What would you say to the head of an organization?

I know it can seem like a long season when you are only at the beginning of June. Been there, done that.
I personally think the advice above from Riseball is some of the best you will receive.
I would not go to the head of the org. I don't think it will serve you or your daughter well.

DD's story...DD was by far the best player on her team least year...she had been with the same coach for 4 years. She was also the youngest player on the team. She worked hard constantly. She was discouraged, frustrated, disappointed, etc. As was I. However, one day she just decided to go out there and be the best she could be, and leave everything on the field. She wasn't playing the position she wanted to play, wasn't seeing any wins, was watching the other girls be more interested in snapchat than practice/games and was completely over the drama and level of disrespect for coaches on her team. But she decided it would serve her best to change HER attitude because that was the only thing she could control. I won't lie - it wasn't all roses from that point on...but she knew that SHE had done the best she could. She decided to change orgs this year and it has been amazing. Maybe she appreciates it more because she knows what she left?

As was mentioned above my guess is that some of the girls who show no initiative will quit ... if not, I would see if your DD "makes" the better team at tryout time, or look for another team/org at that point.

KPower said:

I would not go to the head of the org. I don't think it will serve you or your daughter well.

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I am curious why you think this.

I think part of the problem is that coaches adopt the workplace management dogma that treating every player the same way is the path to achieve “fairness”.

Nothing hurt productivity and morale more at my former career workplace than a “manager” getting some “high level management training”.

Replying to Bob's post above...

Just my experience - yours could be completely different. DD has played multiple competitive sports (softball, soccer, volleyball and basketball) on multiple teams, for multiple orgs. We saw it happen time and time again where a parent would go to the head of the org and somehow...not long after, the daughter was blackballed. Didn't see play time, moved to other positions and eventually run out.

Does the head of the org know you? or your daughter? Has he seen her play, or has he seen the team play? If not I would worry that you would be seen as "that parent" who views their child thru rose colored glasses and thinks she deserves to play on the "better team". (Although from reading your previous posts *I* don't believe that is the case - it seems to me that you have a very balanced view of your daughter and her abilities.)

If however, you do know the org head, or he knows your daughter...then ignore everything I've said!

As for the parents...that is such a hard one. The parents on DD's old team were just plain nasty. So rude, disrespectful, foul mouthed and loud. I NEVER sat near them - always in the outfield. I did not want to be associated with them, and even now, that team is viewed poorly. I was not bold enough to get in their faces and tell them to knock it off...and the coach egged it on...so...another reason we moved orgs. This new org would not allow behavior like that EVER!

The reason to talk to the head of the org is because he may not be aware. He may take an interest and fix things to make them better. Or, if you tell him and he changes nothing, your result is the same at the end of the season... you go find another team. But at least he won't be able to say when you are leaving, "why didn't you speak up?"

You don't seem like "that parent" and this is more about the parents behavior than the girls or coaches.

#7sDad said:

The reason to talk to the head of the org is because he may not be aware. He may take an interest and fix things to make them better. Or, if you tell him and he changes nothing, your result is the same at the end of the season... you go find another team. But at least he won't be able to say when you are leaving, "why didn't you speak up?"

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Excellent point.

#7sDad said:

You don't seem like "that parent" and this is more about the parents behavior than the girls or coaches.

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I am trying to see where I indicated this was only about me.

DD is tired of losing every game. Being run ruled every game of a tournament is taking any chance of her going out and enjoying playing. She said this morning she just does not feel like trying hard, with the level of play around her. She wonders why should she try to make great throws if she can't count on many of her teammates. It is that bad. She does not know if girls are going to cover their bases, or if they will even keep the ball in their mitts when she throws it to them on target.

pattar said:

I've worked really hard at not saying anything to my DD when she is playing, if another parent did it I wouldn't be very happy to say the least...

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Running battle with DD playing SS, move in a little bit. Yell at her all you want if you get her to move in, I wiil buy you a hot dog.

Bob516 said:

I am trying to see where I indicated this was only about me.

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You didn't. Someone said they would worry about being seen as "that parent" and I was responding it didn't seem that way.

Bob516 said:

She wonders why should she try to make great throws if she can't count on many of her teammates. She does not know if ... they will even keep the ball in their mitts when she throws it to them on target.

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Funny story. A few years ago DD was at rec team practice and they were working on double plays. She was playing 3b and threw the ball hard to the 2b, who promptly ducked out of the way and the ball went into the outfield. That's when she decided it was not worth playing rec after that year.

#7sDad said:

You didn't. Someone said they would worry about being seen as "that parent" and I was responding it didn't seem that way.

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I appreciate the clarification.

Bob,

In order for your DD to grow as a player she needs to be with like-minded teammates in an organization that is geared towards what she wants out of softball. There are different levels and a player needs to seek the one that suits them best. One of the best examples is Bill Conroy from the Bandits. He will tell you right upfront. The Bandits are not for everyone.

It's early in the summer. If you can find a travel team looking for a player, now would be a good time to make the move.