Do you prefer to rotate subs or sit girls for an entire game

Im a first year head coach for 12u after assisting for 3 years for 8u and 10u. Im still learning and ironing out the kinks....i dont think my parents fully understand that i have 15 girls. Only 6 of them have actually played before so i have a lot of work to do. Last night we played a game that was shorted on time by 15 minutes
I had four girls that sat the only two innings we got to play. It wasnt my intention to sit them the entire game nor was i punishing them for any reason. But the parents thought it was personal and decided to let me know. Long story short i walked off that field feeling as tho my parents hated me and thought i was incompetent as a coach Any one have any thoughts? Opinions advice to help me through this?

24 hour waiting policy to discuss play time after a game.
Reduce to 12-13 max
Have thick, Lizzard skin.

Sbcoach2005 said:

Im a first year head coach for 12u after assisting for 3 years for 8u and 10u. Im still learning and ironing out the kinks....i dont think my parents fully understand that i have 15 girls. Only 6 of them have actually played before so i have a lot of work to do. Last night we played a game that was shorted on time by 15 minutes
I had four girls that sat the only two innings we got to play. It wasnt my intention to sit them the entire game nor was i punishing them for any reason. But the parents thought it was personal and decided to let me know. Long story short i walked off that field feeling as tho my parents hated me and thought i was incompetent as a coach Any one have any thoughts? Opinions advice to help me through this?

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Been there and done that with 15, and keeping everyone happy is very difficult. If you sit kids too much, parents will get mad. If you rotate, and lose games because your stronger players are on the bench, parents will get mad. The parents suck for ganging up on you in this situation, but most don't understand what they're seeing. I'd calmly explain the situation, and tell them that you'll not put up with that ever again.

It sounds like Rec, but if it's travel, have an honest conversation with the bottom three. It doesn't mean you have to cut them, but if they stay, they need to understand their playing time will mainly come during scrimmages.

If it's Rec, I would hope that a one game evening is the exception and not the norm. I don't go nose-to-nose with umpires often, but shorting the game time will usually make that happen. They get paid, and the players deserve every minute. Regardless, just make sure you're following the league minimum play rules. If you put everyone on the bench into the game in the 2nd inning, with the possible exception of late arrivals, you're going to be in compliance. I had this same situation a few years ago, but the very good pitcher, catcher, and 1B were often all I needed on defense, but it was a VERY long trip through the lineup!

on my girls 14u showcase team, they play 16u showcases, they rotate way too much. 13 originally we are down to 12. I don't like the rotating. and with mercy rules some kids only get a half inning anyway.

Strike2 said:

It sounds like Rec, but if it's travel, have an honest conversation with the bottom three. It doesn't mean you have to cut them, but if they stay, they need to understand their playing time will mainly come during scrimmages.

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Problem is that this 'honest conversation' has to take place before the season so the parents and players can evaluate whether they want to play under these circumstances. A coach cannot in good conscience spring this news on them after the season has begun, IMO.

If no conversation has taken place, then the coach should honor the parents/players' reasonable assumptions, which were probably that they'd be playing a lot of softball in real games this summer.

Yes, 15 players is too many. I'd never intentionally coach a 15-player travel team at this level. But if stuck with 15, I would play them all significantly. I'd rather risk the ire of the best 3 players and their parents than screw over the bottom 3.

hacksaw said:

on my girls 14u showcase team, they play 16u showcases, they rotate way too much. 13 originally we are down to 12. I don't like the rotating. and with mercy rules some kids only get a half inning anyway.

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What do you mean by rotating? You mean you'd rather play a whole game, then sit a whole game, rather than play a little each game?

Sbcoach2005 said:

Long story short i walked off that field feeling as tho my parents hated me and thought i was incompetent as a coach Any one have any thoughts? Opinions advice to help me through this?

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Are you getting paid to coach? If the answer is "no" tell the parents to zip it up. Institute a 48 hour rule with regards to discussions on playing time. Don't even try and rationalize decisions you made during the game. Fan is short for fanatical. Logic doesn't apply here.

Even if you are SUPER lenient with playing time and you win ALL of your games some parent will still complain about something you did or didn't do. Focus on getting the players and deal with the parents only when you absolutely have to. It's the only way to stay sane.