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38 replies

Blatant Corruption, what should I do.

C CTMetros2110+ posts
So today was the third day of tryouts, which is really just practice because the coach already chose the team and handed out uniforms. The interesting thing is that today we were supposed to practice in the gym from 4:45 to 6. Instead the coach decides to call kids to tell them to go to the local field for a practice at 4. I of course did not receive a call, but a sophomore did whos father donates money to the school.(me being a junior).

For a little backgroud: I played varsity ball last yr behind an all stater who is now at a D1 college. I attended Perfect Game's National Underclass, rated a 7.5. Since then I have put on 10 lbs of muscle and cut my 60 time down atleast .2 seconds and I am one of the fastest kids on the team. I have also been invited the Academic Top Prospect Showcase. Theres more but this isnt a bragging contest.


I get called to go to practice 25 minutes after it began and show up as fast as I can. By the time I am there, 4:35, the whole infield was done and I am stuck taking ground balls with the coach and with one other player who did not start last year. The kid who is competing against me is smaller, can't hit as well as me, and is no where near as smooth as me in the field with less of an arm. It's not even close and it is obvious. The coach has had a thing for this kid since day one of last year. In his only start on varsity, he let a ground ball go right through his legs in center field. That was the end of him. We are both now competing for a MIF job and I have made sure I have outhustled him and outplayed him in every way. Yet I am still on my way to getting screwed over.

I can recognize it because this is the second time. I transferred schools after my freshman year because I was cut from the team for the same reason. It was a "rich school" so to speak and when I asked the coach for the reason why I was cut, he was speachless. The next year as a sophomore I made varsity for a State Championship team. This has nothing to do with my skill and I want to play for a good college program when I am done, and I work my butt of trying to do so but my coach is going to do everything possible to stop me. I NEED HELP. I might get a response saying this is completely my opinion and I'm making myself look good. I am not doing that but even if you think I am, please just answer the question, WHAT SHOULD I DO?
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W whattodomom10+ posts
I have no idea what would help but I can relate to that pit in your stomach. We have a kid on our team who's Dad built the batting cages. He plays infeild and starts and plays every inning of every game. He makes a minimum of two errors each game. Doesn't have much of a bat either! Why does he play? You Guess! He takes a lot of heat from the other kids with the snide remarks but he puts his head down and plays. With my son's problems everyone said "go talk to the coach". My son would never do that, he thinks that makes things worse. If you can't, maybe just wait it out and see what happens. Sometimes the reality is not as bad as what we imagine. Or maybe it is exactly what you think it's going to be. Are you going to be happy on this team if you both make it? Can only one of you make it or is it more about playing time? It seems weird that a coach would not just pick his best kids. But I do not understand why they put some kids on a team and then don't play them. Isn't that a problem for the coach waiting to happen? All I can say is try to stay positive and it may all just work out fine and you have worried for nothing. Do you have a good friend on the team that can call you whenever he gets a call? Maybe a parent that is good friends with your Mom? Not all kids have Dad's that can build batting cages but not all kids have the heart to keep fighting either. You sound like you do. Good Luck!!!
RHP05ParentRHP05Parent1,000+ posts
quote:
.... Yet I am still on my way to getting screwed over.
dot – Is this all there was to it? A missed phone call? I don't read anything in your post that should make you think you won’t be treated fairly. Can you explain why you think this? Not calling a team member does happen occasionally and could have just been an accident. It looks like the practice was planned for 1 hr 15 minutes by the original schedule, so starting at 4pm and you arriving at 4:35pm, still gave you almost an hour of practice with the team. If you hustled as you say you did and played well, then you did your job. Instead of worrying about this one practice, give the coach the benefit of the doubt and check (politely) if he missed you on his call list due to a bad phone #. That could be all this was. Confused

Stuff happens, relax and don't go looking for "slights" in everything. Play hard, show the coach what you can do on the field, and keep good communication going with your coach off the field. Wink

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F Fresh12510+ posts
It happens. All the time and for people to even speculate that it doesn't are kidding themselves. If you have the talent, I suggest you move on instead of trying to push up against a concrete wall. The coach at our school had the team picked 2 weeks before tryouts, and they had already had a couple of practices. And of course, there are ALWAYS a couple kids on there who have lots of money invested in the team (or the program), so of course they play. If you do have the talent, you will get recognized elsewhere. High school ball isn't the last stop, and you can believe that.
C CTMetros2110+ posts
i didnt clarify, the practice was to start at 4:45 and it was the coaches responsibility to call the kids. He decided to call me 25 minutes after practice had started and no one else informed me. He also didnt call 2 other kids who don't start.

He didn't call the wrong number, my father drove by and asked the assistant coach who we are good friends with and he pointed at the head coach and said "I had nothing to do with it."

KellerDad: A little self promotion? how about it was so u didnt think I was some second rate player trying to find a spot on a varsity team. Be a LOT more respectful in your posts, and you should put yourself in someone elses shoes.

This is about playing time, not making the team. I know high school isn't the last stop, I play on a very competitive travel team and attend showcases.
L Lamber100+ posts
If this is high school ball I would play my ass off to win the job and if I get screwed over, I'd quit.

There is no way I'd let a high school coach stand in the way of my future. I would get out of his prescence as quickly as I could if the facts you state are true. He doesn't deserve you and probably doesn't even know how to evaluate you. If you're as good as you state, I'm sure there are great summer opportunities for you. The best baseball is played in the summer. I wouldn't worry over the politics of high school baseball.

Although there are some good high school coaches, the odds are you're dealing with someone who got his job because he is the teacher at the school who wants it. It more than likely has nothing to do with baseball knowledge.

I'd leave with my head high. I wouldn't make any waves. I'd continue my workouts and I'd have a hell of a summer.

Very few recruiting visits are done in the spring as the college coach is busy with his own season.

Show 'em your stuff in the summer and someone will come forward.

By the way, it isn't only high school baseball that takes a back seat to summer ball. AAU basketball is where it's at in that sport.

Why the hell we feel it so important to represent our school is more seated emotion than fact. The best opportunities in baseball and basketball are outside the school.

P.S. You high school coaches that are good, please don't put yourself in this category if you don't belong. But, you'd go a long way to fixing the problem if you'd first admit that a vey high percentage of your opponents are poorly coached.
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K KellerDad1,000+ posts
quote:
Originally posted by .:
.

KellerDad: A little self promotion? how about it was so u didnt think I was some second rate player trying to find a spot on a varsity team. Be a LOT more respectful in your posts, and you should put yourself in someone elses shoes.

This is about playing time, not making the team. I know high school isn't the last stop, I play on a very competitive travel team and attend showcases.


Respectful?

Son, you need to grow up some. You stated in your first post that you didn't make the team at your previous school so you transfered. There was and probably a reason you didn't make the team, and a reason you are not getting playing time now. You can't always move away from your problems, or blame others for them.

Just because somebody else's dad is giving money to a team doesn't mean that is the reason why you aren't getting playing time or making the team.

As I stated before, you might want to look in the mirror. There are a lot of reasons kids don't get playing time, and some of them have nothing to do with talent, and everything to do with attitude.
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KrakatoaKrakatoa1,000+ posts
KellerDad- regardless of how this kid's question is answered, people need to read the post more carefully before making comments like yours. He states he was informed of the practice
AFTER it had already started.
I don't know the kid's situation, but he seems to be sincere in looking for some help.
Unfortunately, we don't know the whole story and never will. There's really not much to say in the way of a meaningful reply in this situation. Just not enough info on the player, the coach, and their intertwined attitudes about what's happening on this particular high school team.
K KellerDad1,000+ posts
Krakatoa,

I did read his post, and he did mention that the coach did take the time to hit him and another ground balls and do infield with them. So, how does that make the coach a bad person? Where is the CORRUPTION??? (his word, not mine)

The coach didn't call the kid, possibly on purpose, possibly by mistake. Instead of getting on an internet forum complaining about his situation, and blaming everybody else, maybe it's time for the kid to take the rose colored glasses off and try to figure out why he isn't going to be starting and getting playing time.

And coming on here expecting everybody to take up on his side against a coach is wrong, and then to lash out at me and tell me I should give him a LOT more respect......sorry, shows me the kid might just have an attitude problem.

He asks his question, what should he do?

My answer, reevalute your talent and work your butt off and keep your mouth shut. Quit blaming everybody else for your problems. Take some personal responsibility and quit whining.
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TRhitTRhit10,000+ posts
To the young man who posted:

Being you are from my state it might well be that I know you so if you care to call and chat please do so--perhaps we make help you sort things out

A word of advice though-- I undertsand your frustration but stay away from using terms like 'blatant corruption" when posting about your problem-- it tends to turn people off right from the git go

I look forward to hearing from you


Tom Rizzi
www.collegeselect.org
800-782-3672
B BeenthereILHSBBWeb Old Timer
I agree with Lamber.

Why waste all your time and energy dealing with this issue and with this coach?

Make an appointment with the coach for you and your mom and dad to appear. Get everything out in the open. You'll find out at the meeting where you stand and you won't be asking anyone to speculate about aything.

Remember, coaches are people, too; and, they make mistakes as do so many of the rest of us.

---

I don't see a "blatant" anything except your feelings are blatantly hurt.
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P PioneerDad100+ posts
I disagree with Lamber. Quitting is the last thing you should do. I don't know how you can "keep your head up" and quit at the same time.

It's a short season. "Cowboy up" and don't let a coach drive you from a game you love. If you let this guy get under your skin enough to make you quit, people will remember the "quit" part, period. If you don't play, you don't play. Support your team however you can.

Concentrate more on things that you can influence and less on speculating what somebody (coach) thinks about somebody else (teammate).

IMHO.

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T TXDad100+ posts
I have to agree with catcherdad. Buckle down and work you butt off. Gain the respect of your peers. If the coach doesn't respect your game, so what. There will be many people, throughout your life, that won't respect you for one reason or another. Character is built by dealing with those people (and feelings) head on.

I know a kid who has dealt with the exact situation you are dealing with. Hard work, attitude, and desire paid off in the end.

Just my opinion, take it for what it's worth.

TXDad
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