Post by coachmac1313 on Jun 13, 2014 8:46:36 GMT -6
Recently we have experienced the displeasure of losing 2 players mid season. 1 the starting center fielder a lefty and quite possibly one of the fastest 14u players in the metro area. The other a starting catcher. Both players were a big part of our line up. Both Freshmen that made their schools varsity softball team. In March we lost one to her high school team. The coach explained to her if she wanted to make Varsity as a freshman she would have to leave her club team and play for him over the summer and fall. The other left 2 weeks before our first tournament June 6th. ( recruited by an 18u gold team in the area) Filling the OF spot wasn't hard to do . We have a good group of out fielders. Filling the catcher was a little harder. With our #2 catcher out for the season with a shoulder injury and our #3 (another varsity freshman) not able to catch till this Fall due to a MCL injury suffered in the high school season we've been behind the 8 ball sort of speak. The girls who are with us have risen to the challenge as we have taught them but can't help but feel a little rejected by their former team mates at the same time. Trying to keep moral up to get through the season and be successful is a challenge to the coaching staff. Having only 10 players ( started with 13) we are 1 to 2 injuries away from completing a season with 9-8 players.
Having played ball and coached for 15 years now I know these things happen all the time. As a coach you try to plan for these things. Increasing your roster numbers is always a good thing to do (though parents hate that). But you have to. You never know who will get hurt and who may just get up and leave. I must say that I do not agree with a player or coach leaving their team mid season. If you're unhappy or someone is offering you a so called better deal ( more play time, starting position, $$$, Whistles and bells....) You need to finish your commitment. If they want you bad enough they will wait and they will respect your loyalty. If they don't are they really someone you want to be playing for anyway.
Having played ball and coached for 15 years now I know these things happen all the time. As a coach you try to plan for these things. Increasing your roster numbers is always a good thing to do (though parents hate that). But you have to. You never know who will get hurt and who may just get up and leave. I must say that I do not agree with a player or coach leaving their team mid season. If you're unhappy or someone is offering you a so called better deal ( more play time, starting position, $$$, Whistles and bells....) You need to finish your commitment. If they want you bad enough they will wait and they will respect your loyalty. If they don't are they really someone you want to be playing for anyway.