- Jun 29, 2013
- 589
- 18
I wouldn't use the word jerk, but I think you should be grateful for the rest. First, I don't care how good any kid is, a little time off in games that don't matter (pool play) is going to help her in the long run as she will have time to rest. And she can't win games on Sunday by herself. If she plays every inning on Saturday, some of the kids who rarely see the filed on Sunday will play less. Trust me on this if your DD has never been the kid who can't get in on Sunday despite kicking arse on Saturday, it will lead to resentment by the kids who don't get the opportunity, and they will leave your team if they don't get PT even on Saturday. Then, the team suffers.
Second, a little bench time will give her a chance to see how the kids who don't get in the games on Sunday see the game. It isn't easy for everyone, and some of the kids who never sit have no understanding of how difficult it is to contribute to a team when you don't get regular at bats.
I have had two DD's on teams where a few of the kids literally never sit, while my DD's played maybe 40-50% of the innings on Saturday and rarely if ever on Sunday. I've also been the parent of a DD who plays most of the time when others usually sit. This isn't MLB where they are getting paid or NCAA softball where they get a scholarship. It's very hard for a 12U player to be happy for everyone else when they get no shot at playing. They will do it, they learn some things about life, but they aren't going to be ready to help when you need them (and almost every team does need contributions from the 11th and 12th kid on the roster at some time during a season) if you can't give them a real shot on Saturday. Think of the team on this issue and I think you'll see the wisdom in the coach's decisions.
Second, a little bench time will give her a chance to see how the kids who don't get in the games on Sunday see the game. It isn't easy for everyone, and some of the kids who never sit have no understanding of how difficult it is to contribute to a team when you don't get regular at bats.
I have had two DD's on teams where a few of the kids literally never sit, while my DD's played maybe 40-50% of the innings on Saturday and rarely if ever on Sunday. I've also been the parent of a DD who plays most of the time when others usually sit. This isn't MLB where they are getting paid or NCAA softball where they get a scholarship. It's very hard for a 12U player to be happy for everyone else when they get no shot at playing. They will do it, they learn some things about life, but they aren't going to be ready to help when you need them (and almost every team does need contributions from the 11th and 12th kid on the roster at some time during a season) if you can't give them a real shot on Saturday. Think of the team on this issue and I think you'll see the wisdom in the coach's decisions.