All-star/TOC manager/coach selection

[TexAg]

Baseball Fever Experts,

Received the following email and looking for some advice on how to respond:

"Managers and Coaches,

This is a reminder that if you are interested in a post season manager position you need to emaill your interest to the ELL Hotmail account by May 25 (Friday) at 11:59 PM."

Obviously, I'd love the chance to help out with the TOC team, but don't want to come off as presumptuous, especially since I'm not sure SOCOM Jr will even make the team. I was considering responding that "I'd love to help coach the Minor TOC team if my son, SOCOM Jr, is fortunate enough to be selected." But don't want to sound as though I'm only doing it so that SOCOM Jr gets selected. How do you think I should respond? Thanks.

Some background:

SOCOM Jr is a 9u playing in 9/10 age group after playing as an 8u and being selected for the 7/8 TOC team last year in his first year playing. I was asked to help coach a team, basically to get SOCOM Jr on this manager's team, and during assessments he was unanimously assessed as a "1st rounder" taking away our team's 1st round pick (only 9u player given 1st round grade). He's had arm issues and hasn't pitched much, but still played the best SS I saw all season and hit really well, but I'm not sure if he played "as a 1st rounder," but I'm typically more critical of him than others. I don't play the backroom political games either, which makes me think he might not make it, even though I feel he deserves it.

Any comments are greatly appreciated.

[TexAg]

Oh, and to further complicate the issue, the Information Officer for the LL who would receive the email has a 9u son on our team that has caused drama thinking he was shafted last year by not being selected for the 7/8 TOC team (directed at players other than SOCOM Jr)....if that even makes any sense.

[real green]

Our league sends the league champion to TOC. It's not an All Star team. Interesting, I just assumed thats how all the leagues do it. Are you saying your TOC team is your All Star team?

As far as All Star coaches, that's a huge commitment. There is no problem stating that you would like to be considered for coaching "if" your son is selected.

"I'd love to be considered for coaching the Minor TOC team if my son, SOCOM Jr, is fortunate enough to be selected."

Good luck,

[Standballdad]

Our league sends the league champion to TOC. It's not an All Star team. Interesting, I just assumed thats how all the leagues do it. Are you saying your TOC team is your All Star team?

As far as All Star coaches, that's a huge commitment. There is no problem stating that you would like to be considered for coaching "if" your son is selected.

"I'd love to be considered for coaching the Minor TOC team if my son, SOCOM Jr, is fortunate enough to be selected."

Good luck,

Was thinking the same thing. TOC is usually the league champ. Are you sure you did not mean All Stars, if so usually the selected All Star Manager chooses his own coaching staff, could be his current team coaches or could go and recruit from a different team.

[Jake Patterson]

Baseball Fever Experts,

Received the following email and looking for some advice on how to respond:

"Managers and Coaches,

This is a reminder that if you are interested in a post season manager position you need to emaill your interest to the ELL Hotmail account by May 25 (Friday) at 11:59 PM."

Obviously, I'd love the chance to help out with the TOC team, but don't want to come off as presumptuous, especially since I'm not sure SOCOM Jr will even make the team. I was considering responding that "I'd love to help coach the Minor TOC team if my son, SOCOM Jr, is fortunate enough to be selected." But don't want to sound as though I'm only doing it so that SOCOM Jr gets selected. How do you think I should respond? Thanks.

Some background:

SOCOM Jr is a 9u playing in 9/10 age group after playing as an 8u and being selected for the 7/8 TOC team last year in his first year playing. I was asked to help coach a team, basically to get SOCOM Jr on this manager's team, and during assessments he was unanimously assessed as a "1st rounder" taking away our team's 1st round pick (only 9u player given 1st round grade). He's had arm issues and hasn't pitched much, but still played the best SS I saw all season and hit really well, but I'm not sure if he played "as a 1st rounder," but I'm typically more critical of him than others. I don't play the backroom political games either, which makes me think he might not make it, even though I feel he deserves it.

Any comments are greatly appreciated.

I don't see a problem with the way in which you plan to reply...

[mudvnine]

Received the following email and looking for some advice on how to respond:

"Managers and Coaches,

This is a reminder that if you are interested in a post season manager position you need to emaill your interest to the ELL Hotmail account by May 25 (Friday) at 11:59 PM."

In the league I used to coach in when my kids were younger, a letter like that was always sent out, but merely as a formality....the All-Star coaches were already pretty much determined by the first half of the season, if they hadn't already been selected even before the season started.

Obviously, I'd love the chance to help out with the TOC team, but don't want to come off as presumptuous, especially since I'm not sure SOCOM Jr will even make the team. I was considering responding that "I'd love to help coach the Minor TOC team if my son, SOCOM Jr, is fortunate enough to be selected." But don't want to sound as though I'm only doing it so that SOCOM Jr gets selected. How do you think I should respond? Thanks.

What has the manager of the team (or the other managers/coaches in the division) discussed with you about post season play already. As I mentioned above, I wouldn't be surprised if the coaches haven't already been selected.

Some background:

SOCOM Jr is a 9u playing in 9/10 age group after playing as an 8u and being selected for the 7/8 TOC team last year in his first year playing. I was asked to help coach a team, basically to get SOCOM Jr on this manager's team, and during assessments he was unanimously assessed as a "1st rounder" taking away our team's 1st round pick (only 9u player given 1st round grade). He's had arm issues and hasn't pitched much, but still played the best SS I saw all season and hit really well, but I'm not sure if he played "as a 1st rounder," but I'm typically more critical of him than others. I don't play the backroom political games either, which makes me think he might not make it, even though I feel he deserves it.

Unfortunately, this is not really a good barometer of a "coach's kid's talent" , as it's merely one of the "strategies" that gets played out year after year, once managers and coaches figure out who's teaming up with whom, and draft "valuable" picks are at stake.

Not implying that your son is not talented, but rather that having been around the youth game for many many years, after awhile, you see it all and simply shake your head at all of the nonsense that gets played out.

For instance, I coached a young player when he was 10, and did everything in my power to deservedly get him on the All-star team, but being that it only my second season in that league, I didn't have the "political" clout to accomplish that. Now the next season, when he moved up to a division (11/12) and his dad volunteered to be an assistant coach with one of the other dads who had a couple of good sons as ball players also on the team...this same kid was now suddenly a "1st rounder", a distinction typical reserved for all of the All-Star kids, or some kids new to the league who tried out very well (or whose dads volunteered to coach).

So this young man had another great season (I stayed down in the lower division coaching my younger son), and again he didn't make the all-star.....didn't even make the "B" team for that matter. Well, the following season, his dad and the other coach decided to again coach together, and again, lost their #1 and #2 round draft selections because of their sons....and once again, this young man failed to be selected for an all-star team, even with me threatening to pull all of my team's eligible kids....yeah, I know, pointless and childish, but I couldn't select him to my all-star team, as I had the 11 y/o team, and he was 12), but pretty darn frustrating nonetheless.

Anyway, after that, his father pulled him from the league, and found a very good TB team in the area that was more than happy to have him.

This year, he's a senior in HS, and although he didn't play for his HS (but rather elected to play in a "D1" wood bat league with numerous other top-ranked HS player on his team), he received a 67% scholarship (very few kids are ever offered 100%) to an outstanding D1 university (that had seven of it's players drafted last year), and is listed on one website in the Top 10 of all (HS, college, and international) 2nd baseman, eligible for this coming June's draft.....but he was never "good enough" to make the all-star team in our league.....go figure.

He still hits with me two to three times a week, and on occasion brings that whole mess up, and uses it as a motivational thing....as he wants to get drafted, as his way of telling all of those "baseball dads" to "F-off".

I only share this to show how ridiculous, dishonest, political, and cut-throat youth baseball has become over the years. And why I say that if you haven't been contacted to coach already, I'd be surprised if letting them know you're interested will matter or not. Although, your league maybe completely different from what ours was, and maybe writing the letter is the first step, or can't hurt.

Heck, if they do select you, and your son doesn't make the team, I'm sure they'd understand, and there'd be more than one coach ready and willing to step in. In all my experiences as an all-star manager, finding an assist coach was the least of my worries (we actually chose our own coaches, and they weren't always my season assist coaches).

In fact, I was very happy that the PONY baseball organization only allowed a manager, two coaches, and a "business manager" in the dugout during play, and they made the tournament locations enclose the dugouts....made is a whole lot easier keeping attentions focused on the field, and not on all of the other "coaches".

[azmatsfan]

If you believe your son is good enough to make the team, then I'd just state that you'd like to be considered without any additional comment. Also, how does your league choose the team. In our Little League for the 9/10 and 10/11 teams the manager makes the selections.

And I was in a similar situation. I considered applying to be the 9/10 All-Star manager, but depending on who all tries out my 9-year-old would be either one of the last players chosen, or one of the first to be left off. When I heard a good coach with a definite 10-year-old All-Star applied I decided not to apply. I'll probably put my name in next year for 9/10s instead.

[TexAg]

TOC is usually the league champ. Are you sure you did not mean All Stars, if so usually the selected All Star Manager chooses his own coaching staff

TOC players are selected from all teams, same as All-Stars, which don't start until 10u. Last year he was on the 7/8 TOC team and is eligible for the Minor TOC team this year, which is made up from the non-All-Star 10's and 9's. You're right about the manager choosing their own staff (and I'm sure about the manager already being selected also). I clarified with SOCOM Jr's manager and the email was sent out in error.

Unfortunately, this is not really a good barometer of a "coach's kid's talent" , as it's merely one of the "strategies" that gets played out year after year, once managers and coaches figure out who's teaming up with whom, and draft "valuable" picks are at stake.

Not implying that your son is not talented, but rather that having been around the youth game for many many years, after awhile, you see it all and simply shake your head at all of the nonsense that gets played out.

I think you just hit the nail on the head. This was actually my first year coaching, with much hesitation at that, so I'm still pretty new to the whole process. Unfortunately, I was duped last year by SOCOM Jr's ability to advance/excel on his own merits, without me working any political games and despite others doing it, which I'm now even more proud of. It sucks because this was also his last year playing in this league because we'll be moving again in January, though after talking with the manager last night, don't know if I'd be willing to play in this league again anyway due to the "undue influence" of certain people and just moving away from LL and focusing on TB that he enjoys more.

Thanks to all the replys, I knew I could count on the fever experts.

[real green]

A couple things about "Daddy ball."

I agree 100% that certain Dad's have influence on the selection process of All Stars , positions, and what not. Is there anything wrong with this practice? The dad's that sit on the sidelines and complain about it without ever picking up a finger to help at practice, post/pre game field prep, and etc... Compared to the dad's that bust their backside to help the league run so all the other kids can play create advantages for their kids. It's the same in life.

The "dad's" kid usually can hold their own because more than likely they have been hitting/throwing balls at their kids for years. So yeah, the first 6 spots of All Stars are a slam dunk that a blind man could pick. The bubble spots is where you see the dad's influence on the league. If you have a bubble kid and are not active in your league than more than likely he is not going to make the cut.

This isn't just little league. I have seen it at quality High Schools, and National ranked JC's. It's called boosters, donations to the field. A new donated batting cage etc.... Not that these kids get a free pass, but they will get second and third chances to prove themselves on the field.

This also happens in proball. The players drafted out of High School with a fat little signing bonus will have every chance to succeed. Compared to the kid that got picked up after his senior year in college who can't find any playing time. Even though the college kid is playing 10 times better than the HS kid.

Call it what you want but that's pretty much life.

[Standballdad]

A couple things about "Daddy ball."

I agree 100% that certain Dad's have influence on the selection process of All Stars , positions, and what not. Is there anything wrong with this practice? The dad's that sit on the sidelines and complain about it without ever picking up a finger to help at practice, post/pre game field prep, and etc... Compared to the dad's that bust their backside to help the league run so all the other kids can play create advantages for their kids. It's the same in life.

The "dad's" kid usually can hold their own because more than likely they have been hitting/throwing balls at their kids for years. So yeah, the first 6 spots of All Stars are a slam dunk that a blind man could pick. The bubble spots is where you see the dad's influence on the league. If you have a bubble kid and are not active in your league than more than likely he is not going to make the cut.

This isn't just little league. I have seen it at quality High Schools, and National ranked JC's. It's called boosters, donations to the field. A new donated batting cage etc.... Not that these kids get a free pass, but they will get second and third chances to prove themselves on the field.

This also happens in proball. The players drafted out of High School with a fat little signing bonus will have every chance to succeed. Compared to the kid that got picked up after his senior year in college who can't find any playing time. Even though the college kid is playing 10 times better than the HS kid.

Call it what you want but that's pretty much life.

I will throw this out there as well. The coaches/mangers kids are usually the better players 90% of the time. Usually because they also played some ball growing up (genetics) and they tend to spend more time with there own kids on developing and refining the skills. Of course there are exceptions to every rule, but in general this is what I have observed in my 17 years of coaching youth baseball.

[CircleChange11]

Consider a form of a resume.

You are informing them of what you CAN DO FOR the TOC team.

Why would having you as a coach be the good thing for the players?

I put in to coach our all-star team as well.

Here's what I listed:

1. Teaching/Education/Coaching background
2. Coached the 9yo AS team last year (Won two tournaments).
3. Back-to-back League championships.
4. Can and am willing to practice daily (schedule permits)

I leave out anything that has to do with my kid as player. If he breaks his arm and can't play, I'd still love to coach the AS team. The AS team is pretty much the travel team (which I also coach), but I did not list that because I do not think the TB team should by default be the AS team.

[TexAg]

A couple things about "Daddy ball."

I agree 100% that certain Dad's have influence on the selection process of All Stars , positions, and what not. Is there anything wrong with this practice? The dad's that sit on the sidelines and complain about it without ever picking up a finger to help at practice, post/pre game field prep, and etc... Compared to the dad's that bust their backside to help the league run so all the other kids can play create advantages for their kids. It's the same in life.

The "dad's" kid usually can hold their own because more than likely they have been hitting/throwing balls at their kids for years. So yeah, the first 6 spots of All Stars are a slam dunk that a blind man could pick. The bubble spots is where you see the dad's influence on the league. If you have a bubble kid and are not active in your league than more than likely he is not going to make the cut.

Not sure if this was directed at me or not, but it kind of struck a nerve so I'm going to respond. I actually agree 100% that parent involvement in the league should factor in. It's a 100% volunteer organization and without that support, there isn't a league. However, I am coaching and my wife coordinated our very elaborate (at least in my point of view from what I remember as a kid) opening day ceremonies in our second year in the league. Unfortunately, my job isn't a typical 9-5 and I can't commit to much more than asst coach. This is our last year here because we are moving again in January (anybody know of good 10u travel teams around Monterey, CA?).

With all that said, this isn't "Daddy ball" that I'm talking about. This is the board's President and Minor A Division Rep's child that didn't even play half the season, not because she was injured, but because she was playing in a different softball league, that they waived the league's minimal playing time requirement so that she was eligible for TOC selection....and she's not even mediocre. I'm objective enough that I can accept when SOCOM Jr isn't good enough to be selected because the players selected deserved it more, not what I described above though.

[Roothog66]

Consider a form of a resume.

You are informing them of what you CAN DO FOR the TOC team.

Why would having you as a coach be the good thing for the players?

I put in to coach our all-star team as well.

Here's what I listed:

1. Teaching/Education/Coaching background
2. Coached the 9yo AS team last year (Won two tournaments).
3. Back-to-back League championships.
4. Can and am willing to practice daily (schedule permits)

I leave out anything that has to do with my kid as player. If he breaks his arm and can't play, I'd still love to coach the AS team. The AS team is pretty much the travel team (which I also coach), but I did not list that because I do not think the TB team should by default be the AS team.

This was one of the political things that drove me out of LL when my kid was just 8yo. The travel team was the All Star team. They held discussions and even had tryouts for the last three spots, yet every year, at every level, the town's travel teams stayed intact. Most years nine of the twelve deserved to be there, but the bottom three were usually clearly outclassed, yet got the nod. To be clear, this wasn't sour grapes. I was president of the league and my kid was one of the travel/All-Star players, but I still found it disgusting at times. I couldn't persuade any of the AS coaches to change. At the end of the 8yo year, I took my kid off of the travel team and All Star team, took nine other kids who had been passed over and put together my first travel team that summer. We won state and beat the "All-Star" team the only two times we faced them in tournaments, once by run rule. Needless to say, my tenure as president of the league came to an abrupt end.

[real green]

With all that said, this isn't "Daddy ball" that I'm talking about. This is the board's President and Minor A Division Rep's child that didn't even play half the season, not because she was injured, but because she was playing in a different softball league, that they waived the league's minimal playing time requirement so that she was eligible for TOC selection....and she's not even mediocre. I'm objective enough that I can accept when SOCOM Jr isn't good enough to be selected because the players selected deserved it more, not what I described above though.

If you looked up in a dictionary the definition of Daddy Ball you might find your exact scenario. That is Daddy Ball 101.

It wasn't directed to you. It is just a statement regarding the selection process of these leagues commonly come down to Daddy Ball. The selection is not solely based on game performance. I don't know your league make up, but it is the same story every where. "Can you believe the board made an exception for his kid to play. The kid is not even that good. Little John should have made that team he is a much better player." blah blah blah.... But Little John's parents, drop him off at practice and pick him up late half the time. Making the coach spend an extra 15 minutes waiting. Little John is good, and the dad stands at the fence all game second guessing the coaches decissions barking at his son to do this or do that. Little John's dad claims he is to busy at work to help with fields or what not. Than Little John's dad wonder's why a board members less talented kid makes the cut over his kid.

Our board members spend 100's of hours a year to organize and run the league. Their kids are going to get exceptions and I don't have a problem with it. It amazes me when I hear the rumor mill grinding out their decissions.

[TexAg]

Fair enough. I'm guessing it's still my lack of experience in the world of youth baseball. It's ironic that last year all I heard about was the drama that came with TB (and I see it or hear about it with certain kids/parents and teams), but in my limited experience, LL has been WAY more dramatic than our TB team.