Playing time

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Jun 19, 2014
846
43
Raleigh,NC
HS coach wants the players to approach her to discuss playing time. D won’t talk with her and thinks if she just work harder, she can earn playing time. So after being the only player on the team that didn’t play today, D comes home talking about her plan on what she wants to work on tomorrow. Maybe as a parent I am wearing rose colored glasses. When do you get to a point when you just tell them that no matter how hard you work, you are just not good enough for the coach to play you?


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Jun 19, 2014
846
43
Raleigh,NC
Also D says going to the coach is just complaining....she don’t want to be a complainer but to earn playing time based on skill.


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Aug 21, 2008
2,359
113
Crystal:

Don't automatically assume your D isn't good enough. High school ball is riddled with politics, and yes there are programs that don't have that issue. But you might not be aware of the pressure the coach is getting from above him to play this girl or that girl. Some HS coaches play upper classmen no matter what. They have this incorrect assumption that playing upperclassemen will help with college recruiting when, I don't know of a single college that care's about HS stats. Are you sure that's not, at least partly the reason? All of that said, I applaud D's attitude to work harder. I'd have to think in MOST cases that would be what it would take to get in the line up.... a good attitude, working harder, etc. So, this tells me the coach is under someone else's agenda.

If it were me, I would ask the coach a question in a non-complaining way: "Coach, what do you think and want me to work on more to be a better player?" Asking it that way without mentioning playing time might give an interesting answer.

Bill
 

Strike2

Allergic to BS
Nov 14, 2014
2,044
113
If she was the only kid who didn't play, then asking the coach about what she needs to do to get into the lineup is a 100% legit question.

You know better than anyone here about whether she is a competent player. If she is, then there's little reason to play EVERYONE but her. It might even have been an oversight...coaches make mistakes! Some even have a conscience.

No need to be subtle. A coach that doesn't value honesty and motivation isn't worth anything. Worst case, she ends up where she is right now.
 
Oct 11, 2010
8,337
113
Chicago, IL
This is in the pitching section so I am going to assume she wants to pitch in HS.

From my experience this can be the hardest position to get playing time. Coaches pick their 1 or to favorites, some times I have no clue what they are thinking but it is what it is. Their 2 favorites are going to pitch 99.9% of the innings available.

DD likes pitching too but I would tell her to give up pitching, in HS, and concentrate on trying to get a position in the field. Season is not that long, instead of working on pitching work on hitting and fielding for a little while. OF has 3 spots so that is probably the fielding position we would concentrate on.
 
May 15, 2016
926
18
HS coach wants the players to approach her to discuss playing time.

Seems the coach is making it very clear she wants the players to approach her about playing time. If your DD does not follow the instructions, I am not surprised she is not being played. I don't think what the coach did is the best option, but it is the one your DD faces.

Is it even an issue of her being good enough? Maybe, and this is a huge maybe, the coach wants to see which players are hungry enough to want to play that they will approach the coach.

If my DDs were in this situation I would say do what the coach says, approach her about game time, and don't talk to me about working harder until you have talked to the coach.
 
Sep 10, 2013
603
0
DD's a junior and experiencing a similar scenario. their HS team is blessed (or cursed) with several pitchers. This season, she's played 3B and outfield but has made it clear to coach that she WANTS to pitch.

i kinda understood this when DD was a sophomore as the juniors and seniors take higher precedence.
last year, DD got to start 1 game and pitched 3 innings and was subbed out cause the other pitchers needed to be given mound time as well.

During this early season team scrimmage, DD pitched better than the other pitchers, but the HC didn't seem to see it.

the season is early and all the senior and junior pitchers have pitched, however, HS coach seems to favor taller pitchers and skipped DD for a sophomore.

I've always told her to work harder and maybe the HS coach will see, but so far, no go.

it's still early in the season, and i'm hoping DD will get opportunities on the mound.

But at what point do I or DD approach coach and ask about mound time? do i even bother to?
 
Last edited:
Oct 11, 2010
8,337
113
Chicago, IL
IMO circle time can be so arbitrary.

DD was best pitcher on Team and they shut her down, DD was not best and pitched most the innings.

Learned to stay away from circle time and have backup plan.
 
Jul 3, 2013
438
43
Seems the coach is making it very clear she wants the players to approach her about playing time. If your DD does not follow the instructions, I am not surprised she is not being played. I don't think what the coach did is the best option, but it is the one your DD faces.

Is it even an issue of her being good enough? Maybe, and this is a huge maybe, the coach wants to see which players are hungry enough to want to play that they will approach the coach.

If my DDs were in this situation I would say do what the coach says, approach her about game time, and don't talk to me about working harder until you have talked to the coach.

I don't think that this is a 'If you want to play you have to talk to me first' policy. It sounds more like a simple 'I won't talk to you (parents) about your child's playing time' policy.
 

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