Hello! Just looking for some feedback/advice, or maybe just a place to vent. My DD currently plays for one of the higher-end 10U travel teams in our area. On the teams she's played on (travel, all stars and rec) she is consistently one of the better players, or else middle of the pack while being the youngest on the team. She is ultra-competitive, and still learning to keep her emotions in check when things don't go her way.
From the beginning, we have told her that we will do anything we can to help her reach her goals, be they athletic, academic, etc. For softball, this has turned into something (practice, lessons, or fitness) virtually every night of the week. She goes to all of these willingly, and when she does well, leaves completely charged up for the next one. Lately, we have seen her performance drop off in practice and in lessons. Where she used to be a complete monster at the plate, she is now struggling to hit with the same power and consistency she had just a few months ago. When we ask if she wants to take a break, cut back on the lessons, and not take it so darn seriously, she always says no, she wants to keep pushing and power through it. Although softball is definitely "her thing", she has plenty of friends outside of the sport, does great in her academics and has lots of other hobbies.
Recognizing that she is just starting out in her softball journey, are we better off cutting back a little, maybe just focusing on practice and tournaments? Part of me thinks that this is a temporary dip and she will work through it, but I can also sense the seed of uncertainty starting to creep in. The last thing we want to do is ruin the sport for her by going so hard so young, but I also don't want to short-change her by cutting back unnecessarily. We're really struggling with figuring out the right balance to best keep her on the path she has been on while still continuing to enjoy the game as much as she has up to now.
Just curious if anyone has any thoughts on this or gone through a similar situation with their DD.
Thanks...JF
From the beginning, we have told her that we will do anything we can to help her reach her goals, be they athletic, academic, etc. For softball, this has turned into something (practice, lessons, or fitness) virtually every night of the week. She goes to all of these willingly, and when she does well, leaves completely charged up for the next one. Lately, we have seen her performance drop off in practice and in lessons. Where she used to be a complete monster at the plate, she is now struggling to hit with the same power and consistency she had just a few months ago. When we ask if she wants to take a break, cut back on the lessons, and not take it so darn seriously, she always says no, she wants to keep pushing and power through it. Although softball is definitely "her thing", she has plenty of friends outside of the sport, does great in her academics and has lots of other hobbies.
Recognizing that she is just starting out in her softball journey, are we better off cutting back a little, maybe just focusing on practice and tournaments? Part of me thinks that this is a temporary dip and she will work through it, but I can also sense the seed of uncertainty starting to creep in. The last thing we want to do is ruin the sport for her by going so hard so young, but I also don't want to short-change her by cutting back unnecessarily. We're really struggling with figuring out the right balance to best keep her on the path she has been on while still continuing to enjoy the game as much as she has up to now.
Just curious if anyone has any thoughts on this or gone through a similar situation with their DD.
Thanks...JF