playing time on a competitive team

[chucky]

My DD tried out and made one of the top 12U teams in our area last august. They had a core of returning players and my wife and I now feel she barely made the cut. She is a powerful hitter. She is really a first basemen but on this team they have her in left field. Where she is a little weak defensively. Coaches daughter is 1B too.

To make a long story short... they only have 10 and bat the lineup. DD basically plays every other inning in left field on Saturdays. Sundays she rarely starts and maybe she pinch hits or runs. They are in competitive tournaments and win a lot but rarely have any practices in the spring because most play school ball or LL during the week. They also have players coming from all over so the coach says its hard to schedule practices during school ball in the week.

Last Sunday she only got a chance to pinch hit in the finals and after sitting on the bench for 3 innings... she struck out on 3 pitches. I'll admit she has a problem against better pitching; but if she gets a hold of one she can rip it.

There are only 10 players... 8 girls dont come out. its just my kid and the other girl. the other girl has been hitting more so she seems to get to start more often. Is it typical that no one else ever comes out of the game?

Why would a coach do this? On Sundays everyone else is in the field and my kid is alone on the bench for 3 or 4 games. Then she's expected to perform when she's cold and come in and hit some stud pitcher. They rarely hold practices so I don't know how she is going to get better. All they care about is winning. We are thinking of leaving this team. Theres about 4 tournaments left. They are also going to Nationals (12 hours away for a week) and I dont want my DD sitting on the bench the whole time. She needs to play or she wont get better. We paid the same as everyone else. I think she deserves to play. Thoughts?

 

[SoCalASABlue]

I feel your pain. DD is on her first travel team this year as a 1st year 14U. I like the coaches personally but really question some of their decisions as to position players. That being said, I am not a coach and my opinion as a parent really doesn't matter. I knew this when we signed her up. Use this situation as a learning experience. Playing time is not guaranteed. I told DD that if she's worried about playing time, she needs to make sure she busts her butt at every practice, to be the loudest cheerleader in the dugout when she's not playing, and to step up to whatever situation the team needs to her take on. Coming off the bench cold to pinch hit is probably the toughest job in MLB, where those guys are getting paid hundreds of thousands of dollars to hopefully bat .250. If that is the role your DD is supposed to fill, then it would be in her best interest to get in as much batting practice ON HER OWN TIME as possible. She needs to be confident - if she made her current team as a role player, she can make another team as a starter after the current commitment is fulfilled.

 

[SoCalDad]

They are in competitive tournaments and win a lot...

Why would a coach do this?

You answered your own question. Competitive team, winning is the goal and the lineup that wins a lot has your DD playing less than other players.

 

[starsnuffer]

Most kids on "top travel teams" are expected to take private lessons in addition to the team practice time. Honestly, I fail to see how a "top travel team" gets by without practices and without facilities to provide these 1x1 sessions with players.

I don't mind situations where the kid doesn't get a lot of playing time, but only when the practice is of such a high quality that I know the kid is getting the best instruction and is growing as a player. It seems like your situation lacks any of that. I'd find an alternate arrangement.

-W

 

[softballphreak]

My advice is ever how many front toss and long tee on the field she does when she practices now is to double or triple it. If she's hitting 200 balls a day front toss and long tee combined (which should be the least amount) then she should double that. If she's not hitting 200 a day then do that.

Just those two drills is all you need right now. Moving the ball around, of course.

Like the old saying, you get what you pay for. In this case, you're paying at least S200. S=Swing.

Show 'em what she can do!

 

[Ken Krause]

The problem here, in my opinion, is the idea of "competitive 12U team." 12U should be focused on player development. There is plenty of time for "competitive" play at the older levels.

 

[Bench Coach Dad]

If the other players are performing without a team practice, you need to identify her weaknesses, seems like you have done that, and put the work in on your own to fix it.

Remember she made the team for a reason..know that reason and capitalize on it.

Also, make sure she is always hustling even if that means just from the car to the field and back again.

Coaches even at the 10u level are interested in winning. Sure you can learn a lot while playing for them but most of the development training needs to be done on your own. If you can’t do that yourself you need to hire a pro.

Best to you both!

 

[Lozza]

I loathe the idea of a 10 player team and only one player sits constantly. No. That small a team there shouldn't be that much sitting for your daughter.

The other issue is no team practices. Find her a team that she can play and learn to get better.

 

[chucky]

Thanks for the advice. Most of the other kids have private hitting, pitching instructors. They practiced a lot during the fall/winter as a team but once the season started they hardly ever practiced as a team anymore. I knew her role would be left field and power hitter from the beginning. I spoke to the coaches a little. They want more hustle in the outfield for her. They showed me an example of her not diving for the ball "or what coach said as best effort to get to the ball" in left. The other girl she shares time with in left dives for balls and if she misses it ends up being a double or triple. My girl lets it drop and keeps it in front of her and she keeps it to a single. With their pitching a single doesn't usually turn into a run. Should I tell her to do the stupid thing, dive for it and let a single become a double?

They also told me she can't strike out looking and needs to be able to get a bunt down. She's a power hitter why does she need to worry about bunting? She's 5' 10" 180 lbs. The little girls need to bunt. My girl can put it over the fence! Sometimes when she gets called looking the strikeouts are pitches off the plate or really low (she's tall) that the umpire calls for strikes and I can't blame her for not swinging. If she had more time in the game like everyone else I know she would get better. This coach is ridiculous. I think the coach has it in for her and wants to push her off the team. Even when they are winning like 15-0 she doesn't get her in the game. Just ridiculous. We paid the same money as everyone else.

I think the coach had it in from her from the beginning. We missed a few practices and some scrimmages in the beginning because she plays soccer too. She shouldn't have to miss a soccer game for just a practice or meaningless scrimmage.

When I saw the tournament schedule I knew there were a couple of conflicts in advance and told the coaches she'd miss a few saturday's. They said those conflicts weren't acceptable and she'd be benched if she missed a game. They also said she would bring a guest player in to replace her if she didn't show. She wanted to go to her friends birthday parties. She's 13. She should be allowed to have some fun! That tournament came. My DD went to her friends bday party. They brought in a guest from the younger team and that girl played in front of her on Sunday. A guest playing in front of a regular player?!?

The team also has a stupid rule where parents cant talk to their kids during games. If we need to talk to them we grab a coach and that coach tells them. Its a 12u team. Parents need to be able to speak to the kids. This drives me crazy because they won't tell my daughter what she's doing wrong in the game (when she's in there) so I have to yell it at her.

 

[Lozza]

So chi my you want your daughter to put in less effort and commitment than the other players but get the same playing time?

1. She needs to learn how to bunt. Just because she's a power hitter doesn't mean she shouldn't be bunting. You are wrong on this point.

2. Practices yes. I can understand that. 'Meaningless scrimmages'? No. If you'd arranged beforehand it's OK.

3. You are so wrong on this point my head is spinning. Your daughter missed games because of birthday parties forcing the coaches to bring in a guest. OF COURSE the guest should play in front of your daughter on the Sunday. She was there the day before. I can't tell you how much stuff I missed for softball. In fact my friends gave me a shirt for my 16th saying 'I can't, I have softball'

4. I have that rule even for my kids. It's not strictly enforced at that age, but U12 rep/travel teams should have that rule.

I'd advise you to look for a new team next year. Your daughter won't be in this one again. And a large part is because of you.

I am 100% with the coaches after you elaborated.