Team player vs being taken advantage of?

IDK, never seems to be easy anwser.

Each Team seems a little bit different.

Best athlete on Team had to catch because they were the only one who could catch pitch, would have preferred them at SS or CF.

I did have this situation. The kid was a good catcher, but was greased lightning. I moved the kid full time to centerfield. Seeing her cut off or catch balls in the gap was a joy. She really learned how to play the outfield. She was outstanding.

The other thing...she liked running. Kids who are fast like to show off their speed.

Wow - I stay away for a day and bam!

So...yes - DD will most likely wind up in the outfield eventually, especially if she decides she wants to play in college. I have no problem it. However, right now...she wants to catch. And there is not doubt that she is the best girl for the job on her team. She is smart, and quick. She is always anticipating the play rather than just reacting to it. She knows the field and has a great arm. She loves to be in a high pressure, action packed position. She played goalie on her soccer team for years. She's just that kind of kid.

The other catchers on DD's team like to dress up and look like catchers. But they don't want to get dirty or take the hits, or chase down passed balls. Last weekend the catcher actually turned around and looked at the ump like he was going to go retrieve the ball. It was so ridiculous that everyone actually laughed. Thankfully we had no runners on, but the laziness behind the plate when DD isn't catching is painful to watch.

As far as her hitting, until this year DD was the #1 or #2 hitter on her team (not where she was in the line up, but based on batting average and OBP). She lead her team in HRs, OBP and stolen bases. She ran into a bit of a slump recently so we decided to teach her to slap to give her some more options at the plate. She had never had any interest in slapping because she was a good hitter. She caught on to slapping quickly, but has a long way to go. She is actually probably better at her power slap than she is at a regular slap currently. She has had several nice doubles because she can slap it over the outfield when they sneak in on her. I think playing catcher has actually helped her read the defense better. She knows the field from that position. We're hoping that eventually (assuming she wants to play college ball) that she will become a true triple threat. She is still only 12 right now so she has a long way to go.

Ultimately, I think where she is struggling is - she was offered her spot back on the team as a catcher. Now, because the athletes that the coach assumed he could make into outfielders haven't panned out how he expected, he is using DD out there. She doesn't mind playing some outfield. She just feels like what she was lead to believe was different than what has happened. And as a parent it is frustrating to watch as well. DD will always play her heart out no matter where he puts her, and she will do it with a smile, but it's hard to be a team player when you feel like you are being taken advantage of. (I think there is also so much back story to this team...she probably shouldn't have returned this year, but she did. Her choice and - yes - I probably should have pulled the parent card)

KPower said:

So...yes - DD will most likely wind up in the outfield eventually, especially if she decides she wants to play in college. I have no problem it. However, right now...she wants to catch. And there is not doubt that she is the best girl for the job on her team. She is smart, and quick. She is always anticipating the play rather than just reacting to it. She knows the field and has a great arm. She loves to be in a high pressure, action packed position. She played goalie on her soccer team for years. She's just that kind of kid.

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Awesome! As the dad of a proud young catcher-beast, I certainly am in favor of kids who love the special taste of the dirt behind the plate. IMO, no other position is better for learning the game.

KPower said:

Ultimately, I think where she is struggling is - she was offered her spot back on the team as a catcher. Now, because the athletes that the coach assumed he could make into outfielders haven't panned out how he expected, he is using DD out there. She doesn't mind playing some outfield. She just feels like what she was lead to believe was different than what has happened. And as a parent it is frustrating to watch as well. DD will always play her heart out no matter where he puts her, and she will do it with a smile, but it's hard to be a team player when you feel like you are being taken advantage of. (I think there is also so much back story to this team...she probably shouldn't have returned this year, but she did. Her choice and - yes - I probably should have pulled the parent card)

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Sure, you expected that your DD was going to get to play catcher as her primary position. However, the coach also expected that he would have other players who would be competent outfielders. Based on my experiences with trying to make the defensive puzzle fit together with a limited supply of options, sometimes the best player at one position ends up playing somewhere else because the team is better off in that configuration.

Eric F said:

Sure, you expected that your DD was going to get to play catcher as her primary position. However, the coach also expected that he would have other players who would be competent outfielders. Based on my experiences with trying to make the defensive puzzle fit together with a limited supply of options, sometimes the best player at one position ends up playing somewhere else because the team is better off in that configuration.

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Totally understand! I think that's where the challenge lies. Did he keep her knowing she would go where he puts her and not give him attitude? And - I don't think the team IS better off. It is hard to watch run after run score because of passed balls, and over throws that go to the outfield. Other parents have even asked us if we know why DD isn't catching. I am the parent who sits by myself and doesn't try to create or add to drama so I don't really entertain the question - this is my place to hash it out.

I am frustrated because the coach has clearly said over and over again that you can make any good athlete an outfielder. I don't believe that's true. There are things you can't teach. Some kids can read a ball and instinctively know how to track it. Others can't. Some kids are scared of the ball and will never make the catches, they let the ball bounce a step in front of them every time. At the younger ages you could absolutely put your weakest players in the outfield, but now you need strong, fast girls out there. DD is a good outfielder - I don't argue that. But she is also the strongest catcher on this team. The coach made decisions to not seek out outfielders - because he wanted a strong infield. But now he's paying the price - and so is DD. That is where this all comes back to...when has the line been crossed between being a team player and being taken advantage of? Without a doubt DD is a team player, she will play where he wants her, and do it to the best of her ability. But she also feels like she is being taken advantage of because she doesn't give attitude like some of the other players. She's not that kid though...so she will continue to play with a smile on her face.

I have a pitcher, and to me it's kind of similar to having a catcher. Those 2 positions are unique and kids who want to play them need reps. Our team last fall was your basic nightmare, horribly mismanaged (this is not me being biased for personal reasons - we did leave the team but those who stayed said the same, and then the coach lost the team after last year). My DD was brought on as a pitcher and ended up mostly playing 1B. That wasn't the whole reason we left, just one part of it, but we went to a team where she was a very close #2 pitcher. She got almost as many innings as the #1 and had a great spring. Our current team she's #1 by a good bit, in large part due to us changing teams in the spring to one where she'd actually get adequate circle time and grow her skills.

So while center field is a very valuable position, if she wants to catch, you may just have to find another team to get her behind the plate. Our decision to leave was agonizing even though we couldn't stand the coach, because we loved the team. Really great group of girls, though most scattered after dealing w/ the crap coach all year. Even so they had a great year, attracted good talent for this year under a seemingly much better coach, and are one of the top 06 teams in our state. Some days I'm still sad DD isn't a part of it, but mostly not. I don't have any regrets because of how far behind their #2 and #3 pitcher fell last year. The coach pitched the #1 all the time. My DD was his #4, would probably not have pitched at all. It's always a hard decision to leave a team but sometimes you just have to for the sake of your child.

KPower said:

The coach made decisions to not seek out outfielders - because he wanted a strong infield. But now he's paying the price - and so is DD. That is where this all comes back to...when has the line been crossed between being a team player and being taken advantage of? Without a doubt DD is a team player, she will play where he wants her, and do it to the best of her ability. But she also feels like she is being taken advantage of because she doesn't give attitude like some of the other players. She's not that kid though...so she will continue to play with a smile on her face.

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I get what you're saying, but I'm not sure I see those things on the same continuum.

Team First <------------------------------------------> Me First
vs.
Skills Not Leveraged <----------------------------------------> Skills Fully Leveraged

The first scale is all about the player and her attitude. The second is about the coach's approach to using his/her players. While there is a relation, the two scales can move independently of each other. It sounds like your daughter is staying far to the left of the first scale, which is GREAT and of which I am a firm believer will pay dividends in the future. The second scale is tougher because it's really out of your hands to a great extent. "Taken Advantage Of" falls somewhere on that scale, but exactly where is very subjective.

At the end of the day, you (the player) can only control what you can control...your attitude, effort, and energy. If you and your daughter firmly believe that catcher is her best and desired position, my advice is to continue pegging the first scale to the left, have a great season, and look for a better fit next year. Either that, or have her start dropping pop flys.

KPower said:

Totally understand! I think that's where the challenge lies. Did he keep her knowing she would go where he puts her and not give him attitude? And - I don't think the team IS better off. It is hard to watch run after run score because of passed balls, and over throws that go to the outfield. Other parents have even asked us if we know why DD isn't catching. I am the parent who sits by myself and doesn't try to create or add to drama so I don't really entertain the question - this is my place to hash it out.

I am frustrated because the coach has clearly said over and over again that you can make any good athlete an outfielder. I don't believe that's true. There are things you can't teach. Some kids can read a ball and instinctively know how to track it. Others can't. Some kids are scared of the ball and will never make the catches, they let the ball bounce a step in front of them every time. At the younger ages you could absolutely put your weakest players in the outfield, but now you need strong, fast girls out there. DD is a good outfielder - I don't argue that. But she is also the strongest catcher on this team. The coach made decisions to not seek out outfielders - because he wanted a strong infield. But now he's paying the price - and so is DD. That is where this all comes back to...when has the line been crossed between being a team player and being taken advantage of? Without a doubt DD is a team player, she will play where he wants her, and do it to the best of her ability. But she also feels like she is being taken advantage of because she doesn't give attitude like some of the other players. She's not that kid though...so she will continue to play with a smile on her face.

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First of all, props to your DD for having the right attitude. Also, props to you for keeping your concerns from becoming team drama. DFP is a good place to vent, get some feedback, and hash out things in your head.

It sounds to me like you are getting to the point where you need to make a decision about whether or not staying with this team is best for your DD's development, or whether finding a situation where she can regularly play her preferred position is a better choice.

My DD's new team is comprised of athletes. Most of the positions are interchangeable. We have 3 catchers. One catcher now plays short. One plays first. DD primary positions were P and SS. Now they are P and LF. Only so many positions on a team. Coach wants speed in the OF and DD is fast.