Pick up players for Nationals

[th33]

I was a coach on a team which picked up an extra player for nationals. In fact, I was the one who made the initial contact with the new player. It can be a very sticky process, especially when it comes to the parents. In our case, our third pitcher opted not to go to Nationals, and as a California team we were afraid of the Texas weather, thus we picked up another pitcher. We were careful not to use her more than the 2 pitchers we already had, but at the same time, made it clear to the girls and the parents that the new player was a member of the team, no less or more than anyone else. We also spoke to the players, and got their input before making the final decision. In the end, the decision was a great success. That being said, I would never add a position player...I would think that would add more problems than anything.

[coolstuff]

My DD was a late season pick-up player last year and ended up going to nationals with that team. Her previous team folded at the end of May. I went looking for another team for her. The coach who responded to my posting on Brand X needed a fill-in for one weekend and it stretched into nationals. (The story I eventually got was that a player on the team quit because of playing time, and had come to the team after qutting another team for the same reason.) I learned from the parents that the coach told them about our situation - that we weren't team-jumpers. So DD was accepted well by the the other players and their parents. The team funds came up a little short for nationals, and we gladly pitched in our share to make up the difference. DD played an adequate amount of time. We didn't go in expecting her to play every second, anyway.

DD's not playing for that team this year. (Coach and nearly all the players moved up and DD didn't.) But the coach is now DD's hitting instructor.

So my point is -- and this seems to be what other are saying too -- there are different very good reasons to pick up a player late in the season or even right before nationals. How the coach(es) handle introducing the new player into the lineup is a different issue.

[ManitouDan]

Tough subject , I'm on the end of having a kid join a team that should qualify next weekend. They have been short a player all year , and actually advertised for a player thru out this season.So we are not joining a team that already has 11 or 12. They have been at 10 all year. We will workout with them , play a unsactioned tourney or 2 then head south to Montgumery . One of my 1st comments to the staff was we don't wish to upset your teams chemistry. They say they have it under control , that they have been looking for a player all year , not just for nats so no parent should honestly be able to say a new player knocked their kid out of a spot. It's only mid-late june --hopefully practicing with them and being present at a few tournies will ease our entry into the new team.
We are not leaving our current team , current team plays no more asa tournies . Scary spot to be in as a coach or parent. The team we are joining has been pretty successful. MD

[3'sDad]

I read this with great interest as DD has just been asked to do this at the Regional Level as this particular team has a few players who are chosing not to go....if we can get this to work out, DD will have a great experience as she will pinch run and get some time in the outfield...she knows several of the girls on the team, so fitting in as a team mate will be easy.....the cost is the cost, can't trade the expereince of this for a few $$.