Daughter made varsity but isnt being played

Question
QUESTION: Our daughter is in the 11th grade, it's a new high school and new coach.  There aren't any seniors in this school.  

Our daughter has played for several years but this year made varsity last year she was jv at a different high school

Our question is this, there have now been 5 games, the team has lost every game and really bad, the other team usually at least doubles their score.

Our daughter isn't being played.  The most she has went in has been the last 2 minutes of the game.  One time it was the last 30 seconds.  If she gets called in at all it's at the very end.  She is a point guard.  She asked her coach how she could get more time playing and the coach said for her to practice her ball handling more...then turned around and said she would never have selected her for varsity if she didn't plan on playing her...then she said she tried to match (our daughter) up to the other team, which doesn't make any sense, since she never plays her.  They keep their sweat shirts on if they don't play during the game, she always has it on thru-out the first and second half, she is always the only player with it still on during the second half.  She has become very embarassed by this whole thing.  Other parents have asked us if she is being ...singled out.

What should we do?  We don't want to upset the coach make matters worse for our daughter.







ANSWER: HI Regina,

It sounds like the coach isn't very experienced. Maybe your daughter should go back down to JV where she might get more playing time. The coach didn't really answer the question as to why she isn't getting more playing time. If things don't change, maybe she should either transfer schools, or just quit the team. I'm not an advocate of quitting, because even if she isn't getting playing time, she still practices with the team and learns team unity. But she needs to tell the coach she is embarrassed. See what the coach says. Your daughter has to do what she feels is right.

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Thanks for your response, from what your response was, the coach's behavior isn't normal correct?  We weren't sure if that sort of thing was common.  It's not fair the coach lead her on thinking she will play her.  Why would a coach treat a team member like this, any ideas?

Answer
Actually it's more common than you think. Sometimes I don't know what goes on in some of these coach's minds. They put players on the team, and never play them. To me that's a waste. I wish I had a better idea other than talking to the coach again. At this point it becomes a personal decision for your daughter if she wants to stay on the team.