Do I have a legitimate reason to pull my daughter from her team?

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Jun 21, 2015
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Two tournaments. 11 games. Saw the field in only two games. DH every game. At this point we are ready to call the Spring a wash and maybe pick up some guest play. The kid is a hardworker, puts in lots of extra work. She's feeling like that doesn't matter. Getting discouraged. Don't get this at all.


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Jun 21, 2015
201
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No reason given. TB 14u. She's a catcher. Two girls stole on her a couple of weeks ago. (No runs ended up scoring or anything from it). Got pulled from that game and hasn't seen the field really since then. Even asking to get some time at other positions. Everything else in her game is solid. I don't get it. Those throws weren't horrible just didn't get there in time. Now she's got confidence issues. This was never a problem before. Kinda want to get her confidence back.


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Apr 12, 2016
316
28
Minnesota
No reason given. TB 14u. She's a catcher. Two girls stole on her a couple of weeks ago. (No runs ended up scoring or anything from it). Got pulled from that game and hasn't seen the field really since then. Even asking to get some time at other positions. Everything else in her game is solid. I don't get it. Those throws weren't horrible just didn't get there in time. Now she's got confidence issues. This was never a problem before. Kinda want to get her confidence back.


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Your DD is hitting in every game right? She is playing and I am sure that is what the coach thinks. I wouldn't pull my kid but at the end of the day the call is all yours. One part of trying out for a team is getting on a team where your DD will get to play if that is extremely important to you and to her. I have seen players leave a team when they became the DP and for the most part those girls got on a team where they were needed and were much happier. I have seen plenty of girls embrace the DP role, work hard, and earn a spot on defense. Seems a little odd to me this early in the season at 14U for coaches to limit playing time so much. Life is good on a team that plays an iron 9 or 10 when your DD is in that 9-10 but life is tough when she isn't.

Has she talked to the coach about what she can do to earn PT on defense?

As a parent who has seen players leave TB teams when they don't play much, it never bothered me. For those of us watching from the bleachers it is usually pretty obvious when a player/parents aren't happy and it is tough to justify all the travel expense if your kid is sitting and not having fun. How many on the roster? If coach only has 11 on the roster then coach better try to keep everyone happy. If there are 12-13 players and plenty of kids who can play the same position then the situation is different.


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Nov 29, 2009
2,975
83
Sounds like the coach perceives her as a weaker option behind the plate. Hard work is a requirement for playing travel softball. That is a given and a non-factor. At 14U she needs to outplay the other girls who play her position when given the opportunity. Competition for playing time increases at every age level for her from now on. Apparently, the coach likes her bat having her DP in all the games.

Is it her size? Is she small? What is her arm strength? You said the throws were late. Were they bang-bang plays or were the runners standing up dusting themselves off by the time the ball got there? Does she block and frame better than the other girls? Does she take charge of the team on the field? She may need some one-on-one training from a catching instructor to move her ahead of the other girls in the depth chart.

I know it sounds harsh, but some girls are not as talented as others, no matter how hard they work or how good their attitude is. If all it took was hard work then anyone willing to work hard would run as fast as Usain Bolt.

I don't know your DD, but I've been coaching 10's - 14's without a DD on the team for over 13 years. I've had great kids who did all the right things, but they were not as talented as the other girls who play the same position. Sometimes you need to step back as a parent and get an unbiased opinion from someone who is not close to your DD.
 
Feb 17, 2014
7,152
113
Orlando, FL
You have zero information to base a decision either way. Until you have a conversation maybe two the answer is you should not make a change. Give the coach a chance to fix it before you call it quits.
 
Apr 12, 2016
316
28
Minnesota
You have zero information to base a decision either way. Until you have a conversation maybe two the answer is you should not make a change. Give the coach a chance to fix it before you call it quits.
Very good advice.

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Jun 21, 2015
201
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She does everything you asked. Sees a catching/hitting instructor regularly. Extra work all the time. Blocks and frames great. Actually is known as a great blocker. I don't get it all. Arm isn't killer but not terrible. Thats the only thing I can think of. Also she just started working with a conditioning coach. She's trying everything


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Last edited:
Jun 21, 2015
201
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Well I'm not asking the coach. That's on her. And she is asking. Waiting on a response


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Jun 21, 2015
201
0
Sounds like the coach perceives her as a weaker option behind the plate. Hard work is a requirement for playing travel softball. That is a given and a non-factor. At 14U she needs to outplay the other girls who play her position when given the opportunity. Competition for playing time increases at every age level for her from now on. Apparently, the coach likes her bat having her DP in all the games.

Is it her size? Is she small? What is her arm strength? You said the throws were late. Were they bang-bang plays or were the runners standing up dusting themselves off by the time the ball got there? Does she block and frame better than the other girls? Does she take charge of the team on the field? She may need some one-on-one training from a catching instructor to move her ahead of the other girls in the depth chart.

I know it sounds harsh, but some girls are not as talented as others, no matter how hard they work or how good their attitude is. If all it took was hard work then anyone willing to work hard would run as fast as Usain Bolt.

I don't know your DD, but I've been coaching 10's - 14's without a DD on the team for over 13 years. I've had great kids who did all the right things, but they were not as talented as the other girls who play the same position. Sometimes you need to step back as a parent and get an unbiased opinion from someone who is not close to your DD.

She was approached by an opposing coach this weekend on her hitting and she was approached by an opposing player after a game on her blocking.


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