How many of you coaches play “the game?” Nah I ain’t talking about the actually softball game. I’m talking about the nasty side of travel softball. I’ve been coaching travel softball for 4 years now. Every year I’ve had another coach or even dads try to sweep a team right out from under me. Promising players and parents this and that. Sending spies to tryouts that carouse with the parents of those that tried out (happened to me this year). I’m sure it’s always been this way but seems to have gone up a notch around here. I’m sure y’all have some crazy stories! Let’s hear some of the wildest! For parents: what’s the wildest thing a coach has done to try to get your DD to play for them. For coaches: what’s the wildest thing you have done or has been done to you to cause players to leave? This should be fun!
The Travel Softball “Game”
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- Jun 20, 2015
- 852
- 93
I witnessed a coach sitting in the stands and trying to talk to players and parents during/after tryout attendance. plan didn't work when our committed parents went and sat next to him in stands and talked his ear off about everything.
Unfortunately youth sports seems to bring out the worst in some people. I will never understand it...
The first memory that pops into my mind was at a relatively local tournament. Our team was set up in the 3rd base dugout. During the game while our players were on the field, the other team's 3rd base coach was carrying on a conversation with our 3b. Nothing necessary out of the ordinary with that. Until he started trying to recruit her to their team. After she politely stated "no" twice, she asked me to speak with the coach and ask him to leave her alone. He seemed offended when I politely asked him to stop it. Go figure...
The first memory that pops into my mind was at a relatively local tournament. Our team was set up in the 3rd base dugout. During the game while our players were on the field, the other team's 3rd base coach was carrying on a conversation with our 3b. Nothing necessary out of the ordinary with that. Until he started trying to recruit her to their team. After she politely stated "no" twice, she asked me to speak with the coach and ask him to leave her alone. He seemed offended when I politely asked him to stop it. Go figure...
- Jun 16, 2010
- 259
- 28
Our coaches had trained many of the coaches on surrounding teams......as assistants at one time.....simply wasnt an issue.
What was.....was everyone held tryouts the same weekend as us. Forcing girls to choose.....do they try to make the best program around......and end up without a team if they dont make it.......or settle for a team they have higher chance of making.
Of course, the option of having tryouts later concede all the good players to try out for better team first.........and having tryouts earlier......give them chance to change.
In all cases, strong girls are put in bad situation.
Perhaps recruiting stronger girls isnt all that bad.....for them . We didnt do it....took what came. Tryouts were a 2 day camp basically. Anyone could come to the camp to get top instruction.....regardless of if they thought could make it. Done to help girls and promote good softball. Every girl received feedback.
Thats how my daughter, who had never played softball before, only baseball, ended up playing for a top program. Coaches that can see potential in strong athletes.....and look for it.
One of the coaches began coaching a HS. In a couple years....from bad to competing for state . One of his HS players got offer to play D1 college softball......never played travel ball....didnt start softball until HS. Turned it down to play basketball.
What was.....was everyone held tryouts the same weekend as us. Forcing girls to choose.....do they try to make the best program around......and end up without a team if they dont make it.......or settle for a team they have higher chance of making.
Of course, the option of having tryouts later concede all the good players to try out for better team first.........and having tryouts earlier......give them chance to change.
In all cases, strong girls are put in bad situation.
Perhaps recruiting stronger girls isnt all that bad.....for them . We didnt do it....took what came. Tryouts were a 2 day camp basically. Anyone could come to the camp to get top instruction.....regardless of if they thought could make it. Done to help girls and promote good softball. Every girl received feedback.
Thats how my daughter, who had never played softball before, only baseball, ended up playing for a top program. Coaches that can see potential in strong athletes.....and look for it.
One of the coaches began coaching a HS. In a couple years....from bad to competing for state . One of his HS players got offer to play D1 college softball......never played travel ball....didnt start softball until HS. Turned it down to play basketball.
Last edited:
radness
Possibilities & Opportunities!
- Dec 13, 2019
- 7,270
- 113
Completely inappropriate coaching behavior at 3rd base!
DD has been with the same team now for the 5th year.
Head of Org promised her one thing. Work your butt off and you will get recruited.
He helped her achieve her goal, been offered chances to leave many times, never felt the need. When you find a great organization and trust the process leaving is not necessary.
Head of Org promised her one thing. Work your butt off and you will get recruited.
He helped her achieve her goal, been offered chances to leave many times, never felt the need. When you find a great organization and trust the process leaving is not necessary.
July/August 2019 season, the club co-vice president and coach of one of our 14U teams did some shady stuff. We had a girl on our other 14U team, the one my daughter played on, who went and tried out for another organization. The co-vice president went to this tryout and tried to recruit her for his own team.
We also found out he was contacting people who were registering for organization tryouts directly and scheduling private tryouts beforehand so he could have first look and make an offer before the other 14U coach could even see them.
We also found out he was contacting people who were registering for organization tryouts directly and scheduling private tryouts beforehand so he could have first look and make an offer before the other 14U coach could even see them.
- Jun 8, 2016
- 16,118
- 113
There is a particular coach (or he was at least..doesn’t have a team right now...go figure) around here who talks to girls in between tournament games to try and recruit them..this is 12U 
I was just a parent but after a close loss and shaking hands our coach went crazy at the other teams coach. It surprised everyone because it was great game and no issues. She came over to me and told me the coach was trying to recruit my DD. I told her that I had never spoken to him and didn't know him. DD beat them 1-0 and 2-1 to win the tournament. They have folded since but so have we. LOL
There was a coach in our area who would cherry pick every year all year. He always had a ton of good players. He would try to recruit during games, between games and after games. His teams always performed well but you also never knew who would be picking up with him from week to week. Always tons of drama and everyone hated that team.
Well...last summer he thought he has his "team" all picked out and nailed down LONG before tryouts. A parent who had coached several of the girls in the past decided to go behind his back and take 3/4 of the team to start a new team. Tons of drama. This new team was again a collection of great players with tons of ego and drama. He too would pick up players week to week. Guess what - team is falling apart now. Loved watching that hot mess crumble for 2 years in a row. Just thought it was funny how the one cherry picking coach had the same thing happen to him behind his back. And so grateful we never went that route! (I do feel sorry for the girls - some very sweet girls - but the parents were all egomaniacs and just plain crazy)
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Well...last summer he thought he has his "team" all picked out and nailed down LONG before tryouts. A parent who had coached several of the girls in the past decided to go behind his back and take 3/4 of the team to start a new team. Tons of drama. This new team was again a collection of great players with tons of ego and drama. He too would pick up players week to week. Guess what - team is falling apart now. Loved watching that hot mess crumble for 2 years in a row. Just thought it was funny how the one cherry picking coach had the same thing happen to him behind his back. And so grateful we never went that route! (I do feel sorry for the girls - some very sweet girls - but the parents were all egomaniacs and just plain crazy)
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