How far would you drive?

[grcsftbll]

Let's say you have a very talented player. You've got a couple of options for teams close to home where she is likely to be the best player on the team, and you really want a team where she's more in the middle, for her own development and growth as a player. How far would you be willing to drive, 2+ times per week, for practice, to have her on a better team?

 

[murphdog]

We drive an hour to an hour and a half depending on where practice is on a given week. The past 2 years we have been lucky enough to have another local girl on the same team so we've been able to carpool.

 

[vdubya]

It is better to ask your DD how long she is willing to sit in a car on the way to/from practices and events. Long car rides always took the fun out of softball practices and lessons for my kid. If I hadn't weighed the greater good, she probably wouldn't be playing at all today at 16yo. Ask your kid and do what she wants.

 

[CatchersMom2017]

We drive a little over an hour 2X a week just for practice. That doesn't count tournaments. Getting ready to drive 8 hours to take DD to a college camp next week.

 

[Little Angels Softball]

Here, driving an hour means you live 8 miles away.

 

[grcsftbll]

It is better to ask your DD how long she is willing to sit in a car on the way to/from practices and events. Long car rides always took the fun out of softball practices and lessons for my kid. If I hadn't weighed the greater good, she probably wouldn't be playing at all today at 16yo. Ask your kid and do what she wants.

This is what I'm thinking. We've picked up with far-away teams before and gone to practice with them, and I know she hasn't been thrilled about the drive. I love this organization, and I think she would be happier with this team while she was actually playing and practicing, but I'm afraid all that extra time in the car would kill the enjoyment pretty quickly.

 

[marriard]

Let's say you have a very talented player. You've got a couple of options for teams close to home where she is likely to be the best player on the team, and you really want a team where she's more in the middle, for her own development and growth as a player. How far would you be willing to drive, 2+ times per week, for practice, to have her on a better team?

It depends on her age to me. Anything before 14U-A I'd stay as local as possible. There is nothing wrong with being the best player on the team as long as she is not way above the other players and she has teammates who are as competitive as she is. Depending on where you live, local as possible may be the team an hour away.

Once you hit 14U-A and above it becomes more of a 'do I want to go to college and which team do I need to be on to meet my goals?'. There is going to be a LOT of travel once they hit this age group, so if you can limit travel in the younger age groups I believe it is beneficial to do so. I'd rather spend my money and time on extra lessons or practice (or sleeping and schoolwork) than hours and hours in the car if it can be avoided.

 

[Amy in AZ.]

The long drives give them time to do their homework. Two hours one way, would be my max at age 14.

 

[grcsftbll]

She's only starting 10U. On her current 8U travel team she's pretty well above even the next best player. But I tend to think at this age she'd be happier playing a little closer to home. Good point about that, and the difference at 14U+.

 

[texas4life]

Depending on which field is being used my DD and DN (Darling Niece) are on teams based an hour away from home. I use to do practice there all the time but recently found an in between field and sometime it only 30 minutes.