HS coach In need of Advice

RetiredCoach · Aug 5, 2015

I think that most kids would prefer to play softball than work. So, I don't think that it reflects on her desire to play softball. And, as it was brought up previously, maybe she HAS to work. Maybe she is helping out her family or saving money for college in case that elusive softball scholarship does not come through. If it were me, I'd say fine and deal with any and all consequences.

nanotech14 · Aug 5, 2015

CoogansBluff said:
If you were applying for the job of head softball coach and the AD brought up this scenario and asked how you might handle it, you would be ruled out the minute you said ''it's only high school softball.'' That's not the head coach that most parents and players want. DD's school is about to hire a new coach, and if this coach announced that players could miss practice because of work, there would be a huge sigh of disappointment that they now have a coach doesn't take the sport seriously. Some likely would choose not to play. I'm not saying that this player should not be allowed to miss some practice time, but I believe that OP is correct that this is a very significant issue that needs lots of consideration.

You can take the sport seriously and still feel that it isn't more then just high school softball.

nanotech14 · Aug 5, 2015

besides we are talking about practice, practice, are we talking about practice?

CoogansBluff · Aug 5, 2015

nanotech14 said:
You can take the sport seriously and still feel that it isn't more then just high school softball.

I agree, but I'm just saying this issue can be pretty volatile, depending on the circumstances of the team. If it's one of those teams where you're having to ask people in the hall to play in hopes of getting enough players, then anything goes. But if it's a team where 40 kids are trying out, and 10 get cut, and you've got sophomore travel players on JV that are mad they didn't make varsity, then sparks will fly. For my DD's high school team last year, it would've required a very special circumstance, like maybe a 3-year starter whose dad just got laid off. Even then, she'd have to be a pretty popular kid.

nanotech14 · Aug 5, 2015

CoogansBluff said:
I agree, but I'm just saying this issue can be pretty volatile, depending on the circumstances of the team. If it's one of those teams where you're having to ask people in the hall to play in hopes of getting enough players, then anything goes. But if it's a team where 40 kids are trying out, and 10 get cut, and you've got sophomore travel players on JV that are mad they didn't make varsity, then sparks will fly. For my DD's high school team last year, it would've required a very special circumstance, like maybe a 3-year starter whose dad just got laid off. Even then, she'd have to be a pretty popular kid.

Then honestly, I'm afraid of what this generation is coming to. We think to much and feel to little.

Anthony Vertuccio · Aug 5, 2015

Its only this...its only that...either you are in or you are out, there is no halfway. Commit to the team or don't...there are always other players who want to step up. Yes that's harsh but its reality.

BuckeyeGuy · Aug 5, 2015

nanotech14 said:
Then honestly, I'm afraid of what this generation is coming to. We think to much and feel to little.

As evidenced by every knee-jerk reaction to even the most benign statements, the most ridiculous overreactions to the least important issues, the complete dismissal of any dissenting opinion.

Oops, sorry - can't find the 'sarcasm' html tag...

Think too much? Hardly. More like don't think at all.

JJsqueeze · Aug 5, 2015

Anthony Vertuccio said:
Its only this...its only that...either you are in or you are out, there is no halfway. Commit to the team or don't...there are always other players who want to step up. Yes that's harsh but its reality.

I think the real harsh reality is that HS sports typically don't develop players, they don't help with recruiting and by the time a good player shows up she represents a big investment of her time, her parents time and money and if a HS coach questions her commitment at that point then he might find she and her family decide that time for studying, maybe another extra curricular activity, resting and private coaching is a better way to spend the HS season.

CoogansBluff · Aug 5, 2015

JJsqueeze said:
I think the real harsh reality is that HS sports typically don't develop players, they don't help with recruiting ...

There is nothing harsh about that reality. Aside from maybe football or basketball, high school sports don't claim to develop players or help them with recruiting. High school sports offers other rewards. Not everyone is interested in those rewards. Which is fine. And not every high school sports team offers those other rewards. That's probably the harsh reality. There are some high school sports teams that don't have much to offer anybody, but most do.

The Maj · Aug 5, 2015

nanotech14 said:
Then honestly, I'm afraid of what this generation is coming to. We think to much and feel to little.

Hate to break it to you but this generation has become a group that thinks there are exceptions to everything and an excuse satisfies the requirements. This situation would really stink but you simply cannot allow feelings to get in your way when making a rational decision and a decision that happens to involve your career as well as 20+ other kids. While stories like this are tragic and I believe coaches would be the first to attempt to make exceptions, the overall well being of the team has always got to be considered over the needs of the individual when it comes to enforcing the rules.

HS coach In need of Advice

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