Have you considered teaching her to bunt?
Playing Time and Parent Problems
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Have you considered teaching her to bunt?
- Jun 1, 2015
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I agree on all accounts - I've already made a written note for next year about what to do with guest players if the situation arises.
The parents are not willing to reconcile whatsoever. I ran into father today while taking down my outfield fence - he walked by me, whistling. Mom, on the other hand - not so subtle. After I simply told her I hadn't made my lineup for tonight's game, and her assumption I was benching her kid, and her pulling her kid, decided to slander my team and I on a FB status:
""Warning to all (town) softball girls don't wast you time, money ,or Interest in (program name) it's the biggest ****ing joke ever pretty sad all your daughter wanted to do was play ball but was never good enough for the so called man that was supposed to be a coach that in my eyes is a immature arrogant piece of *** in my eyes guess what it ain't over you don't **** with my kid and think it's ok it's not"
^ This because her kid was subbed out for the end of a 25-minute game because it was her turn - something explained to her mom/kid almost an hour before the game resumed
We did do some extensive bunting practice during the pre-season, but her focus wasn't there to keep her bat back and/or not try to push the bat through and swing. She's only 12 and coming out of youth softball, and as a couple have remarked before, probably didn't belong on this team because of her level of play. However it was that or (likely) not have a team. I hedged my bets on figuring I could help change her, but I was wrong.
The parents have a fair beef, just does not sound they are going about it right.
They paid $41, their player has not been attentive and mentally focused in practice, her batting average is 0, she did not work hard enough in practice to keep her position, she is the weakest link, and the HC is volunteer.... I don't think they have a fair beef at all especially since they all agreed to play competitively in the game and secure the win. The Facebook post is way, way overboard and her departure from the team should be immediate.
Disagree.
They needed her to form a team, if she did not play no team.
She got thrown to curb as soon as they did not care about her anymore.
They needed her to form a team, if she did not play no team.
She got thrown to curb as soon as they did not care about her anymore.
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Doesn't sound like that is the way it happened at all. Sitting a portion of the game and then entering is definitely not throwing her to the curb. The parents behavior here is the biggest issue. If they can't handle her sitting some without this major disruption she has to go. She gets what she earns and it doesn't sound like she has earned anything,
I personally see nothing wrong with bumping the roster to 13, adding a couple of quality players. but in a situation like that, where they are additions, maybe work out some rotations where every player sits every game (since this is rec, I assume you are allowed to substitute fairly liberally, at least in reg season, if not, this is not what I would call rec). weaker players, like F, still sit more, but not quite as much as if you play all your stonger players especially additions entire game. this I think would still have increased the teams play, but gotten all players a little more involved.
- Jun 1, 2015
- 501
- 43
There's no exact "name/label" for what this league is that I coach in. We can do a couple of things with our lineups:
a.) Bat 10/field 10 with listed substitutes
b.) Bat 10/field 10 with a DP/Flex (and listed substitutes if available)
c.) Bat everyone in the lineup and free-substitute players on the field at any time.
I typically do (a.) or (b.) because I have some bats on this team that need serious work that can't handle this league, and it's hard for them in a game situation. So usually I play them as a Flex with a stronger bat covering them, and they usually understand and embrace what role they are given. "F" in this case is one of those weaker bats, hence why she is generally a Flex.
I think you have to define for yourself at least what "this" is, I think this is probably the reason for a lot of the disconnect.
Rec generally means everyone gets to play (both offense and defense) a decent amount, and is precisely for the players who enjoy playing the game, but not really at a high level, or willing/able to make a high level commitment. most rec I know where continuous batting order is allowed (c. scenario in your post), most coaches generally take advantage of it, because it offers the least headaches (ie when to sub in batting order, etc.). no one gets more than one AB more than anyone else each game. (if you look to move to this, I suggest you NOT put all your weakest hitters together, sprinkle them throughout order). as for players not able to handle batting in your league, keep sending them up there, and some of them will surprise you eventually.
sounds like this is not true rec, but not really travel either. in future, I would define before signups the goal/philosophy/mission statement for the team and the players.
all that being said, even with true rec, nothing wrong with weaker players sitting more than stronger players, and if parent or player asks you how to get more PT, you simply say hard work / effort. at this age, players know the score, and they all know who weaker and stronger players are, and age should not factor in. parents knew this was a 16u team that their 12yo signed up for.
