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3sondad
220 Posts |
 Posted - 08/21/2012 : 10:38:04
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Wondering how part-time players work out for teams at 10U and 11U? i.e. A player that does other sports in the spring, but also loves to play baseball at a high level. Are they expected to pay the full team price? He would be available for practices and games when there are not conflicts.
How accepting do you think the team would be for a good all-around player that can play any position, pitch and hit? Is there a roster number where it would work better? 9, 10, 11, 12?
The times I have seen it, a few of the parents complained (a lot!!!). But in reality, they complained no matter who played in front of their superstar.
Coaches, would you consider it? What if the kid was a Major level Sunday pitcher? At what number of players would you consider carrying a part time player? |
Edited by - 3sondad on 08/21/2012 10:38:46 |
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in_the_know
985 Posts |
Posted - 08/21/2012 : 14:34:30
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Not a real big fan of it personally. This is a team sport. The players practice and play together a lot. If you have a player who is around on occasion, expect the microscope to be on them by the other parents when he's taking their kids playing time away. If the kid struggles, all the "I told you so's" will be flying.
I guess if you have a clear definition of what the players role would be, solid scheduling, then it is doable. As for the prorating of fees, obviously a team to team decision, but if it's prorated to 1/2, and the expectation is that the player will be at half the practices and play half the tourneys, then that's all there better be.
Just be ready to accept that the kid will never be considered a true "part of the team" by the other players and parents. Not that anyone would be openly rude, but there will always be a bit of an outsider element surrounding them. In a team sport, every player counts on the other to be at their best. If they're banged up from their other sport and aren't performing well, eyes will roll. If the kid plays lacrosse Saturday and shows up tired Sunday, eyes will roll. You see the same thing every summer when the football and basketball players start their workouts and either miss practices/games, get dinged up, or show up tired. The other players and parents get a bit annoyed that the baseball team takes a backseat during the primary season (very different for fall baseball where football takes priority).
IMHO, the only way it really works is if the kid is available for another player who may be out of town or injured, to keep the roster at a fixed number. Obviously, this doesn't work well scheduling your other spring sport.
I'm not saying that it hasn't been wildly successful for others in the past, and you'll likely hear those tales here in other posts, but my guess is that it doesn't work out too well more often than it does. |
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Ross
60 Posts |
Posted - 08/21/2012 : 17:26:15
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| I have seen this and you have huge resentment from the other players towards the part-timer. Why is he special, why does he not have to put the work in. Can bring the entire team down. |
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baseballRus
126 Posts |
Posted - 08/21/2012 : 17:28:34
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| I think it would be okay in certain circumstances as long as the part time player (and parents) understood he may only get part time playing time. Obviously teams do it especially for pitching but the part timer would have to be way above the rest to get as much playing time. |
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raballmom
12 Posts |
Posted - 08/21/2012 : 17:35:39
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| I would not carry a part time player a this age!!! What sport is he doing that he can't play full time in the spring?? Not worth it for team chemistry!!! |
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RedWhiteBlue
8 Posts |
Posted - 08/21/2012 : 21:10:51
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3sondad,
Yes it can work, in the right situation. If a team has 11 or 12 players, all the objections listed above can become an issue. However, if you find a team that carries only 10 players, it can work. Kids get sick, injured, and sometimes have a family obligation. In these circumstances, having a go to player to fill it makes perfect sense. Go find a team that has only 10 players.
Another rule of thumb for most coaches. Subs get worked in at the bottom of the line-up and sit first in pool play. But come bracket play, any good coach will look at his dugout and play the line-up that gives the team the best chance of success on Sunday.
Just my two cents. |
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