re: Youth Coaches - Cutting a Player

Let me share with you a parents perspective of a kid who was not asked to return. Maybe this will help you with how to handle the situation:

Background-
Our son played on the same travel team for 5 years. This team was competitive and these group of kids started playing travel ball together at age 6. Won 2 State Tournaments and many other tournaments. my son was mainly an OF and played very little infield over a span of 5 seasons.

Coach decided he wanted to "revamp" the team because he felt there were a few players holding the team back from doing bigger and better things.
So we got a call from coach telling us that our son was not going to be asked to play on the team and that he wanted to go in a different direction. Was I upset? yes. I was upset because some of the ones who were asked to remain on the team were no where near as good as our child. Yes I am biased, but I am also one of my sons worst critics. We parted as friends and stay in contact because his kids and mine are still good friends. No need to let egos get in the way right? Its all about the kids in my opinion.

So just be honest with the parents. Chances are they can and will find another team. Just make sure you have no doubts that they will not blossom into "ballers" because it will come back and bite you.

Our son "blossomed" (grew like a weed) and played mostly infield. He pitched and just this past season played primarily catcher (1st time ever) for the 7th grade school team (also played up on 8th grade team in Tournaments). His team won the County regular season, won the County Tournament and were crowned County Champs. He was selected to the All Tournament team and also earned All County Honors due to his play over the season. Yeah I'm bragging...only because the coach and his assistants who cut our son had kids who also played on this team. as youngsters, they were ballers but now weren't good enough to garner any awards. Really bursted their bubble. So as you can hopefully see...make sure on who you cut.