college coach tells player to sit out senior year in HS

Couple of things here...

Welcome!

This is a baseball board but we have been known to wander off topic every now and then.

This is a silly request imho. The player does not have to heed that advice. Moreover, she might want to consider another college program if her coach is going to give her such dumb advice. That is dumb advice on many levels. She can still work out on her own and only a fool would tell her to miss those team memories which can never be replaced.

Facing less than travel quality competition doesn't affect the pitcher unless she doesn't maintain a proper level of concentration. Plus there's something special about representing the high school/town. A dominant softball pitcher can carry a team on her back to a conference title.

All nine starters from my daughter's senior year went on to play college ball. While they knew travel ball was far more challenging, they developed a tight bond competing and winning high school games. I never saw the showcase team cry as each player moved on. When the five seniors moved on it was a bawlfest at the team banquet. The players went to school together, competed together and went to dinner together after every Friday game. Who would want to pass on this kind of experience?

Sure sounds dumb. However dumb comes at all levels. Had a friend who was told by a pro scout to fore go pitching his SR year at a D1 in Arkansas. Said his coaches were idiots and would ruin his arm. Who knows ?