Should High School Baseball Coaches Cut Players?

To cut, or not to cut? This age-old question plagues high school baseball coaches every season. On this episode of Baseball Coaches Unplugged, I, Coach Ken Carpenter, peel back the layers of this emotionally charged decision, exploring the pros and cons of roster management. You'll learn about the benefits of inclusivity and how keeping a full team can develop younger players, ensuring they have the time to fine-tune their skills. We also consider the strategic advantages of having a deep bench to account for unforeseen injuries or academic issues, and how it creates a competitive atmosphere that drives athletes to strive for greatness.

However, managing a large roster comes with its own set of challenges. Throughout our discussion, we confront the difficulties of balancing playing time and the frustration it can cause for those who feel sidelined. We tackle the tension between the need for individual coaching and the reality of being stretched too thin as a mentor. On the flip side, we tackle the tough reality of making cuts to streamline focus and enhance personalized coaching. Join me as we navigate these complexities, and gain insights into striking the delicate balance between inclusivity and effective team management.

Join the Baseball Coaches Unplugged podcast where an experienced baseball coach delves into the world of high school and travel baseball, offering insights on high school baseball coaching, leadership skills, hitting skills, pitching strategy, defensive skills, and overall baseball strategy, while also covering high school and college baseball, recruiting tips, youth and travel baseball, and fostering a winning mentality and attitude in baseball players through strong baseball leadership and mentality.

Transcript

Speaker 1: 0:01

Today on Baseball Coaches Unplugged the debate to cut or not cut high school baseball players. It's the hardest decision a coach can make.

Speaker 2: 0:13

Welcome to Baseball Coaches Unplugged with Coach Ken Carpenter, presented by Athlete One. Baseball Coaches Unplugged is a podcast for baseball coaches, with 27 years of high school baseball coaching under his belt, here to bring you the inside scoop on all things baseball, from game-winning strategies and pitching secrets to hitting drills and defensive drills. We're covering it all. Whether you're a high school coach, college coach or just a baseball enthusiast, we'll dive into the tactics and techniques that make the difference on and off the field. Discover how to build a winning mentality. Inspire your players and get them truly bought into your game philosophy Plus, get the latest insights on recruiting, coaching, leadership and crafting a team culture that champions productivity and success. Join Coach every week as he breaks down the game and shares incredible behind-the-scenes stories. Your competitive edge starts here, so check out the show weekly and hear from the best coaches in the game. On Baseball Coaches Unplugged.

Speaker 1: 1:11

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Speaker 1: 2:14

Hello and welcome to Baseball Coaches Unplugged. I'm your host, coach Ken Carpenter, and today we're going to tackle one of the most challenging and often emotional aspects of high school baseball deciding whether or not to cut a baseball player. Let's start by discussing the pros and cons of keeping all players and having a large roster versus cutting players who may see very little playing time. One of the advantages of keeping all players is that it fosters a sense of inclusivity and encourages participation in sports. Every player, regardless of their skill level, gets the opportunity to be part of a team and anytime you can be part of a team, it's going to benefit you the rest of your life. They get to learn the game and develop their skills. This approach can be particularly beneficial for younger or less experienced players who need more time to improve. Having that large roster can also provide depth to a team if you come across injuries. If you come across injuries, unforeseen circumstances, kids struggling with grades at school and if you have those numbers depleted, having additional players on the bench can ensure that you're always able to have enough to fill in environment and practice, which is a really positive thing, because when you got more than one guy competing for a position, it pushes the players to perform at their best and earn that spot.

Speaker 1: 3:53

However, there are also significant downsides to carrying a large roster. One of the biggest challenges is managing playing time. With a large roster, it can be difficult to give all players sufficient playing time during games. This can lead to frustration among players who feel they are not getting enough opportunities to showcase their talents. Additionally, a large roster can make it very challenging to provide individual attention to coaching each players. Coaches may find it hard to focus on developing the skills of every player when there are too many athletes to manage. And you also throw in the fact that if your team is flying up north and you're having to work inside of a gym, the challenges become even more. This can result in some players losing, not receiving the necessary guidance. They need to get better.

Speaker 1: 4:57

When you look at the pros to cutting a high school player, first off, you hate to do it. I don't know any coaches that enjoy doing something like this. But on the other hand, cutting players who may see very little playing time allows the coach to focus on a more manageable number of athletes. This can lead to more effective coaching and skill development and, as each player receives more individualized attention, it can also ensure that those who make the team are more likely to see playing time during the games, which can boost morale and motivate them. Cutting players also sets a high standard for the team. It communicates that the team is competitive and that only the best players will make the cut. This can drive players to work harder in the offseason, get better in the summertime and improve their skills to earn a spot on the varsity roster.

Speaker 1: 6:02

Downsides to cutting the players can have emotional and social consequences For the players who do not make the team. It can be a significant blow to their confidence and enthusiasm for the sport. It can also strain relationships with their peers and coaches and, additionally, the decision can have a ripple effect on the overall culture of the team, potentially fostering an environment of exclusion rather than inclusion. But when you have a situation where you have to cut players, you need to make it clear that the players that do make the team need to treat the players who don't make it with all the respect that they can give them.

Speaker 1: 6:46

Now let's consider Parents will react to these decisions. Parents are deeply invested in their children's athletic experience. Just look at the money that they dump into personal trainers and travel baseball, and their actions can vary widely. Keeping all players might be seen positively by the parents who value wanting their kids to have an opportunity to be part of a team wanting their kids to have an opportunity to be part of a team. However, parents of left-skilled players might voice their frustrations when their son is not receiving enough playing time, when they see a starter struggling ahead of them at the plate or on the mound and they think their son could be doing the same exact thing. On the flip side, releasing players can lead to difficult conversations with parents, who are disappointed and frustrated by the decision. It's essential for coaches to communicate clearly and transparently about the reasons behind their decisions and emphasize the importance of development and improvement. This communication needs to be crystal clear with the player and parent when a coach decides to keep a player when he knows his playing time will be limited. I've come across quite a few coaches who regret keeping a player midway through the season because they're unhappy, even though they knew up front that they may not see much playing time.

Speaker 1: 8:22

Finally, let's discuss freshman JV and varsity. The freshman JV, in my opinion, should be used for development, while the varsity team should focus on having the best players on the field. Freshmen and JV teams are crucial for development of young talent. These teams they provide a platform for younger players to gain valuable experience, improve their skills and build confidence. They also offer more playing time, which is essential for growth and development. By focusing on development at the freshman and JV levels, coaches can ensure that players are adequately prepared for the varsity competition. This approach allows for a clear progression path for the players, helping them to understand that hard work and improvement can lead to a spot on the varsity team.

Speaker 1: 9:21

On the varsity level, the focus clearly needs to be putting the best players on the field to compete at the highest level. This approach not only ensures team success, but also rewards those who have put in the effort to excel. It sets a standard of excellence and encourages young players to strive for improvement. I have never come across a coach who doesn't want to win and yes, they do play favorites. Ask any coach who his favorite player is. It's never based on who they are or where they live, but it's based on what they do to make the team better Work ethic, talent, good teammate, good student, great attitude on time. It goes on and on. It looks easy from the bleachers.

Speaker 1: 10:16

In conclusion, deciding whether to cut players who try out for your team is a very difficult, complex, emotional decision that requires careful consideration of both the pros and cons between the head coach and his assistants. Coaches must balance the need for inclusivity and development with a desire to field a competitive team. By using the freshman and JV teams for development and focusing on having the best players on the varsity, coaches can create a positive, effective baseball program that benefits all players. Baseball Coaches Unplugged is powered by the netting professionals, improving programs one facility at a time. Contact them today at 844-620-2707, or visit them online at wwwnettingproscom. As always, I'm your host, coach Ken Carpenter, and thanks for tuning in to Baseball Coaches Unplugged.