Potential Team Implosion and Next Steps

CMMom1740 · Jan 14, 2017

Sparky Guy said:
It sounds like your pitcher's daddies need a dose of reality. Unless the pitchers are 2 steps above the other pitchers in the area the college coaches are not going to pay much attention to them. If they were THAT good they would have been moved to 16U teams. 1st year 14's have a LOT to learn about playing with the bigger, faster girls. The extra 3' doesn't sound like much, but it's a big difference for young pitchers.

Does the schedule reflect what the coach told parents at tryouts? If not then the coach is at fault. Did the coach say we'll see where we're at after the fall?

He never specifically said "we'll play at these showcases (then naming them)" He handed us our Fall schedule only back in August and then it was "we'll take stock for spring later." He was always clear about trying to qualify for Kansas City and/or Orlando: "We will play the most competitive tournaments that make sense." I personally never pushed him about showcases b/c DD is only in 7th grade and that stuff is all new to us. I don't really think he went back on his word about anything, but I can see how others might think he was "overselling" (e.g., casually mentioning that we might do x, y, and z and then those things didn't happen). B/c pitcher's Dad is pretty intense, I'm sure he asked more specific schedule questions than I did back in the summer and maybe he felt that those promises were not kept.

catchermama · Jan 15, 2017

Sorry you're going through this :/ I know you guys were in the crazy tryout circus like us last fall hoping to find a great team. I wouldn't panic just yet though especially if the coach's intent is to keep the team going. Maybe give it a few more weeks and if nothing changes, start putting feelers out.

CMMom1740 · Jan 15, 2017

catchermama said:
Sorry you're going through this :/ I know you guys were in the crazy tryout circus like us last fall hoping to find a great team. I wouldn't panic just yet though especially if the coach's intent is to keep the team going. Maybe give it a few more weeks and if nothing changes, start putting feelers out.

That's what I think too. I just don't want to wait too late put those feelers out either, you know? I have faith in HC when he says he's talking to people confidentially and can't give specifics, but getting two pitchers is SO much more unlikely than just getting one. This really sucks. I'm sure it happens all the time, but I was really hoping this great little team could stay together. We like everyone so much.

CoogansBluff · Jan 15, 2017

I know it's nerve-racking.

Talking w/ other coaches and getting info/direction isn't a problem, IMO, if that's what you mean by putting out feelers. Posting an ad that says 'catcher looking for new team' would be different, IMO. You're not secretly looking for a better team. You're just looking for a safety net while hoping your current situation pans out. I would think a secure coach would understand that and be comfortable with those kinds of feelers.

CMMom1740 · Jan 15, 2017

CoogansBluff said:
I know it's nerve-racking.

Talking w/ other coaches and getting info/direction isn't a problem, IMO, if that's what you mean by putting out feelers. Posting an ad that says 'catcher looking for new team' would be different, IMO. You're not secretly looking for a better team. You're just looking for a safety net while hoping your current situation pans out. I would think a secure coach would understand that and be comfortable with those kinds of feelers.

I think our plan for now will be to give it a week and then contact HC privately to just ask for a status report with his search. He doesn't need to tell us who he's looking at, but we would like to know how close he is to closing the deal with one or more pitchers. if he hems and haws, I think it's only fair for us to be able to ask directly what he thinks are the team's chances of survival. I don't think he would want any of his girls to be left high and dry if this team tanks. I really don't. I would like to think he'd even make some calls for us if that were to happen.

sbmom19 · Jan 16, 2017

I understand how nerve racking this can be because it happened to my DD's 18U Gold team last winter. The #1 pitcher that played with us in the fall decided to jump teams in February (unknown to us apparently this was her MO). We were new to this team - DD had tried out and made the team the proceeding fall (4 hours away on the opposite side of the state) after having spent all of her softball years playing traveling rec ball. We decided to make the commitment to this team based on the coaching staff (especially the head coach who's main goal is not trophies but college commitments) and the opportunity for DD to catch for a D2 committed pitcher). We were devastated when the coach told us what happened and wondered if this team was even going to be a team. But the coach told us to hang tight and to believe in him and this team. The #2 and #3 pitchers stepped up and the team was very successful, winning tournaments, was the runner up at State and showed very well at showcases with several of the players on the team receiving offers. So communicate with your coaches and if you believe in them you should be good.

CMMom1740 · Jan 16, 2017

sbmom19 said:
I understand how nerve racking this can be because it happened to my DD's 18U Gold team last winter. The #1 pitcher that played with us in the fall decided to jump teams in February (unknown to us apparently this was her MO). We were new to this team - DD had tried out and made the team the proceeding fall (4 hours away on the opposite side of the state) after having spent all of her softball years playing traveling rec ball. We decided to make the commitment to this team based on the coaching staff (especially the head coach who's main goal is not trophies but college commitments) and the opportunity for DD to catch for a D2 committed pitcher). We were devastated when the coach told us what happened and wondered if this team was even going to be a team. But the coach told us to hang tight and to believe in him and this team. The #2 and #3 pitchers stepped up and the team was very successful, winning tournaments, was the runner up at State and showed very well at showcases with several of the players on the team receiving offers. So communicate with your coaches and if you believe in them you should be good.

I do, but we just can't operate with one pitcher. My fear is that some of the other girls are going to bail and then it will be a mass exodus. You're almost afraid to ask around to see if others are going to stay or leave b/c you don't want to sound like an instigator. Not going to do anything for a week. They have speed and agility tomorrow night and I'll have DH see if he can glean any info then.

CMMom1740 · Jan 16, 2017

One additional question for folks: If we begin searching for another team and can't identify an A-level team looking for a catcher, would it be better to drop down to a B-level team just for the reps or just intensify her lessons and maybe do some individual showcases until summer tryouts roll around again? Just trying to think ahead for all the "just in case" scenarios.

Strike2 · Jan 16, 2017

CMMom1740 said:
One additional question for folks: If we begin searching for another team and can't identify an A-level team looking for a catcher, would it be better to drop down to a B-level team just for the reps or just intensify her lessons and maybe do some individual showcases until summer tryouts roll around again? Just trying to think ahead for all the "just in case" scenarios.

Jan / Feb sees much roster turbulence and movement. Players move, and teams dissolve. If THIS team is something you like, stick with it, and make it no secret you support the coaches. HELP them find another pitcher! Be one of the last to jump ship, not one of the first; others are watching. A good catcher with supportive and loyal parents will have little problem finding a home. From what I've seen, they can be harder to find than pitchers.

Don't be so hung up on the A/B thing. I don't know about Atlanta, but where I live, teams label themselves. That doesn't mean that an "A" team really is one of the best, or that a "B" (or even "C") team isn't any good. Most tournaments are "Opens" anyway, so she'll probably see some "A" teams in competition. Playing is always better than not playing, and your DD is only a 7th grader. IMO, the idea of showcases at that age rides the thin edge of insanity.

CMMom1740 · Jan 16, 2017

Strike2 said:
Jan / Feb sees much roster turbulence and movement. Players move, and teams dissolve. If THIS team is something you like, stick with it, and make it no secret you support the coaches. HELP them find another pitcher! Be one of the last to jump ship, not one of the first; others are watching. A good catcher with supportive and loyal parents will have little problem finding a home. From what I've seen, they can be harder to find than pitchers.

Don't be so hung up on the A/B thing. I don't know about Atlanta, but where I live, teams label themselves. That doesn't mean that an "A" team really is one of the best, or that a "B" (or even "C") team isn't any good. Most tournaments are "Opens" anyway, so she'll probably see some "A" teams in competition. Playing is always better than not playing, and your DD is only a 7th grader. IMO, the idea of showcases at that age rides the thin edge of insanity.

Thanks! We don't know what's insane and what's not since neither DH nor myself were this involved in sports as kids and she's our first. You can really drive yourself nuts if you listen to all the chatter. I think it's nutty too, but we don't want to fail to do something we should be doing either. They do label themselves, but I've been around enough to know who the real A teams are and who they aren't. And I agree playing is better than not playing.

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