- May 17, 2012
- 2,806
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There is no correlation between size and velocity once they mature.
Advice needed---DD beginning travel ball
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Disagree. Again just speaking in general.
Either of us can post numerous examples of players that do not fit into the in general.
Someone posted this before, what is the average height and wieght of the top D1 Pitchers? Not sure about wieght but if I recall correctly they averaged a few inches taller.
Either of us can post numerous examples of players that do not fit into the in general.
Someone posted this before, what is the average height and wieght of the top D1 Pitchers? Not sure about wieght but if I recall correctly they averaged a few inches taller.
- Jun 12, 2015
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The money, yeah. I had to double my hours to support the softball habit. Team dues for the higher level teams can be in the thousands for the year. Then you've got equipment. Good bats, gloves, etc. aren't cheap. Hotels, gas, food. The A level team we left last year, one of the dads told me in the spring they spent $5,000 on travel, in addition to all the other stuff (dues, equipment, etc).
- Feb 7, 2013
- 3,188
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One thing to consider is the maturity level of your DD, not just her size to be able to handle playing competitive softball and playing with older kids. My DD played softball with a kid who was bigger and more athletic than everyone else but she was very immature, crying at the drop of a hat, and tried to pitch but didn't have the mental attitude to handle the pressure and work ethic of the position.
If you have a good rec league with competitive all-star teams, she will be fine for the next several years. I personally wouldn't put my kid on a travel softball team until she was at least 10YO (DD started TB as a 2nd year 12U player, however she was on some tournament teams that were seasonal when she was 11YO).
If you and she decide to pitch, I highly recommend you seek out a qualified instructor from day 1 to teach proper mechanics and techniques so she ingrains good habits (not bad ones).
Good luck!
If you have a good rec league with competitive all-star teams, she will be fine for the next several years. I personally wouldn't put my kid on a travel softball team until she was at least 10YO (DD started TB as a 2nd year 12U player, however she was on some tournament teams that were seasonal when she was 11YO).
If you and she decide to pitch, I highly recommend you seek out a qualified instructor from day 1 to teach proper mechanics and techniques so she ingrains good habits (not bad ones).
Good luck!
Thanks everyone for the advice and educated opinions. I talked to my DD last night again, at length this time, explaining the commitment and sacrifices the entire family would endure. She seems to understand and insists she is ready to work harder and develop her skills further. She has become less than satisfied with the local rec league play, and has a hard time understanding why other players in the league can't field a ball, turn a double play, etc. She has learned to think ahead, rather than react in surprise. She doesn't understand why a coach or parent or older sibling or grandpa or aunt hasn't taught other kids how to throw the ball further than 60 ft. To be honest, it frustrates me to no end when a player is clueless what they are supposed to do with the ball, and then they typically can't do what is needed.
I am quite certain she will grow to be tall, as my wife is 5'10 and I am 6'3". I saw the xrays of her growth plates in her femur last fall and they are still huge. She is nowhere near done growing. She wears an adult women's size 9 shoe. LOL. And her athletic ability is increasing at a good rate. She seems to be outgrowing the awkward stage most big kids endure, myself included.
After doing some research locally with area coaches and parents, I have not heard anything negative about the organization. They seem to be respected in several ways. One older local high school coach told me to consider it a golden opportunity.
And the team insisted we use the trainer provided and paid for by the team. He works out of training facility 45 minutes away, which saves quite a few miles every week. We live in a rural area, everything is 30-45 minutes away. Travel expense is not a huge concern, we have allowed for it in our budget, as long as it remains somewhat sane. And I have become a softball field junkie, would rather be there than anywhere. It has proven difficult to keep my mouth shut when I am on the parents side of the backstop though.
I registered her for the tryout this weekend, and intend to see how it goes and see if DD and I still feel the same way. I don't know, she may not be a pitcher, but she can play a very respectable second base and her batting is far above her peers. She holds her own in 10U and 12U games and actually prefers live pitching versus machine or coach pitch.
If this is a mistake, I assume it will become self evident soon enough. We may be back in rec ball next spring. I guess we are going to see what the tryout reveals to us, I told my DD the team is on tryout to some degree also.
I am quite certain she will grow to be tall, as my wife is 5'10 and I am 6'3". I saw the xrays of her growth plates in her femur last fall and they are still huge. She is nowhere near done growing. She wears an adult women's size 9 shoe. LOL. And her athletic ability is increasing at a good rate. She seems to be outgrowing the awkward stage most big kids endure, myself included.
After doing some research locally with area coaches and parents, I have not heard anything negative about the organization. They seem to be respected in several ways. One older local high school coach told me to consider it a golden opportunity.
And the team insisted we use the trainer provided and paid for by the team. He works out of training facility 45 minutes away, which saves quite a few miles every week. We live in a rural area, everything is 30-45 minutes away. Travel expense is not a huge concern, we have allowed for it in our budget, as long as it remains somewhat sane. And I have become a softball field junkie, would rather be there than anywhere. It has proven difficult to keep my mouth shut when I am on the parents side of the backstop though.
I registered her for the tryout this weekend, and intend to see how it goes and see if DD and I still feel the same way. I don't know, she may not be a pitcher, but she can play a very respectable second base and her batting is far above her peers. She holds her own in 10U and 12U games and actually prefers live pitching versus machine or coach pitch.
If this is a mistake, I assume it will become self evident soon enough. We may be back in rec ball next spring. I guess we are going to see what the tryout reveals to us, I told my DD the team is on tryout to some degree also.
Pitching lessons, hitting lessons, practice, practice outside of practice. It never ends. Make sure, YOU want to do it. The proper home support system is essential for success.
Did you play college sports? If you didn't, you don't even know what it is like yet.
Probably 99% of the people here came to travel ball for the reasons you stated. Travel ball can be a lot of fun and great for kids - and she sounds like rec isn't doing it for her anymore. That is why mine started playing travel. The question is probably not whether she should start playing travel but more about whether this is right team for her.
This is going to be harsh because frankly it took me years to get this (and I was the coach for the most part of my DD's time in travel so far) and you are just starting. Your frustrations, feeling, thoughts, etc are somewhat irrelevant. This is HER game. If it is YOUR GAME then that is when issues happen. Every time I use the word 'I' or 'me' when it comes to softball, I catch myself and really assess what it is I am talking about. You are there to support her 100% in whatever way you can for her benefit. You can love every second of it - I know I do - but that is because I am so, so thrilled for my DD and all she achieves and learns and that it is part of our relationship.
Is she is headed for 6' tall there will likely be several awkward stages.
HS coach probably knows them for the older girls. Before committing go out and see them play in a tournament with your probable coaches or if not possible go see several of the orgs team play. Ask around. See who their competition is. Think about attending another tryout if this was your first. This is tournament season, so getting out and seeing what is going on should be easy enough (and take your DD - seeing how the big dogs play can be enlightening)
This is a RED FLAG. You will need to make sure this is someone respected and who knows what he is doing especially if he is teaching pitching. Educate yourself on this site in the pitching forum on the basics so you know what you are kind of looking for. This is real tough because you likely have very little knowledge of what good pitching mechanics look like and he likely has a list of girls who are in college that he trained (and maybe he helped - maybe they succeeded despite his training)... You will want to try this guy out - if he has your DD point her elbow to the catcher on release be very, very skeptical (we call it HELLO ELBOW here).
Ask another parent who already has a girl on the team or the coach for last years schedule. $100 gas + $100/night for hotels + $100/day for food on the road adds up on top of tournament and team fees. Elite teams also generally do a week long tournament some time late July. 8U they may not, but a week of hotels and travel is expensive (By 14U it is 2-3 weeks BTW ... ugh).
Yep, I am a softball junkie as well - board member of our travel org, head coach regularly, recruitring coordinator, tournement director, etc, etc.....).
I am impressed you recognize the need to shut your mouth (or you have been told to by the wife). It won't be easy but that is the way to be. Sit in your chair, pretend you are relaxed and applaud and cheer your team (and often the other team).
Correct - the team and org is on tryout as well. And you should think about trying a couple out if there are some others worth considering nearby.
BTW - don't let me scare you off. When it is right, this can be the best thing ever.
There are a million different ways to do this. DD1 did it differently than DD2. DD2 is just plain better than DD1 and that was apparent at a very early age. It had less to do with what teams they were on than their own ability and desire.
Whether or not your DD plays on this specific team at this specific time will most likely have less to do with whether or not she maintains a passion for the game and a desire to work hard and get better than if she enjoys herself.
Rest assured that you can pass this opportunity up and your DD can still reach her top potential.
It is also very likely that even if this potential team turns into a nightmare it will not ruin her and she can still reach her top potential.
In my opinion it is too early to worry too much. Make sure she is having fun. I have seen several players shown the door from 12U and 14U TB teams play college ball at a high level because they had the passion and desire and kept working.
I say that all because I don't think you should worry too much at this age about whether a specific decision you make at this point in time can make or break her future. The worst thing you can do is burn her out and make her lose her passion for the game. It is no fun to sit on the bench during bracket play and there are a lot of teams that operate that way at a young age.
Good luck.
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I appreciate your thoughts and concur with most. This is exactly the type of replies I have been hoping for. Other options are limited and less than successful, which helps make this offer tempting. She made the roster of a 10U TB team this spring. We withdrew due to schedule conflicts. So this isn't exactly our first rodeo, but it is our biggest so far.
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