Should Travel Ball even exist? Is it egalitarian?

[andyh64000]

The usual response is that "I wouldn't deprive my DD of that experience" yada, yada, yada, because she enjoyed playing. Problem is, no one said anything about depriving anyone of playing ball, just not going crazy with the money that could have been used for other things the family could have used.

But that is a perfectly valid response. I spend a lot of time and money on all of my kids activities (my 14 YO son plays the viola...you do not want to know how much a high quality viola costs). I don't do it because I think there will be some financial benefit in the end. If there is fine but it is about them pursuing something they enjoy to whatever level they want and taking me along for the ride.

 

[Lozza]

Well, I think this kind of goes along with a socialist mindset

What you describe isn't socialism. As someone who lives in a country that is part socialism, part capitalism, that's now how it works at all. You're describing communism.

How it works here is that we have our normal season in the summer (I personally would kill for a winter comp, but my state is the boondocks of softball. Our state championships were canceled last year because my association was the only team that registered) and then we have rep teams. There are also travel teams that will go inter-state and internationally to play. As a teenager I went to both New Zealand and America to play. These are usually one-off's though and the teams don't stick together after that. Your main softball is the summer season, with rep being three-four tournaments per year (what I had growing up in Sydney)

 

[obbay]

my 14 YO son plays the viola...you do not want to know how much a high quality viola costs

If it makes you feel any better, the viola is one of the instruments that colleges look for. (I'm serious). regardless of scholarships, just getting into college is hard and playing certain instruments can get an applicant's foot in the door. The Viola is one of those instruments.

 

[Greenmonsters]

If it makes you feel any better, the viola is one of the instruments that colleges look for. (I'm serious). regardless of scholarships, just getting into college is hard and playing certain instruments can get an applicant's foot in the door. The Viola is one of those instruments.

I have 2 DD's that played instruments in grade school - one wanted the smallest instrument so that it would be easy to carry so she ended up with the flute; other wanted the biggest instrument b/c she thought it would be fun so she got the French Horn (thank god the tuba wasn't an option). Both had multiple other activities and interests and stopped playing the instruments after 7th grade. They and their brother are HS juniors now, one now seriously pursues drama/vocal, one softball/art, and one soccer/golf. Bonus if you can guess which one played the french horn and which one is left-handed.

Seriously, noone has to make any excuses for trying to support their children's interest to the best of their means and ability or the right to question other's pursuit of the same.

 

[3'sDad]

Answer/Guess to the bonus questions :
1. Drama/Vocal child is left handed (lefties are generally more creative minded)
2. French Horn player - softball/artist

 

[chinamigarden]

I would never pay as much as some do for the teams that their daughters play on. I can't see myself paying $300 for a bat that will be outgrown in a year. But if you want to more power to you.

However, don't tell me that unless I am paying X amount of dollars then my daughter shouldn't be in competitive sports. Don't tell me that unless I send my daughter to private lessons every week and make her practice 11 months of the year on softball that I am not committed to her...

Being elite and being elitist are 2 different things.

Do you really want to call yourself elitist?

e·lit·ism or é·lit·ism (-ltzm, -l-)
n.
1. The belief that certain persons or members of certain classes or groups deserve favored treatment by virtue of their perceived superiority, as in intellect, social status, or financial resources.
2.
a. The sense of entitlement enjoyed by such a group or class.
b. Control, rule, or domination by such a group or class.

 

[Greenmonsters]

Answer/Guess to the bonus questions :
1. Drama/Vocal child is left handed (lefties are generally more creative minded)
2. French Horn player - softball/artist

DING DING - Winner Winner, Chicken Dinner coming via PM

 

[Coach JV]

Ray,
Thanks for rattling the softball cages TB needs to exsist for the player who strives
to play more than the rec leagues allow (2-3 mo.)
In some cases coaches have blurred the line where the game is more for them than
for the girls. These coaches drive the girls harder than necessary and I have seen the
fun taken out of the game for the kids even at early levels. When my dd was 12,
our local rec league (175 girls) barred her from playing in her age group
as they deemed her "too competitive". These are the players that need travel ball.
She lives for the game and schooland is fortunate that she can play year round.
We only practice 1x a week for 3 hr. and we win plenty of games
vs teams that practice 12+ hours a week. We win and we watch them
run wind-sprints, we lose, we never run wind sprints.
We have ingrained this culture throughout our organization and presently
have 3 girls committed to D1 and 2 committed to
D3 schools. Our light practice schedule allows players to have a life
outside of SB for school and other activities. The coaches who do not
embrace our philosophy are shown the door. Currently we have 7 TB teams in our
organization and we hold plenty of private tryouts for potential players who are
not happy in their present situation.

 

[crystlemc]

I would never pay as much as some do for the teams that their daughters play on. I can't see myself paying $300 for a bat that will be outgrown in a year. But if you want to more power to you.

However, don't tell me that unless I am paying X amount of dollars then my daughter shouldn't be in competitive sports. Don't tell me that unless I send my daughter to private lessons every week and make her practice 11 months of the year on softball that I am not committed to her...

Being elite and being elitist are 2 different things.

Do you really want to call yourself elitist?

e·lit·ism or é·lit·ism (-ltzm, -l-)
n.
1. The belief that certain persons or members of certain classes or groups deserve favored treatment by virtue of their perceived superiority, as in intellect, social status, or financial resources.
2.
a. The sense of entitlement enjoyed by such a group or class.
b. Control, rule, or domination by such a group or class.

Hopefully, nobody is telling you that. If they are, that's not so much elitist as it is arrogant and condescending.

 

[Cannonball]

As parents we all make the decisions for our children. However, your child is going to have to live with those decisions. We will have tryouts in the spring for softball. There will be some 20 kids trying out that have never played travel ball. Most, if not all, will be cut. Why? The travel ball kids have more skills, have played more games, have practiced more and are dedicated to the sport more. The best make the school teams and play. You can call this "elitism" if you want. If your child is not practicing any given sport and then tries out against those that are, they will not be as skilled. That is life. Those children will still have the opportunity to continue playing rec softball and that's fine as well.

My daughter always participated in at least 2 high school sports. She lettered in two high school sports and was in the top 2 or 3 in both sports. She could have played one more and been in the top. She is gifted. However, once she started in to the softball scene, that is what she wanted. I had the same viewpoint many of you have. Yet, the friendships she formed in travel ball continue to be her best friends. That alone was worth our investment since these same young ladies share our values and so, we know that she runs with girls that are the top students at their respective schools, as well as being kids who don't drink, smoke, etc. Then, when you factor in all of the travel expenses etc. we will still come out ahead on the financial aspect. It has not been uncommon for my dd and others dds on this site to play in 4 or 5 states in a given summer. Here again, spending that quality time with our child as we went to and from those destinations is priceless. JMHO!