST! But I think there are also attitude problems on the team. Several of the girls have been heard joking about how they purposely play poorly when placed in the outfield so HC won't put them back out there. DD would never purposely play poorly. It's not in her. But she is also a great catcher. Before tryouts began she was offered spots on 4 12U teams - no tryout necessary, and she tried out for 2 other 14s teams and was offered spots on both those teams as well. She has quite the reputation around here as a great catcher. I posted a thread a couple weeks ago about DD's AC and how horrible he is to her. I'm beginning to think he is pressuring HC to put DD in the outfield. AC does not "believe" in lefty catchers.

Anyway...I agree the team needs more than one catcher - and DD agrees too. However, last weekend for instance DD didn't catch at all. 2 games. CF only and one inning at 1st. The weekend before she caught 2 innings over 2 games. There is one other decent catcher on the team and 2 awful catchers. So slow - and not smart. Like throwing down to 2nd with a runner on 3rd - not smart. Over and over again. Watching the ball roll past and strolling to go retrieve it slow. They like to "play catcher" not BE a catcher.

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AC not believing in lefty catchers? 2 innings catching over the last 4 games? Team with girls purposely playing poorly? It's time to talk to the HC not about catching time, but about an exit strategy. Finish the fall season and follow up with the teams who previously expressed an interest to find a good fit for the spring. Sounds like DD is serious about this softball thing and catching so DO YOUR HOMEWORK and find a team that shares her objectives and level of commitment AND will provide her the opportunity to earn significant time behind the plate.

Greenmonsters said:

AC not believing in lefty catchers? 2 innings catching over the last 4 games? Team with girls purposely playing poorly? It's time to talk to the HC not about catching time, but about an exit strategy. Finish the fall season and follow up with the teams who previously expressed an interest to find a good fit for the spring. Sounds like DD is serious about this softball thing and catching so DO YOUR HOMEWORK and find a team that shares her objectives and level of commitment AND will provide her the opportunity to earn significant time behind the plate.

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This


It's not about liking the coach. It's about playing and getting exposure for college, if that's her goal.

Yes - at this point finishing out fall and reexamining the options is most definitely the plan. DD has played for this coach for 4 years and he has put together great competitive teams until this year. For some reason this year things didn't come together like they have in years past. DD wanted to stay with this coach because he has been very gracious in allowing her to play other sports and because one of her best friends was coming to play on the team. The AC is a jerk. No question - why he is allowed to stay is beyond me. DD doesn't want to leave the team - she is like me and doesn't like change. We probably need to have a talk with the HC. In his defense DD does have some jammed fingers on her throwing hand - so maybe this week he was trying to give her a rest. He is usually very responsive to DD's requests. When she asked him to move her down in the batting order (i know - crazy request) he was very responsive and moved her immediately. She used to bat lead off and hates it. She has been struggling at the plate and felt even more pressure leading off. Batting 2nd she has been awesome. She has gotten on and moved runners every time. Anyway - yes her time on this team is probably drawing to a close...

I agree to finish up the commitment and move on. Sounds like she has tons of options. My DD is a 10U pitcher. She loves pitching and we would change teams if she were being unfairly treated. Did change teams for that reason, actually, once fall was up last year. The majority of input I got here was if she wants to pitch, she needs to be on the best team where she's the #2 or #1 pitcher. I followed that advice, and it was definitely the right thing. I imagine catching is pretty similar. FYI the #1 catcher on the team we played on this spring is a lefty.

4 girl's dad said:

This


It's not about liking the coach. It's about playing and getting exposure for college, if that's her goal.

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Haven't read anything about taking lessons. Is she taking catching lessons ? She'll need too. If she is going to play in college ? Most of the College teams I like, the Catcher is a PowerHitter too. I would consider taking a season off, and stocking up on the Skilz.... JMHO

Greenmonsters said:

Exactly the same way you get to Carnegie Hall

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Here is a clip from the fielding lessons... 12 weeks. It was dead of winter, she was in the lane, and cage @ her place,3 nights a week... but backed-up my bet, and got her in bigger place for this....Sunday nights 7-9pm...

In TB this summer... I told the Coach I didn't want her playing positions...or hitting...didn't go over too well... we compromised, and she was DP to hit...can't do that in SchoolBall. :{((

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/JtmqI8rLPs4" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

Perfect Circle said:

Haven't read anything about taking lessons. Is she taking catching lessons ? She'll need too. If she is going to play in college ? Most of the College teams I like, the Catcher is a PowerHitter too. I would consider taking a season off, and stocking up on the Skilz.... JMHO

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She has taken catching lessons in the past, and recently started up again. She is not a power hitter. She is a slapper who can hit as well, but definitely slaps more consistently right now. She is not a big kid - another strike against her in AC's book. But she is smart and she is quick on her feet.

I always encourage my DD to speak up. For example, two weeks ago her team was doing batting practice with live pitching (nothing can replace practicing with live pitching), and my DD did not get in the plate even once, while other girls did bat up to 3 or 4 times. She is also a catcher and was held up a bit because she was helping pitchers warm up.

After the practice, I told my daughter that she needed to speak up by herself. It is a life-lesson that she is able to speak up, because I told her that the only two people that noticed that she didn't bat were her and I. The assistant coach was not keeping track. I also told her that this would apply to other aspects of her life.

During last week's practice, almost the same thing happened, and while other girls went to bat 3 or 4 times, my DD made it only 1 time. The only difference this time was that she did told the AC. When the AC asked "who had only go to bat one time?", my DD (who he had instructed to gear up) raised her hand higher than everyone else. He then told her, OK take off your gear and go to bat... but too late because the practice finished before she could bat.

That was enough for me to decide to talk to the AC. When he came my way to thank me about retrieving the balls, I told him that while other girls have had the opportunity to bat 6 to 8 times during the last 2 practices, that my DD only had bat once. I told him we were not the complaining type parents, and that I talked to my DD during last practice about the importance of speaking up. That this is why during the last practice she was speaking up about batting.

The AC was oblivious about the situation, but promised to rectify it.

Sometimes, if after DD had made efforts to speak up, it is important to talk to coaching staff about their intentions and plans so that you can also plan.

FP_Catcher_Dad said:

I always encourage my DD to speak up.

Sometimes, if after DD had made efforts to speak up, it is important to talk to coaching staff about their intentions and plans so that you can also plan.

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Yes, I agree. We have talked to DD about this exact thing. She is getting to an age where she needs to speak up, it is not my place (of course I will step in if nothing comes of her conversation). She is getting better at it, but is such a people pleaser that she doesn't like to ruffle feathers. She would rather just slap a smile on and run out to the outfield where she's been directed.

I am in total agreement about knowing the intentions of the coaching staff. I have spoken with HC and he insists that DD is his #1 catcher. But his actions aren't supporting that. Again - I wonder if last week had to do with her injured throwing hand? DD tries to avoid AC as he never has anything nice to say to her (if he speaks at all). Our other AC loves DD and would do anything for her, but unfortunately he is not as respected as the other AC by HC. The rude AC played pro baseball so it is assumed he knows his stuff. He may, but it doesn't translate well in his coaching style or interaction with the girls. You would think he would remember how mental the game of softball/baseball is and tread lightly sometimes, but he is all about putting the girls down and making them cry. Even the ones who aren't normally criers. Sorry - rabbit trail...

Side note, I spoke with HC on Tuesday evening. He was asking if DD was happy, if we were happy, just weird. Then I get home and get a long email from him about how much DD means to the team and to him. How she is a special girl and will always have a spot on her team and how lucky he is to have her. Hmmmm...seems like he senses something is up...

KPower said:

She has taken catching lessons in the past, and recently started up again. She is not a power hitter. She is a slapper who can hit as well, but definitely slaps more consistently right now. She is not a big kid - another strike against her in AC's book. But she is smart and she is quick on her feet.

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Sure you have heard of NECC on here... You must have the DVD, so that you can find a NECC Catching Coach.... JMHO