What would you do?

Find another team. They don't really want him. They will only take him if they don't find someone better.

I must agree with Texan on this one. It would seem if they continue to have try outs and he isn't invited back that they are still looking for players, but don't want to burn other bridges. Even if he waits and they take him, might not be the ideal situation for him if he wasn't their first choice.

Right. They are looking at other players. So why isn't your friend looking at other teams? Why wait?

quote:

Originally posted by Texan:
Find another team. They don't really want him. They will only take him if they don't find someone better.

I agree.

I'm right there with everyone else on this one.

Not only do you find another team?
You find one that play's that team.
And beat there a$$ everytime you play them.
JMHO
EH

he is probilly on the bubble as a utiliy player and they wont bump a starter they have where he is strongest . find a team that needs his assests.

All of the replies are on the mark!

quote:

My friend feels these coaches are stringing his son along....

Sounds like a lot of hesitation on the coaches part IMO. Could be for a variety of reasons.

If trying out for other teams is still an option,..I'd certainly continue to do so.

Cong
Like you said in your post, the player is not an stellar in his old team. Is it the new team a better and more competitive team? Looking at the possitive side of the problemm, I agree with everybody else, that the coaches are waiting for the last minute to see if they can use this kid on their team (probably as an utility). I think also that he may look for other team in the main time, but please don't suppose nothing and don't close the door to be part of a good traveling team, where the kid will have the opportunity to play a better competitive baseball and the chance to become an important part of that teram with a good performance. Tell him to just wait, if they didn't say "NO" yet, maybe in few days he gets the answer that he is hoping to heard.

Racab is right! Don't react so quickly. I know we all think our son is the greatest, but consider this. As your friend's son moves up in levels he may be judged more objectively on his skill level. This is not a bad thing. He needs this opinion in order to get better. The father and his son may or may not decide this is the team for them based on "best fit" and you may want to try out for another team. BUT, don't condemn this coach for delaying the decision. He has not said no yet. Remember, you will repeat this process when you go through college recruiting.

Could it be that the coach and his staff are looking to put the best possible team together?

A little more background on the situation and what I suggested my friend do.

I know the coaches, they are not quality coaches, they are just dad's who do not have any background beyond playing little league as kids. This team is not a quality team, they usually have about a .200 winning percentage. My friends son wanted to join this team because he knew about 4 of their players. (The boy is kind of quiet and takes time to get acquainted with new players) My friend wanted his son to join the team because they do not travel out of state and play most of their games pretty local.... (they have 4 young athletes in the family so the limited travel was conducive to their situation) IMO my friends son is a better player than the 4 friends (who I know as players) but I don't know where he would fall in with the rest of the team. He could of had a bad performance at his tryout... lots of things can happen. The funny thing is he had a couple of other offers to choose from, with much better teams with much better coaches, they just liked the fit of this team.

My suggestion was to deal with the honesty issue. If the coaches had said up front: "We will be looking at a bunch of kids over time and we will let you know in a couple of weeks" Then this would have been an acceptable situation. Since that wasn't the case and they were being strung along week after week, it was obvious they were looking for a better player (in their eyes) but did not want to burn the bridge so to speak with my friends son, till they found someone better.

I can't blame a coach or coaches who want to put the best team on the field, but Honesty should be more important. It is to me. If after your first experience with someone, whether it be a coach or a store or an employer, and you don't feel you were being treated with respect and honesty... Do you stick with that team or store or employer? I know I would not and that is what I told my friend.

The boy is playing with a much better team with much better coaches. He doesn't know any of the players and it will take time for him to become comfortable and will be dealing with a more demanding schedule, but I think he will be better off.

Find another team. These guys are a joke - either you can pull the trigger and make a decision as a coach or you can't....and if they can't handle CUTS, how will they handle decisions once the season starts? Run, don't walk, RUN....

I would look for another team. It is obvious this player isn't on their top list of players. It's ok to want to find the best players(in their eyes), but don't continue to listen to their song and dance , while other teams are filling up. I would bail, and my kid would have bailed the first time they played that tune. Either they want you or they don't, it's that simple.

Good Luck

Like you said Cong,
Dads coaching,
Its best after 12yrs old not to Coach are have another dad coach the players.
Unless that coach has a proven record at that level and his kid is just passing thru.
JMHO
EH

quote:

Originally posted by theEH:

Its best after 12yrs old not to Coach are have another dad coach the players.
Unless that coach has a proven record at that level and his kid is just passing thru.

So True..... Unfortunatly, that kind of team does not exists around here outside of school, and even some school teams have Dad Coaches....

Arrange other tryouts as he's waiting to hear...
He may draw interest from other teams and then DAD
decides what's best for his son based on available options.

Find another team and join it. Then when/if the first coach calls to say "Congratulations, we picked your son", tell him that your son hasn't made a decision, but you will let him know in a couple of weeks.