HS Ball Check in...How's it going?

[Pdiddy]

Has anyone with a HS age dd had the issue of upper class men getting starting spots over the sophomores and freshmen. Regardless of skill levels and experience?
If a freshman or sophomore has played 2nd for example since she was 8 yrs old at a travel ball team level and has proven herself repeatedly in practices and scrimmage games as being the clear and obvious choice for that position. Why on earth would a coach start another kid who has no experience at that position? But because she's a senior, she is automatically given the spot despite the fact she's clueless there?

you would think a coach would put the most talented players on the field as much as possible, but if the coach has no threat of losing their job because of poor records and performance, then some coaches out there try to make their program "the HS experience" for participating players....which thank god it's lose too much and you are out in our conference...but I do understand that to some HS coaches, memories are more important than wins, hardware and championships....which is crazy to most of us I know, but different strokes for different folks I suppose....

In HS, my DD has been on both sides, three years ago as a freshman, she was relegated to JV and three seniors who clearly were not the most talented in the program played in front of a very talented freshman class....the team was mediocre at best and didn't do anything memorable... but something happened philosophically with the HC and shifted gears the last two years from playing upperclassmen (but were all TB players, just not top tier ones) who have paid their dues to playing younger more talented players (younger top tier players) 100% of the time and cutting seniors who wouldn't be playing, it was painful for those seniors and their families with lots of complaints to the AD....but it really paid off for the coach the last two years....

But for some coaches and programs "the experience" is a much easier system to deal with...."just put in your time and the job is yours regardless of anything" is a tough thing to take when you are on the short end of it....you can complain...errr...speak with the coach about it....or painfully sit back and watch, which is probably the best thing to do as you don't want to makes things worse for your DD....

 

[softball88]

My DD is a freshman on varsity ....sat out 2 of the first 3 games, but is now leading off for varsity; shes hitting and getting on base.

 

[CoogansBluff]

you would think a coach would put the most talented players on the field as much as possible, but if the coach has no threat of losing their job because of poor records and performance, then some coaches out there try to make their program "the HS experience" for participating players....which thank god it's lose too much and you are out in our conference...but I do understand that to some HS coaches, memories are more important than wins, hardware and championships....which is crazy to most of us I know, but different strokes for different folks I suppose....

I'm glad you allowed room for ''different strokes'' because I do think there's an argument to be made - and I'm not sure I'll survive the stoning that I will receive for posing it -- for the idea that it's not all about playing the very best player and winning, and that there's something to be said for letting seniority and experience in the program count for something when making roster and lineup decisions.

If I were a HS coach and I had a senior who'd been in the program since she was a freshman, I would have no problem starting her over a freshman who might be slightly more talented. If it cost me a game, I'll live with it. I wouldn't regret giving that senior one season as a starter because of what she's learn from it. It is a school. It's not a professional sports club. (Sorry if I just made someone puke.)

My DD next year probably will be the best 9th grader at her high school. The 10th grade will have 12 travel-ball players, none of which made the varsity this year as freshmen. IMO, my DD is better than those 12 by a smidgeon and will be one of the best 14 players at the school. But if she loses a spot to an older player that played JV or varsity before here who is almost as good, I think my DD will understand. So will I. She gets the seniority thing and is OK with it, as long as she gets the same benefits when she's older. Now if she's a LOT better and they keep a rec player over here, well, that's different. So I only ask that people don't exaggerate my point of view and accuse me of going strictly by seniority. Winning is important. Just saying that it's not everything in high school.

 

[InsidePitch]

One of the parents on DDs TB team is the AD of a big HS. He tells each coach, if there are sophomores who don't appear like they will ever make the varsity, cut them now. Better to do it now then have to endure all the why they are riding the pine complaints. The pain of being cut is short. 3 years of riding the pine is not.

 

[SoCal_Dad]

Our HS season just passed the midpoint. The tourneys are done and there are only 10 league games remaining over the next 5 weeks. We're in a strong Div-I league and hoping to go 5-5 to make the playoffs.

 

[sportinus]

In a burb of chicago, we have just played our 3rd game, so we are just getting started

 

[Jquick823]

So update on game 2 of the MS season. Pretty solid pitching performance for us. We hit 14 batters, walked another 7 and gave up 26 runs. Our offense however kept us in the game right up until batter 2 stepped in the box. My DD led off the game with a walk and that was the only player to reach safely. 26-0 drubbing, coaches response? You girls suck! Please refer to my post earlier when I said i'm hoping not to get run ruled twice a week. I'm not the coach of this team and I hate I can't help the girls because the Manager, HC and AC HAVE ALL THE ANSWERS!!!! 9 more games like this to come. Pretty sure our last game will be much worse than 26-0 as this should be the best MS team in the state this season.

 

[riseball]

So update on game 2 of the MS season. Pretty solid pitching performance for us. We hit 14 batters, walked another 7 and gave up 26 runs. Our offense however kept us in the game right up until batter 2 stepped in the box. My DD led off the game with a walk and that was the only player to reach safely. 26-0 drubbing, coaches response? You girls suck! Please refer to my post earlier when I said i'm hoping not to get run ruled twice a week. I'm not the coach of this team and I hate I can't help the girls because the Manager, HC and AC HAVE ALL THE ANSWERS!!!! 9 more games like this to come. Pretty sure our last game will be much worse than 26-0 as this should be the best MS team in the state this season.

The only advice I can give you is what I learned spending time in some really bad places - Embrace The Suck.

 

[YOCOACH]

Update: DD, which is a flex player for both JV and V played JV the last two games. Yes, the weather cooperated and we got a game in yesterday and today (the 3rd and 4th out of 9 scheduled). Yesterday, our team never showed up and was run ruled in 6 innings. Today, against the same team at home, we lost 8-7 in the bottom of the 7th. DD went 2 for three with a single, a double and 3 RBI's hitting. As a catcher, she had a snap to 1st for an out and a block/throw from her knees to third on a steal for an out. Considering that she didn't start catching until 7 months ago, the dropping/blocking and snaps were very impressive!

 

[Doug Romrell]

Our HS varsity hit lots of home-runs early in the season. Now it seems everybody is popping up.