Pulling a kid mid inning

Last 2 games we played 2 different teams

Game 1. Base hit to left runner on first , LF throws to second. 2B tries to throw behind the runner and get the runner who had rounded first and throws past 1B. We have first runner try to score, RF picks up and fires over C head. The hitter is now on the way to 3rd and Catcher emails 3rd and LF did not back up the throw and actually was heading out to position. Run scores coach immediately pulls LF. In this case it put us up late in a game

Game 2 last night (scrimmage). 3 plays near 2B, one is a Texas Leaguer that I don't think our 2B would have caught and she is a stud. Next 2 are shots to right side of second but clear singles. She had no chance on either. Coach is telling her she need to get in front of balls not try to backhand. Seriously no chance on either. He pulls the kid in middle of the inning. I seriously wanted to ask her is she wanted to come play for us I felt so bad for her. At this point if I kept score we were up 20-4 or something like that.

It got me thinking of when it's OK to pull kids mid inning. In the first one I could sort of see it, but the second just seemed like it was a really bad decision.

I avoid pulling a kid mid-inning like I avoid the plague. Let's face it, it is quite humiliating for the kid and, I believe, should be avoided.

I have found it unavoidable to pull pitchers in mid-inning. Usually instead of sending them to the bench I put them somewhere back in the field.

It needs to be pretty egregious.

Both are mental.

If the player might hurt someone else, or themselves, they need to be pulled.
If the player has mentally checked out, a lot harder to define.

If our coach had pulled players for that kind of thing last season we'd never have had more than 3 girls in the field at any given moment. For the most part I think wait until the inning is over. I don't think kids should have to sit for genuine mistakes either though, at least not until at least 14U. Everybody screws up sometimes. I don't mind seeing them pulled for careless mistakes or lack of effort though.

Just FYI it is 14U.

I pulled 1 kid 2 times in my life. One time she wasn't feeling well and had a couple of balls that went over her head that she had to chase down back to back (not in any way her fault), but she looked like she was about to pass out.

The other was a time she was sitting down during a pitching conference in RF. She officially had checked out after missing a couple of plays.

I absolutely hate doing it, but have done it a couple of times. Usually when it feels like the player is in a death spiral, i.e., she has had three errors in a row and is clearly thinking more about the errors than the next play. At that point I'll take her out put someone else in who has a clear head. But it's really a last resort.

I doubt I would have done it in either situation above, unless there is some unknown back story for #1. But if that was a first offense for the LF not backing up I'd have reminded her the play's not over until it's over and she has responsibilities until then. And then left her in.

Pulling pitchers mid inning is no big deal. When you need to change a pitcher, you need to change a pitcher and they should get that. Agreed I like to put them in the field if possible but ok if you don't.

Pulling a position player mid inning should only be done if you need to switch the defense for a pitching change or a major attitude problem. Had a kid upset she struck out, yelled at her teammates in the dugout, and stood with crossed arms in the outfield. Wish we caught it before she went out on the field but I had no problem pulling her then. Never would pull a kid for the situations you listed though if something like that happened at a very high level (college?) I could see it.

Yeah, the scenario described above sounds a little harsh for pulling a kid mid-inning.

Anyone that has coached has probably had to do it but it is generally never very pleasant. Thinking back, other than injury or verge of heat exhaustion, I never pulled a position player mid-inning unless it was a blatant attitude problem.

P is a different thing all together. At younger ages they are your best players, next to the C of course, so it is easy to swap things around.

Only if the girl just breaks down, I've had that one once you can't field the ball if your visor is over your eyes and you are crying plus it's not safe if you know they just are not mentally there.

For simply mistakes or errors your just suffer through I have switched fielding positions a couple times though instead of pulling someone.