amount of play time

Question
Hi,
My nephew is on a team that is not really giving him adaquate play time.  How should we approach the coach on a subject like this?  The general feeling is that there are certain kids who are always on the field, and others, who are still good players are not being called on.  Our feeling has always been to have the kids involved in recreational leauges, so that they are treated equally & fairly.  If parents are paying a fee for thier kids to be able to participate, and if we are all paying the same amount, shouldn't our kids get the same treatment?  How do we talk to the coach about the feeling that winning is more important than teaching the fundamentals, fair play and sportsmanship, without him taking it out on the kid?

Answer
Hi Tracy,

I would like to say that I could solve this problem--I'd make millions!  It is a situation that exists on ball fields all over the world.

Most youth recreational leagues have rules for guaranteed playing time.  This ensures that each player at least gets a chance to bat and field in each game. Make sure that your nephew is at least being given the minimum playing time based on the rules.

I have been associated with teams that have worked in very competitive ways and with teams that focused on equal playing time.  In fact, I once coached on a team where the manager had the kids pick positions out of a hat before each game--that is where they played.  That is an extreme case, but all types of styles are being employed.

It seems as though your nephew's coach is a competitive sort of coach.  Giving the players a taste of winning may be high on his list of priorities.  He is likely playing the kids that he thinks will give the team the best chance for victory.

In his defense, he no doubt feels that his worth as a coach will be determined by the win/loss record.  If his team wins, he'll be seen as a good coach.  Why, the players must have been coached well in order to win, right?
His role models are his high school and college coaches as well as the professional coaches he sees on TV.  They are not praised for losing--even if they did a great job of bringing along new talent.

My travel team is now playing at the 16U age level.  We have 15 players.  We have 5 guys who see limited playing time.  They are role players.  One of our guys only gets in the game as a pinch runner for the most part.  We are very successful with this approach.  We feel we are giving the players the best opportunity to learn because they all fully participate in practices and get instruction.  When the game is on, however, we give the time to our proven producers.  One of our key starters was a role player for twi seasons--he began to produce and won the job.  Our role players would probably be starters on other area teams, but they choose to stay with us.  

I know I have rambled, but what I want to convey to you is that it will not get any easier as your nephew grows older.  If he loves the game, advise him to get every second of learning in when the team practices.  Have him ask the coach for extra practice time.  Have him tell the coach that he will be at practice 30 minutes early if the coach will hit him some grounders or throw some batting practice.  If he loves the game, he will work his way into the lineup.  

Finally, if you decide to speak with the coach, PLEASE do so away from the players and preferably away from the field.  Most coaches will not take anything out on the players.  They already know that the kid wants to play more.  

Please see www.webball.com for further info.

Good luck to your nephew.

Pete