*POLL~14u~whats your opinion on mandatory...

FP26 said:

I am a strong believer in rewarding results. It doesn't matter if we are talking about sports or the workplace. If you are one of the top performers, you should be compensated as such; playing time or monetarily. That said, taking weekly hitting or pitching lessons could/should help your player to be one of the top performers. If a player chooses not to take lessons, this will most likely show up in their results. As a consequence the player will gradually lose playing time and may not (either by their choice or the team's), not return the following season.

I use similar philosophies in my professional life. I am proud to run a department that provides upward mobility to the staff, but that mobility is earned. If a position is available and several people are in consideration, I will review things such as work history, accuracy and timeliness with projects, attendance, etc. I don't need to make any of these things mandatory. The associates make their position very clear by their actions and the consequences/rewards are based on that.

So, to answer your question, I am not in favor of mandatory lessons at 14u. If you told me this was a college coach making the requirements, my opinion would be different.

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Good read!
Can you please share how/why you came to the
no mandatory at 14u?

View work has attendance and performance standards which pay for results.
& Offering paying more to do more.

Travel obviously not paid.
Yet still needing some form of standards to run the team for results.

Pretty standard expectations for higher level teams. Highest level teams are doing it anyway.

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Have I as the parent been informed of this policy BEFORE I join? Or did this policy come about and set AFTER my DD had joined the team?

First, I don't agree with the mandatory part outside of team practice. Too many family, personal, equity factors.

But, if I knew the policy before we joined...I would know what we were signing up for. But, if the policy was laid down after we joined and there was no requirement originally...then I would have a real problem with that new policy and we would would probably leave the team based on what's best for my DD and our family.

Also, as others have said, if a parent had many years of experience and/or played at a very high level, why would they be forced to pay someone else to teach what they already can or do? I wouldn't go tell Parent X who was collegiate pitcher that they need to hire a pitching coach or else! Heck, if I was worth anything as a coach I'd try and get that parent on my staff and encourage all my pitchers/families to save some $$ and be coached by her for our team.

RADcatcher said:

Good read!
Can you please share how/why you came to the
no mandatory at 14u?

View work has attendance and performance standards which pay for results.
& Offering paying more to do more.

Travel obviously not paid.
Yet still needing some form of standards to run the team for results.

Click to expand...

I believe people are capable of making their own decisions without it being forced from above (team, employer, government, etc.). Each person has the responsibility to understand their current position and be able to make choices/decisions to better themselves. They can also choose not to. But then the coach has the right to make the choice to find you a spot on the bench. I just don't think these things need to be governed by our teams, employers, or governments.

Everyone has choices to make and each of those choices has consequences.

Sports, just like many corporate jobs, are based on results. Those that do not perform make themselves expendable. Sorry, but that is just the truth as I see it. I am a firm believer that private lessons are a good thing, but I would not force someone to do it. In my opinion people excel because they want to do something. Not because they are forced to do it.

FP26 said:

I believe people are capable of making their own decisions without it being forced from above (team, employer, government, etc.). Each person has the responsibility to understand their current position and be able to make choices/decisions to better themselves. They can also choose not to. But then the coach has the right to make the choice to find you a spot on the bench. I just don't think these things need to be governed by our teams, employers, or governments.

Everyone has choices to make and each of those choices has consequences.

Sports, just like many corporate jobs, are based on results. Those that do not perform make themselves expendable. Sorry, but that is just the truth as I see it. I am a firm believer that private lessons are a good thing, but I would not force someone to do it. In my opinion people excel because they want to do something. Not because they are forced to do it.

Click to expand...

Good read again!

Perhaps standards like these are used to weed out the crowd.
Meaning
What one's families 100% is
Can be
Different than what anothers families 100% is.

Teams being a financially combined effort to pay for tournys and fields and such.
A standard of commitment lets people know others will need to be accountable for time and training along with their $check.

RADcatcher said:

Good read again!

Perhaps standards like these are used to weed out the crowd.
Meaning
What one's families 100% is
Can be
Different than what anothers families 100% is.

Teams being a financially combined effort to pay for tournys and fields and such.
A standard of commitment lets people know others will need to be accountable for time and training along with their $check.

Click to expand...

These are good points, but those things can be managed in other ways as well. I'm not sure how other areas work, but there are several different layers of travel ball in PA.

DD began her career on a low B team. It was mostly girls from local schools. She had a great time and developed some friendships that are still active. The primary goal of most of those players was to play high school ball.

She eventually moved to a bigger team, let's say high B / low A. This team encompassed players from a larger area. Most had the goal of playing in college.

She enjoyed both teams and still has friends from both. They had different goals and different expectations, and both were perfectly fine. I was actually an assistant coach for both teams and gradually became the head coach for the 2nd team. Honestly, I enjoyed my time with both groups and still have friends among the parents from both teams. My point is that either option is fine. It's a matter of finding what the best fit is for your particular player.

This all said, if DD wanted to join a particular team and she was told about the video or private coach requirement ahead of time, the decision would still be hers. If she wanted to do it, I would support her decision. It simply isn't something I would require if I was the coach. I allow my players to compete for playing time. Those that truly want the playing time will work at it. Those that don't, won't.

Did the players/parents know this was a requirement when they tried out for the team? If so then they have no reason to object unless they were led to believe otherwise.

I did not vote because I’m not exactly sure where my answer would fall. If you know this going in then it does seem like a reasonable request. This would probably be a team that my DD could not play for due to financial and time constraints. I do have a personal opinion that if you need private lessons for any of these every week of the year that the instructor is probable better at cashing checks than teaching skills. I feel like a good instructor relays information, cues, drill, etc. for the player to work at on there own. If the player makes a mistake they should be able to identify the issue and adjust. DD played for an org a few years ago that recommended and urged a certain hitting instructor. We went for a few weeks. She was really not a good instructor and did more harm than good. If this would’ve been mandatory I would’ve blew a gasket lol.

My daughters program includes pitching, hitting and catching lessons in their fees. It’s not required, but they’re paying either way so may as well attend.

RADcatcher said:

Simple responses~
Finances may dictate many decisions for all families.
That needs to be considerd befor joining any team. Especially when its travel.

Coaches have only so much time to spend with players weekly.

Hitten kittens or killer tigers
Is a family/player choice.
Based on talent usually.
Either can have these standards.

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So all talented players are rich?? When did travel ball become elitists? Shouldn't the goal of an organization be to help those with work ethic and desire but no necessarily the financial ability?

DD old organization was founded yo help girls who wanted to play travel but could not afford to.


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