Cutting Players.

Alex, I agree with everyone that IF the parent is that parent who is going to make a stink all over the place then maybe it's time to go.

I'd also say that some of this sounds contradictory. You said she had a really good tryout, then said she had quite a few errors, is slow, and is serviceable at the plate, which I read as slightly below average. I'm trying to figure what was the good part at the tryout and why she was taken. You said you thought the coaches could develop her. But the post implies that her playing time is limited and that's what has dad cranky. What were the expectations of the kid and the dad? Did they know she was #11 or #12 going in and that she would see limited time? While some development without playing time can be had in practice, I would expect a decent amount of game time would be needed at 10U for development.

It sounds a little bit like both sides might be guilty, but it does seem the coaches either took her for her personality and not her skill level (not her fault) or because they thought they could develop her and have failed (unless she's not trying, again not her fault). Weird thing about this age group. In my experience, kids who are world beaters at 10 are often not the studs by HS and 6 months may or may not be enough time to tell what you have.

While the circumstances may have been different, we had a similar experience last year. Our HC had apparently soured on a girl because he thought he could get a couple better players and singled out the #3 pitcher. As a result, he continually pulled her, blamed her for others' mistakes and generally made life miserable for them and caused a blow up. He then dismissed her, and signed up another girl who he had his eye on from his rec team. I don't think that's by any means what you are describing, but it happens. That was 12U. At 10U, I feel like unless you are a national level A team, you take your 11 or 12 kids and do what you can with them.

Swim Coach said:

Alex, I agree with everyone that IF the parent is that parent who is going to make a stink all over the place then maybe it's time to go.

I'd also say that some of this sounds contradictory. You said she had a really good tryout, then said she had quite a few errors, is slow, and is serviceable at the plate, which I read as slightly below average. I'm trying to figure what was the good part at the tryout and why she was taken. You said you thought the coaches could develop her. But the post implies that her playing time is limited and that's what has dad cranky. What were the expectations of the kid and the dad? Did they know she was #11 or #12 going in and that she would see limited time? While some development without playing time can be had in practice, I would expect a decent amount of game time would be needed at 10U for development.

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This is what drives me nuts, we played her every pool game. We sat stronger players to ensure she played. We told her father she was the number 11 player on the team, he just wouldn't believe it.

We explained to her, that she was the slowest on the team. He wouldn't believe it so we actually did times the very next practice.

1st Home
Player1 3.5 13.5
Player2 3.7 14
Player3 3.72 14.3
Player4 4.16 14.7
Player5 4.1 14.8
Player6 3.9 14.9
Player7 4 14.9
Player8 4.2 15.6
Player9 4.1 15.7
Player10 4.5 16.3

we could of worked around her speed, we have a couple we need to speed up, with time she was going to be really tall and a great pitcher. I know she will do well, if she can stick with it.

As far as finding a better player, we just talked last night if we were going to stay at 10 or go back to 11 and look for a replacement. We love the parents we have.

Alex said:

We told her father she was the number 11 player on the team, he just wouldn't believe it.

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I do not think I have ever said anything like that, your DD should think about taking up a different sport.

Alex said:

However her father was talking among other parents, that she should be playing more, or playing here even went so far as to talk to the head coach and talk down other players to build his up. He had had to talk to the father 5 weekends in a row after the tournament about playtime etc.

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How much playing time is she getting?

Looks like Player 9 needs some instruction on how to hit bases in stride...

osagedr said:

Looks like Player 9 needs some instruction on how to hit bases in stride...

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Player 9 is going thru family problems with her parents right now, I am afraid she's eating to many cheetos and not putting in the work. Another reason cutting this kid, hurt she's 11. With a little time and patience who knows what she could be.

64% between pool and bracket play, that said I didn't include the last weekend where she got more.

tough call when it comes to cutting for daddy issues especially at the young age groups.
Everyone who coaches has buckets of drama at 10-14U. My normal schedule was 7-9
tournaments. When the drama boiled over, I simply called a mandatory parent meeting
and 'generalized' my expectations for behavior-team rules-24 hour rule, etc. These parent
meetings set the groundwork for cutting players at season's end. 9 events is manageable,
drama is inevitable especially at 10-12U. The process bothers you less if you isolate yourself
from the player families, you should only surround yourself with the other coaches, do not
befriend the dads. It's like running your own company-keep your distance from employees as
you will be the one who does the firing.

Alex said:

So last night, we made the decision to let the child go, it was a vote and not 100% but 4 coaches started the team and we will do what's best for the team. My child was really great friends with the girl, loved her. My son was really good friends with their son as well when he found out the news he was in tears.

The thought of that baby girl getting that news, just makes me not want to be involved with coaching anymore, I just don't love it enough to feel that an 11 year old kid has to hear that news. The father called and talked to me, I tried to be honest but he wouldn't hear it, it was all conspiracies against his child. When everyone loved the child but we couldn't take the cancer anymore, what do you do.

Does this ever get easier?

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I've never cut a kid from any team I've coached. Some parents have pulled their kids after getting mad about whatever, but I've never sent anyone away. There are many kids who spread out at that age, but are tall and lean a couple of years later, or stay big but become strong. A few years ago, I took a kid as the 12th player who had serious issues with her swing and speed, but wanted to play so bad she could taste it. She's still not very fast and her swing is still jacked up on occasion, but she often mashes the ball now, and sometimes bounces one off a parked car.

Too bad you were unable to get the message across to the dad, and then told him he could accept the situation or was free to look for a better one. You could have also thrown in the facts about the friendships, and that might have given dad some pause. It's hard to know how to handle this stuff until you've seen it once or twice.

Coach JV said:

The process bothers you less if you isolate yourself from the player families, you should only surround yourself with the other coaches, do not befriend the dads. It's like running your own company-keep your distance from employees as you will be the one who does the firing.

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I understand where you're coming from, but for those who like to say there's no loyalty in kid's sports (or in business), this outlook and method pretty much guarantees it.