Take a minute and gather your thoughts...

Listen, coaches have everybody backing them---the NCAA, the administration and their fellow assistants. I have nothing against them. Many of them are close friends of mine. But who has the back of the student athlete? The balance of fairness is skewed heavily against the athlete.

The best advantage a student athlete has is their parents. The one figure(s) they can trust and realize they always have their best interest at heart. Make the decision as a family, then move on to whatever you decided. If it's to stay..then stay. But a coach is not a priest---I don't suggest you confess your thoughts about this to them until a decision is made.

It's a business to the coach and there is no reason that you don't treat it like that either. I'm in no way diminishing the importance of having a relationship with the coach. It's just as important as having a relationship with your boss. But if you go tell your boss that you are leaving; don't expect him/her to be too thrilled about it.

I'm never concerned for the coaches or universities. They're big people and can take care of themselves. I'm always concerned for the student-athlete's because no one is looking out for them.

* I'm speaking in general. There are always coaches like Charlie that have a true love for the game and his players. But he is an exception.

 

Keep 'em coming TBR, but in the mean time I'll thank you all for your posts.
Making a decision to go to one school or another, D1, or D2, or D3, is bigtime in a kids life when she does not have the smarts, no disrespect, but they don't know. All the kids can do is read into what is told to them.
The parents don't have a clue for the most part, and all they see is money signs and props to our kids. AND, I'm proud of all them.

But in the real world, we all makes decisions based on what we understand to be the best at that time and then as time goes by, well things change.
If its not in sports, then its your major, or all kinds of things period. We all get that sh*t happens and its up to you to deal with it.

The flow of info, opinions and experience on TBR is an awesome platform for all of us.

Thanks

 

Every year, I get 5-10 families finding themselves in a similar situation. Usually doesn't involve homesickness, but I've had a few of those too. I've said everything I can think of short of the rules of transferring (which I understand is a little different in softball.) I try to paint a broad brush because each case is different, but I tried to post critical facts as it involves this subject.

The reason most situations go smoothly is simple. The families were proactive after making a decision. Some coaches in rare conditions may try to block a release, but usually after a meeting with an AD, it can be resolved.

To me when these situations occur they are always tragic. That innocents they had when they left for college the first time has been taken away.

 

leaving when you are playing is always a struggle as well.

a huge piece of the puzzle is if you are chnaging classes -- D1, D2, D3 -- the rules change when you go up or down, including having to sit out a year (usually that comes if you DONT chnage levels though.)

if you arent ready to talk to your coach talk to one at a school NOT involved or go to the NCAA.

 

Not true

First....
There is no NCAA "sit" rule for softball or baseball. You can transfer from one school to another without penalty. The only rules that apply are conference specific rules, which most conferences have. ( D1 - D3)
They require you to sit one year (and the clock still ticks, you get 5 years to play 4), before you can play at a conference school.

Second
No other coach is gonna speak to you, until you get a release for the school where you are currently rostered. PERIOD.... It could be considered tampering, and has severe penalties...

Third
The NCAA is not gonna talk to you. PERIOD
If they tell you anything, they will tell you to talk to your coach...
If you need to, ask for an athletic director or SWA ( senior women's administrator) sit in on the meeting.


This is the reason it is so critical to make the RIGHT decision when you commit.

Be prepared for whatever happens. If it has gotten so bad, that you can't be there anymore, then leave.....
So...put your big girl panties on, go talk to the coach and tell him/her you are leaving.
This is about being an adult, mommy and daddy can't help you with this.


If it is just playing time that you feel you have earned, but the coaching staff does not see it as clearly as you do.......

PLAY BETTER.....

 

Can you imagine what it's like for a D2 coach who is forced by conference to field a squad with 50 players (baseball?) You have 20 of them happy and the other 30 disgruntled with playing time. The key for the coach is to keep the 30 from affecting the 20.

 

great point

Most coaches that carry HUGE rosters, are told to by the administration..
They have "recruiting numbers" they have to meet, TO KEEP THEIR JOB!!

 

I REALLY hope all of you chasing the dream of money for softball play take this post, print it out and put it on the fridge or someplace else you can easily find it(maybe like Stringbean used to do on Hee Haw, lol) so you are in this with eyes wide OPEN!

I was told by one coach this past year: "we have all of our recruits ranked but I could see someone this weekend that I like better." While this is not the same thing as mentioned above it was a big time red flag for me. Loyalty is NOT in the vocabulary in this process!

The one truism in this vein that I have found to this point in the journey is what Rodney referred to as going where you feel "the love". That coach feeling as if they have gotten a real coup by getting your DD to commit is the best assurance you are going to get of a happy and drama free 4 years.

 

Hey

There are 3 things that are for sure.... Salvation, Death ,and Taxes, everything can change at any moment...

----- Guru