Gosh, I am starting to hate softball! About This Page:

[Tara O'Hara]

I am definately starting to see that all is not fair in love and sports! [img]images/icons/mad.gif[/img] As some of you know, my daughter is a softball pitcher. She honestly is the most accurate pitcher on the team, but not the fastest. The girl who is faster but wild, ironically, doesn't like my daughter( and doesn't hesitate to tell her so!) Anyway, last night's game was against big girls therefore the other girl was supposed to start. No problem, so far, right? Kate pitched the last game and it really has been working out that they rotate every other game. Okay, so the game is at 6:15 and the girls are told to be there at 5:30. Everyone except the other pitcher shows up and they not only tell Kate; the coaches come over and tell US that she is pitching..........Kate was literally out on the mound, when the other girl came, threw a fit, warmed up and got to pitch the entire game. One of the coaches did come back over to us and say that he was sorry for pulling Kate, but that this game had playoff implications and they needed to win-can you imagine saying that to a parent?!? They lost, but that is not the point! The team's record is now 5-2. Kate's is 3-0 [img]images/icons/confused.gif[/img] . I guess I just dont understand softball. I definately lost some respect for both of the coaches last night for doing this. I know that sports is all about winning but what about teamwork and friendship? [img]graemlins/pout.gif[/img] Thanks for letting me vent.

Tara
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[ 06-08-2002, 07:02 AM: Message edited by: Tara McCusker ]

[DreaminDisney]

UGH! [img]images/icons/mad.gif[/img] That makes me mad too and I don't even know your daughter!

Go ahead and vent, I don't blame you one bit!

Debbie

[sammycat699]

This is what I hate about sports. What happened last night was totaly unfair. The other girl does not show sportsmanship. Not only was she late which doesn't show respect for her teammatesand coaches but then she has a tantrum and gets her way????
I know coaches are human to but this is not the way to help children respect each other or the game. Did you have a talk with the coaches? If not maybe you should call the coach and tell him/her how unprofessional you felt the coach was.
I think it happens in all sports. Several years ago my son was told he wasn't going to a swim meet because they could only take part of the team. He was not a strong swimmer. The coach let another boy go who only came to practice when he felt like it. I told the coach I didn't think it was fair to allow this boy to swim when my son came to all practices. The coach agreed and let both boys swim.

[AKLRULZ]

Wow, I was really PO'd until I read Forti's post and I guess there could be another side but both girls should have played. Team sports just burn me up when it comes to my kids! Tara, when doest the season end?

[Fortissimo]

This was very unfair to Kate and the rest of the team. However, there may be a side to this you may not be aware of, like what was the reason the other girl was late?

My third year of teaching, I had an incredible trumpet player. In our December concert we played a song that had several trumpet solos in it. Well 7:00 rolls around and no first-chair trumpet player. I told the second-chair player, who was also very good, to be prepared for the solos. This group played at 7:30 and still no first chair. We play our first two songs and all of the sudden the first-chair player appears just in time for the song with the solos. I told him second chair was playing and it just crushed the first-chair player. I told him too bad, you should have been on time. Of course the mother of the other student was thrilled that her son got to play the solos.

The next day I asked the first chair player why he was so late. He explained that his mother was out of town so he had to rely on his father to get him to the concert. His father was home but was so drunk my student didn't want to get in the car with him, so he walked the 3 miles to school for the concert. I felt about an inch tall. Here is an 7th grader who probably made the most important decision of his life and I squashed him.

The next concert rolls around and the same thing happened. However, when my first-chair player walked in late this time, I let him split the solos with second chair. Second-chair's mom went ballistic on me, saying how dare I let another student play the solos when he can't even get to the concert on time. Of course I couldn't tell her the reason the other student was late, so I had to take the name-calling with a grain of salt. Her son, on the other hand, later told her why the first-chair player was always late for concerts. She then made sure her son as well as first chair were always on time for concerts from that point forward.

My point is that there may be a reason why the other pitcher was late or why the swimmer wasn't always at practice. As teachers and coaches, we are not allowed to divulge personal information about other athletes or students. Is it fair? No, it's not. However, it's not fair to either player when it may not be the fault of the player.

The softball coach should have played both girls.

[Tara O'Hara]

Fortissimo,

Thank you for a refreshing way to look at something. You are right. I was so mad, I didn't even consider the possibility that the other girl had a good reason for being late! I still, however, feel that no matter what the reason was, they should have let Kate start the first inning. If she screwed up, they certainly could've pulled her. I will never say anything, anyway because I do believe that the coaches did what they felt was best for the team-I am just having a hard time understanding the reasoning on this one. Anyway, Kate didn't seemed too bothered by it, so I'm trying to move on. There is another game this afternoon. It will be interesting to see what they do! Thanks again for the reminder that things aren't always as they seem!

And Steve, the season isn't even halfway over! [img]images/icons/frown.gif[/img] I hope my outlook improves before it is! They are a tournament team so they play through the 20th of July!

Tara
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[disneyknut]

Tara-
I totally agree with you.. they should not have told your DD that she was starting then pull her.. imagine what that does to her confidence?..IMHO.. they should have let her start & then pull her (maybe) if she starts to struggle.
DH is my oldest sons baseball manager & he has gone through a lot of crap from players all year ( regular season ended yesterday!!) he has a team that just does'nt care.. shows up late, throws fits when Jim tells them to go play a certain position.. I could go on & on
Now, don't even get me started on the parents... One Dad has been threatened to be thrown out of the entire complex for swearing & being a total IDIOT!!! Then yesterday was the clincher.. Jim was rotating his 'worst' players..( worst: kids that don't want to play & when they do they are fooling around in the field.. not ability worst) alternating playing & sitting on the bench.. well, a Grandmother got into a tizzy & was sitting in the stands screaming that her Grandson shouldn't have been sitting, he made one catch (ONE!!! HA!) Then she gets idiot Dad riled up & he starts calling Jim A**-hole because his son can't play his 'wanted ' position.. I had had enough & walked into the dugout after the game & told Jim that If he coached another game I was divorcing him!
Yes,I did calm down & yes, Jim will be coaching tomorrow in the playoffs ( as well as All-Stars later in the month) but if a parent has a problem they should come to Jim~ NOT complain in the stands.
Gee, I intended to give my opinion to Tara & ended up on my own soapbox.. sorry [img]graemlins/cry2.gif[/img]

[Tara O'Hara]

Guess what?!? Today was a much better day! [img]images/icons/grin.gif[/img] Katie pitched the first three innings and the score was 5-3. She had one walk and four strikeouts! Then they put her back on the mound for the last inning and they wound up winning 10-4! It was a great game and everyone contributed to the win!

Tara
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[debe]

I am glad to hear today was a better day. Hang in there mom! [img]images/icons/smile.gif[/img] I can actually say.... been there, done that & glad DD is past her ball playing years. [img]images/icons/grin.gif[/img] The "pressures" & "unfairness" that kids have to put up with is tough these days. Our DD had an excellent softball career that ended in college due to an injury, and I can actually say now I am glad it is all over. [img]images/icons/smile.gif[/img] (I loved watching her play)

My DH is now a softball coach for a vo-tech H.S. and is often challenged by both the girls and their parents. Sometimes he encounters problems such as Fortissimo mentioned and sometimes they just don't want to playball(would rather be out with their boyfriends.... GIRLS [img]images/icons/grin.gif[/img] ) Anyway, he said your DD should have started the game no matter what reason the "usuall starter" gave for her lateness & then put her in the game later on. This would have been fair for both girls.

Anyway, I do hope your daughter's softball career is a very successful one. As my DH says he would rather a not so fast accurate picture over a fast wild pitcher any day. [img]images/icons/grin.gif[/img] (His team may not win many game but the do have fun playing the game [img]images/icons/smile.gif[/img] )

Good Luck [img]images/icons/smile.gif[/img]