Rough weekend...

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Jul 19, 2014
2,390
48
Madison, WI
Lots of different ways of doing this.

The teams DD 1 and DD 3 played on almost always batted all the players. The only time that hurt was when a player was injured during a game, and we had to take an out after that for her position.

The goal of the team is to develop the players. Sometimes that means having the #3 pitcher start a bracket game. At least the #1 pitcher is less likely to blow out her arm.
 
Feb 20, 2015
643
0
illinois
OP...I agree with your current thoughts, and Spleen had some great points as well. 16U B team...I believe that your are not a team full of studs looking to win every tournament, so you are on the right track. Your 2-3 bottom players are not going to get any better sitting and watching. When it gets to Sunday, you want the best players on the field, but rewarding a girl if she is having a good weekend goes a long want to building confidence.
 
Aug 29, 2011
2,581
83
NorCal
We have always played that if you remove player from game and she cannot reenter no out, just skipped her.

Our house league is like that. And some tournaments allow it in pool play, others don't. But I've never seen a tournament that allows it in bracket play. They may exist, I just haven't seen one.
 
Jul 25, 2015
148
0
Every team and the team dynamics are so different... You are going to hear complaints regardless when girl's sit but at the same time, "sitting" is something that all of them are going to have to learn at some point in their softball careers... As long as they understand the "why" of their sitting at that moment and they understand that the opportunities will come, it is a lesson that is best learned early for both players and parents...

As a general rule of thumb, bat and play them all in pool play... Then during bracket play adjust according to the strength of your opponent... The coach has got to communicate his/her plans with the players and depending on the age with the parents as well... If you are doing a National, WS, or any other "big end of the year tournament", I would not recommend waiting until that tournament to start sitting girls... All you are asking for is a huge blowup at that point... If you have played and batted them all, all year in pool and elimination, they are all going to expect the same at the end of the year...
 
Aug 19, 2015
1,118
113
Atlanta, GA
Every team and the team dynamics are so different... You are going to hear complaints regardless when girl's sit but at the same time, "sitting" is something that all of them are going to have to learn at some point in their softball careers... As long as they understand the "why" of their sitting at that moment and they understand that the opportunities will come, it is a lesson that is best learned early for both players and parents...

I think the above is super important. DD is a catcher and if she is blowing it at the plate (e.g., passed balls, missed opportunity for easy throwdown), then, by all means, take her out for the rest of the game and let her get herself together. But, coaches, please explain to her what she did/didn't do and what you want to see. At 14U, she can probably figure it out, but clear communication is so important and will motivate the girls to make the right adjustments and improvements.
 

JAD

Feb 20, 2012
8,231
38
Georgia
Had our first of season tournament this past weekend. Home tourney.

Had a disappointing weekend. Our pitchers struggled and went and left pool play seeded last...leaving us to play # 1 seed sunday.

Here is the rub, During pool play, I play everyone. I bat everyone. Girls were just not getting it done. Come sunday, I DP/Flex and bat best 9, field best 9. And we put more runs up against the #1 seed than scored against all weekend (and any game they had after). AND were one of two teams that they did not run rule. We had strongest players in every position. Weak batters and fielders sat out. And we did VERY well.

Now...how do you all handle pool play? Keep developing players...or? When do you say enough is enough and just go out fielding best 9 to get it done? 16u B team...

I know we can win...we do most times we field this lineup...I want to stay the course. Build players. Build hitters....It seems to be working in many cases...but others...it is leaving huge holes...I can only have 1 right fielder...damn...frustrating.

Thanks all...

You need to establish team goals and objectives before the season starts. I would strongly suggest that you put these goals in writing and have parents AND players sign it before committing to the team. I personally am in favor of playing everyone in pool play, and unless it is a qualifier we play everyone in bracket games too. If you team goals are player development, you need to find a way to play everyone. If your team goal is to win, you can play to win, but speaking as a coach who has "been there, done that", getting your entire team ready to play at Nationals is a lot more important than winning an 8" trophy that is going to end up in a cardboard box in the garage.
 
Jun 11, 2013
2,619
113
We played on a 12U A team one season. We had a team with 12 players who were all good but we would only bat 9 on Saturday in order to get our top 4 hitters up more(not alwas the same 9). The other teams would bat 11 or 12. We were number 1 seed a lot but when we had to play these other teams on Sunday with their top 9 it seemed like different teams and we didn't win as many titles as you would have expected.
 
Dec 3, 2012
21
1
Sydney Australia
communication, communication, communication.
As coaches our job is to develop teams so that EVERY player can take the field and be effective. Explain to the players that hard work pays off but that everybody has a bad day occasionally and being benched is no reflection of their talents. I've told every team I've coached (in Australia so no where near the amount of tournaments that you guys have) that winning is never the main goal, it is ALWAYS a byproduct of well established foundations, well executed plays and solid teamwork.
Play them all, let them grow and become better softballers as a team.
 
Jun 29, 2013
589
18
I am against batting 9 unless you're a super good team that is competing for something meaningful. A random NSA/USFA/USSSA/UFO/non-sanctioned tourney is not something meaningful. A PGF berth, I can see it maybe. Once you get that berth do you really stand a chance at winning PGF nationals? If you do, then bat 9 and play your best. If you're the Beverly Bandits or the Batbusters, I get it.

If you're not competing for something meaningful, then play everyone, bat your roster, give your pitchers equal mound time, etc. You should be developing everyone on your team not just a few. The Alaska Freeze Premier Gold should be playing everyone.
A couple weeks ago in OKC, every team DD played batted 9 with a 12-13 girl roster. Why? Its just a meaningless tournament in June. We batted 10, would have batted 11 had our catcher not get cleated and need 14 stitches, and beat them all.

Do the kids your benching pay less than the ones who are playing? If they're not playing then they shouldn't have to shell out the money.

Just what I think.

This. I've seen teams and had both DD's play for teams that don't play everyone in pool play and always thought it was a terrible thing to do to the kids who show up for every practice, support their teammates, and play their best. There is usually a good reason why these kids don't play on Sunday, but not playing them on Saturday is just wrong. Over the years, the best teams that I have seen win most of their tournaments regardless of whether they are the 1 seed or the 16 seed going into Sunday.
 

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