As a parent - where is the line between having your kid be a "team player" and being taken advantage of?
I've always heard that you want your kid to be a team player, and do what is best for the team, but I'm struggling here...
DD is 12, she is playing on a 1st yr 14s team because she has been with the same coach for 4 years and really likes him and he decided to move the team up. She is fully capable of playing with this team. She is a catcher. She works hard at her position, catching for several pitchers outside of team practices and taking advantage of every opportunity she can to learn and grow. She is a great athlete and has a great work ethic. She is hands down the best catcher on this team. HC knows it and states it regularly.
The problem? He cleaned house this summer and picked up 7 new players (some of our team stayed down and some needed to go)(Team of 12 girls). He picked up all infielders - on purpose according to him. He said he wants athletes and to make sure the girls work hard and compete for their positions. He said if he has good athletes he can turn some of them into outfielders. Sounds good in theory, but he has basically no outfielders. His DD will play outfield occasionally. My problem? DD is a great outfielder as well. She is fast and can track a ball. Plus she has a cannon for an arm. He has been putting her in the outfield pretty regularly now. The girls he has catching are slow and don't know the game from behind the plate. It is hard to watch. I know in his mind he's doing what he thinks is best for the team because we need girls who can catch in the outfield, but it is also hurting us not having DD behind the plate - and she misses it.
DD has always had a good attitude and plays where he wants her. I am frustrated because I feel like she has worked hard over the past 4 years to establish herself as a catcher. I feel like she is being punished because HC made a poor decision in not picking up any outfield. DD's theory is - I would rather play (anywhere) than sit the bench. But she is getting frustrated with wanting to catch as well. She sees that we are losing games on steals home all.day.long. She doesn't mind playing outfield sometimes - she rather enjoys it actually, but she wants to catch more than just an inning here and there.
So - where is the line between being a team player and being taken advantage of?
I've always heard that you want your kid to be a team player, and do what is best for the team, but I'm struggling here...
DD is 12, she is playing on a 1st yr 14s team because she has been with the same coach for 4 years and really likes him and he decided to move the team up. She is fully capable of playing with this team. She is a catcher. She works hard at her position, catching for several pitchers outside of team practices and taking advantage of every opportunity she can to learn and grow. She is a great athlete and has a great work ethic. She is hands down the best catcher on this team. HC knows it and states it regularly.
The problem? He cleaned house this summer and picked up 7 new players (some of our team stayed down and some needed to go)(Team of 12 girls). He picked up all infielders - on purpose according to him. He said he wants athletes and to make sure the girls work hard and compete for their positions. He said if he has good athletes he can turn some of them into outfielders. Sounds good in theory, but he has basically no outfielders. His DD will play outfield occasionally. My problem? DD is a great outfielder as well. She is fast and can track a ball. Plus she has a cannon for an arm. He has been putting her in the outfield pretty regularly now. The girls he has catching are slow and don't know the game from behind the plate. It is hard to watch. I know in his mind he's doing what he thinks is best for the team because we need girls who can catch in the outfield, but it is also hurting us not having DD behind the plate - and she misses it.
DD has always had a good attitude and plays where he wants her. I am frustrated because I feel like she has worked hard over the past 4 years to establish herself as a catcher. I feel like she is being punished because HC made a poor decision in not picking up any outfield. DD's theory is - I would rather play (anywhere) than sit the bench. But she is getting frustrated with wanting to catch as well. She sees that we are losing games on steals home all.day.long. She doesn't mind playing outfield sometimes - she rather enjoys it actually, but she wants to catch more than just an inning here and there.
So - where is the line between being a team player and being taken advantage of?