Underhanded or acceptable?

[HoosierCoach]

What does everyone think about contacting players that are already playing on another team about playing for you? I see some very successful programs do this, and some very successful ones not. I hear differing agruments like "If player X was happy there, team Y would not have been to pull them". On the other side I hear these "aggresive" recruiters called snake-oil salesmen, or that they cannot develop thier own players, so they go get someone elses.

[Ace]

Is that avitar, Indigo " You killed my father, prepare to die" Montoya?

[HoosierCoach]

Yes, and actually its "Inigo". ( only know that because I was corrected on it, and I have seen the movie at least 20 times)

[YellowBalls]

What does everyone think about contacting players that are already playing on another team about playing for you? I see some very successful programs do this, and some very successful ones not. I hear differing agruments like "If player X was happy there, team Y would not have been to pull them". On the other side I hear these "aggresive" recruiters called snake-oil salesmen, or that they cannot develop thier own players, so they go get someone elses.

IMO It's a little of both and of course seeing stars... By that I mean some kids will make a move even if happy on a team because of the allure of the program, team name, etc. Many coaches in these "brand-name" programs, especially true of the younger divisions 12u/14u, go after top talent developed by others and have absolutely no issue with talking to players rostered on other teams. Which, by the way, is totally acceptable until said players have signed that paper in the beginning of the year. Ethical? That depends on your perspective, these top programs have to produce college-bound athletes to stay on top and have reputations to uphold and need winning seasons to do that... In the older divisions, really good players will seek out (Or be approached by) the top organizations who can best assist the athlete getting that ride to college....

[Ace]

What does everyone think about contacting players that are already playing on another team about playing for you? I see some very successful programs do this, and some very successful ones not. I hear differing agruments like "If player X was happy there, team Y would not have been to pull them". On the other side I hear these "aggresive" recruiters called snake-oil salesmen, or that they cannot develop thier own players, so they go get someone elses.

IMO It's a little of both and of course seeing stars... By that I mean some kids will make a move even if happy on a team because of the allure of the program, team name, etc. Many coaches in these "brand-name" programs, especially true of the younger divisions 12u/14u, go after top talent developed by others and have absolutely no issue with talking to players rostered on other teams. Which, by the way, is totally acceptable until said players have signed that paper in the beginning of the year. Ethical? That depends on your perspective, these top programs have to produce college-bound athletes to stay on top and have reputations to uphold and need winning seasons to do that... In the older divisions, really good players will seek out (Or be approached by) the top organizations who can best assist the athlete getting that ride to college....

Rarely (never) does a kid, make a move when she is happy on her team. DAD however will always make the move because his ego has to be fed. Espesially the dads who never played sports as a kid, or the ones who were not very good and never won anything. Now they see a chance to put DD on a brand name, and improve "his" chance of winning, even though his daughter will probably be used as a "utilty" player or "runner", when she was a starter on another team. No young lady is going to make that move. Daddy, may talk them into it, or sell it to them, but the player is not gonna leave her friends, and starting spot for another team.
I'm just sayin.

[Ace]

Yes, and actually its "Inigo". ( only know that because I was corrected on it, and I have seen the movie at least 20 times)

Correct me again, and I'll kill you, after I'm done with the 6 fingered man!

[Blind Squirrel]

What does everyone think about contacting players that are already playing on another team about playing for you? I see some very successful programs do this, and some very successful ones not. I hear differing agruments like "If player X was happy there, team Y would not have been to pull them". On the other side I hear these "aggresive" recruiters called snake-oil salesmen, or that they cannot develop thier own players, so they go get someone elses.

IMO It's a little of both and of course seeing stars... By that I mean some kids will make a move even if happy on a team because of the allure of the program, team name, etc. Many coaches in these "brand-name" programs, especially true of the younger divisions 12u/14u, go after top talent developed by others and have absolutely no issue with talking to players rostered on other teams. Which, by the way, is totally acceptable until said players have signed that paper in the beginning of the year. Ethical? That depends on your perspective, these top programs have to produce college-bound athletes to stay on top and have reputations to uphold and need winning seasons to do that... In the older divisions, really good players will seek out (Or be approached by) the top organizations who can best assist the athlete getting that ride to college....

Rarely (never) does a kid, make a move when she is happy on her team. DAD however will always make the move because his ego has to be fed. Espesially the dads who never played sports as a kid, or the ones who were not very good and never won anything. Now they see a chance to put DD on a brand name, and improve "his" chance of winning, even though his daughter will probably be used as a "utilty" player or "runner", when she was a starter on another team. No young lady is going to make that move. Daddy, may talk them into it, or sell it to them, but the player is not gonna leave her friends, and starting spot for another team.
I'm just sayin.

Sorry Ace but you are dead wrong in many cases. Some kids have a burning desire to constantly improve their game. THEY take it more seriously than hanging with friends at a softball game. My kid left a team that had her 2 best friends on it. Never gave it a second thought. Seen countless kids go to "name" teams because of just that. Now, what is the statistical NORM is another matter.

John

[ballguy]

I don't know of very many instances where a coach will recruit a kid during the season. Most coaches will do that at the end of the season to fine tune their roster. If a kid moves during the season in my opinion it is likely to be because they are unhappy in their current situation and are looking to improve on that.

[Ace]

The OP idnt say anything about a burning desire to improve their game, or that a "brand name" would provide any better opportunity to do so. If your DD made the choice to go to another team and leave her friends behind, then she wasnt happy with her original team. She had friends, but obviously was not getting what she needed from the coaches. The OP said the kid was happy with their current situation. AND im not sure how I can be wrong in many cases, when I only replied to one post?

[Blind Squirrel]

"Rarely (never) does a kid, make a move when she is happy on her team."

Perhaps I misunderstood the above statement. It seemed like a generalized comment rather than about a single case. No matter. My kid was very happy on the team she left. Loved the coaches, loved most of the kids. No problems on any level. She simply decided after the season to join a team that played in a higher age group. Kids leave teams for a number of different reasons that have nothing to do with unhappiness with their current team.

John