Last week my daughters basketball team was eliminated from the state playoffs, becoming the last basketball game of her high school career. I note this game because up to this point, she had decided not to play softball her senior season. However, a discussion with friends on the bus ride home changed her mind about trying out. Prior to this, she didn’t attend the coaches voluntary interest meeting and had told friends that she probably wasn’t playing, but never had any conversations with the head coach; even thouse she has her for math this semester. The next day rolls around and she goes to the tryout, only to be met by the coach who ask for a moment in private. The coach explains that she wasn’t aware she was coming out and had “made all of her plans on keeping the 18 that were committed from day 1” and dismissed her before the practice even started. As soon as I heard this, I messaged the athletic director, spoke with her later on the phone and informed her that I would be at the school at 0800 the next morning to discuss with her and the principal. Both of them expressed confusion over why it had happened and apologized for the fact that it did happen. They assured me they would look into it. After a couple meeting with the head coach, meeting with my daughter and a few phone calls to me, I’m told that it would be in my daughters “best interest to run track and just be happy”. The principal explains that the coach says that my daughter was such a problem last year that she feels it’s in her team and her personal best interest as well for my daughter not to be on the team. The problems last year, other than a personality conflict with the coach, was an one-headed for my daughter to text her coach 15 minutes before practice (teacher work day) telling her she was going shopping for a prom dress. For this she was suspended for two games. The second issue was after the season, the coach told the team to report to the field for a “clean-up” day, but my daughter chose not to go. Once I learned of this, I messaged the coach apologizing, made my daughter go by her class to do the same, and asked for some week long choirs the following week, even if it was scrubbing the bleachers with a toothbrush. The coach declined, saying “thanks but everything is done”. The principal stated that he could “try to get her a tryout” but he could make no promises on not being cut or any playing time if she was kept on the team. To pause for ansecond, the issue here is talent related. My daughter started all games (except the suspension) at Cather and led the team in batting average, which was also tops in the conference. I asked the principal at why point would an administrator step in when obvious unfairness was taking place. He replied that that wasn’t a role of an administrator to “manage the team”. I expressed concern over the precedent he was setting, as it seems that the player is being held to a higher standard and certainly held more accountable for her actions than the adult. He disagreed and we ended the call.
I currently am planning on going by the county administration office and hopefully speaking with the County AD and Superintendent (left a message yesterday).
This is my first time ever complaining about a coach and this is the first coach my daughter hasn’t had a great relationship with. I’ve even spoken to her two most recent coaches asking if there was anything I wasn’t aware of in practice; disrespect, laziness, anything. Both assured me that they had never had any issues with her.
My post here is to solicit opinions of others, hear experiences and hopefully how they found resolution. How far do I pursue it? My daughter is adamant that she will not play for this particular coach knowing how the coach feels about her, which I understand. Yet I must admit, that I kinda wish she would go back out there and standup for herself (normally that isn’t an issue).
Any help is greatly appreciated! You may also email me at carolinastorm@icloud.com
Thanks!
Jimmy
I currently am planning on going by the county administration office and hopefully speaking with the County AD and Superintendent (left a message yesterday).
This is my first time ever complaining about a coach and this is the first coach my daughter hasn’t had a great relationship with. I’ve even spoken to her two most recent coaches asking if there was anything I wasn’t aware of in practice; disrespect, laziness, anything. Both assured me that they had never had any issues with her.
My post here is to solicit opinions of others, hear experiences and hopefully how they found resolution. How far do I pursue it? My daughter is adamant that she will not play for this particular coach knowing how the coach feels about her, which I understand. Yet I must admit, that I kinda wish she would go back out there and standup for herself (normally that isn’t an issue).
Any help is greatly appreciated! You may also email me at carolinastorm@icloud.com
Thanks!
Jimmy