Why girls leave teams.

Why do girls leave one softball team for another?

The reasons vary. It could be the parents' choice. It could be the player's choice. It could be the existing coach's choice. Let's explore them with more thought provocation.

Reason #1: Parents' Choice
This is a tough one. For whatever reason, the parents have an issue with the team. The dues can be too much. The position of the organization can be a conflict. They don't get along with the coach/coaching staff. They feel like their girl isn't getting enough play time. They don't like the coaching style. They don't like a girl(s) on the team. So the parents pull them off and put them into another team where one or many of the items listed above are resolved.

Reason #2: Player's Choice
Many times a player can be coaxed out of deciding to leave a team, but still, her reasons may be warranted. She doesn't like the coaching style (might be too lax or too tough). She doesn't get along with another player/players on the team. She feels like she isn't getting a lot of play time. She doesn't want to play softball at all anymore. She wants to go to the other team that has all her BFFs on it. So she asks her parents if she could leave the team.

Reason #3: Coach's Choice
The athlete is not performing up to whatever standards were given at the get-go and Coach deems it necessary to relieve the player of her teamly duties. It's a tough job, but it has to be done. 

No matter which reason, it is tough on all players when a girl leaves. Heck, it may even be hard on the parents too, depending on which reason it is for the girl leaving. The dynamics might be awesome, but one thing wasn't working and it couldn't be resolved. 

What's harder is how you position the news to a team. You tell them that so and so is no longer with the team, and leave it at that? Or do you give them a quick pep talk to assure them that the team is still strong and will continue to play at a high level, even without their friend?

I'd like to hear some thoughts about this subject. What percentage of girls who leave teams leave because it's their parents' choice? How many leave because it it their own choice? And how many leave because they are asked to?

I think the greater message here is that even if your friend decides to leave your team for another, it's ok to still be friends with her. You never know where your paths will take you throughout your softball career. You might eventually be on the same team again. You might rejoin each other in high school to play. Heck, you might even play Division I college ball together! Just like in the workplace, it's never good to burn bridges. Leave with grace and on good terms so there is always an open door to come back if it doesn't work out at the new place. And keep your teammates as friends because you never know who you might be playing with in the next stage of your softball career.