what questions should be asked when looking for new team

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May 6, 2015
2,397
113
so new revised list

what is the coaches background/experience?
What are the birth years of the girls on the team?
Are girls moved around in batting order from game to game or weekend to weekend?
What is expected roster size? What is philosophy regarding playing time?
What positions to coaches children play?
What is policy on guest playing for other teams?
What is teams policy on bringing in guest players, or other players from organization?
Are players encouraged to attempt difficult plays and applauded for effort regardless of result?
How are games scored and stats kept, who keeps them, are they made available?
What are expectations for players to work outside of OTAs?
What is expectation regarding players playing other sports? In season, out of season? how are schedule conflicts resolved?
How many tournaments is team planning on for next season? How many will involve significant travel (ie hotels)?
What is expected financially?
 
May 6, 2015
2,397
113
so new revised list

what is the coaches background/experience?
What are the birth years of the girls on the team?
Are girls moved around in batting order from game to game or weekend to weekend?
What is expected roster size? What is philosophy regarding playing time?
What positions to coaches children play?
What is policy on guest playing for other teams?
What is teams policy on bringing in guest players, or other players from organization?
Are players encouraged to attempt difficult plays and applauded for effort regardless of result?
How are games scored and stats kept, who keeps them, are they made available?
What are expectations for players to work outside of OTAs?
What is expectation regarding players playing other sports? In season, out of season? how are schedule conflicts resolved?
How many tournaments is team planning on for next season? How many will involve significant travel (ie hotels)?
What is expected financially?
 
Nov 25, 2012
1,437
83
USA
I will add one to the list....

How long do the coaches talk after a game and or tournament?

I am still convinced that after a game or long weekend the girls attention span despite the age is minimal. Everything that needs to be said can be reduced to a couple of minutes versus a 10 to 15 minute lecture. Confident after the first couple of minutes the girls tune out....... Keep it quick, to the point, and let them go. ;)
 
Feb 7, 2013
3,188
48
Critical in my opinion:

Are their any coaches daughters on the team?
How big is the roster?
What is the monthly cost and is the team required to do a lot of extra fundraising?
Is their transparency on where the fees are going?
What's a typical month (e.g. practice 3x a week, 1 tourney and 1-2 friendlies/scrimmages a month)? And where are they located?
Are you planning on trying to qualify for nationals: ASA, PGF, USSSA or other tournaments?

My general observation is that travel ball is a crap shoot, most teams fold and/or have lots of movement of players each and every season (if not mid-season). The best team my DD was on, was not super competitive but the head coach and assistants did not have daughters on the team, told us the roster was limited to 12 players maximum and they stuck to it (not a money grab of a roster of 17! which DD was on one year), and they allowed my DD to earn a starting position at pitcher. The bottom line is they were honorable and the families respected the coaches and organization. Very little drama all season. Do your homework before joining any team, it will save you lots of heartache later in the season.
 
Mar 23, 2014
621
18
SoCal
Everything that was already stated but add 1 critically important factor to the equation..... the BS factor.

EVERYBODY LIES. If you go in knowing that 50% of the answers are BS..... you won’t be surprised, unless they live up to their word.
 
Jun 27, 2018
291
28
Strike 3 I had to laugh at your suggestion because my daughter was on a team where the coach was notorious for her long post game/post tournament chats. A half hour -45 min wasn’t unusual for her.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
Sep 29, 2010
1,082
83
Knoxville, TN
I will add one to the list....

How long do the coaches talk after a game and or tournament?

I am still convinced that after a game or long weekend the girls attention span despite the age is minimal. Everything that needs to be said can be reduced to a couple of minutes versus a 10 to 15 minute lecture. Confident after the first couple of minutes the girls tune out....... Keep it quick, to the point, and let them go. ;)
This made me LOL! We played for that guy, ONCE!
 
Sep 29, 2010
1,082
83
Knoxville, TN
Everything that was already stated but add 1 critically important factor to the equation..... the BS factor.

EVERYBODY LIES. If you go in knowing that 50% of the answers are BS..... you won’t be surprised, unless they live up to their word.


Although it’s not always possible, it’s better to have some questions by current and former parents than the coach. Especially regarding playing time and positions. You have to play detective to a certain degree. AKA, doing your homework.
 
Aug 19, 2015
1,118
113
Atlanta, GA
We've always had talkers for coaches. 30 minutes minimum at the end of the day when everyone is dying to go home. Sometimes even when we're not ending the day until 10 PM or later. Send an email! Talk to them at practice next time! Do you seriously think they're actually listening at that hour? They're thinking about food and what they've missed on Snapchat all day.
 

Axe

Jul 7, 2011
459
18
Atlanta
Although it’s not always possible, it’s better to have some questions by current and former parents than the coach. Especially regarding playing time and positions. You have to play detective to a certain degree. AKA, doing your homework.

And if you are a coach remember that AT LEAST 50% of what these parents are telling you may be lies or fabrications from their rose colored glasses!
 

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