Numbers and Solutions

Well, in this case it's not exactly "quitting", it's just not coming out to play. The only cost to play is for the uniforms and for commitment (I get donations from area businesses and fundraisers). Her father (my close friend) highly wants her to play. She's the HS league's first-team SS (on a team that went about 7-10) who is a GREAT defender and has a solid bat when she's not swinging at clouds. However her attitude can be the best of her and she puts more pressure on her than any athlete should.

And these are CUSTOM uniforms. Numbers from 00 through 99, so it's not as if I'm being restrictive or telling her what number she has to have. However ALL of the players who did not return from '15 to this past year were told outright, "If you don't play, you start all over again the next time you want to come out and play, including tryouts", which I don't believe is unfair whatsoever, nor do many others. She didn't come out at the start when she had the choice, the other #11 did, and that's where I feel the situation sits currently. She has 2 options: a.) Find another number and the team will gladly cover the cost of a new top, or b.) Don't play, but the one option that will not occur is c.) Wasting my time with diva-like behavior.

Greenmonsters said:

IMO, #11 should go to the kid who has a pole barn

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Pardon me for my apparent ignorance, but could you clarify what you mean by a "pole barn"? Lol. One of those terms I haven't seen/heard in my sporadic time on these forums.

I am not quite sure, long running joke.

I think of it as somewhere you can practice inside for free.

Dad had a player 2 years ago the had an heated aircraft hanger, kid could have any number he wanted.

gdc03120 said:

In 2016, I varied between 8-10 players due to injuries, playing for other teams, etc. I had a player (call her "D", played for me in 2015) who came back to play for me for the last 4 games to fill a lineup. She did NOT start the season, and was given a chance to rejoin before the start, however she had other athletic conflicts. Her uniform number (chose in 2015) is the same as a player who tried out and played in 2016 (#11).

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Our team utilizes a seniority component. In the example above, once this player decided that she was not going to play, she would have forfeited all rights to that uniform number. Therefore the new player would be allowed to take it. Then if the other player decided to return, she would need to select a different number assuming the new player was not willing to change. One exception is in the case of an injury. We had a player miss all of 2016 due to a torn ACL. She did not play, but she remained part of the team, so her number remained hers and we did not allow any of our new players to choose that number. We do have a similar situation to your example this fall. One young lady played for our team in 2015 but not in 2016. She is now returning for the 2017 season and wants to return to the number she had (already has the uniform). A new player in 2016 chose this number since it was vacated, but is willing to switch to a new number. The parents of the returned player have agreed to pay the uniform costs for the other player's new uniform so that their DD can utilize her older uniform.

FP26 said:

Our team utilizes a seniority component. In the example above, once this player decided that she was not going to play, she would have forfeited all rights to that uniform number. Therefore the new player would be allowed to take it. Then if the other player decided to return, she would need to select a different number assuming the new player was not willing to change.

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There's only one slight problem with that which I came into contact with when discussing this with "D". When the team started in 2014 (when I was an AC), she played on that team (we used local HS uniforms, she chose #11 as well), and then played in 2015 (also #11, custom uniform). She has already pulled the "I've played with you longer" card, which I responded by saying, "That's because the other player wasn't eligible to try out because of her age" (which is true - the current #11 was not eligible until 2016). So basically she'll be down to three options:
A.) Let the team pay the $41 for a new top with a different number chose by "D"
B.) She can try to "buy-out" the new player for the old number (I doubt that'll happen)
C.) She can not play, since I've already said I won't have duplicate numbers.

As much as I would love to have her athleticism, I will not have her attitude and do not need her to play. I'll go 0-12 with ability over 12-0 with ego any day. Call me crazy but I coach with integrity and values. It's how I was raised and it's how I will coach until I can coach no more.

gdc03120 said:

Pardon me for my apparent ignorance, but could you clarify what you mean by a "pole barn"? Lol. One of those terms I haven't seen/heard in my sporadic time on these forums.

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Classic thread on another board by an upset parent whose DD might quit because the team was taking her favorite number away for a new player whose family had a pole barn where the team could practice. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pole_building_framing

You hit # and pole barn, hard to beat.

gdc03120 said:

Well, in this case it's not exactly "quitting", it's just not coming out to play.

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Can I try this with my work? I didn't quit I just didn't want to come in for awhile...lol

Sorry you left/didn't come back for whatever reason, pick a different number. I wouldn't even mention it to the player who is now wearing the number.



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^ I used that EXACT example to this player. As I've said before, these players ONLY have to pay for their uniforms, so they really prove their value through commitment and dedication - very simple. I don't plan to mention anything to the other player since a.) It's not her problem and b.) It was actually brought up about a week before the start of season around the time when said player was considering coming back - this girl basically said, "Oh well, she had the chance, it's her loss", which I respected for not being pushed around.

It's a VERY small community, and I do not want to cause drama or do anything that would be detrimental to the momentum and confidence I've built up in the past 3 seasons. Last year was our best year (even at a 5-7 record, compared to 2-20 the previous 2 combined), and I'll build on that without the need for drama. If she decides not to play, so be it. If she decides to play and changes her number, so be it. But one thing this team will NOT tolerate is prima donnas. Your ability defines the player, your attitude defines the person.

It is easy to call #, coaches know players names still call #S.

Wait for it ....
#78