Coaches: How would you deal with this situation?

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Jan 14, 2019
2
0
Had our tryouts back in fall, had our entire team return and 2 new girls show up. We were surprised at the low turnout of new players, because we had a successful season and even more so because a team in our age group folded and only one of the 12 players came out to our tryout, despite the fact that many of the girls already know each other etc. At the time we chalked it up to overestimating our appeal :p. Regardless, we were happy to have all our players back but we had been hoping to add a pitcher and catcher to the group.

We recently found out that at least one of our returning parents (and possibly a 2nd) sent out a text to parents of the other (folding) team telling them that our team was already set before the tryouts started. It has been confirmed that at least 3 of the players we were interested in didn't come out because of the message and there could be more.

How would you, as a coach, handle this situation?
 
Apr 28, 2014
2,316
113
That is a tough one for sure. Without more details I would ask if your coaches reached out to any of the players on the folding team. If I had an inclination that a team was folding in our area I would ask DD if she knew any of the kids or if any of them were high level players. Then we would reach out to the parents or coaches to invite them to a tryout.
How you handle the situation with your current parents is a tough one. Maybe someone else has some ideas.
 
Feb 26, 2018
328
28
I think you don't do anything because more than likely the thought in their minds when then sent the text was that you guys had success, no need to add anything. Obviously they need to leave the coaching and all that to the coaches, but I think it may have been somewhat well intentioned however misguided it was. I would just let it slide and contact the parents of the girls you were hoping to see and inquire as to whether they have found a new team and possibly set up some private tryouts.
 
Nov 18, 2013
2,255
113
Parents like this are a cancer and there’s nothing you can do that will change them. Time to cut bait. Don’t succumb to the “it’s not the kids fault their parents are a-holes”. You’re going to lose kids no matter what. Do you want it to be from the ones who went behind your back or your good parents? You don’t need to explain why they were cut. Just take the high road. Parents like this flap their mouths enough that everyone will know exactly why you dropped them.
 
Jun 11, 2012
741
63
I'm not sure I'd say anything now but before the next tryout I would hold a parent/player meeting and make it perfectly clear that no one is guaranteed a position and everyone needs to tryout year after year. Then I'd say that if you find out that any parent or player has been telling prospective players that there are no positions available they will be automatically cut from the team. The parent who did it will either own up to it or just not risk doing it a second time. From my experience parents who do this are not concerned with how good the team was (who doesn't want a better team) but are more concerned that someone is going to show up and be better than their kid at their position.
Also if you have a website list the tryouts and make sure to say that all positions will be considered.
 
Dec 10, 2015
845
63
Chautauqua County
sounds like returning parents aren't interested in any competition for their DDs. if you need a pitcher and catcher, go get them and send a message at the same time. kaizen, eh.
 
Jul 16, 2013
4,659
113
Pennsylvania
I see two ways of viewing this...

1) Parents did this intentionally in order to save playing time for their DD's. In essence, they have sabotaged your tryouts. That is an issue and needs to be addressed. But I am not sure the best way. More than likely I would reach out to some of those players, especially if they can help your team. It may lead to having too many players on the roster, so you would need to be careful with this.

2) Parents from other team reached out to someone they knew asking "Hey, do you think your team will have any spots open?". At which the parent naively replied "I don't think so, I think everyone is coming back". Innocently creating an issue without realizing it.

Story: A few years back, we sort of fell into type 2. Our DD had been with the same org for a few years, and enjoyed it. None of us have anything negative to say about that org. However, she wanted to play in bigger tournaments, travel more, and hopefully play in college. So one fall she decided to try out for some more aggressive teams. She knew a couple players on the top team of her choice, but had heard that their roster was full. So we didn't even bother reaching out to that team. Instead, she picked 3 other teams, went to tryouts, and was offered a spot by each. While she was working on making a decision, the first team called asking for her to guest play in a tournament that weekend. She accepted. After the last game on Sunday, the coaching staff requested a private meeting with her, at which time they offered her a spot. Of course, she took it. My point is, we had crossed that team off of her list because "we heard" that they were full. Luckily they weren't. Worked out for the best, but purely by luck...
 

marriard

Not lost - just no idea where I am
Oct 2, 2011
4,312
113
Florida
How would you, as a coach, handle this situation?

Well that is a new one. Nowhere near the worst one, but at least a new one.

Ok... first, lessons to be learned: Coaches - if you want a player, and you know they are looking - proactively reach out to the family and make an offer. Waiting for tryouts is too late. Quality players don't really need to tryouts to get on a team unless they want to - reputation is more than enough. The good teams in our org don't really have tryouts - they go out and get the players they want. I know every good player pretty much in our state who is any good. The coaches of these teams only turn up at each age group tryouts to see if someone unexpected turns up or someone new to the area appears.

Second - coaches absolutely need to talk to the parent or parents responsible to ask what they were thinking - if they are not on the coaching staff they are totally out of line. Now what you actually do may depend on what they say and also age group/number of travel seasons....

If they deny it despite proof.. they are gone. You can't have that.

If they admit it, it is going to be up to the coaches whether there is a second chance or not. That may depend on whether they have been an issue in the past or if this seems out of character.
 
Jun 29, 2013
589
18
FP26 said it best, this could very well be an innocuous message sent from one or two of your parents. When we are looking, I often will get in touch with some of the parents of a team if I don't know the coaching staff to see if there are openings. If I hear that almost all the players are coming back, I'll probably pass on that tryout and be grateful that we spent our time on a more realistic option.
 
Apr 20, 2018
4,581
113
SoCal
It may have been more innocent than one might think. Small talk at a party. "I heard your team fell apart". Yeah we are looking for a new team- how many players you guys got? "We got 12".

Change your heybucket post to say:

TEAM NAME have open tryouts on dates and time. DESPITE WHAT YOU MAY HAVE HEARD OR READ ALL POSITIONS ARE OPEN. We are especially looking for PITCHERS AND CATCHER but all are invited.
 

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