Kid cant play coach under seige

[amazing]

I am new to HB and coaching so please be gentle. I coach a new select team. We have a pretty good collection of talent and have done pretty well this season. After picking our team at the beginning of the year and playing all season we are coming to the conclusion and reality about many of our players. Most have done pretty well and have improved quite a bit. Others have not. One of the girls who has not, has allot of athletic ability but doesnt get the job done in games. Cant hit and always makes an error when we need it the least. Her parents think she is a great softball player and doesnt understand why she is not getting prime time minutes in bracket play. I have tried to discuss it with them but they dont seem to be able to see the reality of thier daughters shotcoming. I dont really want to cut her but she is dragging our team down with her poor play. I think she could improve but we cannot put her on the field in critical situations. How should I handle this?

[doittoit]

Explain to the parents what you have told the whole HB world and cut her.

[6th Sense]

What age group?

[THE MAD-DOG99]

As stated,
Your explanation to the board is the same you should have with the parents.
They need to hear the facts, although they might not like it.
A good parent to both DD and team will realize when DD needs improvement..
If they cannot see things on the same page as you and are defiant that DD is the "star" they need to move on..you won't need to cut them..they will leave and you get to be the bad guy..welcome to coaching...
If they are smart, they will see that DD needs some improvement and will stay with the team and you can then put her where need and ability dictates..

[dgorsuch]

Welcome to coaching select softball. SS is for the more dedicated and focused players and parents. If you continue in this sport you will face this every season. I would recommend you have tryouts on an annual or semiannual basis to weed out the players who can’t get it done and select the players that you feel will help your team get where you want to get. Regardless of what mom and dad think you have to focus on the more talented and dedicated players or you will lose them to teams that do. If a parent can’t see that their daughter is not one of the more talented players and can’t see her performance is lacking then you have no chance to help them or improve this player. They may need to seek out a team that more closely fits their opinion (or her lack of performance). Cut her and move on. Just remember in coaching you will be the problem for this family not her, but the dedicated and talented players/families on your team will applaud you for making the change. Good luck and keep digging.

[HIGHANDTIGHT]

Best way to handle this is be honest with them. If your NOT trying to make your team better, then your GOOD PLAYERS WILL LEAVE and your team will fail. This is the reason my dd left her last team, because the coach wanted to please everyone. If you try to please everyone, you will please no one.

I also coach a AAA baseball team and had to let go one of my good friends and assistant coaches kid. They were upset at first, but being honest with them we were able to stay friends. Remember that select is about competing (winning), we spend too much time and money to go out every weekend and not be successful.

There's only one thing for sure " There is no loyalty in select sports"

[amazing]

I am new to HB and coaching so please be gentle. I coach a new select team. We have a pretty good collection of talent and have done pretty well this season. After picking our team at the beginning of the year and playing all season we are coming to the conclusion and reality about many of our players. Most have done pretty well and have improved quite a bit. Others have not. One of the girls who has not, has allot of athletic ability but doesnt get the job done in games. Cant hit and always makes an error when we need it the least. Her parents think she is a great softball player and doesnt understand why she is not getting prime time minutes in bracket play. I have tried to discuss it with them but they dont seem to be able to see the reality of thier daughters shotcoming. I dont really want to cut her but she is dragging our team down with her poor play. I think she could improve but we cannot put her on the field in critical situations. How should I handle this?

Thanks for the advice. It’s very frustrating when the parents cannot see what the coaching staff and everyone else in the stands see. I was very surprised when the parents took the stand they did. Demanding playing time and telling me she was a top player on our team. I thought they realized their daughter was not very good but appreciated the fact that we were working with her to improve. Even the girls on the team have mentioned that she isn't very good and keeps ("choking") making errors and strikes out every time we need her to do something in a game. Seems like everytime we get runners in scoring position she comes up and strikes out or drops a ball in the field in a critrical situation. Do they not see that??? Its amazing to me! Based on the parent’s position and the advice I received here we will cut her if she doesn’t quit first.

[artomatic]

the solution is simple:
just tell them to read the thread you posted on a national board...

[wadeintothem]

Explain to them that if they want their kid who's not so good to play, they will have to do like everyone else and coach. Hell, at least Asst coach. No free rides.

[THE MAD-DOG99]

the solution is simple:
just tell them to read the thread you posted on a national board...

Even if he told them this thread was about their kid, they wound'nt believe it anyway...