My only real expectation was DD playing with other girls who could catch and throw, and for the coaches to push her to and help her improve. neither really happened. we understood the time commitment (our girls have swam competitively for several years now, DD1 plays travel level FH) and work involved. our DD was probably the most involved with other sports (rec softball, guest practicing/playing on soccer team), but fastpitch comes second (after school) during spring, and we stuck to that (priorities were TB games, rec games, TB practice, rec practice, then everything else).
would you accept....
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My only real expectation was DD playing with other girls who could catch and throw, and for the coaches to push her to and help her improve. neither really happened. we understood the time commitment (our girls have swam competitively for several years now, DD1 plays travel level FH) and work involved. our DD was probably the most involved with other sports (rec softball, guest practicing/playing on soccer team), but fastpitch comes second (after school) during spring, and we stuck to that (priorities were TB games, rec games, TB practice, rec practice, then everything else).
aaaaarrrrggggghhh!!!!!
just found out DD2's tournament for this weekend (second and last tournament of the spring/summer) is cancelled due to lack of registrations (3 teams only)!
hate this, this means spring travel season consisted of mediocre practices and 1 (one!) tournament, I think 9 innings total (mercy ruled a lot).
had talk with DD2 the other night, and we are going to speak to coach together, but not certain if they will have another practice now before fall. most other girls on this team pretty much play a set position, DD is the one always moving around, one reason for coming to this team was we were told they needed a catcher, other girls gets almost all time at catcher in practice and tournaments (and not a significant difference between the two, and I am pretty impartial when it comes to evaluating DD, DW will tell you I always am harder on her than anybody). some of the other girls ask to play certain positions at practice, DD2 always accepts whatever coach asks her to do. this is going to change, we are going to work with her to advocate for herself more. with me at her side, she is going to ask (respectfully and politely, but clearly) coach to get more practice time at C, to try 1B, etc. will see how this plays (C parents own warehouse where they do indoor hitting practices, 1B mom is AC). I think she can handle either position at least as well as the current girls
and more talk from HC about needing commitment! we committed to all but one tournament they scheduled, and DD ended playing the one and missing DS HS graduation and party, glad she did, as it was only tournament they played it turns out. she is at nearly all practices, and when she is not we tell coach ahead of time and why (couple of weeks ago DD1 shut DD2's hand in car door, she missed a few because of this, and 4 for rec AS). I wish HC would simply tell which families she is referring to privately and directly rather than address things like this to the whole group. Obviously someone is not getting the message. If it is not us, I do not need to hear about it ad nauseum. If it us she is wanting more commitment from, we can agree to disagree and move on. early on, she said she supported the girls playing multiple sports at this age, this was a factor in our joining (DD2 plays softball, soccer, and swims competitively, and at her age I do not want her to give any of it up). in spring, softball is top priority, soccer in fall, swim in winter and month of July (last is flexible, as swim practices in summer are AM, within walking distance of home, and she only needs 3-4 weeknights and last weekend of July to meet all swim commitments).
DD2 is a great teammate, always encouraging, maybe a little bossy at times, but always trying to help. couple of the others aren't, now getting told by DD2 that a couple of the girls are fairly, not mean, but not nice either. Probably feel threatened, most of the others go to school together, have played rec together (at least in same league), etc. and she is outsider.
just found out DD2's tournament for this weekend (second and last tournament of the spring/summer) is cancelled due to lack of registrations (3 teams only)!
hate this, this means spring travel season consisted of mediocre practices and 1 (one!) tournament, I think 9 innings total (mercy ruled a lot).
had talk with DD2 the other night, and we are going to speak to coach together, but not certain if they will have another practice now before fall. most other girls on this team pretty much play a set position, DD is the one always moving around, one reason for coming to this team was we were told they needed a catcher, other girls gets almost all time at catcher in practice and tournaments (and not a significant difference between the two, and I am pretty impartial when it comes to evaluating DD, DW will tell you I always am harder on her than anybody). some of the other girls ask to play certain positions at practice, DD2 always accepts whatever coach asks her to do. this is going to change, we are going to work with her to advocate for herself more. with me at her side, she is going to ask (respectfully and politely, but clearly) coach to get more practice time at C, to try 1B, etc. will see how this plays (C parents own warehouse where they do indoor hitting practices, 1B mom is AC). I think she can handle either position at least as well as the current girls
and more talk from HC about needing commitment! we committed to all but one tournament they scheduled, and DD ended playing the one and missing DS HS graduation and party, glad she did, as it was only tournament they played it turns out. she is at nearly all practices, and when she is not we tell coach ahead of time and why (couple of weeks ago DD1 shut DD2's hand in car door, she missed a few because of this, and 4 for rec AS). I wish HC would simply tell which families she is referring to privately and directly rather than address things like this to the whole group. Obviously someone is not getting the message. If it is not us, I do not need to hear about it ad nauseum. If it us she is wanting more commitment from, we can agree to disagree and move on. early on, she said she supported the girls playing multiple sports at this age, this was a factor in our joining (DD2 plays softball, soccer, and swims competitively, and at her age I do not want her to give any of it up). in spring, softball is top priority, soccer in fall, swim in winter and month of July (last is flexible, as swim practices in summer are AM, within walking distance of home, and she only needs 3-4 weeknights and last weekend of July to meet all swim commitments).
DD2 is a great teammate, always encouraging, maybe a little bossy at times, but always trying to help. couple of the others aren't, now getting told by DD2 that a couple of the girls are fairly, not mean, but not nice either. Probably feel threatened, most of the others go to school together, have played rec together (at least in same league), etc. and she is outsider.
I believe that a summer team should be playing 5-7 events. Sounds like your coach doesn't know how to schedule tourney's properly. You should always have a back up tourney in case the other doesn't make. Time to find a better fit for your DD and your schedule. I like the idea of playing different sports and doing multiple activities, but not at the same time. Good luck.
I wish it could be one at a time as well, but every sport nowadays insists on going year round. i would love for her to play softball in spring, soccer in fall, swim Dec-Feb and July (july season is a rec version of swimming, 4 local swim clubs form teams, have practices in AM, two weeknight meets a week (and if they miss some, no big deal), one big meet last Sat in July, so minimal conflict with other sports). but softball and soccer are pretty much year round now. soccer took July off, will take some time in winter, softball is taking most of August off, and will have about a 4 week holiday break, but otherwise all year for both. have yet to find travel softball or soccer in our area that is not year round. we told her soccer coach when she joined team, in spring, softball is #1, and current softball HC said she supports girls playing multiple sports, so we will see how that works out for the fall, when soccer will be #1. Basically, the sport that is in season is priority, secondary sport, we try to get her to all games, and try to do one practice a week (this generally means three practices a week, plus 2-3 games, mostly on weekends).
thanks for the wishes of good luck.
- Jul 14, 2017
- 181
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I might be in the minority but I disagree about playing travel ball and other sports/activities at the same time. It is great that your child has varied interests and wants to be involved in other activities. However travel ball is a yr round commitment and there will be inevitable conflicts. It hurts the team and your child's rapport with that team. Not fair to the girls who are showing up to all the practices. When my daughter started rec softball she was in gymnastics. When she told me she wanted to play travel ball, I made her choose one or the other.
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Disagree with a couple things on here not a big deal in my mind.
I have always had players were SB is secondary priority. Is playing a flute a primary Sport?
We have been able to figure it out and families and players have been good working with us.
I have 0 doubt DD can play for a good DII or DIII team, still not sure she wants to.
I have always had players were SB is secondary priority. Is playing a flute a primary Sport?
We have been able to figure it out and families and players have been good working with us.
I have 0 doubt DD can play for a good DII or DIII team, still not sure she wants to.
I simply think 10u is too young to focus solely on one sport (supposed MJ decide because he was not on varsity basketball in HS one year to give up and only play baseball?), for a number of reasons. playing multiple sports makes them use different muscle groups, or same muscles in a different way. much better for them physically.
Also, trouble is, at least around here, rec softball is pretty much a waste of her time, she will quit for certain if only playing rec. too much bad pitching on opposing teams, too much bad fielding on her teams (this past rec season, only two girls who could reliable catch and throw, DD and one other player). and when she is missing a travel softball practice, it is now like she is sitting around, she is generally doing some type of training, so it will help her on diamond at least peripherially (ie stamina, stronger muscles, reflexes etc.).
and I am not even worried about DII or DIII, DD is 10u. just want her to have fun and develop. but watching her teammates make bad plays until run limit for inning is reached and getting a BB 3 out of 4 plate appearances is not fun for her, and is also not teaching her anything.
basically, TB is killing rec, which is shame. to many teams formed simply because someone's DD did not make a team, so we must form a travel team so DD is playing TB. downward spiral, as rec play gets worse, more players leaving, rec play gets even worse, more players leave, etc.
Also, trouble is, at least around here, rec softball is pretty much a waste of her time, she will quit for certain if only playing rec. too much bad pitching on opposing teams, too much bad fielding on her teams (this past rec season, only two girls who could reliable catch and throw, DD and one other player). and when she is missing a travel softball practice, it is now like she is sitting around, she is generally doing some type of training, so it will help her on diamond at least peripherially (ie stamina, stronger muscles, reflexes etc.).
and I am not even worried about DII or DIII, DD is 10u. just want her to have fun and develop. but watching her teammates make bad plays until run limit for inning is reached and getting a BB 3 out of 4 plate appearances is not fun for her, and is also not teaching her anything.
basically, TB is killing rec, which is shame. to many teams formed simply because someone's DD did not make a team, so we must form a travel team so DD is playing TB. downward spiral, as rec play gets worse, more players leaving, rec play gets even worse, more players leave, etc.
