Should High School Baseball Coaches Cut Players?

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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.

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:01):
Today on Baseball Coaches Unplugged the debate to
cut or not cut high schoolbaseball players.
It's the hardest decision acoach can make.

Speaker 2 (00:13):
Welcome to Baseball Coaches Unplugged with Coach Ken
Carpenter, presented by AthleteOne.
Baseball Coaches Unplugged is apodcast for baseball coaches,
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(00:33):
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(00:53):
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Hello and welcome to BaseballCoaches Unplugged.

(02:17):
I'm your host, coach KenCarpenter, and today we're going
to tackle one of the mostchallenging and often emotional
aspects of high school baseballdeciding whether or not to cut a
baseball player.
Let's start by discussing thepros and cons of keeping all
players and having a largeroster versus cutting players

(02:38):
who may see very little playingtime.
One of the advantages ofkeeping all players is that it
fosters a sense of inclusivityand encourages participation in
sports.
Every player, regardless oftheir skill level, gets the
opportunity to be part of a teamand anytime you can be part of
a team, it's going to benefityou the rest of your life.

(03:01):
They get to learn the game anddevelop their skills.
This approach can beparticularly beneficial for
younger or less experiencedplayers who need more time to
improve.
Having that large roster canalso provide depth to a team if
you come across injuries.

(03:22):
If you come across injuries,unforeseen circumstances, kids
struggling with grades at schooland if you have those numbers
depleted, having additionalplayers on the bench can ensure

(03:42):
that you're always able to haveenough to fill in environment
and practice, which is a reallypositive thing, because when you
got more than one guy competingfor a position, it pushes the
players to perform at their bestand earn that spot.
However, there are alsosignificant downsides to
carrying a large roster.
One of the biggest challengesis managing playing time.

(04:05):
With a large roster, it can bedifficult to give all players
sufficient playing time duringgames.
This can lead to frustrationamong players who feel they are
not getting enough opportunitiesto showcase their talents.
Additionally, a large rostercan make it very challenging to

(04:25):
provide individual attention tocoaching each players.
Coaches may find it hard tofocus on developing the skills
of every player when there aretoo many athletes to manage.
And you also throw in the factthat if your team is flying up
north and you're having to workinside of a gym, the challenges

(04:48):
become even more.
This can result in some playerslosing, not receiving the
necessary guidance.
They need to get better.
When you look at the pros tocutting a high school player,
first off, you hate to do it.
I don't know any coaches thatenjoy doing something like this.
But on the other hand, cuttingplayers who may see very little

(05:11):
playing time allows the coach tofocus on a more manageable
number of athletes.
This can lead to more effectivecoaching and skill development
and, as each player receivesmore individualized attention,
it can also ensure that thosewho make the team are more

(05:31):
likely to see playing timeduring the games, which can
boost morale and motivate them.
Cutting players also sets ahigh standard for the team.
It communicates that the teamis competitive and that only the
best players will make the cut.
This can drive players to workharder in the offseason, get

(05:54):
better in the summertime andimprove their skills to earn a
spot on the varsity roster.
Downsides to cutting the playerscan have emotional and social
consequences For the players whodo not make the team.
It can be a significant blow totheir confidence and enthusiasm
for the sport.
It can also strainrelationships with their peers

(06:17):
and coaches and, additionally,the decision can have a ripple
effect on the overall culture ofthe team, potentially fostering
an environment of exclusionrather than inclusion.
But when you have a situationwhere you have to cut players,
you need to make it clear thatthe players that do make the

(06:38):
team need to treat the playerswho don't make it with all the
respect that they can give them.
Now let's consider Parents willreact to these decisions.
Parents are deeply invested intheir children's athletic
experience.
Just look at the money thatthey dump into personal trainers

(07:00):
and travel baseball, and theiractions can vary widely.
Keeping all players might beseen positively by the parents
who value wanting their kids tohave an opportunity to be part
of a team wanting their kids tohave an opportunity to be part
of a team.
However, parents ofleft-skilled players might voice

(07:21):
their frustrations when theirson is not receiving enough
playing time, when they see astarter struggling ahead of them
at the plate or on the moundand they think their son could
be doing the same exact thing.
On the flip side, releasingplayers can lead to difficult

(07:42):
conversations with parents, whoare disappointed and frustrated
by the decision.
It's essential for coaches tocommunicate clearly and
transparently about the reasonsbehind their decisions and
emphasize the importance ofdevelopment and improvement.
This communication needs to becrystal clear with the player

(08:03):
and parent when a coach decidesto keep a player when he knows
his playing time will be limited.
I've come across quite a fewcoaches who regret keeping a
player midway through the seasonbecause they're unhappy, even
though they knew up front thatthey may not see much playing
time.
Finally, let's discuss freshmanJV and varsity.

(08:27):
The freshman JV, in my opinion,should be used for development,
while the varsity team shouldfocus on having the best players
on the field.
Freshmen and JV teams arecrucial for development of young
talent.
These teams they provide aplatform for younger players to

(08:48):
gain valuable experience,improve their skills and build
confidence.
They also offer more playingtime, which is essential for
growth and development.
By focusing on development atthe freshman and JV levels,
coaches can ensure that playersare adequately prepared for the
varsity competition.
This approach allows for aclear progression path for the

(09:12):
players, helping them tounderstand that hard work and
improvement can lead to a spoton the varsity team.
On the varsity level, the focusclearly needs to be putting the
best players on the field tocompete at the highest level.
This approach not only ensuresteam success, but also rewards

(09:36):
those who have put in the effortto excel.
It sets a standard ofexcellence and encourages young
players to strive forimprovement.
I have never come across acoach who doesn't want to win
and yes, they do play favorites.
Ask any coach who his favoriteplayer is.
It's never based on who theyare or where they live, but it's

(10:01):
based on what they do to makethe team better Work ethic,
talent, good teammate, goodstudent, great attitude on time.
It goes on and on.
It looks easy from thebleachers.
In conclusion, deciding whetherto cut players who try out for
your team is a very difficult,complex, emotional decision that

(10:26):
requires careful considerationof both the pros and cons
between the head coach and hisassistants.
Coaches must balance the needfor inclusivity and development
with a desire to field acompetitive team.
By using the freshman and JVteams for development and

(10:48):
focusing on having the bestplayers on the varsity, coaches
can create a positive, effectivebaseball program that benefits
all players.
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Contact them today at844-620-2707, or visit them

(11:11):
online at wwwnettingproscom.
As always, I'm your host, coachKen Carpenter, and thanks for
tuning in to Baseball CoachesUnplugged.