How to get excitement back

Welcome to Discuss Fastpitch

Your FREE Account is waiting to the Best Softball Community on the Web.

Jun 14, 2018
172
28
My DD is 11 playing her second year of 10U. We play for a travel/club team that is a first year team. This is her second year with the club with her last team moving up to 12u and we didn't think it best for her to go. My DD had the chance to go to a camp that featured Jenny Finch a few weeks ago and loved it. I watched her most of the day there and I could see that sparkle in her eye's that she had lost when it came to softball. She had that grin from ear to ear when we left and went to her team practice after the camp. I can say for the first time since early April she was excited to go to practice and wanted to get out and work with her team. That was until her coach showed up (late again) and shouted out "why are you wearing a game jersey?"

I could just see the excitement and joy of being there gone. Her energy level dropped and she was just there. We know that we will be leaving this team in a few weeks (season over) but I am looking for a way to make softball fun for her again with this team. I want her to be excited to practice and play again!

Any tips out there?
 
May 24, 2013
12,461
113
So Cal
Hang tight for those last few weeks. Keep doing what you can to keep her from getting down on the game. When you're shopping for the next team, make sure she is the driving force behind the choice. In my experience, young players know very quickly if they like the coaches and other players. If it doesn't feel right, go find another team to tryout with.
 
Oct 11, 2010
8,337
113
Chicago, IL
DD has at minimum lost every game twice all seasonl. She is good.

1 year do not what happened , other year I did.

She likes playing.
 
Jan 22, 2011
1,610
113
Agree with Eric. Have her watch other teams and trust her instincts her last few tournaments.

My DD didn't click with her coach on her former team last season and she has watched the coach of her current team for three years. She's always liked and respected her current coach, even though I think he's a little tough on the girls-- but he's tough on all of them. She told me last night she wishes she had switched to her current team a year ago.
 
Jun 14, 2018
172
28
Hang tight for those last few weeks. Keep doing what you can to keep her from getting down on the game. When you're shopping for the next team, make sure she is the driving force behind the choice. In my experience, young players know very quickly if they like the coaches and other players. If it doesn't feel right, go find another team to tryout with.

I have been very adamant that she picks her next team on her own. She is very worried about cost (not just in softball but everything) and distance from mom's house. I have told her none of that matters as long as you are happy where ever you end up. Pick as many teams you want to tryout for and I will see to it that you are there or I will see what I can do to get a private tryout.

She did play last night and it looked like she was out there enjoying herself. She did make the routine plays look easy again so maybe she is just out there to have fun and move on in a few weeks. :D
 
Jun 12, 2015
3,848
83
Sometimes they just need a break, too. Travel ball is so intense, then here most girls play school ball during the late summer/early fall where they could get a break. Then travel starts right back up and the only time they're really off softball is Nov-Dec since winter workouts start after new years. This time of year in particular I think a lot of kids (and parents, and coaches) start to feel burned out.
 

Strike2

Allergic to BS
Nov 14, 2014
2,044
113
This time of year in particular I think a lot of kids (and parents, and coaches) start to feel burned out.

This couldn't be more true. Yesterday, I saw DD's coach end the day by pouring a big bucket of manure over a team that had just won its third straight game (by wide margins). My wife noticed my anger rising, quickly came up behind me and whispered in my ear..."don't". On the way home, DD told me how she dreads arriving at 3B because she has to listen to this guy. Never underestimate the combined power of heat, ego, and an overwhelming compulsion to find the negative in anything and everything to suck the life out of a good day.
 
Last edited:
May 12, 2016
4,338
113
So my DD came to me the other day and said I want to quit ball.. too stressful and not having fun anymore. She didn't even want to wait until the end of the year. I said you at least need to play the next 2 tournaments because you can't let your mates down. She agreed, shes not a selfish person. However I told her that the next 2 tournaments she needs to have fun, regardless of coaching decisions, errors, strikes outs etc. I told her I am proud of her no matter what, didn't care if the coach didn't play her. Told her to chill, have fun, and play hard. She was 3 games into the tournament and came to me and said I want to finish the year. This past tournament was the most fun I had as a parent and she had as a player. She was relaxed and performed better.
 
May 24, 2013
12,461
113
So Cal
So my DD came to me the other day and said I want to quit ball.. too stressful and not having fun anymore. She didn't even want to wait until the end of the year. I said you at least need to play the next 2 tournaments because you can't let your mates down. She agreed, shes not a selfish person. However I told her that the next 2 tournaments she needs to have fun, regardless of coaching decisions, errors, strikes outs etc. I told her I am proud of her no matter what, didn't care if the coach didn't play her. Told her to chill, have fun, and play hard. She was 3 games into the tournament and came to me and said I want to finish the year. This past tournament was the most fun I had as a parent and she had as a player. She was relaxed and performed better.

I hope she re-finds her love of the game and continues to play.
 

Forum statistics

Threads
42,830
Messages
679,475
Members
21,445
Latest member
Bmac81802
Top