I'm curious as to what TB team schedules look like on a year round basis. We are going to be putting together a 14u TB team this next year and found that last year a lot of girls were facing burnout issues playing spring/all-star/fall ball.
The way our thinking is right now, we'll play in a fall league (Late Aug-Late Oct) and then break until after the New Year before starting on practices. Travel season to start after Jr. High ball ends (so many of the kids will have been playing games starting in March) so figure mid May and continue through end of July/early Aug. That means the next fall ball season starts in just a few weeks after the end of TB season.
I'm worried that we are going to be facing burn out on what may look to the kids (and parents) as a year round schedule, especially if they elect to play Jr. High/High School ball.
Also, does anyone do things with their teams in the winter that is non-softball related, but intended to build team unity? My wife suggested doing a day bowling or at a water park instead of practice sometimes, or getting everyone together to see movies and such. Trying to figure out that balance between building team cohesion and losing players because they never do *anything* except play softball.
The way our thinking is right now, we'll play in a fall league (Late Aug-Late Oct) and then break until after the New Year before starting on practices. Travel season to start after Jr. High ball ends (so many of the kids will have been playing games starting in March) so figure mid May and continue through end of July/early Aug. That means the next fall ball season starts in just a few weeks after the end of TB season.
I'm worried that we are going to be facing burn out on what may look to the kids (and parents) as a year round schedule, especially if they elect to play Jr. High/High School ball.
Also, does anyone do things with their teams in the winter that is non-softball related, but intended to build team unity? My wife suggested doing a day bowling or at a water park instead of practice sometimes, or getting everyone together to see movies and such. Trying to figure out that balance between building team cohesion and losing players because they never do *anything* except play softball.