This is a very sensitive subject for many coaches. I have heard many coaches say "never ask about playing time". Whatever you do, do not approach the coach on your dd's behalf. Your dd can ask the coach what she can do to help the team. With some coaches, this would be ok. Other coaches may go psycho on dd.
High School playing time/positions, How to ask...from the kid's perspective.
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- Oct 26, 2019
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I never got upset as a coach when a kid asked about playing time. I want them to want to play and compete. However, I always had the same response. “The minute that I feel like you give us the best chance to win I am going to put you in there”.
For any reasonable coach, this is the correct answer every time. You could add that you're constantly re-evaluating and assessing players to determine who those 9 are for each game. It's not wrong for a player to ask, but Towny9 just saved you time and answered it.
It seems like you understand this, but let your DD fight this battle. Help her with how to talk to the coach at home, support her, but let her talk to the coach.
"What do I have to do to get more playing time?" is fine to ask. Never, ever compare yourself to another player. If a player comes to talk to me about playing time and really just wants to talk about how another player isn't that good, I'm not having that conversation.
It's also fine to have a suggestion or two: "I have a lot of experience at X position." "I haven't played Y before, but I'll try it."
No guarantee it results in more time, but unless the coach is just completely closed-minded, she should get some opportunities to prove herself at practice.
- Oct 26, 2019
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If I were a player or I was advising a player to ask the coach about playing time, I would approach it this way. “What do you need to see out of me at practice for me to work my way into the lineup. I feel like if given the opportunity I can help this team win.”
- Aug 12, 2014
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I hope this was accompanied with something like "I need you to work on X, Y, and Z" and then coaching them on X, Y, and Z.
- Oct 26, 2019
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Of course. This goes for every kid though. Even the starters need to know what they need to work on to improve. The OP thinks his kid is better than the current starters (and she may very well be). The coach doesn’t appear to think so though or he would have her in the lineup.
- Oct 10, 2018
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Not necessarily that this coach put the best 9 on the field. The OP said the coach's daughter and half the starters are in the same travel organization. Hopefully, at first, coach is going with players she believes should be the best (if her daughter is in that org, she probably believes those are the best players) and makes adjustments as she sees the skills of the other girls. It's only been 2 games, the OP needs to wait it out another game or two IMO.
- Oct 26, 2019
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99% of HS and college coaches put what they “think” are the best 9 players on the field. Parents aren’t (and shouldn’t be) at practice so we don’t really know what goes on everyday and what the coach sees. Coaches are also people and get the lineup wrong sometimes.
I sat the bench a majority of my first 2 1/2 years at the college level. Towards the end of my junior year, due to an injury and a player making a poor decision off the field I was given the chance to start a few games. I hit the ball pretty well to finish that season. My senior season I led the conference in batting average and doubles. I also pitched a complete game one hitter to win the conference tournament championship game. I always knew I was capable of it and so did my parents, but it took a lot longer for the coaches to see. They don’t always see things as quickly and clearly as we do
This is really a life lesson. How do you get a promotion at work?
Step 1: Have your DD tell the coach she'll play wherever the coach needs her...RF, LF, 1B, 2B, 3B.
Step 2: She needs to hit better than everyone else on the team. You (Dad) should practice hitting with her *EVERYDAY*...after practice, after games, no matter what. 100 swings, every day.
Step 3: She has to be noticed at practice. She is first in line, first girl at practice, she listens to the coach, she picks up the equipment after practice, she always wants "one more". As "Come on, Coach, give me one more groundball" and "Ah, coach, just one more pitch."
Her goal is NOT to be better than the starting 2B or 3B.
Her goal is to be better than EVERYONE ON THE TEAM AT EVERY PRACTICE AND EVERY GAME.
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