DD attends a brand new middle school (6-8 grade). Softball coach is in her 1st head coaching job. There are about 20-25 girls on the team. There's an A & B team. We're not quite halfway through the season. DD is the #4 pitcher on the team. I get that. I agree with that. Earlier in the season, DD asked coach if she could work another position also. Coach said she doesn't want to chance her pitchers getting hurt. OK fine. We've had 9 games. DD has pitched (not exactly successfully) six innings (I think). OK, fine. Had no issues when DD was pulled. She's played two other innings in the OF. She's had 4 AB. The last two games she's been on the bench the whole game. There's one girl starting (referring to the 'B' team) who (I'm told) has never played before this season. And aside from running speed, she doesn't seem to be any better than DD. Another girl hasn't played in two years and actually missed a couple weeks because of a broken arm. This girl does NOT have good mechanics at the plate or in the field (plays 2b, doesn't even move toward the bag on a steal or back up throws, etc). The other three pitchers ALL play a 2nd position when not pitching. (remember coach telling my DD she doesn't want her pitchers to get hurt?). And the real kicker... every game, about 4-5 players will play the entire A game AND the entire B game.
The mother of the girl who had the broken arm told my wife she doesn't understand why our DD isn't playing. Apparently other parents have talked about it too. My DD when not playing is in the dugout leading cheers (she's got a loud mouth... like her dad), she helps clean up and carry equipment, she's missed all of two practices this season... approved by coach ahead of time (one for academic team, one for chorus).
There's a game Monday night. Assuming DD doesn't play, I'm about ready to talk to the coach and simply ask what DD needs to work on in order to play. If she gives me something to work with, fine. But what if I get the "it's hard to play everyone/there are players better than her/<insert "coachspeak" here>"? I REALLY don't want to cause problems. I'm not a parent that thinks DD deserves playing time. I want to know what to work on so she CAN play.
In the category of full disclosure, wife and I aren't around the games and practices as much as other parents because work and other family (two younger siblings) commitments. We haven't been able to volunteer for concession stand/scoreboard/gate work because we can't get to the games until right before the B game starts. I feel that shouldn't affect DD's playing time (don't know that it is).
On a side note... DD pitches OK at home or at pitching lessons. Get her in a game and she immediately "tightens up" and goes back to her bad habits. I can see the fear in her face that she's worried about getting pulled. Any tips I can give her to help her relax?
The mother of the girl who had the broken arm told my wife she doesn't understand why our DD isn't playing. Apparently other parents have talked about it too. My DD when not playing is in the dugout leading cheers (she's got a loud mouth... like her dad), she helps clean up and carry equipment, she's missed all of two practices this season... approved by coach ahead of time (one for academic team, one for chorus).
There's a game Monday night. Assuming DD doesn't play, I'm about ready to talk to the coach and simply ask what DD needs to work on in order to play. If she gives me something to work with, fine. But what if I get the "it's hard to play everyone/there are players better than her/<insert "coachspeak" here>"? I REALLY don't want to cause problems. I'm not a parent that thinks DD deserves playing time. I want to know what to work on so she CAN play.
In the category of full disclosure, wife and I aren't around the games and practices as much as other parents because work and other family (two younger siblings) commitments. We haven't been able to volunteer for concession stand/scoreboard/gate work because we can't get to the games until right before the B game starts. I feel that shouldn't affect DD's playing time (don't know that it is).
On a side note... DD pitches OK at home or at pitching lessons. Get her in a game and she immediately "tightens up" and goes back to her bad habits. I can see the fear in her face that she's worried about getting pulled. Any tips I can give her to help her relax?