Coach Issues

Question
QUESTION: Hi. My son is a big 11 y.o. pitcher (by training) and currently an outfielder (by coach's choice). He is an outstanding outfielder who can reach second base on a no-hop throw from the fence with precision. He has played very well for me (I've coached nearly all his teams - not all) since he was seven. He has played on 13 baseball teams in that span. He has been a very reliable pitcher despite having played on relatively weak teams and has been complimented by many people including umpires for his poise, accuracy, and overpowering efficiency. This is the problem: His new coach this year has refused to use him as a pitcher despite promises to my son and slights to us for even suggesting/recommending that he pitch. Despite having a well-regarded squad this spring season - this coach lost every game last year (0-24) including tournaments - my son's team is now falling quickly out of the race at 1-3. In fact the only game this team has won this season thus far has been when the head coach was absent! I was warned by my friends in the league not to let my son be drafted by this guy and now I think I see why. Please don't misunderstand me, I've coached several mediocre teams myself and know the frustrations coaches feel. I also will allow that the team's premier pitcher is a 12 y.o. AAU fireballer. Guess who's son is the short stop and secondary pitcher. My son's mother and I wonder if removing him from the team is in his best interest. I'm certain other teams in his 11-12 majors Little League would love to have him and I believe a boy may be moved by parental request to another team, by Little League rules.  My son is confused and disappointed, and his mother is livid to put it mildly. One assistant coach has quit the team out of frustration already. Can a mid-season team change as I'm suggesting hurt my son's future in his league? Should we just bite the bullet and put up with this guy for the remainder of this season? We'd have to play for the guy next year too. Would I be teaching my son the wrong lesson by him leaving? I have already told him to do his best, respect the  coach's decisions, and not worry about it. But I hate to see my son's talents and self-esteem wither before my eyes. I feel I must do something but I'm not sure what. Could you please help us sort this thing out? Thanks for your input. It is greatly appreciated.

ANSWER: Hey Alan,

I feel your pain.. When I was a commissioner, I did not accept every manager's request for a team, for exactly this reason.  For a manager or coach to not even consider using a pitcher that has pitched well in the past, looks quite unfair. The key thing here is that you will be expected to play for this same manager for the next couple of years.. The fact that your son was always on a mediocre team for a few years has not helped his chances to pitch.  Also, this manager seems to think that little league is all about winning and it isn't.  It's about development.
The fact that you were warned about this manager, and that a coach has already resigned, tells me that he will not change anytime soon.

Answer these questions before you decide about changing teams.

Does your son have a lot of friends on this team that he would not mind leaving?
Would he mind going the WHOLE year without pitching?
Is he NOT excited about upcoming baseball games?
Is the manager fair in all other things?

After answering these questions, you should have your answer on whether to change teams or not.
Switching teams would NOT be teaching your son the wrong lesson.. If anything, you may be teaching the coach a lesson instead.
If you decide to switch teams, do it the right way and in a good spirit.  Tell the manager that pitching is real important to your son and he would rather go somewhere that could use him every week, or every other week. Going a whole season without pitching would hurt his chances of being a better pitcher in the future. Another option would be to ride out the season and demand to be put on a new team next year.  But remember, when that 12 year old fireball is gone, they will need more pitching.  I'm guessing this will be next year..Also as the season goes along, the manager may decide to start looking toward next year and go with younger pitchers.
Good Luck... and PLEASE, please, let me know what you decided and how things are going.. I really would like to keep in touch about this...
Thanks, Dennis

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Hi Dennis, here's what transpired. I'll try to keep it brief:

We had a heated argument with the team coaches two or three weeks ago just to vent. We began keeping a log of the games and other team's coaches' comments such as, "When is Bobby (not his real name) going to pitch?" and "Why hasn't he pitched yet?" There were a couple of other such comments from other parents. Reinforced with these accounts and records we would send them to the district head when we couldn't take it anymore. But we also decided to lie low and continue to volunteer. We did score keeping, pitch counting, and I even umpired behind the plate one game when the umpire didn't show. It didn't mean we weren't seething as the season went on (we're now heading into the mid-season tournament this coming weekend) but I kept Bobby working in preparation to keep up his skills and confidence. We did long tosses, increasing the distance by five steps after five throws, and then followed that up after a 5 minute break with 30 pitches from our backyard mound. We then gave him a five day layoff to recover, followed then by a 30 pitch "show-off" at the ball field bull-pen mounds on a night his own team wasn't there but other teams were. I wanted other coaches to see what I already knew my son had.

Our patience was rewarded finally just last night when our son "got the call" to start for a hastily scheduled inter-league pick-up game. The following friends-and-family email is a result of what happened:

"Bobby finally was given a chance to pitch as he became a surprise
starter in tonight's unscheduled pick-up game against West Hernando's
second place Marlins. He was nervous in his first appearance but maintained his usual stoic exterior and finished strong. He had a fine two-inning effort on the mound and
earned the win in the 9-4 contest. Bobby allowed just one run on two hits with NO walks
and three strike outs, throwing just 33 pitches. All three strikeouts
came in the second inning against the only three batters he faced.
Though the game didn't count in the standings for either team the win
was only the second this season for the Hudson majors Yankees that was
not credited to their AAU ace Sean."

Finally, Dennis, I have to mention this: his coaches were strangely giddy after the game and even said Bobby would be henceforth in the team pitching rotation. I'll believe that when I see it of course.

I thought you'd like to know. Thanks for your time,consideration, and advice.  

Answer
Hey Alan,

Sorry I didn't get back to you sooner.. I have a ton of questions to answer and I haven't been on the computer much this week..
I was so glad to hear from you and hear how much better things are going.. I hope that I helped you in your decision.. I am tickled to hear that the conversation did not go south and you got your point across..
This is great news...
It sounds like a new beginning for both of you.. Your pitching regime sound like it was right on, to me, also...
Keep up the good work, dad....and do what your heart says..
Keep in touch.. and Good Luck..
Dennis