Getting the Axe

[JAD]

I guess my question is whether the bottom 1/4 knew in advance they were the bottom 1/4 and were at risk? You may say they should have known, but denial is a strong defense mechanism. Would coaches ever take players (or parents) aside far in advance and say, "Hey, things aren't looking great, and if they don't improve, you may not be asked back to join the team next year?" And if not, why not? Do you think some communication would be seen as straightforward or as disrespectful? I, as a parent, would appreciate the heads-up, but others' mileage may vary.

We would usually "encourage" players in the bottom 1/4 to attend multiple tryouts...

 

[Swim Coach]

UPDATE: So far we've been to two tryouts and while I realize there is always the potential of badmouthing, sour grapes, etc., it's immediately apparent that getting the axe would have been a good thing even if we hadn't been wanting to move. The first two coaches I contacted both had previously had DD play for the team we left. Turns out there are lots of former players, one year players, from that team all over, and it's for a good reason. Everyone can't seem to get away fast enough. Both coaches said that regardless if we played on their team or somewhere else, anywhere was better than there. The one coach told me that that our old team specializes in destroying pitchers. Our catcher who is tight with DD also decided she'd had enough unwarranted screaming and punishment and also moved on. Let the implosion begin.

DD was really nervous at the first tryout, but did just fine. Then we went to another one yesterday and we were offered a spot unexpectedly about 2 hours after we got home. DD didn't even get to pitch but she's pitched against this coach in rec as recently as a month ago, so I guess he felt he knew enough about her to offer a spot after seeing her defensive drills. These are both respected local organizations, and we have one more tryout tomorrow but I think we found her a home as the team that offered was DD's first choice prior to going to any tryouts.

This tryout stuff makes for some crazy times.

 

[catchermama]

Tryout season is insane. Don't get caught up in the drama though or be offended by how the coach "broke up" with you. One year our coach just posted tryouts on a local board and didn't tell any of the current team!! Some coaches just don't do things the right way. I would be careful as you're attending tryouts and sharing your experience with this team. Try to keep it positive (somehow). It's a tiny, tiny softball world - you don't want to be labeled as the parent that's spreading rumors or disgruntled or whatever. Other parents and coaches will try to bait you for information - don't bite!

 

[Swim Coach]

I would be careful as you're attending tryouts and sharing your experience with this team. Try to keep it positive (somehow). It's a tiny, tiny softball world - you don't want to be labeled as the parent that's spreading rumors or disgruntled or whatever. Other parents and coaches will try to bait you for information - don't bite!

I didn't have to say anything to these coaches and I knew it was a small world. They told me. I said things just didn't work our for us there and it is time for us to move on. In both cases, the coaches told me that the softball world is a small world and everyone around knows exactly how our coach was.

Now some of the stuff I learned about our old team from other parents and coaches - wow! I just nodded my head kept my mouth shut. It did fill in some gaps I wish I knew back in January.

 

[Joseph Sciara]

We would invite all of the current players to tryouts and would make decisions there.

So let me get this straight, a player on your team has been able to show you something at a tryout that they didn't show you in the 50-100 games that they already played for the team? The ENTIRE season was a tryout for them. Can you honestly tell me that you ever changed your mind about a player already on your team based on a year end tryout?

 

[1696]

So let me get this straight, a player on your team has been able to show you something at a tryout that they didn't show you in the 50-100 games that they already played for the team? The ENTIRE season was a tryout for them. Can you honestly tell me that you ever changed your mind about a player already on your team based on a year end tryout?

Thank you for writing this. A few years ago, all of our returning players joined tryouts. Our top 3 players looked... awful. And had awful scores from our independent judges. The one player who regularly - through fall, winter and summer - made the least effort, with the poorest batting average... aced the tryout. She looked awesome. It made a difficult situation more difficult. However, I did not change my mind about any of those players based on the tryout.

 

[JAD]

So let me get this straight, a player on your team has been able to show you something at a tryout that they didn't show you in the 50-100 games that they already played for the team? The ENTIRE season was a tryout for them. Can you honestly tell me that you ever changed your mind about a player already on your team based on a year end tryout?

If a player was an obvious cut or had psycho softball parents we would strongly encourage them to attend tryouts for other teams at the end of the season.

Different teams have different goals. Some teams want to play together forever regardless of the level of play or goals of the players. When my DD was coming up through the softball ranks (REC, C, B-, B, B+, A-, A, A+) our team goal was to make it to the next higher level and to play against and beat teams that were better than us. Therefore, we were always looking to make improvements on and off the field.

There is nothing wrong with teams that want to play B-level TB forever, but that was not our team goal, and the higher you get in the softball hierarchy the more cutthroat it becomes.

 

[Swim Coach]

Implosion complete. Email to remaining players from our former HC yesterday - team disbanded, organization disbanded. HC was individual owner of the whole org with 4 teams. Sends email telling everyone that's it, all done. 4 teams worth of girls without a home.

Not sure that's what he meant by taking the team in a new direction while cutting DD last weekend.

 

[BobInMadison]

My DD 1 says softball parents should have their own reality TV show.

 

[55dad]

I am a little bit disappointed. I thought this might be a thread about how my Golden Gophers need to beat Wisconsin in football this year to "Get the Axe!"