How do families do it ?

It is a huge time commitment. Definitely not easy. But if you have any hope of competing with Minnesota teams, it's what needs to be done.

Just because she wants to do it does not mean she should. It is our job as parents to decide what is best for our children, and just as importantly what is best for the family. Is it worth giving up time at the cabin, showing her how to catch a fish, spending the 4th of July together or going on family vacations where you get to see more than a softball diamond. Do not miss family time (Whole family together) because you will regret it when she is all grown up and out on her own. There is so much more to life than softball and it is up to us to show it to them.

How does the organization feel about missing time with them to go to a camp for another sport? I found the answer to this question very valuable when deciding if she should play for an organization. My daughter played several sports and although she is quite good at softball she will not be playing in college because she is better at and enjoys another sport much more.

Good luck with your decision.

29dad said:

It is a huge time commitment. Definitely not easy. But if you have any hope of competing with Minnesota teams, it's what needs to be done.

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I took it further for her, I told her that unless girls in California are willing to work really hard, then the evil northern white walkers will take over the game and pretty soon there will only be beer and lutefisk at our snack bars.

And then I described lutefisk and she projectile vomited on the cat.

Carpool is a lifesaver for our family. DD has several friends on her TB team that live very close to us and rotating who drives each week makes a huge difference in quality of life for us. A typical week is conditioning practice, weekday practice, Sunday practice. The weekends are usually Sunday practice, friendlies, or tournament. Throw in private pitching and/or hitting lessons and that's a lot of softball each week! I told my DD as long as softball doesn't adversely affect her school grades than she can maintain this busy schedule.

Regarding the quality of the practices, it's like night and day compared to rec all-stars. While not for everyone, I really like the way our TB organization conducts practices: highly organized, face paced, disciplined, constant coaching and correcting, and lots of encouragement. I also like how they frequently combine teams of 12U, 14U, 16U & 18U for conditioning, warm-ups, and some skills/drills so they can workout together and bond as an organization.

Fees - $250 to join plus monthly dues of $125 plus $9 a week for paid coaches for conditioning practice. In addition, lots of fundraising through out the season.

While its a personal choice that only individual families can make, if your DD loves softball and is ready for the next challenge, TB is the way to go with the right organization.

JJ - btw love the reference to GOT ! going through withdrawals so started watching Breaking Bad...

I am firmly against: 1) starting to specialize in 1 sport before HS; and, 2) playing year round with less than 8 (or more) weeks off for any single sport.

slingnit said:

My yard was perfect, 2 acres of lush green grass(exaggerated a bit), before softball.

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The company I currently work for is the electrical contractor for a Racino (casino and horse racing track combination) and we have been on 12 hour shifts, 7 days a week ( the last 4 weeks) since they started 8 months behind schedule and want to open 6 weeks earlier than the original Grand Opening date. Because of a TB Fall Ball league that we start this Sunday, I take will be taking Sundays off from that crazy schedule for the next few weeks. If you thought TB schedules were bad, think again. Since I leave for work in the dark and get home from work in the dark, it has been a month since I have been able to cut my grass. It was so bad that last night I came home to find my neighbor had cut it for me since he was tired of looking at it!

JJsqueeze said:

I will say this about 40 year old's though....rarely do they think that a candy bar is a good breakfast food.

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Don't judge me!

cbullard said:

Don't judge me!

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Not me. Something about rocks and glass houses applies here...

Haha. Nice. Sometimes, when you're rushing in the morning, a snickers bar satisfies.