Playing time based on cheering

[Westwind]

I hate the organized cheers, especially in college. Super phony.

The best teams either of my dd’s were on were engaged in the game but didn’t do a song and dance routine. They played softball instead.

 

[Northball]

I would get face-to-face-focus-your-attention-on-me-while-I-am-talking-to-you with the coach and ask why you're basing playing time on cheering and noise. Why are you not practicing cheers in practices? Why are you not practicing cadences in practices? Why are you not warming up their vocal chords before each game? Why are you not seeking our a vocal coach to help these girls achieve maximum volume?
I would also have a printout of an article on understanding and working with introverts to hand to the coach. And a plan B ready for your DD's next team because the coach likely will not have an epiphany. That's ok because I would not want my DD wasting any more time with that coach.

 

[Rolling Hard]

The one cheer I do like:
After a player hit a say double and is standing on second base the bench calls out, "Jenny, Jenny how do you feel?" She responds, "I feel good. I feel good, uh!" The bench comes back with, "She feels good, she feels good, uh!"
The sprinkling of the magic dust (dirt) is cool too.

 

[Rolling Hard]

Lol,
Cheering in itself does not take away from observational skills of paying attention to what's happening on the field.

I was known for leading my team to cheer,
not song cheering,
More like a team shout out

WOOP WOOP YEAH!!!

Observation and paying attention are practiced skills and does not come natural to many players. Cheering, dancing, chit chat or even a new puppy will distract them.

 

[CrazyNani]

Looking for advice for my DD, she is 13 so will be the one talking to the coach and deciding what to do about the situation. She has been getting progressively less playing time this season, now at about 50% of innings on the bench. Pick up players have been at every game & are playing every inning of every game. Fielding and batting are going great, good attitude, goes to practice, works on her own. At a game last Sun. coach didn't realize she could only play 9 until game time. She had never made a line up of 9 or done DP/flex before so was really flustered. DD ended up on the bench (no fielding or batting). She had been playing & hitting great all weekend so was confused and disappointed (pickup players did play). The coach has a rule that players cannot ask about playing time which is why DD has been hesitant to bring it up. At the beginning of the next practice the coach told the team that DD did not play because she was not cheering loud enough. Secondly, she also did not play because the coach wanted each girl to do a short dance (for fun while waiting) and DD didn't do a dance (she's an introvert & felt super uncomfortable, but had fun laughing & cheering for the girls dancing). DD does have a quiet personality (& voice) , her cheering is clapping, saying nice hit, lets go, etc. The team is LOUD, they do every chant, sing every song at max volume the entire game & warm ups too. I did notice the coach is constantly yelling at them to be louder. DD tries to be loud & felt like she was being loud (for her). Talking to DD, the team hates having to be so loud all the time.
DD's thoughts are she wished the coach would have talked to her before benching her. This past weekend DD was getting over a cold & had lost her voice by Sunday. But even without a cold she just doesn't have a voice that carries. She also doesn't think all the cheering benefits the team, the girls are all tired of yelling for hours, and are only doing it to get playing time.
She is deciding on 2 options:
1. Talk to the coach & let her know that she is trying her best to be loud and will do whatever she can to get playing time, but she is a quieter person with a quiet voice. This is what I think she should do, but I may be biased, because as an introvert it would be a nightmare for me to be told to do a dance or yell & sing for hours.
2. Not talk to the coach, she already told the team why DD didn't play. Try her best to be loud.

Thanks for any advice on this situation!

This coach is sociopathic. Run!

 

[horses13]

I have always hated all that fake rah-rah crap. Coaches yelling at players to make some noise, or forcing everyone to be on the fence.

That is exactly what is happening.

getting 50% playing time is not all in itself bad. And could be very average playing time for many players on other teams.

Seems that playing time is not based on cheering. Because the guest players are playing regardless if they've shown their cheering abilities previously. And there's not really players to compete for positions on that team anyway.

The issue with the 50% playing time is the reason.
I am not sure how loudly the guest players cheered, but they did participate in the dancing. The coach did say to the team that she wished the guest players were up and cheering more. The guest players were local & our team was out of state, so not a tryout situation. We are playing another tournament in the same place next month, so coach definitely wanted to make sure these girls got playing time so they would pick up again. DD did pick up for the team a few times last year and played 100% of the time, & she was probably quieter than usual since she didn't know the team. So I think the coach has different expectations for guest players vs roster players. The guest players were great and absolutely deserved to play. The team is in a bind with a couple injuries and a couple girls prioritizing other sports over softball tournaments. So the issue is playing time with the players on the roster being dependent on being loud, singing, yelling, & doing the dance.

The cheering loud thing could be an over compensation for trying to generate energy.

I think cheering is a fake way to appear you are in the game.
Observation: Often the loudest cheerleader is one of the weakest players. Wonder why?

I do think & DD agrees that the coach is trying to generate energy. For all the yelling the team does in the dugout the energy is not there on the field.
Thank you so far for all the advice, DD is feeling better about talking to the coach.

 

[chinamigarden]

I have a question I ask myself sometimes. “Is this (playing time based on chanting) acceptable in baseball?” No, therefore it isn’t acceptable in softball. Just like “she needs to smile more”

 

[_MIA_]

I would buy her a bullhorn for the next tournament and when your DD is sitting she can set up right behind the coach when he is calling pitches and give it her all.. that should get his attention.

 

[Rolling Hard]

I have coached games with these kinda 3 steps down cinder block dugout with a roof. They are great until the cheering starts. So Loud!
I guess I am getting old. I also detest the wanna be DJ dude with the super amp blaring crude music between innings too. LOL

 

[CrazyNani]

I have coached games with these kinda 3 steps down cinder block dugout with a roof. They are great until the cheering starts. So Loud!
I guess I am getting old. I also detest the wanna be DJ dude with the super amp blaring crude music between innings too. LOL

We were at a tournament once where this team would wheel this huge cart from field to field. The doors of the cart would swing open. To reveal huge speakers and audio system. I couldn’t believe they’d lug that thing around with all the other equipment they need. This cart was about 4ft high and over 3ft wide. Takes all kinds I guess.