Post by Admin on Dec 13, 2012 22:08:59 GMT -5
How to Leave Gracefully
If you want to be treated with class, act with class
You've made the decision and you know you are going to leave the team your daughter is currently with. There are right and wrong ways to do this. Doing it the right way can mean that you will have friends and colleagues on many different teams who respect you and your daughter. It also means a chance to come back if things don't work out. Doing it the wrong way can mean a reputation that will never leave you and will harm your daughter's chances of playing with good teams.
Step One: Why do you want to leave?
This is the first question to ask. Why do you want to leave? There are many reasons that can cause a player to leave. Some common ones are lack of playing time, poor team performance, coaching problems, problems with the other girls or parents, different goals of team and player, etc. As girls move toward recruiting age, they often leave for a showcase schedule that is better or with higher visibility.
What ever the reason is, make sure you and your daughter agree that leaving is the best thing. Also, make sure that before you leave you have an idea of where you will go. Make sure that situation will truly be better. If you are looking for more playing time, make sure that is what you will get. Many managers will promise you anything to get you on the team, only to break those promises later.
Step Two: Communicate at the Correct Time.
Once you know you are leaving, communicate with the manager and coaches. Let them know that you will trying out for other teams. Also, if they ask, give them the reasons. Try to be factual in your reasons and not emotional. Like they say, " Just the facts, ma'am." Don't bring out every emotional issue that you had with the coach or team. Don't accuse. Also, don't tell everyone else on the team you are leaving before the coach. That is a recipe for disaster.
Of course, wait until all big tournaments are over. It is not a good idea to tell everyone at the National Championships that you are leaving. It just upsets the kids and can make life a living hell for you. If you must tell them early in the season, do it early enough so that all emotional issues are over by the time big championship play occurs.
Step Three: Keep your problems between you and the Coach.
Once you leave, people will ask you why. Don't badmouth your old team far and wide. First, it just makes you look bad. Think about it , if you are a manager, do you want a kid and parent on your team who is so negative? Any manager has got to think, "What will they say about us?"
Softball is a small community. It doesn't take long for news to get around. If your team had problems, people will already know. You don't need to be the one identified as "the source."
Step Four: Make sure you communicate your thanks to your old team.
Once you have left and are happily playing with your new team, write your old team a "thank you" note. After all, there were some good things that happened with that team that you should be thankful for. Focus on the positive. It will make a world of difference.
Step Five: Return all uniforms as requested.
If you did not purchase your daughter's uniform, give it back. To keep something that belongs to the team is not only dishonest, but hurts other girls who may want to play for that team.
Step Six: When it's over, it's over.
Don't carry a grudge. You are going to play this team next season. Try not to make it a "grudge" match. Remember, it's just softball!
www.softballmom.org/index.html
If you want to be treated with class, act with class
You've made the decision and you know you are going to leave the team your daughter is currently with. There are right and wrong ways to do this. Doing it the right way can mean that you will have friends and colleagues on many different teams who respect you and your daughter. It also means a chance to come back if things don't work out. Doing it the wrong way can mean a reputation that will never leave you and will harm your daughter's chances of playing with good teams.
Step One: Why do you want to leave?
This is the first question to ask. Why do you want to leave? There are many reasons that can cause a player to leave. Some common ones are lack of playing time, poor team performance, coaching problems, problems with the other girls or parents, different goals of team and player, etc. As girls move toward recruiting age, they often leave for a showcase schedule that is better or with higher visibility.
What ever the reason is, make sure you and your daughter agree that leaving is the best thing. Also, make sure that before you leave you have an idea of where you will go. Make sure that situation will truly be better. If you are looking for more playing time, make sure that is what you will get. Many managers will promise you anything to get you on the team, only to break those promises later.
Step Two: Communicate at the Correct Time.
Once you know you are leaving, communicate with the manager and coaches. Let them know that you will trying out for other teams. Also, if they ask, give them the reasons. Try to be factual in your reasons and not emotional. Like they say, " Just the facts, ma'am." Don't bring out every emotional issue that you had with the coach or team. Don't accuse. Also, don't tell everyone else on the team you are leaving before the coach. That is a recipe for disaster.
Of course, wait until all big tournaments are over. It is not a good idea to tell everyone at the National Championships that you are leaving. It just upsets the kids and can make life a living hell for you. If you must tell them early in the season, do it early enough so that all emotional issues are over by the time big championship play occurs.
Step Three: Keep your problems between you and the Coach.
Once you leave, people will ask you why. Don't badmouth your old team far and wide. First, it just makes you look bad. Think about it , if you are a manager, do you want a kid and parent on your team who is so negative? Any manager has got to think, "What will they say about us?"
Softball is a small community. It doesn't take long for news to get around. If your team had problems, people will already know. You don't need to be the one identified as "the source."
Step Four: Make sure you communicate your thanks to your old team.
Once you have left and are happily playing with your new team, write your old team a "thank you" note. After all, there were some good things that happened with that team that you should be thankful for. Focus on the positive. It will make a world of difference.
Step Five: Return all uniforms as requested.
If you did not purchase your daughter's uniform, give it back. To keep something that belongs to the team is not only dishonest, but hurts other girls who may want to play for that team.
Step Six: When it's over, it's over.
Don't carry a grudge. You are going to play this team next season. Try not to make it a "grudge" match. Remember, it's just softball!
www.softballmom.org/index.html