Apr 30, 2017 6 min read

One of the fringe benefits from participating in high school softball or baseball is the trip to the warmer climates to start the season.

In some cases, it hasn’t turned out well.

Heading south might not just describe the trip but also the status of a coach’s career after it’s completed.

Ringgold High School baseball coach James Coulter resigned in March after allegations of misconduct during the booster-sponsored March 22-28 trip to ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex in Orlando. Players were alleged to have been involved in hazing incidents and also received alcohol and tobacco.

Just days later, a Pittsburgh television station reported a baseball player from Laurel Highlands was left at the team’s hotel before a pregame meal during a spring trip to South Carolina.

Coulter’s issue came before a school board meeting and he eventually was replaced and the board stopped such future trips.

Coulter was the fourth local baseball or softball coach to either be fired, suspended or resign in the last six years when incidents came to light after their programs made southern trips.

While these examples were severe, coaches know that these types of incidents can pop up at any school and with any coach. They take responsibility of the team on these trips and are forced to pay the consequences for player misbehavior.

“It’s a dicey thing,” said Michele Moeller, who is in her 16th season as varsity softball coach at Canon-McMillan. “If you have a couple bad kids, it can ruin it for everyone. We try to be vigilant but you never know. If some (player) screws up, then don’t plan on playing for us.”

Moeller took the Big Macs on a five-day trip to North Carolina this season, where they played Alexander Central, which has won nine South Carolina state titles; South Caldwell, a perennial power in the state’s top classification; and Fred T. Foard from Newton.

“It’s a five-day trip and we go down to scrimmage,” Moeller said. “We like the quality of teams there and we have a good relationship with them.”

Moeller has a coaching staff and chaperones on each trip to oversee the players. Before leaving, all baggage is searched and an itinerary is followed that keeps the players active from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., Moeller said.

“We have study halls on the trip and things that promote team bonding,” Moeller said.

Moeller said the trip does not mean special privileges are granted students when it comes to classroom work.

“We tell them don’t expect extra time when you get back,” she said. “They have to keep up with their school work.

“My standards are stricter than the WPIAL. If you have one ‘D,’ then you don’t play until you bring the grade up. Usually, a warning from me is all it takes.”

Moeller said it helps that most of the players come from the Canonsburg Lady Knights team that assistant coach Steve Moskal runs and Moeller oversees.

“The continuity (of coaches) helps,” she said. “We have smart girls and we know them from the youth league. We try hard but mistakes can be made. Fortunately, we’ve only had small incidents, the breaking of our team rules, but nothing serious.”

Bill Simms, the head coach of West Greene’s softball team, said an element of trust has to exist between players and coaches. The Pioneers have made southern trips in three of the past four seasons, the last coming a month ago at the Cal Ripken Experience in Myrtle Beach, S.C. The school district does not allow more than two days absence from school so West Greene used the weekend to get three games in from March 24-26. All education field trips need administration approval and are fully funded by the booster organization. Parents and students must sign forms about code of conduct and those include a clause that players can be sent home for misbehavior.

“We try to walk a fine line between work and play,” Simms said. “We have built in time to go to the beach. But we also expect all homework to be done and we provide tutors for help. We think these trips are important. Some of our kids might not ever have a chance to go to these places again. I’d be a fool if I said I didn’t worry. But there has to be a trust factor.”

Simms said all baggage is checked before departure and that parents do not normally stay at the same hotel as the team. The coaches and chaperones do roving bed checks at night.

At McGuffey, teams wishing to make such trips must, in part, have the respective head coaches fill out a request form and it requires board approval. An itinerary must be submitted and the team is required to take everyone on the varsity roster who wishes to attend.

“Since I’ve been here, we’ve had successful trips,” said Ed Dalton, who was hired as athletic director in February of 2012. “You have to be able to trust your kids.”

Dalton said these trips are treated like any other for an athletic team at the school. Whether a trip across town or a trip south, the school’s code of conduct and all travel rules are enforced.

“Parents travel at their own expense,” Dalton said. “Everyone knows the rules.”

Baggage is checked before departure and the school has a past practice of allowing three school days to be missed on such a trip.

Trinity athletic director Ricci Rich said long trips are treated just like an away game when it comes to code of conduct. Southern trips require administrative approval, complete with an itinerary and travel releases.

“Players are informed that this is just like any other trip,” Rich said. “The school rules will be enforced and a player could be sent home (for misbehaving). “

Rich said baggage is checked and medication must be checked in before departure.

“In my 12 years, we have never had things go wrong,” he said. “But you have to be vigilant because there is a lot of down time.”