Guest Players and Playing Time

canyonjoe said:

Honesty is always the best policy. Decide how you will play guest and let her know the situation and go from there. .

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This is the best course of action IMO and one that you were probably going to do anyway but that way they know where they stand and can decide for themselves
whether are happy with it.

We had our practice today (minus 2 regulars). I introduced the "newer" players and basically laid down the law like this:
> "Guest" players are to be treated as well as you would treat anyone else - they are members of the team, respect them as such.
> Priority for play time would lean more to the "original" players (those who had been there since April), BUT I would not hesitate to substitute a guest player if/when the situation arises. Could be because of score, injury, not paying attention, not performing up to the needs of the team, etc.
> My hope is that all 12 girls find playing time in every game, but it would be on a case-by-case/game-by-game basis. They are to play/bat where they are assigned to or someone else will find their time/spot.

Nobody really said anything, so I'm under the assumption they all understood. I was/am as up-front about the matter as I always am to my girls.

Rocketech1 said:

I disagree with this statement. Your core group of players have been there since Day1 and I would imagine are paying monthly dues. It's critical you treat them very fair or you will not have a team in the future. With guest players, you let them know that the regular team players have priority over their playing time but will do your best to get them into the game and have them contribute. Every player should have at least two positions that they know well so if you lose your starting SS, for example, someone can fill in for them.

The bottom-line is treat all the players (both regulars and guest players) the way you would want your DD treated and all will be fine.

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This is how our team handles guest players/pick ups. We're picking them up for a specific purpose and the coach makes sure their parents know their purpose. Most often we need a pitcher because we've had so many injuries this year with our pitchers. If everyone is honest up front, nobody gets mad. or if they do, it's not really justified. That said, when you pick up a player who's a stud, she's probably going to end up with more playing time. It's best for the team to play the strongest players at certain times too.

In my case, it's a bit different because I'm not picking these players up for a 1-off appearance. I'm picking them up to fatten a roster so I have bodies during the season in case something happens. By NO stretch are they "pros" or "ringers" or "all-stars" at all. But they could definitely help somewhere along the lines. I've basically told them, as I have above, that I'll make every intention to get them (guests) time in each game but it's not guaranteed when, where, and/or how much. It'd be handled on a case-by-case basis. Everyone else seemed fine with it - I had a couple ask about, "Well they haven't made all the practices we have, so why should they be starting?" To which I answered, "There's no guarantee they are starting or even playing. They are here so WE don't have to forfeit our season because of players who can't commit to this team otherwise. They should be respected for giving their time to help US so we don't forfeit if we have injuries or emergencies come up." I believe that cleared it up.

Your situation seems different than a player coming out to help for tournament. I would treat these new players the same as the rest of the girls on the team, they are helping you out since you had a player quit during the season. There playing time should be based on their level of play.

Now if someone called me and asked for my daughter to guest play in a tournament because they are short handed, I would be disappointed if she did not play at least 66% of the innings on defense and bat in the lineup. Don't ask my daughter to guest play if you don't intend on playing her most of the game.

Personally, I believe the guest player should only be used if absolutely necessary, injury. My paying DD sat the bench a game while 2 guest players played with no bench time. Our team has enough rostered players but coach is bringing guest players to "give our players a rest" and "to cover the weaker players". The sad part is our team was not short any
positions and guest players played in multiple positions only displacing a few. I believe these girls were good enough a year ago and to make hefty payments to your organization you play them. By the way coaches DDs and friends did not sit. Very disappointed, discouraged, and feel sick about the whole situation. Trying to keep DD positive.

SB100 said:

Personally, I believe the guest player should only be used if absolutely necessary, injury. My paying DD sat the bench a game while 2 guest players played with no bench time. Our team has enough rostered players but coach is bringing guest players to "give our players a rest" and "to cover the weaker players". The sad part is our team was not short any
positions and guest players played in multiple positions only displacing a few. I believe these girls were good enough a year ago and to make hefty payments to your organization you play them. By the way coaches DDs and friends did not sit. Very disappointed, discouraged, and feel sick about the whole situation. Trying to keep DD positive.

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This was our fall situation last year (first year 10U). DD wasn't one of the rostered girls who sat a lot but she was one who wouldn't hit when he batted 9, which was almost all the time (pool games, weak teams, etc.). Always getting pick ups we didn't need. We left after fall, best decision we could've made. You don't pick up unnecessary players so you can bench the ones YOU chose to be on your team. You coach them up, that's your freaking job as a coach. If you don't want to play them, don't take them on the team. That's my young player perspective anyway. I won't claim to know what is "appropriate" at 16U.

Yes, I totally agree. Coaches invest in players when they offer a place on the team
and players invest in team when they agree to join. If something the coaches perceive as better comes along sign them as a paying player. Guest players should not get FREE play on the backs of rostered ones. If my DD is not making the cut, refund me the difference of unplayed tourneys and save her from the stress and disappointment.

SB100 said:

Personally, I believe the guest player should only be used if absolutely necessary, injury. My paying DD sat the bench a game while 2 guest players played with no bench time. Our team has enough rostered players but coach is bringing guest players to "give our players a rest" and "to cover the weaker players". The sad part is our team was not short any
positions and guest players played in multiple positions only displacing a few. I believe these girls were good enough a year ago and to make hefty payments to your organization you play them. By the way coaches DDs and friends did not sit. Very disappointed, discouraged, and feel sick about the whole situation. Trying to keep DD positive.

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That might "work" in theory but lets say you are traveling 3 hours to a two or three day tournament and your team normally plays one day tournaments locally with 10 girls and few back to back games... It is hot and you have two pitchers... The coach decides to pick up another pitcher for that tournament in order to provide some rest for the two primary pitchers when necessary... You are saying that unless someone gets hurt that guest player should ONLY play if one of the regular players is injured? I guess that is an option but good luck picking up a player when you really need one in the future...

Don't get me wrong, I am a firm believer in developing your regular players... The coach picked them in tryouts and they should play and I do not agree with picking up a bunch of ringers and sitting your regulars in place of them... However, if the decision is made to pick a player up for a perceived need then that guest player should get some playing time...

Yes, if that was the case.