All-Star nominations: How do I make it fair?

[jbolt_2000]

OK - so it looks like in our division of Little League (9-10y/o) we will have two All-Star teams after the season is over. An 'A' and a B' team. I will be nominating a total of 6 players from my team to tryout for either squad.

I have a solid 3 that I know will make the 'A' team and one more that I know will make the 'B' team. Thats four total nominations and I have two left over. I have four more players that I think are worthy of being nominated and I am confident that anyone of them can make the 'B' team if they have a good tryout.

My problem is that there are only two more slots left over and four possibilities, with one of those possibilities being my son. I want to make sure that I nominate the right kids but I do not want to look like I am favoring my son because "Dad is the coach". If I go strickly off of numbers then my son has them beat on defense, but is not so good in the hitting average (most people only really look at how good the kid hits, too). If I go off of heart and effort, then my son and one other are definite noms in my book.

So my question is, how should I nominate the last two players? Should I go off of just stats or a mix of stats and effort? Of course I want my son to make the team, but I also want to make sure that he has truly earned it and that I am not just giving it to him.

One more thing - I will be coaching the All-Star 'B' team so I will be deciding who makes the team.

[joeR]

I can say in our league every coach father nominated their own son and all but one made the team. The kids still have to make the team even after being nominated. If you cannot make the decision, have your assistant coaches, parents, or kids vote for the spots.

[jbolt_2000]

I can say in our league every coach father nominated their own son and all but one made the team. The kids still have to make the team even after being nominated. If you cannot make the decision, have your assistant coaches, parents, or kids vote for the spots.

I am in fact contemplating just letting the kids choose anonymously and then I just nominate the top 6 that have the most votes.

I've talked to my assistant coach too and he thinks that the last two picks should go to players that may not have a great chance of making the team but have the opportunity to tryout, just to say they at least made the nominations. This way we still get the 3-4 kids in there that earned it and then let a few others feel good about themselves for being nominated.

I'm still not sure though.

[Newyouthcoach]

I would let either the team members vote, or I would have the coaching staff pick. Speaking from my own experience as an assistant coach, I am facing the struggle of the "coach's kid". You would definately gave respect with everyone on the team, if you abstained from voting. Just my $0.02.

[CoachHenry]

I am in fact contemplating just letting the kids choose anonymously and then I just nominate the top 6 that have the most votes.

No. That can turn into a popularity contest and kids (like adults) have a problem with perception versus reality on abilities.

Once when I didn't have a clear view of my top five (like you the last spot was up for grabs) I did hand out ballots to the parents and told them that would carry a "certain amount of weight" versus what the coaches voted.

[FiveFrameSwing]

Doesn't sound like that big of an issue.

You claim that you ... "do not want to look like I am favoring my son because Dad is the coach".

You also claim that your son doesn't have that good of a batting average relative to the rest of the team.

Simple solution is not to subsidize you son's weak offensive performance.

Not only will you be sending your son the correct message that his performance governs his success, but you will gain kudos from everyone else.

Before you critize me for this advice, let me tell you that I have managed select summer teams in which I didn't select my kid. In the end, you do what is right and you can sleep well at night.

[TG Coach]

Stats in small numbers are very misleading. A lucky hitter (dink shots that fall) will appear to be better than an unlucky hitter (line drives right at fielders). Nominate the kids you believe will perform the best against quality competition. Don't screw your son to appear to be fair. If it's a tossup nominate your son for all the time you've put into the program. If your son becomes a tossup to make the B team, take him after asking other potential coaches their opinion. Do not select your son over a better candidate.

[digglahhh]

No. That can turn into a popularity contest and kids (like adults) have a problem with perception versus reality on abilities.

When I was a kid, that's how our teams usually did it. I actually think it usually worked out well. The anonymity of it mitigated the popularity contest to a large degree. Plus, it only really mattered at the margin, a point in which any decision is going to be largely subjective.


I assume you've asked all the kids if they are interested in playing, some kids go away for the summer, etc. That might make the decision for you.

I also think that nepotism is actually defensible to a degree. If your kid has a legit claim, though no more legit than another few, it is fine to take him and not worry about it. You are volunteering your(limited leisure) time, you are devoting your energy it's only right your kid benefit from that, again, as long as it's a pick 'em situation.

[baseballdad]

Do any leagues do a tiered selection process where the better teams from the season's standings would provide more players than lower teams?

[CoachHenry]

Stats in small numbers are very misleading. A lucky hitter (dink shots that fall) will appear to be better than an unlucky hitter (line drives right at fielders). Nominate the kids you believe will perform the best against quality competition. Don't screw your son to appear to be fair. If it's a tossup nominate your son for all the time you've put into the program. If your son becomes a tossup to make the B team, take him after asking other potential coaches their opinion. Do not select your son over a better candidate.

I agree with this. Your time and effort becomes the tie-breaker. Rank has privileges, when used correctly.

[jbolt_2000]

Do any leagues do a tiered selection process where the better teams from the season's standings would provide more players than lower teams?

Not our league. We all nominate 6 players this year, but they all have to tryout. So the potential is there that only one kid from Team #1 goes to all-stars and all 6 from Team #2 go to all-stars. All depends on the tryouts and the coache's making the selections.

[CoachHenry]

Not our league. We all nominate 6 players this year, but they all have to tryout. So the potential is there that only one kid from Team #1 goes to all-stars and all 6 from Team #2 go to all-stars. All depends on the tryouts and the coache's making the selections.

This is how our rec leagues do it as well.

[jbolt_2000]

Originally Posted by TG Coach
Stats in small numbers are very misleading. A lucky hitter (dink shots that fall) will appear to be better than an unlucky hitter (line drives right at fielders). Nominate the kids you believe will perform the best against quality competition. Don't screw your son to appear to be fair. If it's a tossup nominate your son for all the time you've put into the program. If your son becomes a tossup to make the B team, take him after asking other potential coaches their opinion. Do not select your son over a better candidate.

I agree with this. Your time and effort becomes the tie-breaker. Rank has privileges, when used correctly.

So, just to get it straight - the fact that I put in all the time to coach warrants me to select my own child (as long as it is a close selection, or tie-breaker)? Just want to make sure I'm understanding this correctly.

[hawkiirock]

tough position. If you are coaching and picking the players on the B team then i think you should take your son if he is a tossup with the other B players on the team.


I wouldn't let the kids vote. Or you could ask a couple of coaches to watch a tryout amongst your B options. Let the parents know there are 2 spots available and you are holding a tryout for those 2 spots b/c it is so close

[CoachHenry]

So, just to get it straight - the fact that I put in all the time to coach warrants me to select my own child (as long as it is a close selection, or tie-breaker)? Just want to make sure I'm understanding this correctly.

As a tie-breaker only. That may sound like it's daddy-ball but it's reality. The other side of the coin, which I have done, is to NOT send your (my) kid BECAUSE he was my son. That's punishing your (my) kid because he is your son. Which way do you go? Tough call but I will re-phrase what I said to you a bit.... I would not HOLD IT AGAINST YOU if you broke the tie by sending your son because of all the time and effort you put into the team.

Sounds crappy and I suppose on some level it is, but the tie must be broke. I would first consider allowing your parents and other coaches to vote but if there is still a tie, then you must resolve it somehow.

Some of our coaches don't even tell the parents that selections were made unless their child is picked. Stops the endless line of "why wasn't my son/daughter .....". Sometimes a very valid question, most times not.