A couple friends signed a roster and played on a team that turned out to be a bunch of drunken fools and jerks. They want to move off of that team an onto another team, but in true dirt bag fashion the original coach will not release them from his roster. He has even put out text to suggest he trying to block them from being able to play in SSUSA. Surely, there has to be a way to get away from this really bad person who happens to be the coach. What do you suggest for my friend? We've asked the coach several times and now he's just being vindictive and evil.

It doesn't seem reasonable that they can hold them on that roster against your friend's will. I would call the SSUSA office and talk to someone there about the situation. They should at least be able to let you know what your options are and point you to the right people to contact if nothing else.

Scott and STL0 ... Player/Manager disputes over "releases" are as old as the game ... SSUSA does not rule a specific resolution because there is a delicate balance between the manager's obligation for fairness as measured against the player's presumed commitment to stay with the team for the entire season ... They both are obliged to meet that goal for the good of the team ... My experience has been, and is true in this "Cotton Eyed Joe" saga, that SSUSA does not get involved in compelling a specific result because there are almost always three sides to every story ...

1. The Manager side
2. The Player(s) side
3. A mutual voluntary release for "the good of the game" (? our favorite EVERY time)

The rather "colorful" correspondence items we have been provided in this one are distressing, at best ... They're full of explicit threats of physical violence and contain enough "F-Bombs" to win a war ... The term "irreconcilable differences" comes to mind ... Although SSUSA doesn't get involved by rule, it's usually pretty easy to determine what's the right course of action, and this is no exception ...
__________

§4.2(2) • ADDING / RELEASING ROSTER PLAYERS
E. Player release – Managers may not add a player from another qualified team unless the player has been legally released. Both the manager of the previous team and the player must sign the release and the written release shall be forwarded to SSWC headquarters. Once added, a player becomes frozen on the roster of the team that added him. Exception: Player playing on teams in two different age groups is frozen on both rosters. NOTE: Player release is at the sole discretion of the team manager. SSUSA does not arbitrate, nor compel, a player’s release in the event of a dispute.

Thanks Dave, that's helpful. Most managers wouldn't want players on their roster who do not want to be there, which would trigger #3 in your scenarios. However, I would think documented threats of violence and unsportsmanlike behavior may allow SSUSA to step in and declare his behavior unacceptable and apply appropriate penalties. What's worse is this coach posted on this message board that now he needs players; hopefully, no one will join his team without knowing what they are getting themselves into.

D².. This dispute is an "in-season" issue, true? Because come end-of-year (after Worlds) all players are effectively "released" and this is no longer an issue.

Scott ... It appears you have chosen sides in this one on behalf of "your friends", and that's fine ... SSUSA is careful not to do so as a matter of sound policy developed over decades, because it's virtually impossible to get all the facts to support a sound decision ...

H² ... Yes, everyone is "released" and becomes a free agent upon the earlier of [1] their division concludes play at the SSUSA World Championships in Las Vegas or [2] the team notifies SSUSA that they have "disbanded" and will not be playing again in the current season ...

Dave, I imagine I may be biased but I am aware of my biases. I don't have a dog in this race. I'm looking at this from a "what's best for the game" perspective. My overall objective is to get and keep as many players in the game as possible. We all have seen softball in general deteriorate because of declining participation. Anything that takes healthy and committed players off the field should be avoided, if possible. I'm also familiar with the individuals involved on both sides and based on my personal experience it's a bad situation. Let's hope for everyone's sake that the threats of violence and vindictiveness will not be followed through on and people will do the right thing. It's hard for me to believe that grown senior men can be so petty. I suppose years of drug and alcohol abuse can do that to someone's brain. Just wish they would keep it out of the game.