It was a good ride....

Welcome to Discuss Fastpitch

Your FREE Account is waiting to the Best Softball Community on the Web.

Feb 7, 2013
3,188
48
Well, the time has come where 14YO DD has decided she doesn't want to play softball in college and doesn't want to continue the grind of being on a college showcase travel ball team, so last week she told her coach she is hanging up the TB cleats at the end of December. She will still play HS softball and focus on her academics but her days of playing travel ball will be over soon. I knew this day would eventually come as she has been playing softball since she was 5YO but I didn't realize it would be when she was a freshman in HS. I think she is making the right decision for herself but it will be interesting to see how much her skills drop not playing year round (she will still take private pitching and hitting lessons regularly) and if she will miss TB?.

I don't know how much I will be posting in the future, but a big thanks to everyone at DFP for their tremendous knowledge of the game and support over the years!
 
Oct 16, 2014
333
0
Its rough I know. My DD is on the fence and has been for the last year or so. She already knows she doesn't want to play in College (nor do We think she's skilled enough to). She is in 8th grade and has mentioned not playing travel next year though , maybe just high school if she makes the team. Sad thing is she LOVES the game. Hard part is at 14u and beyond there is a HUGE focus on showcase and college bound intentions. If you are a girl that just wants to play competitively there isn't a whole lot out there for you in regards to teams and tournaments, and we almost feel embarrassed when we say our girls aren't necessarily college focused. We have been very lucky in that DD1 is on a really nice 14u B team that is full of talented girls but I don't think any of them have scholarship dreams. they play B only tournaments and have a bunch of fun. For us, right now, this is perfect. We will see how long she rides this out.

Maybe your DD will find something like this. and if not thats ok too. so hard to walk away though.
 
May 24, 2013
12,461
113
So Cal
RT1 - I'm sorry to hear this, but if it's the right decision for her, then that's a good thing. No matter where her path takes her, I wish your DD nothing but good things. I also encourage you to stick around DFP, and share the things you have learned during your DD's journey in the game.
 
Nov 29, 2009
2,975
83
Glad and sad at the same to see your DD taking come control of her life. A lot of girls do that when they hit 14 years old. At that point, if they are still playing the game they are doing so for themselves. You DD may change her mind after a year off. You never know.

Good wishes for your DD and don't be a stranger here. If you find the bug still has you after she stops playing find a young team to coach and teach.
 
Jun 16, 2015
65
6
Recovering SB mom here. DD decided at 14 last year she would not be playing in college and was going to quit TB in the summer. It was quite the blow, even though I knew she had to decide for herself what she wanted to do. She ended up sticking with her TB team another year, and will play for her HS this spring. I figure as long as she's doing what she wants to do, with no pressure from us, then that's all we can ask. But I'm sure we are on borrowed time with SB. The good (bad) thing is our area is not incredibly SB competitive, with only a few travel teams focused on showcases, so it's more fun for her. You never know what your DD will do - she could always change her mind. But it's great that you support her and want her to be happy.
 
Jul 19, 2014
2,390
48
Madison, WI
I've been there, too.

DD 1 joined her first TB team, a 16U team, right at the beginning of her freshman year. She had started softball late, but had enough raw talent that a college career was quite possible. Within a few months, she quit the team, and softball. She came back to softball for her freshman team, leading the team in hits, HR and stolen bases. She finally decided not to com back her sophomore year.

What has her life been after softball?

She concentrated on academics, and is a freshman at her first choice college, Wisconsin, on a full academic scholarship. She is a pre-med, and working part time. She rooms with another kid from the neighborhood, a girl originally from Dharamsala, also a pre-med. They will both head to India next summer, staying with her roommate's relatives in Dharamsala. They will spend their time volunteering at a local hospital. DD 1's roommate speaks Tibetan, so can act as a translator for DD 1.

DD 1 sometimes claims I don't love her as much since she quit softball (joking, I hope). Not true at all. I was never an athlete. Softball was a way to connect with DD 1, and since she quit it has been a way to connect with DD 3.

I am incredibly proud of DD 1, even if she did hang up her cleats way too early. I love her anyway, I suppose.

She is still an athletic kid. She goes running all the time.
 
Dec 11, 2010
4,713
113
Glad and sad at the same to see your DD taking come control of her life. A lot of girls do that when they hit 14 years old. At that point, if they are still playing the game they are doing so for themselves. You DD may change her mind after a year off. You never know.

Good wishes for your DD and don't be a stranger here. If you find the bug still has you after she stops playing find a young team to coach and teach.

Sparky Guy said exactly what I was thinking.

I have always enjoyed your posts and hope you keep coming around.
 

Forum statistics

Threads
42,830
Messages
679,478
Members
21,445
Latest member
Bmac81802
Top