problems with travel softball

I grew up wanting to be a major league baseball player, and Im so glad I never even got drafted. Families who thought the Sunday game was no big deal slowly dropped out of church because sports came first. Read our, Tetra Images - Erik Isakson / Getty Images, Sports Specialization and the Risk for Injury and Burnout, Dealing With Bullying on Youth Sports Teams, Budget Friendly Extracurricular Activities for Tweens, 2019 State of play: Trends and developments in youth sports, Burnout and perceived performance among junior athletes-associations with affective and cognitive components of stress, Youth sport: positive and negative impact on young athletes. The pitchers pitched far more balls than strikes. By the age of thirteen, I knew I wanted to play NCAA softball, and playing against the best competition was crucial in helping me achieve that dream. Then you have mad moms and dads when their little one rides the bench all day at a tournament two hours from home that you had to arrive at in the pre-sunrise hours of the morning. A majority of programs at this level also have their own indoor facility for winter workouts and bad-weather training. Website. She excelled once she wasnt under my leadership and under the leadership of a professional. Travel Softball Rankings. Travel teams are also sometimes calledelite teams, select teams, club teams, or tournament teams. Kids are exposed to new cities and sometimes get a chance to play tourist. Well-roundedness: Despite the cultural drive for pursuing one sport, well-roundedness as a child makes for happy, well-adjusted adults. 2019 State of play: Trends and developments in youth sports. Travel ball is good for those who are not afraid of being challenged and want to play at a higher level. Its wonderful that your child wants to play at a higher level, but you need to be sure they understand what all youre signing up for if they make the team. Some teams charge a flat fee up front, some allow parents to pay as they go and some combine the formulas. The journey the Lord had me on led to me being cut from the team after I did not play summer ball following my sophomore year. Applaud effort and celebrate results for both dugouts. This is very true for our daughters as well. During my travel softball career, I played for some amazing coaches that pushed me to be a better person and athlete, as well as some that didnt believe in me. Talk through the process and help her see the pros and cons of each option. you dont say what age your DD is, but see if there are opportunities for guest playing. On a competitive travel team, players gain great experience in team play and sportsmanship. Coach B, Come play in SBMSA in Houston. Breakers Labs Thats fine for an 18 year old on the cusp of adulthood, but theres no reason to put a 714 year old through that kind of rigor. Rec ball pushes equality, fairness, and gives each player the same opportunities. What guides me is Paul in 1Cor9:22-23 22 To the weak I became weak, that I might win the weak; I have become all things to all men, so that I may by all means save some. When I was playing travel softball as a teenager in Oregon, I had a teammate from Montana who flew in once a month for our team practices. Thank you for this well thought out post. I have seen it just recently in the church Im attending now. SAVE 25% ON ALL HER MUST HAVES - 25% OFF SITEWIDE ALL REGULAR PRICED ITEMS. I do want to finish by saying that we absolutely love travel ball. Character Development: Arguably the most important aspect of a program is the character and personal development that will take place. I was sent the letter about "What if you can't . Thanks, Roy. My recommendation to any family looking for a single event that can put their daughter in front of hundreds of college coaches, Scout Softball is the answer. 2023 Dotdash Media, Inc. All rights reserved, Verywell Family uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. And while its obviously better to find a coaching staff that believes in you and is committed to nurturing your talent, I was able to learn important lessons and grow in both types of environments. He told us last week that he is glad that we have taught him to focus on his eternal future. If youre coaching your 12 year olds travel ball team, what does that mean for the rec league opportunities your 7 year old has? Competitive travel softball players come to the field every day with the intent to compete, push past their limits, and get themselves to the next level. A travel team is a youth sports team that plays at an elite level. These parents are the ones that complain when things dont fit their idea of how the team should be run. I hope that this guide was informative and helped you understand what to look for, so that you can make the best choice for your family and have as rewarding of an experience as I did. Part of the argument for travel ball is the appeal of better competition. How will they respond if they don't get selected for a team, or if they get selected but then don't see a lot of playing time? Rec ball is where they develop and But players should walk away from their travel ball experience not only prepared for college athletics, but also for life in general. Of course, there are other ways to be the problem parent such as bad-mouthing the coach and other parents, not paying your dues, not bringing your daughter to practices, etc. Stop digging through message boards and groups, search and find your next team today! Let kids be kids. I needed a break, and I wanted to be a counselor at a Christian camp that summer (Kanakuk). Parents also will also have to give their own free time to volunteer. doi:10.3390/sports7070171, Merkel DL. For others, it can wreak havoc. It's not just what you'll spend on equipment and fees, which can be significant, but extras such as travel costs and required apparel purchases (like a team jacket or bag). Another common problem is not having the right equipment. If you're acting like your son has already made it, then you are killing his drive. Having said that, below are the top reasons your daughter should not play travel softball. The cost of travel is not included in the monthly dues. Sound familiar? Im betting you would be better off saving your money to help him with college expenses. For some may not even be an issue. He was athletic and had the potential to play college baseball, so we finally enrolled him in travel ball after his freshman year in high school. A few coaches who work for franchised organizations will get paid and actually make a small profit for their time. But its also a major commitment, so its important to think carefully about what kind of program is best in your specific situation. Im not willing to give up the Lords day for sports as much as I want him to play in a better league. My son is 11u, and this fall was his first (and possibly final) season of travel ball. . I wanted to play at the highest level I could, and they were willing to sacrifice to make that happen. I can say without a doubt that I wouldnt have made it to the level I did without travel softball. Those conflicts are becoming more common with the increasing secularization of our country. Small towns breed professional athletes, and the reason seems to be that kids in small towns arent over-coached, over-organized, and over-specialized by the travel ball opportunities found in larger cities. Hopefully it will make us parents pray, think, and analyze the motives behind our kids activities. So much time was freed up by not having to go to practice. Jesse played baseball for many years, served in the U.S. Army for 15 years, and began officiating 32 years ago. Looks like a good pastor (Caldwell) commented above if thats who I think it is. I think God led me to this article to reassure me that we are doing right. 3. As a preachers daughter, I saw many families who were active in church get involved with a travel ball team, and not only stop being active, but eventually drop out of church altogether. At 12, our son tells us he thinks we have made the right decision. By living our life for Christ the other 6 days. Ive seen a couple of families fall into the travel ball trap. See also: How to Pick the Right Softball Bat. Do they understand that they'll have to compete for it? I personally know people that I can guarantee will not be living the travel softball lifestyle for more than a season or two and Im pretty sure if someone would have stopped them before they started, they would have saved a lot of headache, money, and time. Also, parents may not have a realistic view of how talented their son or daughter is in sports, often over or underestimating their abilities. However, the main reason weve stuck with travel is the consistency that it offers. This is what we due when we gather for worship. 6. We have had a sub par experience, and I have that guilt every Sunday that we are at a tournament instead of honoring God in His house. This is a case where a player made a poor decision on team selection. The days and times of practice as well as tournaments and leagues are chosen by each individual team manager. Parents: Want to Find the #1 Issue in Your Athletes Swing, Robbing Their Power? Players invest a lot of money and energy into it. Ive heard of travel ball teams that play 60 games in a summerfor kids under 10!and then they practice at least once a week through the winter. Thankfully, we have a great group of players, coaches, and families. Chemistry: Consider the overall chemistry of the program, not just the chemistry among the players. This includes the travel teams, specialized . Christians need to be gathering with the same group of people every week to worship the risen Lord Jesus, to hear his word, and to fellowship with each other. Sad to see but strengthened our resolve that sports would not take priority over God and our church family. On the court. Let kids be kids, they and their bodies will decide what they can and cant do. And given the number of kids playing and the number of available spots, even a partial baseball scholarship is terribly unlikely. You, as the parent, are going to be doing the driving. Too many surgeries, other arm problems, leg issues and other health issues that kids at that age shouldnt have to endure. Crazy Baseball Parents #2 The Helicopter parent Lack of skill It's not easy to admit that you or someone you love is not good enough for something. Christian Smiths Soul Searching: The Religious and Spiritual Lives of American Teenagers We parents should observe whats going on, be readily available, but not be constantly interfering, trying to direct, or solve everything that goes on in practice or competition. Christians are Christians because we worship what is true. The answer to that question depends on two main things: her love for the game and your wallet! They had to draft 8th graders to play for the high school JV team so the others could step up and play the Varsity. James Jesse, Vice President (Umpires) for Grand Slam Tournaments (GS), leads corporate oversight of all GS umpires and directly manages a team of 60 umpires in Atlanta, Georgia. I simply have to go find the people that need Jesus. Teach her other ways to stay involved throughout the game if she is not playing. Marty Clark, Umpire in Chief (UIC) and Tournament . Cost: Figure out what your family can afford before you even start looking at options. coming down the pike. Generally speaking, these parents dont do the Sunday sports to evangelize. My thoughts written here veer away from the focus of recreational versus travel leagues as the original blog talks about, but include some areas to think about whichever route of competition you choose. No zoning restrictions. Kids come out of high school where it seems that every game mattered, to a travel ball season where if you go 5-0 or 0-5 it doesn't matter. 7. There are TONs of small but critically important things young players learn over the course of YEARS playing travel softball that you'll have to catch up on, especially if you want to play catcher, the toughest of all positions. Truthfully, we have gotten better instruction and development at a Rec ball/All Star level. And does she understand that playing this sport at this level most likely requires trade-offs when it comes to things like friends, clothes, phones, and many of the other things that teens often spend time and money on in high school? The cost for a year of travel softball can range from $500 to $5,000 and up, which includes a full uniform, and sometimes includes equipment. Was it really worth it? Notify me of follow-up comments by email. There is another very sad thing that often happens as a result of a familys involvement in travel ball. Bottom line: give your kids a childhood theyll want to replicate with their own children not one theyll react against. -ta. If your player doesnt have the drive to get better by putting in the extra work, then travel softball most likely isnt for her. These reflections grow out of my own experience playing and coaching and watching other families. Team fees may cover tournament entry costs, batting cage rental, practice field rental, uniforms, equipment and organizational costs. All your doing is increasing the strain and the chance of injury for no appreciable gain. My sons high school teammate played in the minors for several years before being cut and at age 26, he is just now finishing college and trying to figure out what to do with his life. Ive seen many parents try, and it never ends well. Overall, you want your daughter to have a good experience on the field and off with her teammates and coaches. Rec players are given basic techniques and instructions at a pace they feel comfortable with. Thank you! I, personally, never even knew travel softball existed until high school. Cheer them on and let them entertain you. If the tournament is really far from home, you may end up getting a hotel room. Non-Christians exist because what they worship is false. Well always innovate to do whats best. I find it filled with some great thoughts based on extreme examples and false assumptions. If you dont put in this extra work, you will quickly fall behind your teammates and ride the pine (plus risk being cut at the end of season). You have to be selfless and extremely hard-working. Having coached both my sons in travel an rec ball, and being on the board of our local rec league, serving as president for several years. . Today, softball has grown so much that while there are still teams dedicated to providing elite players the absolute best competition to facilitate skill development, there are actually more and more girls playing travel softball primarily for the fun of it often because they want to play more than the standard 20-game schedule offered by rec ball. After my first year of it in college, I found that what had been so fun because I had the opportunity to look forward to it in the off season, or even on days between practice or games, began to feel like a dreaded obligation that consumed a significant portion of every day. I want your son to love baseball, to have the opportunity to be a kid, and to play the game as a kid. I think Jesus said it best when He said, What does it profit a man to gain the world and lose his soul?, Thank you sir for thisI wrestle with this issue a lot as our older children (3 boys/12, 9, & 8) are starting to get to the age where this is a possibility. (And I hope thats not the reason you involve your kids in athletics!) How do I know which is best for my daughter? Reduces boredom Cons Expensive Increased risk for injury Potential for burnout Time-consuming Pros Young athletes can reach a point where they are bored with rec league play. What are you waiting for? So we are playing upward thru our church. 2. Legalism requires perfection, and Im not perfect, Jesus is. It isnt even cheap! Her work has been published in medical journals in the field of surgery, and she has received numerous awards for publication in education. Though parents are well-intentioned, often children are tired of pursuing what was once fun but has become a stressful climb to the next level of competition at the expense of other parts of their lives, or at the expense of joints injured by overuse. This is great information, but unfortunately rec ballaka little leagueis a political nightmare where I am from and for many others. I also when I was kid play at lyndon and never traveled and loved it and still played college baseball myself for 4 yrs. I also appreciated this article: The group that split from us is the same group that has ruined our little league. Hey, for years sports programs operated quite successfully without Sunday morning scheduling. Lack of specified instruction. He pulls down honor roll at school and is in band. Travel Ball Format Not Good For The Sport - Coaches Insider Living in Oregon and playing competitively, I traveled multiple times every summer and fall to play in college exposure tournaments in Southern California. Travel is not glamorous but grueling. 113. whack said: Mid 30's there was travel ball when I played but not the ridiculous amount of them as there are now to where it's hard to even field rec teams. On the off-chance that your kid is a freak athlete with the arm strength, foot speed, power, stamina, and character, who gets all the right breaks at just the right time, chances are hell rise up through the ranks of rec ball rather than being groomed on the travel ball circuit. With the top-tier of competitive travelling softball teams, the coaches are generally not related to the players. Here are a few of the factors you should consider when evaluating your options and picking a team. I just watched a program not too long ago on the rise of Tommy johns surgeries. Unfortunately with all the sacrifices Ive made that relocation doesnt seem likely but as usual, Ill pray about it. Not one. These girls can always work harder to be better. Whos forcing their kid to play??!!

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