No. This guide will help you understand what to look for in a traveling softball team, and will answer some of the most common questions parents have about the process, including: Joining a traveling softball team can be a great experience, both in terms of enjoyment and player development. Growing up I loved baseball. No one should expect to make the show. Again, like you said, church should not be sacrificed by families of 8, 10, and 12-year olds, and oftentimes not even by families of high-schoolers. There is another very sad thing that often happens as a result of a familys involvement in travel ball. Communication:Its important to have all your questions answered. But the reality is that if your goal is to play at the college level and especially if your goal is to play for a Division 1 program its an important part of the process. 2019 State of play: Trends and developments in youth sports. No one wants to admit that the little girl that they love and adore so much, is just not good enough to be doing something. If youre not in one of those states, expect to be travelling far and often. This mentally effects the kids also with so much pressure to do well. Crazy Baseball Parents #2 The Helicopter parent Shes the one that still plays in the dirt instead of gets in the ready position. How do players interact with their parents? Kevin Soles. If you're acting like your son has already made it, then you are killing his drive. What will travel ball mean for your other kids? While thats not very common, driving three hours one way for a practice is totally commonplace. Thanks to all who replied. I love excellence. Totally agree with your article. Kids are exposed to new cities and sometimes get a chance to play tourist. Well always innovate to do whats best. Competitiveness: Make sure you understand what level of competition you daughter wants. Educate them. Fourth, travel ball is expensive, but so are the other activities in which many parents place their children like show choir and band. With the top-tier of competitive travelling softball teams, the coaches are generally not related to the players. Id bet if you polled the MLB players the vast majority of them would agree. 5. Utilize the links below to browse our Travel Softball Rankings. The high-end teams travel to tournaments every weekend (sometimes out-of-state) and qualify for national tournaments. Non-Christians exist because what they worship is false. Back in 2011, CBS News reported that one Georgia family paid $4,000 per year for their 9-year-old son's travel team. I dont believe in definitive s. Sound familiar? But my friend who suggested that I do this also told me what was going to happen: he said I needed to understand that the other travel ball teams werent going to be low-key, so we would get pummeled at tournaments and probably lose every game. Personally, if I could have done things differently I would have kept my child in the rec leagues but I guess Im not sure if she would have learned to pursue excellence in the manner she did had she done so. I have a neighbor who constantly pesters me about our childrens sports involvement level-rec. What are they learning? Teaches them basic techniques. Rec ball is shorthand for Little League Softball and/or your local city league. Marley Hall is a writer and fact-checker who is certified in clinical and translational research. Character Development: Arguably the most important aspect of a program is the character and personal development that will take place. They had to draft 8th graders to play for the high school JV team so the others could step up and play the Varsity. There are multiple organizations that host tournaments around the United States. Regardless, there is gas money that you will be spending. Required fields are marked *. Nevertheless, Deuteronomy 6 and Ephesians 6:1-4 still stand in Scripture as commands, not suggestions. God bless. Youre going to be purchasing a uniform (most likely more than one). What is Daddy Ball? They understand the intangibles of the game, and can teach a higher level of mechanics that go beyond the fundamentals. Here are the 10 biggest problems in youth baseball and softball, and how we can fix them. But if you need to travel far to get to competitive or college exposure tournaments (nearly every weekend during the summer plus multiple tournaments in the fall), its not unheard of to spend $5,000 per season. Lets pretend your daughter wants to be a catcher. And man (probably some do) dont 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. On the contrary, travel baseball is pure commitment! Our youngest has decided that gymnastics is a little more important to her than softball, so we have taken her out of travel softball. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); on Dont Play Travel Ball: Stay in the Rec League, Great Books Selections for Fall 2015 and Spring 2016. Josh McDowells The Last Christian Generation I find it filled with some great thoughts based on extreme examples and false assumptions. I appreciate that. It is simply not necessary for the younger kids. Go to a couple of games and see how the team plays together, and ask to watch the team practice before committing. Maybe you and your spouse may do some shopping and go get a nice meal. In travel ball, your teammates and coaches become part of your family. The main ones are USSSA (United States Specialty Sports Association pronounced U-Triple-S-A), PGF (Premier Girlss Fastpitch, USA (Formerly ASA), Triple Crown, and NSA (National Softball Association). Stay positive. Its better to honor God than to win, and its better for your kid to enjoy the game than for him to play at the highest possible level. At RIP-IT we match looks with performance to deliver unrivaled gear that protects and inspires. Loneliness. But for us, when you lay everything out on the table, our daughter getting to play this incredible sport with an amazing team outweighs all the negatives that come with it. With that, the cost to play increases. But lets recap. Enjoyment: Help your children enjoy a sport for the simple joy of the sport. Usually, these teams are part of a private or club sports program, not a recreational league or one affiliated with a school. Of course, we cant forget tournament day. If your daughter is thinking about playing softball or she has been playing for a couple of years now I'm sure as an involved parent, you have heard chatter of other parents strongly siding with one. For others, it can wreak havoc. One of the most common problems is not having enough players to field a team. If the tournament is really far from home, you may end up getting a hotel room. (Not that we did everything right by any means!!) We dont recommend this for everybody, but for the right people travel softball can literally be life-changing in a great way. Travel softball is expensive! Costs by region (travel mom is from California so these prices maybe a bit higher or lower than what you might spend), but here is her breakdown: FAST, FREE SHIPPING ON ALL ORDERS | WIN FREE DIAMOND CLEATS OR SPIKES FOR YOUR TEAM - LEARN MORE, Original Defense Pro Softball Fielder's Mask, Women's Period Protection Volleyball Shorts (3"). So many times parents have mentioned to us about the cost of being on a team. There have been times where we have questioned Is it worth it? in our own journey. Girls that don't attend the Because the goal of this type of program is to prepare the athlete for college athletics, the teams want to win. We played Upward for quite some time and my wife was amazed at how many parents going to the practices are unchurched. Often, good organizations will reach out to a player that caught their eye and invite them to come to the open tryout. There doesnt have to be a life lesson constantly pointed out. Since day one, weve been here for our players, with our players, and because of our players. I was asked to join a team but unfortunately my parents liked their weekends at the shore too much, so I wasn't allowed to play. Generally speaking, these parents dont do the Sunday sports to evangelize. Unfortunately, we dont all have that money tree growing in our backyard. -ta. (Matthew 6:33) I pray that many folks take heed of what you shared. Have fun with sports, and use it to build character, not dream-castles in the skies. For us, travel has been amazing. Travel ball isnt free by a long shot. Rec ball and travel ball can coexist, BUT, it has to be done with the kids as the foremost priority. doi:10.3390/sports7070171, Merkel DL. Cheer them on and let them entertain you. Thank you for speaking out and I hope people will take these comments seriously. Teach her other ways to stay involved throughout the game if she is not playing. I do wonder though as a parent of a child who did play travel ball and also ended up as a D1 athlete if we arent typically just exchanging one pursuit of excellence for another. " (Travel softball) has taken high school softball out of the equation," Hutchinson says. We love them by showing them that God is infinitely more valuable than all else. However, the main reason weve stuck with travel is the consistency that it offers. Travel softball hurts pocket books. When we read books about how it takes 10,000 hours to become an expert on anything, it may wrongly motivate us to try to create little experts out of our kids by the time they graduate from high school. We havent broken the bank, we attend church on Wednesdays is we know we will be traveling too far to attend on Sunday (otherwise we go on Sundays), and the kids are all great friends. Parents also will also have to give their own free time to volunteer. That said, you can end up spending a lot more than that. The Holy Spirit leads us all differently. Parents: Want to Find the #1 Issue in Your Athletes Swing, Robbing Their Power? You can argue all you want and say you go to church when you travel, but the first time you skip church because it interferes with game time, you have taught your child that a game is more important than worshipping God. On the low end, a $500 budget may be enough to cover your team fees and play in local tournaments with lesser competition. That may be the girl were talking about here. 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. It's really helpful to talk with other parents a few years ahead of you on the paththose who have experience with the same club or league you're looking at. Youre all running on less sleep than usual and even though its only 5 am, theres no more rest for you. Or are they truly passionate about the sport? Before diving into the specific specifics of what to look for, its important to understand why you should consider playing travel softball (and why its not the right choice for every player in every situation). Since the college softball season completely overlaps high school softball season and recruiting budgets are often far smaller, Division I coaches prefer to attend the larger travel tournaments, where they can scout more players at once. 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? This can be a big problem if you are trying to compete in tournaments or leagues. And you should. So many kids grow up dreaming, so few put on a big league uniform. 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). We must show them how to live well so that they may flourish and worship what is enduring. If money is a potential concern, you need to consider both your priorities and your daughters. What is the financial commitment? Talk through the process and help her see the pros and cons of each option. Yes, we want players to get better at softball. It will look different for each family and each child. Kids blossom at different ages. I have also read some of your other works and have learned much from them and enjoyed reading them. Build this league and you will have travel on the decline. This amount includes equipment, training, fees, and travel expenses. College Recruiting: This is for those a little older (freshmen and up). Travel teams are also sometimes calledelite teams, select teams, club teams, or tournament teams. They also need to learn more about taking care of their body to keep it strong and healthy through conditioning, nutrition, and good sleep habits. Using our tools you can find travel or club Softball teams in spring, summer, winter, or fall near you or across the country in just a few minutes' time! Between 2013 and 2018, the number of U.S. kids playing baseball and softball combined increased by nearly 3 million, according to annual surveys by the Sports Fitness & Industry Association. At the same time, they also want to focus on player development. A strong brand can help your team with credibility and bring some excitement to your program. I could now study what I wanted to study, and my classes were no longer determined by baseball practice. Young athletes can reach a point where they are bored with rec league play. Travel with extended families and make bonds with good people. Travel softball is expensive and time consuming. They learn more socially because they have different teammates for each sport and different roles. Its also important that you dont make your child feel guilty if she tries a competitive team for a year and decides its not what she wants. Theres usually a brief hitting session (front toss), as well as defensive reps and throws based on your position. Confused! Rec ball in many places is competitive. This is a straw man argument that has nothing to do with the very valid points the author makes. They learn to be a part of a team effort and that there are sacrifices that need to be made for the team (for instance being pulled during a game). For us, it boils down to priorities. Always keep in mind why you have this child involved in sport. Fun for all, talent levels not seen before. Every year, most teams host an open tryout, where anyone interested in joining has an opportunity to be evaluated by the coaching staff. The travel teams are turning into a true business. Wow this article really spoke to me. If team dues seem ridiculously high, make sure youre getting your moneys worth in terms of equipment, facility use, uniforms, etc. Our league is like the one you described. The biggest softball hubs are Southern California, Texas and Florida. He didnt make the middle school team as only travel ball kids only made it. (source). Yes, I need Sunday fellowship and worship. Many of the assertions in this article are quite true. Well, what a great life skills and bonding opportunity. She doesnt have ANY of the skills that the other girls have and the coach clearly has their own reasons for letting her ride the bench more than getting play time. I spent my 20s laying the foundation for what Im doing with the rest of my life, not bouncing around in the minor leagues. And if she has a hard time deciding what she wants? When children are interested in a particular elite team, it's important to find out in advance what their expectations are. I never felt that way until I got to college, but looking at the demands of travel ball, I totally understand how the kid feels. How knowledgeable are they, and will they be able to facilitate the proper degree of skill development for their athletes? Excellence: Pursuing excellence is important, but be sure you know and your child knows what you mean by that. The majority of players at this level hire an experienced outside hitting or pitching coach. Growing up, I was more on the lower end of the middle class. Most travel softball teams include between 10 and 12 players chosen by the appointed coaches. But if missing church on a Sunday for travel ball is condemning, then missing church for family vacations, work, sickness or any other reason is the same. Allows them to play against better competition. At 12, our son tells us he thinks we have made the right decision. I played two years of major college baseball at the University of Arkansas, and Ive been coaching my sons in baseball and basketball for the last 7 years or so. Those were the programs I kept going back to. Between $500 and $5,000 per year (with an average of about $2,000), depending on where you live, the level of competition, and the time commitment. Terms of Use | Privacy Policy | FUTURESLASH CORP. Get two articles delivered to your inbox each week. Thankfully, this was a better fit for all of us. And if it means giving up travel ball, by all means give it up. Then of course you have everything for your player to use at home to practice like hitting nets, tees, practice balls, medicine balls, balance boards, etc. I agree 100% with your article. If youre a non-Christian reading this post, dont you want to live for something more than baseball? The cost of travel is not included in the monthly dues. It was excellent, by the way. Maybe my son will get a chance to play as long as he continues to love the game. She needs to spend more than 2 days working on drills. This is going to be a big temptation for me because I love sports and am competitive by nature. Thank you for this well thought out post. Jim, This question reveals how far our cultural worldview has intermixed with a Christian one. With the top-tier of competitive travelling softball teams, the coaches are generally not related to the players. I give you a big Amen! It became known in the United States by various names, such as kitten ball, mush ball, diamond ball, indoor-outdoor, and playground ball. Youre just now rolling out of the soft, comfy bed to throw on some clothes and get a lazy start to the weekend after a long hard week at work. Is playing time important, or would she prefer to surround herself with the best possible teammates (even if that means less time on the field)? Thank you for this. With our current circumstances, it would be extremely hard with our job schedule to juggle two girls practices and tournaments with everything else. Train your coaches and prepare them for every level they will be involved. Small town kids grow up playing lots of sports not getting burnt out playing the same one all year round. They are the parents that try to coach from the sidelines. foster a love for the game. 3. I imagine that we could have lived a little more comfortably had I not been playing softball. Fridays and Saturdays are pool play games, meaning you play a small number of the teams in the tournament, and then get seeded. On Sunday, you participate in double-elimination bracket play, with winners always taking home something cool like a trophy, medal, plaque or ring. Im embarrassed to admit this, but I accidentally conditioned myself to fall asleep every time I was in a car for more than 45 minutes. Little League, which is the most common rec ball organization, is open to girls ages four through sixteen, and everybody makes a team regardless of their skill level. Im not a coach, but I can only imagine that problem parents are one of the most annoying things to coaches. Stop digging through message boards and groups, search and find your next team today! Sadly, I do have to admit that rec leagues (at least in our area) arent what they used to be. 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. In many instances, the coaching staff can make or break a childs experience with a team or sport. But, this isnt rec league either. A lot of well rounded and good mannered young men who enjoy competition and sportsmanship. If your kid is good and loves to play, you wont be able to keep them from it. Problem 1: Specializing to get a head start We are in such a rush to do more, more, more at younger and younger ages, and as a result, our children are getting injured at an unprecedented rate. I look at another coach who is seeded number one in the league and am very glad my kid isnt with him as I can only imagine the sort of character theyd be building. I simply have to go find the people that need Jesus. Not one. Well, this certainly diverged off the main topic of traveling versus rec sports, but I hope it provides a little more to talk about, especially among family members. Not as organized- depending on the organization. Since the start of Softball Galaxy, we have gone from two daughters playing, to only one at this moment. I submit that even with all the excitement of the game, and the money and fame that come with it, the life of a professional athlete is not one to be envied. Too many surgeries, other arm problems, leg issues and other health issues that kids at that age shouldnt have to endure. To establish an active select fastpitch softball organization in the area of Kitsap County, WA, exclusively to foster national and inte rnational amateur sports competition by support and development of amateur athletes for competition I fastpitch softball at the national and international level and to conduct such competition; b. They use evangelism as a spiritual reason for not being in church. I also appreciated this article: First up, travel softball is a lot more intense than traditional one. Of course our children have bents that we want to nurture, encourage and help them develop, but lets make sure we arent pursuing our own agenda. Second, recreation leagues can be just as competitive and demanding as travel ball, but doesnt have the same season length. No formula exists, but here are a few ideas to think about: Variety: Encourage your children to play a different sport each season until their upper teens. Joining a travel team is definitely demanding, and not just for your kid. Travel softball teams will also sometimes have two different dates options for tryouts, so that athletes can attend the one that best fits their schedule. Then again, some games I find my older daughter listening to her ipod while we watch the games. I think it does need to be approached carefully and prayerfully, especially with the demands on the family and commitments that call us away from the church. My daughter loves the game more now than ever before. Her work has been published in medical journals in the field of surgery, and she has received numerous awards for publication in education. While some languages are much harder to grasp than others, a lack of words is a travel problem with an easy solution. I hoped that I would get information like yours Jason. I played four years at the University of Oregon, where I was First Team All-American, played in two Womens College World Series, and went on to play six years professionally. If the coaches seem wishy-washy about these topics, dont offer straightforward answers, or seem like they just dont want to be bothered with the questions, thats a red flag. My son started disliking baseball at 9 years old because the boys in rec wouldnt hit a cut off, and dropped the ball so often. Identity: Think about how your child views his or her identity. I do not feel we will ever look back on our decision to say no to travel ball. Let them play the game. 6. I was sad when the team cut me from the roster, but I was also relieved. Travel Softball Rankings. 23 I do all things for the sake of the gospel, so that I may become a fellow partaker of it. Rec ball allows them to have fun, play sports, and still be their age without all the stress and competitiveness of travel ball. Do they walk away, rolling their eyes? There is no championship, just games. If we dont, then look in the mirror. Several dads had told me that they were leaving rec ball for a low-key travel ball team, or that they were adding a low-key travel ball team on top of the rec ball their son was playing. Either way, you shouldnt be sideline coaching. Travel ball is being on the right team, knowing the right people, and working on your skill set; not that much different from academic pursuits really and more so I suppose.
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problems with travel softball