Tough One - daughter considering new team. Coach wants her to change positions...

[Orange Socks]

I showed my 18u catcher daughter this and asked her what she would do. She said she wouldn’t go to a team she couldn’t be a catcher on...she would hate it. Even if it was a higher level team. I think that the issue is if she absolutely wants to play D1 maybe it is better to get on a big name team. I do realize that every kid is different and maybe that wouldn’t bother your daughter. Just sharing what my daughter said. Also my daughter is completely happy to play at a local D3 who is recruiting her as a catcher. She had some interest from a mid major D1 in another state. Looking at it now I think she made the best decision. Not sure how much she would have played there. Plus it was in a state she doesn’t want to live in.


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My DD just had a workout with other college players on Sunday. Guess what. 2 Left handed catchers from the same D1 school came to work out. If your DD wants to play catcher then her skill videos need to showcase that. My DD played catcher most of her TB career. She started getting some 1B her Summer after Jr. year and then played some at 3b after her Senior year. She gets to college and she is splitting time at 3B and catcher and played a little at SS. Still mostly Catcher, but my point is when she gets to college she will not have choice where she plays. As long as her hitting is strong, then she can start.

Something to think about. Will your DD have a better chance starting as Freshman at the D3 or the D1??? I know many D1 kids that didn't get a whole lot of playing time their freshman year and little their soph year. They ended up quitting softball. It is A LOT of work to put in only to be chasing foul balls all season. They can wear on a kid. Find the best fit that allows your DD a legitimate chance in playing. I am not saying this is you, but many families get hung up on playing D1 or bust. They snub their noses at D3 opportunities where they could have contributed to that program. Think about this. You stand a better chance winning a National Championship at a D3 than you do a D1. In all reality there are maybe 10 programs in the country that have a chance of winning it all at the D1 level. And only a few mid majors have a chance. ULL. D3-your shot to go to the Championship are way higher and the rings look the same!

 

[625ender]

He's not a coach. In my worthless opinion I would move on. He's looking for a plug n play. He brings nothing to the table

Well there's that.

 

[radness]

My DD just had a workout with other college players on Sunday. Guess what. 2 Left handed catchers from the same D1 school came to work out. If your DD wants to play catcher then her skill videos need to showcase that. My DD played catcher most of her TB career. She started getting some 1B her Summer after Jr. year and then played some at 3b after her Senior year. She gets to college and she is splitting time at 3B and catcher and played a little at SS. Still mostly Catcher, but my point is when she gets to college she will not have choice where she plays. As long as her hitting is strong, then she can start.

Something to think about. Will your DD have a better chance starting as Freshman at the D3 or the D1??? I know many D1 kids that didn't get a whole lot of playing time their freshman year and little their soph year. They ended up quitting softball. It is A LOT of work to put in only to be chasing foul balls all season. They can wear on a kid. Find the best fit that allows your DD a legitimate chance in playing. I am not saying this is you, but many families get hung up on playing D1 or bust. They snub their noses at D3 opportunities where they could have contributed to that program. Think about this. You stand a better chance winning a National Championship at a D3 than you do a D1. In all reality there are maybe 10 programs in the country that have a chance of winning it all at the D1 level. And only a few mid majors have a chance. ULL. D3-your shot to go to the Championship are way higher and the rings look the same!

Please share more!
Do you think you dd would be catching in college if she wasnt already a catcher?
Was her catching position spoken about when she was recruited?
Thanku!

Btw Good for her !

 

[thecat]

Well there's that.

I call them like I see them

 

[GoGamecocks]

He's not a coach. In my worthless opinion I would move on. He's looking for a plug n play. He brings nothing to the table

Not sure why you would come to this conclusion. I've not shared the entire story (because it wasn't really relevant to the original query). The tryout was maybe 30 minutes - only working out two girls. I watched from the parking lot beyond CF. After they were done working out, the coach spent 20 minutes with these girls that he did not know. It was clear from where I sat that he was coaching them.

Both girls came to my car after they were done, and they were both thrilled with the time he had spent with him. My daughter actually said "Dad, he spent more time coaching me than [insert current TB HC name here] has in the past four months."

 

[thecat]

Not sure why you would come to this conclusion. I've not shared the entire story (because it wasn't really relevant to the original query).

Based off the email presented. If a coach sends an email saying she will hit, but see limited Fielding time because of her arm says it all considering it was just a try out. His mind is already made up

My personal approach would've be significantly different unless I just didn't want her

 

[radness]

He's looking for a plug n play.

This could be a valid point!
tb coach did ask
About hitting and less fielding time.
A travel coach asking that is wayyy different than a college who's about to offer you a spot.

Prefer coach who has a plan that includes players goals.

Main point~ Not certain if tb coach is aware of dd goals and current recruitment possibilities?
This conversation is a good one to help make the best decisions.

@GoGamecocks look forward to an update after she goes to other tryout thursday!

 

[flash277]

She's not playing, and that's why she wants to change teams. When she does play, they've got her hitting 9th or 10th. It's crazy. And this new coach wants her because of her bat.

Well, there's your answer then. We've all had this argument a few times here, would your DD be happy on a great team with little playing time, or a good team with alot of playing time. I think most of us would go with the latter.
My DD's coach is great, they are a pretty good team (not great), but he has a firm rule. On 3 game pool day, everyone bats (damn the injury-automatic out scenario ((it's happened))), and everyone fields as much as possible. 11 girls, everyone plays the field and takes a seat on the bench. Come bracket day, it's the best 9 from pool play, but the other two on the bench usually get in. If we win the first bracket game, the two bench players play the 2nd game. We have a few great players, a handful of really good players, and the rest are good softball players. Everyone is happy with the set up.

 

[Orange Socks]

Please share more!
Do you think you dd would be catching in college if she wasnt already a catcher?
Was her catching position spoken about when she was recruited?
Thanku!

Btw Good for her !

ETA: I think I overshared with my response. It's a little glimpse into my DD's college journey.
As you know the catcher position is highly specialized. For a kid to be thrown into playing catcher in college without prior experience takes a special kind of player. My kid was recruited as a catcher. The recruiting period between being offered and showing up on campus was crazy. She committed the fall of her Jr. year, 6 days later the coach called her to tell her that he was leaving for a coaching position at Kansas. NOOOOO!!!! New interim coach comes in, and DD starts to develop a nice relationship with her. And bam during the summer after the season that coach does not get the full time position. She lands an asst coach job at Michigan State. Crazy right? New coach comes in last year, and she has to begin another relationship. DD shows up on campus and right as school starts the previous year's starting catcher (great player) decides she is done with softball. Now there are only 2 catchers. My DD and a Senior. As you know, it's very difficult to catch 6 pitchers during the week and catch 3 games a weekend. It is a lot of work. You can't just have 2 catchers. So coach needed her to play some 3rd base to give her a break at catcher. By the way, DD can hit which is the reason she started every game and lead the team as a freshman in Slugging, Doubles, RBI's, Total Bases. Maybe this should have been in the shameless Brag forum. Based on the players on the roster the coach had to plug and play based on strengths and weaknesses. My point is, if you want to play, and you happen to be behind a more experienced player, your bat better be very good!

 

[radness]

ETA: I think I overshared with my response. It's a little glimpse into my DD's college journey.
As you know the catcher position is highly specialized. For a kid to be thrown into playing catcher in college without prior experience takes a special kind of player. My kid was recruited as a catcher. The recruiting period between being offered and showing up on campus was crazy. She committed the fall of her Jr. year, 6 days later the coach called her to tell her that he was leaving for a coaching position at Kansas. NOOOOO!!!! New interim coach comes in, and DD starts to develop a nice relationship with her. And bam during the summer after the season that coach does not get the full time position. She lands an asst coach job at Michigan State. Crazy right? New coach comes in last year, and she has to begin another relationship. DD shows up on campus and right as school starts the previous year's starting catcher (great player) decides sResiliencyandwith softball. Now there are only 2 catchers. My DD and a Senior. As you know, it's very difficult to catch 6 pitchers during the week and catch 3 games a weekend. It is a lot of work. You can't just have 2 catchers. So coach needed her to play some 3rd base to give her a break at catcher. By the way, DD can hit which is the reason she started every game and lead the team as a freshman in Slugging, Doubles, RBI's, Total Bases. Maybe this should have been in the shameless Brag forum. Based on the players on the roster the coach had to plug and play based on strengths and weaknesses. My point is, if you want to play, and you happen to be behind a more experienced player, your bat better be very good!

Great story!
Way to stick with it!
Resiliency and determination earns the spot!