quote:
I've seen a few messages from fathers on this post, my question is whether you would feel differently if you were the coach and you had to think about what's best for the 12... or what's best for the 4.
gcfan,
Again, it would depend on how many true varsity players I would have for that season. Son's school can carry 25 players per roster (V, JV, Soph) for a total of 75 kids. Now, that would probably be unreasonable under most varsity conditions, but that is exactly what the Soph team carried: 2 players per position plus the few "pitcher-only" players. For Soph, it worked. For Varsity...maybe not so much.
If, throughout the Senior, Junior, and Soph classes I had only 12 true Varsity starters, and this included all 8 positions and 4 additional pitchers/position players...and I could carry 20-25 on the roster...and the 4 seniors were decent players (again, not outstanding...but decent), and they had contributed to the team in the past (unlike Coach May's situation), then they would have a spot on the team. The first 12 would get the bulk of the starts, they would be "The" team in region, and the definite starters in the state tourney. The 4 would be role players, get their shots in the pre-season, and I would have experienced back-up players in case of injury or regular-season blowouts.
To me, the loyalty works both ways. If I want the players to remain loyal to me, the HS program and the team; then I have to remain loyal to them. This also sends a message to the underclassmen fighting for spots: I don't have to be the best talent to remain on the team. I do have to work hard, stay focused, and give my all. My playing time will be less than the better players...but as long as I'm good enough to have a spot...coach will see that I do.
Again, there are the caveats: if it is only a matter of small/medium differences in talent...not heart, nor desire, nor attitude...they made the camps, clinics, summer leagues, fall leagues, tournaments...then they have shown how much the team and baseball mean to them. If they blew off the summer, the fall, the camps, and left me hanging in tournaments...then no...they haven't earned a spot on the bench...let alone on the team. Additionally, if there is a full roster of available players, and they are better than the seniors...plainly and simply the seniors don't have a spot on the team. That situation I can understand and agree with completely.