Coaches Recruiting Kids on Other Teams

[?] Subscribe To This Site

Coaches Recruiting Kids on Other Teams

by M.
(MA)

For all the coaches out there, have you ever bribed a girl to come to your team even though she had already committed to another team for the upcoming season?
I'm going into my 6th summer of JO softball, and I have seen this happen way too much. One of my teammates was bribed by another coach who offered her to play for free even though all the other players on his team were paying full price of $1000. My coaches have the policy of respecting a committment between player and team and they never approach a girl who is already on another team. Any girl who would ditch their teammates is someone we wouldn't want to deal with for an entire summer anyways.
And what about the parents that encourage their children to play their coaches in order the get the best possible team even if it means hurting other teammates? Yes a big part of 18U ball is recruiting and getting yourself noticed, but its a team game.

What are your thoughts about this? Is it appropriate for coaches to get their players this way?

Comments for
Coaches Recruiting Kids on Other Teams

Average Rating

Click here to add your own comments

Jan 17, 2008
Rating

Recruiting from other teams
by: Anonymous

I'm have been and continue an assistant coach with travel team(s) in PA as my DD (I like your acronym!!) has been involved with more than 1 organization. As a representative of the organization, I am always happy to speak with players and parents who approach me about the organization and team. The player/parent who initiates the conversation is doing this usually for one of two reasons: informational only or potential interest in changing teams for any number of reasons at the end of the season(playing time/position, coaches, organizational philosophy, friends). All organizations my daughter and I have been involved with pride themselves on playing and doing things the right way. We teach the players how to be role models, sportsman, and proper decision making, not just softball. My family and I want no part of a team/organization that does not this as an integral part of their mission. Not every U18 player will be able to play at the next level. College recruiting is a combination of softball skill, academics, and proper behavior. If colleges are looking for and emphasize all three, shouldn't we?

Click here to add your own comments

Join in and write your own page! It's easy to do. How?
Simply click here to return to The Dugout

Coaches Recruiting Kids on Other Teams

Comments for Coaches Recruiting Kids on Other Teams

Comments for
Coaches Recruiting Kids on Other Teams