What about the other guys???

Wisdom and Experience

D'backs,
There's just no substitute for your wisdom and experience.

 

I do not believe the problem

no longer want to be a part of this thread.

 

I wasn't going to mention this because I didn't want to get off topic, but it has been mentioned twice...so I'll go for it.

It is tough when a kid leaves his school, friends and teachers to transfer to another school. But what about the kid that is "forced" to transfer because of school re-alignment. He has been stripped of all that being said without a choice. At least the other way the kid/family made the choice.

 

dbacks owes you money too, huh? Give up it won't work

 

Welcome aboard sportsmom!!!!

It's nice to have a poster from the brighter side

 

I resemble that remark......

 

Lack of Team Commitment-Both Parent & Coach Influence

The team commitment on a player's behalf does start with his upbringing. Being taught to honor a commitment to a team should start with T-Ball. We have always taught ours that although you may not like all the players, and you may not particularly like the coach's methods or strategy, he is still the coach and that is still your team. This is really important when they are young, as it teaches them to work with each other, to see that they don't always know all there is to a situation, to see a bad situation improve. Unfortunately, life is not always fair and your son could end up playing for coaches who put "winning" above all else....regardless of what they may have actually told the player in the beginning, regardless of the "heart" the player has, regardless of their knowledge of the game, and regardless of the fact that the kid definitely shows that deep embreaded "love of the game". Like Coach said, a scout might not be able to pick up on that while watching one or two games. But if that kid that has heart gets to play more than "occasionally", that heart comes thru and can be seen by a scout. Unfortunately, those multiple chances don't come because he might not be the fastest or stongest player on the field for that position. As was explained by a head coach in one of the top showcase programs around - "it is not about all players getting seen at this stage of the game. It is about winning and reputation. If my starting lineup all has verbal commitments to play college ball, and I have backup players who have not yet committed, it doesn't matter. I have an obligation to put the best nine players on the field at all times, regardless. The scouts expect that from this program." This type of philosphy doesn't necessary bread team comraderie. It breeds tension and selfishness. And as we have seen in the performance at those big showcase events this past summer, it doesn't always breed championship teams either. I firmly believe that most boys "bond" together and have a mutual respect for what each of them brings to the team, if the coach encourages that. They all know that some have a lot better attititude than ability; some are better at getting other players' heads on straight when they are on the bench with them; some are really good at getting the "team up" when needed, regardless of whether they are actually playing. And I also believe, that for the boys that want to go far in this game, they will show a respect for these "other" players just as much as the superstars...If not, it WILL catch up with them one day. Not everyone can be a superstar, but a team with a few superstars along with a team of a good supporting cast, and has players that show that respect regardless of whether or not they are a "starter" will be a team with great chemistry. And teams with great chemistry find a way to win. The boys all want to win, but deep down if they have the true love of the game, they want to win it with everybody contributing and they treat the "bench players" with just as much respect. I truly believe that at some point almost all players, if they continue to move up in baseball, may very well go from being the "superstar" to the "new rookie" and he would hope to be treated as a valuable member of the team, regardless of his role. The game of baseball can humble you quickly. Let's hope that when he had the chance earlier in his baseball career to be a good team player and show player respect, he has made the right choices.

 

Life brings change. Companies transfer employees, family situations force change, school systems grow and change their school zones. It is up to parents to help their kids with that transition and teach kids to rise up to the challenge and learn from it. Life is full of change, it is how we face them that matters. It is when a kid transfers to get away from a bad coach or switch schools to be with a certain coach that raises eyebrows. If a coach is doing a bad job, then deal with the coach, Notify the AD. Talk to other parents and face the situation as a team. This teaches good life skills that will stay with a player through out their life. If we removed our kids every time a situation arises that we dont think is fair to Johnny, we are setting them up for a fall. It is true that families have the freedom to move and make good changes for their kids or a fresh start, and sometimes that is necessary, but there are also those who do it for the wrong reasons, the wrong way.

 

Coach 27..we agree on several accounts

• start what you finish (we had the same rules in our home)
• I'll take 9 kids who love to play the game any day of the week over others who are there with conditions

However, I don't buy the rationale about transfers. Most of those I know who have transfered have not been about bad coaches, but for selfish reasons. It's been about legal recruiting and serving self. Even if the coach is not the best...why not stick it out? It seems like loyalty and team should be more important in your school, neighborhood, and community among people that you have been friends with than among those you play travel ball with. In our experiences (right or wrong), travel ball is more about the individual and getting seen while school ball encompasses so much more. With all the transfers that occur, it takes away from coaches, teams and schools that are playing with the talent that they are given. It takes a much better coach to develop a player than it does to feed egos on a team and put them in positions.

The reason that most don't complain about people transferring for academic reasons is because academics and providing a great education is the primary goal (or should be) for high schools. I think too many forget that and believe that building great athletic programs is the #1 priority. The schools job so to speak, is to provide a quality education and not necessarily a quality athletic program.

I don't mean to imply that sports programs are not important because you would be hard pressed to find someone who loves school sports more than I do. I realize that sports can be a great part of school, can encourage athletes to care about their grades, can promote community, school spirit, etc. If I had my way, I would do away with showcase teams (and we do participate in them), and return to playing with those in your area. I would love for high schools to be the primary source of recruitment. I have seen too many good players be overlooked because they can't play showcase ball for one reason or another.

Although, we have never jumped from team to team and have remained commited, I think if I had to choose which it was more important to be loyal to...school ball or any other team ball, I would have to choose my school.

 

Quite frankly, why care whose eyebrow it raises. It's a personal decision made by a family. It's nobody else's business. If somebody has a problem with it my suggestion is, "Get over it. Find something else to whine about"

Some people spend way too much time worrying about things you can not control. I don't have a dog in this "transfer" fight, but seriously, I'm always curious of motive why other parents are concerned about a transfer....instead of opening welcome arms that the "transfer" may be able to help your team.

I don't know about all those good "life lessons" supposedly one learns when a school system plays politics affecting one's child, but I know of a life lesson that sports teaches....competing will make a you a better person in sports and in life. If one competes they may not always win, but they will never lose. However, a loser..... will complain about the competition.