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Jun 24, 2013
1,059
36
Once they told your DD she was on the chopping block I would be looking for another Team. He can deny it all he wants when you are gone and if it comes up.

Obviously this Team/ Coach it is not a fit for your family for a number of reasons and they provided you an out.

Just curious what area of the country you are in, up north most Team are already gearing towards Spring so it is a great time to Team shop.

(My DD is under 5’ and plays a mean SS, I hate those parents with tall players. :))
 
Feb 7, 2013
3,188
48
I would talk to the head coach about the conversation the assistant coach had with your DD which is totally unacceptable. If she gets cut because of this conversation than so be it, this isn't the team for her.

With that said, no coach should ever guarantee a position to any players. They must earn the position and should CONTINUE to earn the position throughout the season. My question to you is why do you think the coach doesn't want your DD playing short stop if she is the best short stop on the team? Is the coaching staff out to get her or maybe they have a different opinion of her level of play than you have of your DD? Unless you think they are playing daddy ball, IME most coaches want to field the best possible defensive team they can and rotate in secondary players as certain positions as back-up. Your post is riddled with a "sense of entitlement". By the way, playing middle infielder is so much more than whether or not a player made more errors than another player. To name a few: strong arm (especially SS), know their cut-off assignments, cover bases correctly, backing up plays correctly, aggressively charge the ball, are they quick on their feet, can they track infield pop-ups effectively, do they communicate with their other fielders, etc. There is so much more to playing defense than number of errors.
 

JJsqueeze

Dad, Husband....legend
Jul 5, 2013
5,436
38
safe in an undisclosed location
I'm always curious about the motivation of parents when they offer excuses for their kids mistakes (medicine etc.) but other kids mistakes are just errors. Sound to me like maybe you are viewing her through rose colored glasses or maybe you are being a pain and the coach has decided to cut the kid as a result. The post just seems like there is a lot of backstory. Maybe that's not the case and the coach is just a dipstick.

anyway, bottom line is that it looks like a poor fit so time to start looking.
 
Jun 27, 2011
5,088
0
North Carolina
momx4 - While it might seem unwelcoming at first, the best thing about this forum is that people tell you what they're thinking, right or wrong. They give you their honest reaction to what you're saying. So IMO, all feedback is good feedback. Not agreeing or disagreeing w/ anything that's being said. Just encouraging you to appreciate it, even if it's off-base. That's why I like this place - the uncensored opinions. There is always something valuable in that. We're not there at your daughter's practices, so all we can do is react to your posts.

First thing - There's no point trying to paint a picture of the players and their skills and who is making errors and who isn't. There is no way for us to determine how your daughter rates and whether she's been treated fairly in terms of assessing her abilities.

It's really this simple - You and your daughter feel that your daughter is a better shortstop and defensive player than the coaches do. That's the only fact we know. You may be right. The coach may be right.

You have to decide whether you want to find another team where she'll be valued more highly, whether to stick it out on this team in hopes of proving herself, or whether to consider that the coaching staff is realistic and that you and your daughter are not.

Only you and DD can answer that for yourselves. Hopefully I helped define the dilemma you have.

PS - If what you say is true about how the coaches have communicated and motivated the players, then it's an unhealthy team. For one, no coach should promise a position. For two, no player should ever want a promised position. But I'm not there to confirm the toxicity that you're asserting.
 
Last edited:

Bleacher Bum

Avid student of the game
Aug 29, 2013
39
0
NorCal
Obviously none of us know all the details, the skill levels involved, etc. Was the decision to move your DD based on performance, on politics, or something else? Only the coaches really know why. My DD was moved from SS to RF after 1 error in a tourney. I encouraged her to approach the coach and ask what she needed to do to earn her preferred spot back. One of the assistant coaches (a friend) took me aside after the tourney and told me it was a political move (the new SS's father complained loudly to the HC that his daughter was better). My DD worked hard and in the process proved that she was a better player, earning her spot back.

So... use it as a character building opportunity for your DD. Encourage her to ask the coach what she needs to do to earn her spot back (as tough as it may be). Have her set goals and work to accomplish them. If she does and still doesn't get her preferred spot back, then move on without feeling bad. But if she just leaves the team, it gives the coach an excuse for blaming her (she couldn't accept the demotion and she just quit on the rest of her team).
 
I'd look for another team based on the coach's actions.

However, make sure you don't sour your DD on the thought of playing 2B rather than SS. Both positions are equally important and either could get her a scholarship some day.

As an old middle infielder who played mostly SS over a 20-year career, I actually found that 2B was more difficult once I started playing there. If nothing else, having DD learn the proper footwork for 2B will make her a better SS .... I guarantee it.
 

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