Thread: What to do when your DD wants to quit....

All -

I just had that moment I many times read about here but NEVER thought would be something I would hear from MY DD. After the third year on a third different "A" TB team my DD says "Dad I am just not having fun in SB anymore and want to quit."

Quickly, first year of "A" TB was nepotism, too many pitchers, & youth that pushed my DD out of the pitching rotation. She ended up dejected and looking for a new team. Second year was a pitching motion change required after an injury. DD struggled to get it back and the season was not long enough for her to get it back. Then this year with a promising third team only to have other teammates in-fighting create an atmosphere where my DD just could not focus (ya, I know, DD has ownership in her own focus...., but the environment was exhausting with one of those combatants being her catcher).

I feel bad cuz I provided her these "A" travel team opportunities. I guess I just could not see in advance the unique troubles that were inherent in each case. (Hindsight I think I maybe should have seen these risks). I have this nauseating feeling that I am responsible for her current state.

The most frustrating aspect is that, even with the daddy glasses off, my DD has exhibited some amazing exhibitions of talent & skill. She blew the doors off batters at national all-star games and shut-down arguably the best team in the state. If she didn’t have all this potential I would just let this go but it’s just too difficult after all our investments.

Any words of wisdom from any of you that have “been there and done that”?

My rule is that if she starts a season she has to finish, but I'm not making her go from one season to the next. Once it stops being fun for her, it's not fun for me. Just my opinion.

I always had a rule that they had to be doing something. I would encourage her to get a job.

Perhaps give her the fall off and skip tryouts. If she decides later in the year that she misses it then you can always search for a team.

Also may want to reconsider the "A" team thing. Sometimes the "A" team commitment is way too much. Too much travel.. to much bickering... to much whatever. Let her take a step back and learn to enjoy the game again.

Where I am we have "fall ball" which is really laid back. It is basically just double-headers on Sundays. No real practices... just fun. Usually the teams aren't really that good, but there is no pressure to win and generally it is back to rec-ball rotations where everyone gets a chance to play. I know it sounds pretty lame next to the "A" ball schedule, but I know the girls that play fall ball really have a lot of fun.

If that doesn't work.... enjoy the Ski Boat!

Originally Posted by Amy in AZ.

... I would encourage her to get a job.

That would definitely encourage my daughter to get back on the diamond!

I remember when my son told me he wanted to quit baseball. He wasn't having fun, and he wanted to focus on soccer. He was a much better baseball player, but he loved to play soccer. So I let him tryout for a couple of soccer teams, he was picked up by one of the better organizations around and he played Soccer pretty much all year. He loved it, and he turned out to be a pretty good soccer player.

If he ever wanted to come back, he is messing up that sweet swing of his with golf, of course he hasn't swung a bat in 4 years, and has no intentions of playing baseball. But a dad can dream right. We made a deal many years ago, we would play catch on fathers day every year. He still gets out the glove and throws the ball around with me, that one day a year. That little baseball feels like an aspirin in my hand after so much softball.

Great input y'all.
Bless ya.
I gotta go find a hobby now :-)

Crack open a cold one...

...and offer her a sip for a job well done.