obbay
Banned
Last spring DD moved up from LL to Senior League (U16) and was picked 2nd round by her former coach who was the assistant coach for this team. The head coach had wanted to pick someone else, but her former coach assured him that DD wouldn't last to the next round. they wound up getting both girls anyway. the head coach is a popular guy and really loved this other girl and gave her opportunity after opportunity. He gave my DD opportunities too, but was much less forgiving.
So the season started and he lavished praise on his favorite and several other girls ( he had sentimental attachment to as he had coached their older sisters) but was short on Praise for DD and long on criticism. Many girls dropped routine balls and it was taken in stride. If DD dropped anything, good bad or otherwise she was screamed at. As the season went on, DD was relegated to playing whatever positions were left after he had everyone where he wanted them and sitting out more and more. Some of the older girls spoke up for DD and had him play her at 3B as they saw something in her that he didn't. As the season went on, DD lost her spark. She knew the coach had no confidence in her and so she believed he was right. She was still one of the best hitters on the team, but hit way down in the order. she seldom made it past 3B because no one behind her could hit. At the end of the season (playoffs) she struck out once and it was the 2nd time all season. He ripped her a new one for watching a 3rd strike go by. This is a girl who is an excellent two strike hitter. So for the rest of the season whenever she had two strikes she would strike out swinging and was then praised by the coach. All in all it was a miserable experience.
Now DD is Freshman in HS and is playing on the Freshman team. The freshman team has a new coach and guess who it is- Yep, the guy who taught her how to strike out! I had decided that I would give this guy a chance and forget all the past aggrivation and start over. Started out ok. As I posted in other places he had the team doing things I disagree with, but I can get past that.
They had their first game yesterday and it all came back to me. DD sits out 3 out of 6 innings and I realize that she is being played the same as the worst girl on the team (who is semi special needs). She did ok behind the plate the one inning she caught but otherwise, even at bat, she lacked luster. In other words she had earned her place at the bottom of the pecking order!! She was a better player 2 years ago than she is today! She seems to have forgotten how to play the game.
I realize this is only the first game, but it was shocking for me to see. (yes the coach's favorite is on the team and, as usual, did not sit out , went hitless at bat while contributing 2 errors at SS and 3B)
Any advice on how to deal with this?
I am seriously considering taking her off the team (let her play Sr League -same team, new coach) to stop the bleeding and just working with her on my own. I did not expect to have to do this at this age, but she is going down fast. she's not even hitting anymore. Before I do anything I am going to ask the varsity coach if she leaves the team, will it affect her ability to make the team next year.
So the season started and he lavished praise on his favorite and several other girls ( he had sentimental attachment to as he had coached their older sisters) but was short on Praise for DD and long on criticism. Many girls dropped routine balls and it was taken in stride. If DD dropped anything, good bad or otherwise she was screamed at. As the season went on, DD was relegated to playing whatever positions were left after he had everyone where he wanted them and sitting out more and more. Some of the older girls spoke up for DD and had him play her at 3B as they saw something in her that he didn't. As the season went on, DD lost her spark. She knew the coach had no confidence in her and so she believed he was right. She was still one of the best hitters on the team, but hit way down in the order. she seldom made it past 3B because no one behind her could hit. At the end of the season (playoffs) she struck out once and it was the 2nd time all season. He ripped her a new one for watching a 3rd strike go by. This is a girl who is an excellent two strike hitter. So for the rest of the season whenever she had two strikes she would strike out swinging and was then praised by the coach. All in all it was a miserable experience.
Now DD is Freshman in HS and is playing on the Freshman team. The freshman team has a new coach and guess who it is- Yep, the guy who taught her how to strike out! I had decided that I would give this guy a chance and forget all the past aggrivation and start over. Started out ok. As I posted in other places he had the team doing things I disagree with, but I can get past that.
They had their first game yesterday and it all came back to me. DD sits out 3 out of 6 innings and I realize that she is being played the same as the worst girl on the team (who is semi special needs). She did ok behind the plate the one inning she caught but otherwise, even at bat, she lacked luster. In other words she had earned her place at the bottom of the pecking order!! She was a better player 2 years ago than she is today! She seems to have forgotten how to play the game.
I realize this is only the first game, but it was shocking for me to see. (yes the coach's favorite is on the team and, as usual, did not sit out , went hitless at bat while contributing 2 errors at SS and 3B)
Any advice on how to deal with this?
I am seriously considering taking her off the team (let her play Sr League -same team, new coach) to stop the bleeding and just working with her on my own. I did not expect to have to do this at this age, but she is going down fast. she's not even hitting anymore. Before I do anything I am going to ask the varsity coach if she leaves the team, will it affect her ability to make the team next year.