Respect for the game

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Jan 22, 2009
331
18
South Jersey
We were playing the last game of a 4 game showcase in PA over the weekend. 4:30 start, not a college coach in sight, STRICT drop dead time of 80 minutes.

We kick a few balls around and they go up 6 -2, we didn't look good at all. Probably about 10 minutes left when we are due to come up for most likely the last time. For at least the 2 innings prior the catcher takes a lot of time to come out to warm up the pitchers, none of their coaches bother to warm her up either. Well the last inning she makes last out at first and walks across the field to the 3b dugout. We look over and she is sitting on the bench with a COACH putting her shin guards on, one at a time.

Umpires are busy on the 1b side talking to each other and nobody seems concerned about the "hurry up" rules we played under all weekend. One of our players said it loud enough to hear that she will go warm her up, we didn't let her do that of course.

Well, the softball gods are with us and our "hustle on, hustle off" philosophy at all times and we score 4 to tie it up, after 2 outs. Horn goes off for drop dead and we end in a tie.

I guess I shouldn't be surprised, but I still am, to see a coach with such a lack of respect for the game and his opponent. Showcase should be about getting as many girls to the plate as possible in 80 minutes to show what they have and to show the defense too.
 
Dec 2, 2013
3,394
113
Texas
I agree. Our coach starts barking at the umpire when the opposing team takes too long to relay the pitches to the Catcher. No need for a 5 minute warm up between innings and how about the team huddle between innings? College coaches (if present) want to see some snappiness in the team's demeanor. If you are lazy, it will show.
 
Jun 12, 2015
3,848
83
Hmm. DD played 10U last year, and our catchers all put on their own gear. Interesting that girls old enough to play showcases need assistance. (I get that they don't really. Pretty sad)
 
Aug 23, 2016
359
43
In a tournament game last summer, we were near the time limit when the coach took forever to get a catcher out there - the pitcher had thrown a couple of pitches before the catcher even started putting her gear on, and she was the smallest girl on the team so they had to adjust everything, and then after one batter they had to replace her with their regular catcher, who'd been playing the outfield. Catcher walked in slooooowly and then put on her gear slooooowly (especially because everything had to be readjusted from the teeny tiny catcher) and sure enough, after the next batter ump called time and the game was over.

This was 8U, so it was a great lesson in sportsmanship for the little ones.
 
Jun 6, 2016
2,712
113
Chicago
If they're going to have drop dead time limits, they should have strictly-enforced time limits between innings. Watch how fast she gets that gear on if the umpire starts calling an automatic ball every 10 seconds after the allotted minute (or whatever) for warmups has elapsed.
 
May 17, 2012
2,803
113
...respect for the game and his opponent. Showcase should be about getting as many girls to the plate as possible in 80 minutes...

That may be your goal but that may not be my goal for that particular game. You coach your team and I will coach mine. The coach broke no rules from what I can tell. If you are concerned with your time take it up with the tournament director and the umpires. If you can't find satisfaction vote with your dollars and don't play in showcases that don't line up with your sensibilities.

Coaches that like to coach their team and mine drive me nutty.
 
Feb 19, 2016
280
28
Texas
DS played a team that after two outs, made a pitching and a catching change to slow the game down while they were up, and that was just Rec. ball.
 
Jun 6, 2016
2,712
113
Chicago
DS played a team that after two outs, made a pitching and a catching change to slow the game down while they were up, and that was just Rec. ball.

I understand the argument that a tactic like this is within the rules, so it's fair game. I get that. I think it's cheap, but "cheap" doesn't really matter. You're not really required to "respect the game," so to speak.

Where that argument fails for me, as a coach, is the utter lack of respect it demonstrates for your own players. You're telling your players you don't believe in them. You're telling them that without playing silly games with the time limit, you don't think they can win. You're telling your players you didn't do a good enough job preparing them to win the game on the field, so now you have to resort to clock games to try to eke out a win.

I'm not really sure how a coach could face his/her players after pulling stunts like that, and I know as a player I'd lose all respect for a coach who played these kinds of games.
 
Last edited:
Jan 22, 2009
331
18
South Jersey
That may be your goal but that may not be my goal for that particular game. You coach your team and I will coach mine. The coach broke no rules from what I can tell. If you are concerned with your time take it up with the tournament director and the umpires. If you can't find satisfaction vote with your dollars and don't play in showcases that don't line up with your sensibilities.

Coaches that like to coach their team and mine drive me nutty.

Maybe if your goal isn't to get as many girls up to bat as possible, you shouldn't be in a showcase. Go find a "competitive" 18U tournament. I don't know who these guys were, or what their motivation was, I just know it isn't how I was taught, or how I have taught my daughter to play. I am not "coaching" your team, but asking you to hustle between innings enough to get a decent well paced game in on time. Seems reasonable to me.

We do "vote with our dollars", but often you don't know how a tournament is run until you play it. You also have different sets of umps in different complexes that seem to have different rules. They check for jewelry in one game and not the next, hurry up rules one game and not the next.
 

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