DonnieS wrote:cHeCk Yo SeLf wrote:Forgive me but gentleness isn't in my repertoire, and isn't the norm on HB. Stop being a coward. You owe it to your team. The longer you wait only takes away from your effectiveness. Your players and parents want your coaching staff to be leaders. The frustration will be magnified if the weak link is a friend's or coach's dd. In the animal kingdom what does the pack do to the weak link? Once you taste the blood of your first kill it is easier from then on out. Step up and make the tough decision. It will make you a better coach and a better team.
Setting the tone for your way of coaching is important early. When I started this team, 5 years ago, we had several pretty strong players and some lesser experienced players. We played a couple of tournaments, placing 2nd in 14u (we were 1st year 12u), and 4th or 5th in some good 12u tournaments. I invited one very strong kid to come join and along with her got 2 other very strong kids that came with her as a package deal. The parents had been 'aggressive' before and I just said ' the deal is no bs - understand?' First tournament, with the new group, we wiped out a team that had beaten us before. The second game, we were set against the top team in 12u in the state. Figuring that there would be some strong hitting, I moved 2 of these kids from infield to outfield, I needed my strongest kids where the action was sure to be. First pitch and a parent came howling out of the stand, 'my kid dont play no outfield! ' I asked the blue for time and called the two out of the out field to come in - I then told them with the parent standing beside me , they were off the team. The child started crying, the parent started pleading with me to stay, I said 'No - you had one chance - that was it.'
I also had two girls who from all appearences were excellent athletes, very good practice players, every 4 or 5 tournaments, they would have a good game, sometimes a good tournament. I tried everything over 3 years, extra individual practices, moving them all over trying to find a better spot. The only thing that improved is when they werent there. Over those 3 years, we did 'ok', we won some tournaments, but we always had our sure outs there in the lineup. I also always had these murmurs up in the stands from those sets of parents - nothing terrible but just little comments. After 3 years, I finally did what I should have - this is the biggie - the next 9 tournaments after that cut, we were in the championship game all 9 tournaments, we either took 1st and 2nd, not having to deal with a weak part of the lineup. So the bottom line is I screwed my team, my players, my coaches and my parents for 3 years until I finally did what I should have done 2.5 years before - my excuse ? is that I thought I could fix things that I was not able to.
Learn from my mistakes.
My suggestion - just cut - no stats, no nothing other than "This is not working out and I think it would better if you found another team - I suggest xxxxx or yyyy - you will get more playing time with them than you will with this team.' And thats it. If you cant do this, dont coach.
If your team won or placed 10 out of 18 tournaments, why change? Not to mention they are straightout of Rec.
