DDs 4th team in three years, she is 2007, team of 2008, couple 09s (12u B/C team, could be B). DD has bounced a lot for various reasons, but generally all her coaches have appreciated her effort, attitude, etc.
this team is in same org as her 2nd team, but different head coach. HC from DD's prior team in this org is head of org, and DD still takes lessons with them (catching and hitting). back when she was on that team, she had guested for current/new team one weekend.
she is one of two 07s on team, HC says he wanted them both to be real leaders of team. they are both stepping up to it pretty well, working over some rough patches (ie occasionally a little to critical, but HC talked to them, and they are developing as leaders).
current HC is great guy, and this is to me and DW at least becoming an issue, he is too nice a guy sometimes! HC and all ACs (4 of them, although one is more like co-HC) have kids or grandkids on team (one GD AC is FIL to another AC). the one AC (whose FIL is coach) is constantly doing side work and warmups with his DD, not having her warmup with rest of team. meanwhile, DD is trying to make it a point to warmup with different girls all the time. This DD also generally seems to have poor attitude. I think the history is she is used to pitching (probably 4th or 5th on their pitching depth chart right now, ie not seeing any circle time in games, and from what I have seen, this is appropriate) and being star on the team (she is athletic). She appears to specifically have a problem with my DD, not certain why, other than she is new to team and moved right into leadership role. seems to be sulking. One game, first inning, first bracket game against very good (maybe best in state ) A team, DD (catcher) throws rocket to get runner stealing , has runner dead to rights, this girl at SS, catches throw about 12 inches high directly over point of 2B, stands straight up holding ball, expressionless, no tag. they get mercy ruled in 4 innings. similarly, has played 1B some, and on balls hit 2-3 feet to her right, does not attempt to field, moves directly to 1B to cover. when at SS, has not once charged a slow roller. once, sitting in dugout on her turn to bat, told that PU has her on clock, has to stop to put gloves on, etc.. this sunday, they lose in championship game of tournament (nothing special, ASA B level one day), and her Dad and GD refuse to go out and get medals with the team, "second is first loser etc." (meanwhile, team they faced was all 12 yos, very good team, and they were in game until the end, went to ITB). basically, she exudes bad attitude, but nothing is being done, because Dad and GD are ACs.
meanwhile, practices are not up to standard DD is used to. they have had problems since first scrimmage judging fly balls, pulling up short, etc. DD asks HC every practice, can we do some fly ball work, very little done. part of it is I think girls are scared to make mistake, but first year 12u fall to me at least is where they need to try to get every ball they can in the air, rather than letting them drop, to develop that judgement. no instruction for players at 1B and 3B on how to receive pickoff throws (player who is seeing most time at 1B, lefty, is standing with foot on corner of bag, stretching like recieving throw for force, while DD has been trained to put the throw low and on the inside front corner of bag to make tag, since it is not force). too often, all the girls are doing same drill, with the ACs not directly involved off to side commenting/talking
AC/co-HC does third on offense, but is also trying to do GC on his phone. we have a parent doing paperbook. I just think he is ending up doing two things mediocre to poorly rather than one well.
Basically I am struggling not to go to this coach (again, great guy, but this is part of issue) and tell him:
You need to give clear directions to all the ACs, and if they do not follow them, dump them. can only be one chief. No one takes their DD off separately, team warms up together, no private BP in between innings during games, etc.
with that many ACs, except for when doing full field defensive drills (which should never be more than 25% of a practice, too much else to do), no reason for any drill/station to have more than three girls, two preferably. spread them out, get LOTS of reps in, with corrections as needed. too many practices (granted, have rarely had more than 8 out of 11 at practice due to rec fall ball, soccer, and DD has missed as well, HC said for fall he is OK with girls playing multiple sports) all the girls are doing same thing, which results in one or two of them doing something, with the rest wainting their turn. and it is hard, as at practices. can have 0-2 ACs instead of all 4.
also, on game days, again, each AC needs to have specific job during warmups (nets/tee setup (which HC usually tries to do while doing lineups, etc., tee and soft toss, fielding warmup, rundown drill, etc.), and games (OF positioning, infield positioning, coaching the battery, etc.). right now warmups are haphazard, little to no plan that I can see, because HC is trying to do it all, instead of having a plan and delegating.
and HC is talking about wanting girls to match completely in spring (unis, shoes, batting gloves, fielding masks), I think convinced of this by the one GD and Dad pair (they basically have two households doing fundraiseers for one girl). to my eye, got much more important things to deal with. as long as jerseys are all same, and pants all same color, and socks all the same, we are good to go, maybe helmets as well.. DD will NOT be replacing any of her catching gear to match team colors (white helmet, gray chest, and legs do happen to match). that being said, we will go with whatever HC decides.
I try as best I can to support him, a lot of the parents who came from 10u seem to be caught up with winning, are questioning lineups, etc. I get what he is doing, using fall to see what he has, what combos work, etc. and am trying to preach patience to other parents, that this if fall first year 12u, lots of adjustments to be made. most of the parents, their kid is either only child, or oldest. We have been through a lot with older DD (not in softball, but in other club/travel sports, she is sophomore in HS now), so have seen a little more.
we are committed for spring (unless things really go south, then we will look elsewhere), so my question is how can I improve exp for the team and thus my DD?
sorry for the length. Is there a way I can approach him (as a former coach, albeit only rec, so I kinda of get it) with what I have observed, and possible suggestions, without seeming like a jerk (or even seeming like a jerk, I am OK with that if it improves things overall)? I also get everyone has a life outside of FP (hard to believe), and HC did just change jobs. DO I go to head of org with my concerns?
this team is in same org as her 2nd team, but different head coach. HC from DD's prior team in this org is head of org, and DD still takes lessons with them (catching and hitting). back when she was on that team, she had guested for current/new team one weekend.
she is one of two 07s on team, HC says he wanted them both to be real leaders of team. they are both stepping up to it pretty well, working over some rough patches (ie occasionally a little to critical, but HC talked to them, and they are developing as leaders).
current HC is great guy, and this is to me and DW at least becoming an issue, he is too nice a guy sometimes! HC and all ACs (4 of them, although one is more like co-HC) have kids or grandkids on team (one GD AC is FIL to another AC). the one AC (whose FIL is coach) is constantly doing side work and warmups with his DD, not having her warmup with rest of team. meanwhile, DD is trying to make it a point to warmup with different girls all the time. This DD also generally seems to have poor attitude. I think the history is she is used to pitching (probably 4th or 5th on their pitching depth chart right now, ie not seeing any circle time in games, and from what I have seen, this is appropriate) and being star on the team (she is athletic). She appears to specifically have a problem with my DD, not certain why, other than she is new to team and moved right into leadership role. seems to be sulking. One game, first inning, first bracket game against very good (maybe best in state ) A team, DD (catcher) throws rocket to get runner stealing , has runner dead to rights, this girl at SS, catches throw about 12 inches high directly over point of 2B, stands straight up holding ball, expressionless, no tag. they get mercy ruled in 4 innings. similarly, has played 1B some, and on balls hit 2-3 feet to her right, does not attempt to field, moves directly to 1B to cover. when at SS, has not once charged a slow roller. once, sitting in dugout on her turn to bat, told that PU has her on clock, has to stop to put gloves on, etc.. this sunday, they lose in championship game of tournament (nothing special, ASA B level one day), and her Dad and GD refuse to go out and get medals with the team, "second is first loser etc." (meanwhile, team they faced was all 12 yos, very good team, and they were in game until the end, went to ITB). basically, she exudes bad attitude, but nothing is being done, because Dad and GD are ACs.
meanwhile, practices are not up to standard DD is used to. they have had problems since first scrimmage judging fly balls, pulling up short, etc. DD asks HC every practice, can we do some fly ball work, very little done. part of it is I think girls are scared to make mistake, but first year 12u fall to me at least is where they need to try to get every ball they can in the air, rather than letting them drop, to develop that judgement. no instruction for players at 1B and 3B on how to receive pickoff throws (player who is seeing most time at 1B, lefty, is standing with foot on corner of bag, stretching like recieving throw for force, while DD has been trained to put the throw low and on the inside front corner of bag to make tag, since it is not force). too often, all the girls are doing same drill, with the ACs not directly involved off to side commenting/talking
AC/co-HC does third on offense, but is also trying to do GC on his phone. we have a parent doing paperbook. I just think he is ending up doing two things mediocre to poorly rather than one well.
Basically I am struggling not to go to this coach (again, great guy, but this is part of issue) and tell him:
You need to give clear directions to all the ACs, and if they do not follow them, dump them. can only be one chief. No one takes their DD off separately, team warms up together, no private BP in between innings during games, etc.
with that many ACs, except for when doing full field defensive drills (which should never be more than 25% of a practice, too much else to do), no reason for any drill/station to have more than three girls, two preferably. spread them out, get LOTS of reps in, with corrections as needed. too many practices (granted, have rarely had more than 8 out of 11 at practice due to rec fall ball, soccer, and DD has missed as well, HC said for fall he is OK with girls playing multiple sports) all the girls are doing same thing, which results in one or two of them doing something, with the rest wainting their turn. and it is hard, as at practices. can have 0-2 ACs instead of all 4.
also, on game days, again, each AC needs to have specific job during warmups (nets/tee setup (which HC usually tries to do while doing lineups, etc., tee and soft toss, fielding warmup, rundown drill, etc.), and games (OF positioning, infield positioning, coaching the battery, etc.). right now warmups are haphazard, little to no plan that I can see, because HC is trying to do it all, instead of having a plan and delegating.
and HC is talking about wanting girls to match completely in spring (unis, shoes, batting gloves, fielding masks), I think convinced of this by the one GD and Dad pair (they basically have two households doing fundraiseers for one girl). to my eye, got much more important things to deal with. as long as jerseys are all same, and pants all same color, and socks all the same, we are good to go, maybe helmets as well.. DD will NOT be replacing any of her catching gear to match team colors (white helmet, gray chest, and legs do happen to match). that being said, we will go with whatever HC decides.
I try as best I can to support him, a lot of the parents who came from 10u seem to be caught up with winning, are questioning lineups, etc. I get what he is doing, using fall to see what he has, what combos work, etc. and am trying to preach patience to other parents, that this if fall first year 12u, lots of adjustments to be made. most of the parents, their kid is either only child, or oldest. We have been through a lot with older DD (not in softball, but in other club/travel sports, she is sophomore in HS now), so have seen a little more.
we are committed for spring (unless things really go south, then we will look elsewhere), so my question is how can I improve exp for the team and thus my DD?
sorry for the length. Is there a way I can approach him (as a former coach, albeit only rec, so I kinda of get it) with what I have observed, and possible suggestions, without seeming like a jerk (or even seeming like a jerk, I am OK with that if it improves things overall)? I also get everyone has a life outside of FP (hard to believe), and HC did just change jobs. DO I go to head of org with my concerns?
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