Summer League......coach is ignoring most teams, coaching one

Question
QUESTION: My daughter is on jv at our 5A high school.  The varsity coach has started a summer league.  We are excited... there are 7 teams from our town.  There are no coaches, except the varsity coach is coaching the varsity team from the sidelines, and cheering when they score on the other teams (jv, freshmen, etc)  Am I wrong to be concerned about how much coaching our girls will get?

ANSWER: Good evening Bonnie, and welcome to www.allexperts.com.  I've been on vacation for about a week......with my team in Miami.  If you have a chance, visit us at www.coachhouser.com, and see our smiling faces!

I have a lot of questions about your email.

a) You're excited, but you're also concerned?  Which are you, b/c I'm not usually excited about what I'm concerned about.  But I guess it's b/c I'm man. haha  
b) Only 7 teams.  Are they all of lesser abilities than the varsity team?  
c) Will all these girls go to the same high school?
d) And you are concerned that the varsity coach appears to be working with only 1 team, and the others are "adrift"?  

I can tell you that for most girls & coaches, summer league is just a way to touch more balls.  If your daughter's team knows how to pass/set/hit, and knows how to play w/o looking like a Chinese Firedrill, then they should be able to get through 5 or 6 weeks of this w/o any permanent harm done to their game.  One good camp will probably make up the difference.  

So, I wouldn't be too concerned. What does your daughter think?  If she's OK with it, then I'd forget it.  I disagree with the coach's decision -- especially since he's probably cheering while the stronger team annihilates the weaker ones.  I don't understand that.

Again, thanks for visiting!
When you answer my questions, I can better give you my opinion.
Tom



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

QUESTION: Excited that our school is getting involved with sports for the girls (we have 3, ages 15,13,11).  The volleyball coach is new and trying to get the girls competitive.  The varsity team only won 2 games last season.  I understand the play time can only help them.  There are @ 15 teams from surrounding towns, 7 from our school.  The coach split our girls up on the teams she expects for next year.  And yes, my daughter is ok with it.  She says that the varsity is the coaches team.  I'm just a believer in coaching all the athletes that put out the effort and show the love of the game.  I know....old school!  Thanks for your perspective.

Answer
Gotcha!

Yes, I would be slightly concerned, but it's the concern I'd have when my daughter makes a 95 on a math test, rather than a 98.  I'm really happy either say.  

Now, if this continues, we have another issue. If it continues at an out-of-town camps?  Unacceptable.  If your daughter makes the JV team, and her team has to practice with varsity, and the coach spends all the time helping the varsity while the JV's are just "practice dummies," then that's unacceptable.  I would go to the A.D. (or the school board) and say, "We don't teach Algebra and Biology in one classroom with one teacher who teaches to one group, yet ignores the other!?!?! So why are you doing it to our athletes?  This is unacceptable!"  

My wife & I are leaving for Wintergreen Resort in a few hours, to spend a weekend out of town.  I didn't say relaxing, b/c she's a college prof. who's taking 2 graduate classes while teaching summer school, and I have 4 camps the next 4 weeks.......haha.......so we'll just be working in a different environment!  :)  

Email me anytime I can be of help at [email protected]!  I hope you have a great weekend.
Coach Houser