Middle school girls

Question
I am a parent of a middle school aged girl.  She started playing volleyball for the first time with a school coach.  I am very upset that the coach picked the best girls to play and my daughter gets to sit on the side and watch.  Even at PRACTICE she only watched.  Which sent my girl home in tears!  I am not a sportys person but I would hope with this age they would play to learn not just to win.  Once in high school then cut the girls that are not good.  Am I right or wrong?

Answer
Trish,

I really don't like to comment on another coaches philosophy.  So I will just tell you how I would probably do things.

If I  coached the team (in New York) I would make sure everyone who ever worked hard at practice, played.  At the same time I would not play someone who could not perform the basic skills.  If your daughter does not move for the ball or cannot pass (at all) it is not fair to the rest of the team for her to play.  Having said that, practice is how you learn to play, if I picked your daughter then I have an obligation to teach her how to play.

Believe it or not there are some coaches and sporting magazines that have already scouted and made notes on 10, 11 and 12 year olds.  So if I coached this team in one of the bigger volleyball states, like California, Texas or Illinois to name a few, and I was a feeder school to one of the big high schools I may only play the six or seven best.  Having said that, practice is how you learn to play, if I picked your daughter then I have an obligation to teach her how to play.

Good luck and I am sorry your daughter is not having a good experience.

Steve