Thread: MS - Happy to make the Team

I did not think DD would make the Team. I told her if she did that she better enjoy practice because that was the only time she would be on the softball field. I think most parents had similar conversations with their DDs. Well after 7 games that feeling is gone for a few player/ parents now that they are on the Team.

Most the Players/ Parents, us included, are coming from batting the entire lineup. Players usually play an infield and an outfield position during the game.

1 player is used to batting 1 – 3 and pitching. For whatever reason she is the starting SS and bats 6th. She has played 90% of the time the Team has been on the field, most the players would love to be in her position but she is mopping and her game is suffering.

Harder 1 is the players that are playing < 40% of the innings, bat at the bottom of the order and only play in the OF. Some Players are annoyed and their parents great, some parents annoyed and the players are great.

The majority of both the parents and players are great and I think they remember the Happy of make the team feeling. For a few the Happy to make the Team feeling only seems to last until the 1st game of the season.

It is time for everyone to grow up. Not everyone gets a pat on the back or a season ending trophy in real life. The girls need to work on attitude as well as their game.

I noticed a girl that age on TV last night, that was batting. She was frowning and shaking her head "no" at the called strikes that the umpire was making. She really looked bad. If that was the only thing I had to go by concerning this young lady, I would take a pass on her. Positive attitudes can get you a lot farther in life, than a negative one.

I learned (and it took raising 3 kids) that softball isn't life. I have seen too many tragedies in real life. I no longer get sucked into coach bashing, argument baiting, running down a program, etc. I keep my mouth shut.

DD is still happy to just make the Team, any playing time is icing on the cake.

I do not think I was complaining about the coaches, I am still happy DD made the Team too.

I feel like picking on MS HC.

DD was pitching and caught an absolute bullet at her ankles. Spun to throw the runner out a 3rd, went so fast the runner got back before the 3rd basemen could get there. Most the coaches were still trying to figure out how DD caught it; all the Players were playing the game. Should have been an easy double play because our 3rd baseperson knew what was going on, runner on 3rd did to though so it did not work out.

HC’s advice to DD next practice. Pretend you only knocked that ball down, you need to fake the throw to 1st then spin and get the runner going home. Or do a double fake, look the runner back, fake the throw to 1st and you will get the runner on 3rd.

I asked DD to forget the entire conversation the HC had with her.

I'm sure that's how he does it in the beer softball league. I joke,I'm sure the HC means well.Who's on first?

Where I come from we have a saying "Just school ball nobody cares". Junior high and high school softball traditionally do not have quality coaching and the players are not even rec ball level. The best advice I was given when my DD started HS ball was to sit in the outfield, in a lawn chair and smile. You will drive yourself crazy if you care.

At least you have MS Softball. Everyone should be happy about that. Nearly every school district in our area has MS ball except ours.