This is how you take bad tryout news with class

[DNeeld]

I understand the above questions are challenging, but they remain unanswered.

Why do they have to be answered? It isn't your team or your decision.

"we didn't have spots for them all". Seems like plenty of answer to me.

 

[WARRIORMIKE]

How I would of reacted

 

[Strike2]

Why do they have to be answered? It isn't your team or your decision.

"we didn't have spots for them all". Seems like plenty of answer to me.

Not my team, and the questions don't HAVE to be answered, but I still get to ask them.

In any event, it's apparent that you're not the person to answer them.

 

[Lobster Birch]

I understand the above questions are challenging, but they remain unanswered. Players routinely "age up". On a stand alone team, that may make them ineligible to return, but isn't the point of an organization to provide continuity and use the younger teams as a source for the older ones?

Were the other four retained? Were there new additions to the 14U team that resulted in available spots being filled? You may hate cutting returning players, and it (apparently) happens, but PEOPLE consciously make those decisions. It didn't just happen to you because of bad luck.

The questions aren't challenging at all. As I said, 5 players from her team, which was mostly an '04 team, aged into 14U. We also had 11 girls from another 12U team age up to 14U and we have a team of 2nd year 14U players all returning. There are just not enough roster spots even with a few girls deciding to go elsewhere.

 

[Rocketech1]

Totally serious here...

I'm going to take it at face value that the kid and her family are great people. I'm going to assume that the letter reflects the dad's interaction with the coaches during the last year. I'm also going to assume that the kid gave her best effort.

Questions:

Was she really THAT weak as a player?

What kind of team is this that cuts such a great kid with great parents???

Is it turning itself into a Super Elite Gold Select team that will only play the top 14U teams in the country?

Or, is it the run-of-the-mill organizational team that THINKS it's good enough to pitch a "great kid" over the side because they THINK they've found something better?

Perhaps I'm built differently from some other coaches, but I would have a tough time looking myself in the mirror.

IMO, when you start playing competitive fastpitch you shouldn't settle on keeping players around just because they are nice, sweet, and/or were on the team last year. Competitive fastpitch is where ALL players want to play at a higher level then say "rec league". Getting cut may be the best thing that happened to this girl as its a wake up call that she needs to improve her game. Maybe it lights a fire in her and she becomes an excellent player. Jennie Finch tells a great story when she was younger that a travel ball coach cut her, saying that she wasn't ready or good enough for their team. Well another team picked her up and a year later she faced and beat the team that cut her.

To the OP, I actually respect your coaches for making the hard, but best decision, for the team. Every single player on a competitive travel ball team should be contributing to the success of the team and not just on the roster because they are good kids.

 

[quincy]

not just on the roster because they are good kids.

Dang it, plan C now.

 

[JAD]

I had a drunken lady approach me 5 years after I cut her daughter and she wanted to know the "real" reason. Turns out that she didn't really want to know that I cut her dd because mom was unreliable and couldn't be counted on to answer her phone, or to actually make it to tournaments.

This letter was much better then that conversation

Over the years we have cut a lot of talented players because of psycho parents....team harmony in the dugout and in the stands should not be overlooked when choosing a team.