Thoughts on walk up music

Softball scholar said:

I have never seen walk-up music at a travel ball tournament, and I've been around along time. But my DDs high school does it, and its a real fun thing for the kids. Ive seen local colleges do it, and they do it in the major leagues. So I see no problem doing it.
My DD plays "Going to Fly now" from Rocky and its awsome. I think a good thing at the high school level, as your trying to create a fun entertaining environment for the fans. You're always trying to get fans there. Our school has an announcer with a PA system, he just hits the play button for a little 5 or 6 second clip as they walk up. It doesn't slow the game down, audio clips are approved by coach, and everybody smiles. Its fun.

The difference at a travel ball tournament is you go multiple fields going, and you don't have a PA announcer doing the games, you're not the home team and lots of time you're on the clock so you want faster paced games. You also have less people watching the game. Its a whole different environment at a travel tournament. It would look weird at a travel tournament, especially if timing was bad.

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4 girl's dad said:

How does walk up music slow the game down? Is the batter running the music before their at bat?

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Lightning said:

Each music clip was probably 10-15 seconds. But the girls wouldn't move from the on-deck circle until their music started, and the person in charge of music took her time starting each song. If the girl reached home plate before the song was over, she'd wait to get in the box until the song was done. And then each girl had their pre-batting ritual.

Our games last summer were mostly 1:20 no new inning or 1:30 drop dead. There's not a lot of time to waste, and they were wasting time.

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SMS90 said:

That sounds like an issue with that team and not the music itself.

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Lightning said:

Possibly. And I could see how a parent with a deft hand and respect for the game could do it correctly.

But I think it's easy to go from "fun for the girls" to "obnoxious" with the wrong parent.

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4 girl's dad said:

Hey ive seen obnoxious with the wrong team. I know of a local team that did the built wagon and sound system. It was totally annoying when on a 10 field multiplex you could hear the music over everyone. Kinda like short man syndrome.


I also agree with SMS90. That is a coaching issue not a music issue. The players should not adjust for the music, the music adjusts to the situation.


I have seen the new app that lets you cut 10 seconds and then it announces the players name and number. While very cool it is a little over the top for 10-12u.

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