Just quit HS team

Rocketech1 · Mar 19, 2018

BobInMadison said:
Fact of the matter is, the HC decided not to put DD 3 on the team. She gave us reasons, but those reasons contradicted everything I have observed seeing DD 3 play, or when I kept score, or what her previous coaches have told me. So I can honestly say I don't know why DD 3 was kept off the team.

Over the years I have heard a lot of these kinds of threads where Player X is better than most or all of the other players but the kid doesn't make the team and is black balled by the coach for some unknown reason. I just don't get it. Is there more to the story such as giving senority to the upperclassman who "put in their dues", did the coach sense an attitude problem with DD, is the coach playing favorites because some of the families volunteer their time with fundraising, assistant coaches, monetary contributions etc?. IME, most coaches like to have their top talent on their best team and don't routinely go out of their way to exclude top players for no reason at all.

With all due respect, I don't buy the argument that JV will ruin her arm (sounds more of a pride thing). If she was selected to Varsity and the head coach asked her to pitch every game would she decline the offer?

BobInMadison · Mar 19, 2018

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_MIA_ · Mar 19, 2018

BobInMadison said:
You WOULD think the coach would want the best players on her team. In practice, this is NOT the case. If you don't think politics and playing favorites gets involved, you know nothing about what really goes on in the world of HS sports.

There are only two logical possibilities:

Given that DD 3 is one of only two sophomores playing on an "A" team, and they let a girl on varsity who had never played in a tournament, there are two and only two logical possibilities:

1. The HC is right that DD 3 is not ready for Varsity. That would mean EVERY other coach she has ever had in her life was wrong, and her TB team made a horrible mistake taking her.

2. All the other coaches are right, and the HC is wrong.

I saw DD 3 play fall ball with Varsity last fall.

DD 3 was one of the best hitters, the second best power hitter, the best base runner, one of the best infielders, one of the best outfielders, and a great pitcher. This isn't a disgruntled parent speaking. This is based on comments from various coaches and parents, etc.

Maybe the guy just isn't a good evaluator of talent. What kind of record has the varsity team had since he started coaching?

BobInMadison · Mar 19, 2018

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Rocketech1 · Mar 19, 2018

So why do you think she has it in for your DD? Maybe i missed it but did you answer the question that if the HC asked her to pitch Varsity every game, every inning she would decline because that would destroy her arm? My last point is that i think there is a lot of miscommunication that goes on between coaches, players and parents. As i posted in another thread my sophomore varsity DD and I had a discussion about her quitting HS ball next year because of the lack of development of her as the #2 pitcher, she hasn’t thrown a pitch all preseason (6 games and counting). But once we found out more information like preseason games counting for possible playoff qualification and the fact that the head coach believes in seniority (seniors put in their dues, and should get playing time, etc) we calmed down and feel better about the situation.

BobInMadison · Mar 19, 2018

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YOCOACH · Mar 19, 2018

BobInMadison said:
I don't think my DD 3 would want to pitch every day in Varsity either, nor is there much chance of that happening.

I can't read the mind of the coach, nor do her comments to my DD 3 make any sense to me whatsoever.

A year ago, there were two freshman pitchers trying out. The HC decided to take one of them to Varsity, and leave a sophomore pitcher (who was a GREAT hitter) on JV. It was almost a coin flip, but the other freshman girl was put on Varsity. I really can't say who is the better pitcher. DD 3 is a MUCH better hitter, MUCH better base runner, and is probably the best utility player at the school. But, for whatever reason, the HC decided to put my DD 3 on JV, and the other girl on Varsity.

This year I think the HC wanted 3 varsity pitchers. Well, the girl who was a sophomore pitcher last year complained (and had her parents complain) until they put her on Varsity, but she didn't pitch again that season. I think the HC decided to make HER the third pitcher. So that left my DD 3 as odd girl out.

However, the girl who was a sophomore last year, and a junior this year, was also a great hitter and a good enough fielder to put her on 1B. So far, so good.

When we found out my DD 3 had been left on JV, we thought it would be worthwhile for DD 3 to talk to the HC and see if there was some other position she could play on Varsity. As I mentioned, DD 3 is a great utility player. She can play all 9 positions; most of them as well or better than the starter. She is also one of the best hitters for average and power, has an unusually strong throw from the outfield, and is the second fastest base runner (the fastest base runner has already signed at a D-1 school).

When they were talking, the HC was portraying my DD 3 as just like the other pitcher in her class -- someone who can ONLY pitch, and not field or hit. The HC actually claimed that DD 3 wasn't as good a fielder as some girls who are notorious for their errors.

My feeling is this: either the HC really believes what she said, or she is making this up.
If she really believes what she said, then there is no point in DD 3 ever playing for her, because HC would never utilize DD 3's talents.
If the coach is just making this up, then I wouldn't want my DD 3 playing for someone like that.

Add to this the fact that this was the first year Varsity is going on a trip to Florida, and they aren't planning on a trip next year. It seems quite cruel to me. There were two girls on JV last year who were the absolute stars of the team, head and shoulders above the rest. To deny one of them the trip to Florida, while taking girls who are far less talented and don't work nearly as hard, just seems wrong to me. I can remember when DD 3 was busting her butt, while some of these other girls were goofing off.

Suppose the HC had worked out an arrangement that DD 3 would be on Varsity, would go to Florida, but would play a number of games at JV helping out with their pitching. I am sure DD 3 would've gone along with that. If that had happened, then DD 3 would still be on the team, and still looking forwards to Florida.

Instead, DD 3 is off the team forever.

That's a sad situation. but not unexpected IME around here. We have some of the top hitters in TB in our area not playing due to these types of HS coaches who still believe their hitting coaches are the best thing since sliced bread but promote they "hands to the ball" and "push the bat through the ball." When informed they have their own hitting coaches and they don't teach that, they are termed "incorrigible" and not a "Team player." So they get dumped on JV. It may not be fair but it's the truth around here in my area. That's the reason, IMO, that the best pitcher DD's HS team had transferred schools her Senior year when told "She wasn't good enough to ever start as the HS pitcher." Again, just my humble opinion but it has proven out over the past couple of years not to mention the politics involved. Believe me when I say I could tell you horror stories about this team.

Just one of multiple examples. DD was a Freshman Catcher. The starting Senior catcher had surgery her Sophomore year and had rods/hooks implanted in her back due to a degenerative back disease. Because of this, she could not jar her back which means she couldn't drop and block pitches.

Fast forward 2 years, as a Senior, she had to have shoulder surgery on her throwing arm over the Winter of her Senior Season. By Season's beginning, she could barely lollipop the ball to first let alone make a solid throwdown to scond yet started every game. There was another Senior catcher available that could do all three. She never played. why? Because, IMO, Momma was the President of the SB Booster Club.

BobInMadison · Mar 20, 2018

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BobInMadison · Mar 20, 2018

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BobInMadison · Apr 29, 2018

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Just quit HS team

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