12U Spring/Summer Ranking

[Iluvblue]

Running these teams is very difficult. In 12u you have parents who are new and mostly coming out of rec/B teams. They think they know what is going on and they know how to do things. So they sit behind the backstop and trash the coach. This spreads like wildfire and trust me, it gets back to the coaches.

Im not blaming parents entirely. Coaches MUST communicate how things will be handled during the season. Playing time, positions, pitching time..... it all needs to be put out there for these new parents. then the coach MUST do what they say they are going to do. If that parent is still grumbling and the coach has done all they said they would do, it is time for that parents to go bye bye.

if the coach is not doing what they said they would do, then the player has a reason to go bye bye.

This is nothing new. Happens all the time. It happens to some teams every season, it happens to other teams hardly ever. It is the nature of the beast, and like I said, it isnt easy running these teams. It takes a lot of skill to handle all the players , parents, and be able to actually coach a team on the field.

[Tenshun]

Blu, you just answered my question before I even had a chance to ask it.

[interestedobserver]

If a player moves up from U12s to U14s it should not be a problem. Maybe the player in question just wants to be challenged and get better.

[Iluvblue]

So a player moves up just to challenge themselves and in the process destroys a team? and that is ok because they want a challenge?

My daughter played with former Stanford All American and former team USA member Alyssa Haber. If 2 years of 12u was good enough for her, it is good enough for every player in this area. You dont leave a team high and dry for that reason alone. Im not saying kids should never leave a team. There could be some reasons that just make sense to leave, but it better be far more than to get challenged.

I have NO CLUE about this specific situation, I am talking in generalities here. So dont someone get all upset and start blasting here. I am not talking about this team or this kid. Im just saying that in general, it is a bad idea to leave a team in the middle of a season unless there are some good reasons, and in many cases, there are good reasons. I just dont think the reason you listed is one of them:)

[Tenshun]

The question is bigger than why one girl chooses to play up. The bigger question is how can organizations with what appears to be great coaching, talent and strong reputations have such a hard time retaining and even attracting new talent. And I think Iluvblu has begun to answer that question.

[Cheeto]

The rumor is true. It is absolutely disgracefull, the actions of the parents of this player. So dishonest they can't look you in the eye and man up with the truth. The selfishness of the player and her parents is astonishing. She is playing for a top team with one of the areas top "COACHES", where she is being taught the game. ILB is correct that alot of these parents haven't been it long enough to know what is right. All I have witnessed from NW parents is contemped for other players, playing their DD position or making an error. Get over yourselfs (Parents). Every single player is and will make mistakes, either physical and/or mental. They are 12!! You need to live FOR your DD, not through them. Listen and watch what Coach NW is teaching your DD. YOU MIGHT LEARN SOMETHING. Maybe this is what is needed to bring this team full cirlcle. Bring them back to playing together, not as individuals. Good Luck NW ladies.
Shame on you AASA for taking a player off a Team that is in mid-season. This is something that I would expect from RR, not AASA. I have lost the respect for their coach (JM) for his actions. I thought he was a stand up guy doing a great job with his kids. What he has done, IMHO, is disrupted his chemistry and bringing on baggage. I can't imaging that there are alot of girls happy about this, if you think I'm lying, wait for the grumblings after a couple of tournaments (playing time). This is not directed at the girls themselfs, but the coaches and parents. I wish the girls playing for AASA, continued success and best of Luck.

[Iluvblue]

As a coach, it is not up to AASA to stay out of some other team's issues. If a parent calls me up and says they are interested in our teams, I simply look and see if they can help us or not. It is not his fault a kid called and asked to join his squad. What should he do? Turn the kid away so she can go play for someone else?

Now what happens on AASA is up to the coach running the team. Im sure he wouldnt have added the player if he didnt think he could make it work. In the end, just remember that nobody is the devil here. This is a kids game, and at the end of the day, if you are all healthy, it is a good day. If a parent wants to leave a team, why would you possibly want to force them to stay? They would just make everyone miserable anyways.

Good luck to all and make the best of a crappy situation.

[justwin2k10]

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[lv2earat8]

Tell us how you really feel Cheeto!
Lets see, They leave all those fee's, fundraiser hours, friends and the best coach in Nor cal. Yeah, it must have been selfishness.

[lovesoftball22]

I dont know how to do the quote thing but this REPLY is to Cheeto

You need to know facts before you open your mouth

Guess your shame should also include Miss Norwood as she took a AASA player Mid Season and the dad was a coach at the time. So are you dissapointed in her?? and AASA did not get on the Boards and start slandering people. It is as Iluvblue says there are no bad guys.

Logic deems that if a player leaves they are leaving no matter what, thats how AASA handle the move when they lost a shortstop to miss norwood. Her talent as a coach was such that this player wanted to play there . Good for them and Good luck to them. You cant hold players hostage and you cant build your team around one player--no matter how good. Pitching is a talent that is hard to replace, but you have to carry on and keep developing. Utilizing strategy , offense, defense. There is more to this endeavor than winning tshirts.