coaching

Question
I coach my son on his recreational team,He is 12 i have coached him for 4 years.He has always played 1st and he pitches. He gets 3-5 Ks per 3 innings. He made the district team and when we met the coach he looked at my son and said "Hey your a 2nd basemen" The team won 1 game (My son pitched 3 innings 0 runs 2 Ks The coach walked up to my son and said I know your a good pitcher but i wont be using you at all. If my son was not able to pitch at this level i would understand 100%. He played on rec. teams, all stars district teams in the past as a 1st basemen and a pitcher. The coach has the kids playing positions they have never played. This is not sour grapes,other parents including the assistant coach feel the same way. This is a honor for my son to play on this team,its a draw from 5 towns with 2 teams per town,He is 1 of the 12 best out of over 150 players. Not a top 5 player but he is good. whats your spin on this ?

Answer
Hi Gary,

nothing like jumping into a boil pot of water...

life's not exactly fair.  The coach controls the players and the parents disagree.

You were a coach.  Did you have others telling you what position to play their children?  It's not fun when everyone wants to be a pitcher -  I know - I had 10 of them once.  Long story... arggggh.

In baseball, players will be moved around in positions; some coaches see the potential of players, some don't; it's all a matter of perspective.

I understand what you are asking but not knowing the full picture, how many other pitchers are there?  How many pitchers can this coach carry?  Is he "able" to 'groom' a new pitcher just up from a rec league?  Does the team need a good 2B player with a strong throwing arm?  Is this a good coach?

Your son will have to try and work this out with the coach if it means that much to him.  His choice may boil down to working within the team or going elsewhere to pitch.  Sounds like the experience of this particular level of play will do him good and 2nd base is a key position as everything goes 'up the middle'. He'll have loads of action, that's for sure.

Somethings to consider.

Regards,

JohnMc