Perils of TB

grcsftbll · Jun 8, 2018

So many coaches just tell parents what they want to hear, and the parents just won't see through it. The grass is always greener. It's more obvious than ever what a mess it all is with DH head coaching this year. We lost 7 girls between the last tournament in fall and the second in spring, with very little drama. Just deciding things would be better somewhere else (except one, who decided travel ball was just too much in general and she wanted to try other sports). There's very little commitment, or a push for kids to earn anything. We're lucky now to have almost a full team of parents who get it. At least, they seem to. We'll see who's around come fall; you never can tell.

I figure by this time (12U), parents should have figured this thing out. We all do dumb stuff in 10U but come on.

sluggers · Jun 8, 2018

The amount of underhandedness, back channeling, and otherwise shady behavior has become astounding. When did winning become more important than all else?

I could have sworn someone was saying just the other day how TB is so much better than HS ball...

_MIA_ · Jun 8, 2018

Strike2 said:
She spent 5.5 years and tens of thousands more than necessary to become a school teacher.

Don't know about you but I want my kid's teachers to have the best education possible..

Strike2 · Jun 8, 2018

sluggers said:
I could have sworn someone was saying just the other day how TB is so much better than HS ball...

Yes...and that's telling, isn't it? With TB, you can easily leave.

BobInMadison · Jun 8, 2018

Strike2 said:
Yes...and that's telling, isn't it? With TB, you can easily leave.

Yes, that is the big difference.

There is a suburban HS that is actually closer to us than the HS my kids attend. Some people in the neighborhood will attend that HS, but they have to apply for a transfer into the school system, and that has to be done no later than February. For DD 1, we applied to both a magnet school she wanted to attend, and a middle school in the other school district. She got into the magnet school. That meant DD 2 and DD 3 could attend as well.

So, DD 3 had a bad experience with HS softball. It is too late to transfer to another school district, unless we physically move.

So, unless we move this summer (a very strong possibility) she can only play for her old HS team next year. Different coach at least.

OTOH, every year DD 3 has had offers from multiple TB teams, and could choose which one to play for.

OsDad · Jun 8, 2018

As someone who coaches on an 8u baseball tournament team, I can confirm- the softball world stands head and shoulders above the baseball world in the crazy department. That includes the level of expectation at an early age, parents, and coaches.

FP26 · Jun 8, 2018

mikfish711 said:
The unfortunate side of TB. Im sure we have all experienced it at some point and to some degree. Ill spare everyone the details but it comes down to this...having the best intentions and a decent moral compass only sets you up to be burned. Wanting to provide a quality environment, instruction, and atmosphere for the girls gets a little less important to some parents when there are others out there waving shiny hardware filled promises around. The amount of underhandedness, back channeling, and otherwise shady behavior has become astounding. When did winning become more important than all else? When did going back on your word become the norm? When did every parent start to believe that their kid at 10, 11, 12 years old was destined for a full ride and a starting position to a top 5 school? I completely understand wanting the best for your child, but how about a little reality check from time to time? Last year, a coach told me “TB is full of liars and thieves.” I didn’t pay it much mind at the time but now that I have become much more involved in the inner workings…unfortunately, he was right. Sorry for the rant

It is amazing how much a $5 plastic trophy is worth to some people. I have seen some despicable actions from parents and coaches alike. My first introduction was at 12u. We were playing pretty well against one of the better teams in the area. While our pitcher was taking her warm up pitches I noticed the other teams 3rd base coach talking with our 3b. After the inning she comes in and tells us that he just invited her to play with them and wanted an answer by the end of the day. Still blows my mind... She stayed with our team...

_MIA_ · Jun 8, 2018

FP26 said:
While our pitcher was taking her warm up pitches I noticed the other teams 3rd base coach talking with our 3b. After the inning she comes in and tells us that he just invited her to play with them and wanted an answer by the end of the day. Still blows my mind... She stayed with our team...

You sure she just wasn't trying to get leverage for a raise?

Ken Krause · Jun 8, 2018

Don't forget the crazy TB coaches who expect their 12U teams to play like the teams they watch on the SEC channel. Pitchers should have pinpoint control. Fielders get to every ball quick and fire perfect strikes across the infield. Hitters bash balls into the gaps while rarely striking out. Baserunners have great instincts and run home to first in 3.0 seconds or less. Then they get made when their kids (and they are kids) don't perform to that level.

And oh, by the way, the coach doesn't teach any of that stuff. He/she expects them to learn it all on their own. He/she just wants to make up the lineup cards and pose with the trophy at the end of the tournament.

Chaz McNulty · Jun 8, 2018

grcsftbll said:
So many coaches just tell parents what they want to hear, and the parents just won't see through it. The grass is always greener. It's more obvious than ever what a mess it all is with DH head coaching this year. We lost 7 girls between the last tournament in fall and the second in spring, with very little drama. Just deciding things would be better somewhere else (except one, who decided travel ball was just too much in general and she wanted to try other sports). There's very little commitment, or a push for kids to earn anything. We're lucky now to have almost a full team of parents who get it. At least, they seem to. We'll see who's around come fall; you never can tell.

I figure by this time (12U), parents should have figured this thing out. We all do dumb stuff in 10U but come on.

If you are a coach who has never cut a kid to make room for someone who is better, then I have no problem with this statement. If you have cut kids, then that statement is hypocritical. Most organizations are committed to their players as long as they are good enough.

Perils of TB

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