17yr. Old wants to return after having baby

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Should a player be allowed to return after having a baby?

  • Yes

    Votes: 67 94.4%
  • No

    Votes: 4 5.6%

  • Total voters
    71
Aug 22, 2014
8
1
Insinuated most parents have jobs. Meaning most parents have a job and this young lady would have job (finishing school) and be a parent so questioning if there is enough time to play travel softball. grcsftbll has a great example, Jennie Finch has one job (softball) as a parent. Just have a hard time seeing how she how a full time student could play travel softball and it wouldn't take time away from the baby.

But I'll concede the argument. Let her go to school and play softball and with whatever time she has left take care of the baby.
 
May 24, 2013
12,461
113
So Cal
Insinuated most parents have jobs. Meaning most parents have a job and this young lady would have job (finishing school) and be a parent so questioning if there is enough time to play travel softball. grcsftbll has a great example, Jennie Finch has one job (softball) as a parent. Just have a hard time seeing how she how a full time student could play travel softball and it wouldn't take time away from the baby.

But I'll concede the argument. Let her go to school and play softball and with whatever time she has left take care of the baby.

A big factor in this is that the young mother is not the sole care-giver for the baby. As described by the OP, the father is involved, and there is a good family support system. IMO, this young lady being able to continue school, continue softball, and move on to college will serve her - and her child - better in the long run.
 
Jun 12, 2015
3,848
83
It's a good thing for children to grow up with adults they can count on and trust besides their parents, in my opinion. Involved grandparents and aunts (etc) can add so much to a child's life. If they have a system in mind for making it work, that's the important thing. I would also say that it's a family matter and not really anyone else's business.
 
Aug 22, 2014
8
1
A big factor in this is that the young mother is not the sole care-giver for the baby. As described by the OP, the father is involved, and there is a good family support system. IMO, this young lady being able to continue school, continue softball, and move on to college will serve her - and her child - better in the long run.

Not saying she should give up softball (or it is a death sentence when you have a baby), just asking the questioning if travel softball is a good idea. For most, travel softball, especially for the 14 and up age group, is to hopefully get them a scholarship. It is already changing enough to get a scholarship let alone to get a college coach to give one of their coveted scholarships to a girl (or boy for that matter) to someone who has a child. College is hard enough. Going to college and being a student athlete is even harder. I think it is very unrealistic to think someone could be in college, and an athlete, and a parent. IMHO, when she decided to have the baby she also decided to not play softball in college (which I absolutely applaud her for). That being said, is travel ball a good idea? Isn't it ok just to be a good student, a great parent and a rock star rec league softball player?
 
Aug 22, 2014
8
1
It's a good thing for children to grow up with adults they can count on and trust besides their parents, in my opinion. Involved grandparents and aunts (etc) can add so much to a child's life. If they have a system in mind for making it work, that's the important thing. I would also say that it's a family matter and not really anyone else's business.

I second that. Having a strong family has a huge impact on a child's life.
 
May 24, 2013
12,461
113
So Cal
Not saying she should give up softball (or it is a death sentence when you have a baby), just asking the questioning if travel softball is a good idea. For most, travel softball, especially for the 14 and up age group, is to hopefully get them a scholarship. It is already changing enough to get a scholarship let alone to get a college coach to give one of their coveted scholarships to a girl (or boy for that matter) to someone who has a child. College is hard enough. Going to college and being a student athlete is even harder. I think it is very unrealistic to think someone could be in college, and an athlete, and a parent. IMHO, when she decided to have the baby she also decided to not play softball in college (which I absolutely applaud her for). That being said, is travel ball a good idea? Isn't it ok just to be a good student, a great parent and a rock star rec league softball player?

I am unable to agree with your opinion, but not having lived it, I'm only guessing. Instead, I'll refer to someone who has lived it...

This one hits me right square in the feels for 2 reasons:

1) My then GF (now DW) was 20 when she became pregnant with DD1. At that time, she was playing at a local juco with some prospects to transfer, possibly DI or DII. She was good. She stopped playing, and after DD1 was born, about a year and a half later, went to another juco and focused on transferring, and she wasn't thinking about playing ball anymore. She had to take a PE class, so she took tennis. At her first class, she kept launching the tennis ball out of the court, and the tennis coach asked if she played softball. Next thing we know, she had a tryout with the school's team and was quickly made the starting catcher and batting 3rd. We were fortunate to have strong support from our parents, and we have pictures of DD1 running on the field with DW and her team as we followed the team around to most of their games. It wasn't easy, though. I was working full-time and going to school as well, but we were still a young family with few bills, mostly rent and food, so we were able to pull it off. It was an experience unlike any other. When it came time to transfer, I asked DW if she wanted to try walking-on, since her current HC was encouraging her to try and would set up a tryout for her, but she didn't want to be away from DD1 when the team would travel, so she hung it up. She now states that her biggest regret is not trying to walk-on.

2) So now we've come full circle. DW and I are in our first year coaching DD1's HS varsity team. We are aware of a senior that didn't play last year. She had a child after her sophomore season, and was now returning for one last season. To say she is talented is an understatement. I used to think DW had the strongest arm I'd ever seen in person; not anymore. Some juco coaches were at a recent game scouting players from the other team, and they approached her after the game and offered her on the spot. DW and I met with her and her mom recently to encourage her to pursue this (she thought she couldn't play in college because of her child), shared our experience, and to offer to help in anyway we can. At this moment, she is likely headed to one of the stronger (academically) juco's in our area, with a great reputation of preparing their students for the rigors of a university. The coach has already told us she'd be their starting catcher. They are a strong softball program, and we believe they'll get her in front of the right people looking for a transfer in 2 years.

Delantex, please keep on supporting this girl. You have an opportunity to positively influence a few lives. This is why we do what we do.
 
Nov 26, 2010
4,782
113
Michigan
Insinuated most parents have jobs. Meaning most parents have a job and this young lady would have job (finishing school) and be a parent so questioning if there is enough time to play travel softball. grcsftbll has a great example, Jennie Finch has one job (softball) as a parent. Just have a hard time seeing how she how a full time student could play travel softball and it wouldn't take time away from the baby.

But I'll concede the argument. Let her go to school and play softball and with whatever time she has left take care of the baby.

I don't think it is the softball org's responsibility to decide how much time is too much time away from the baby. It is a family decision.

Now if having child creates a situation where the girl misses too many team activities, then the team can decide to part ways, same as if a player missed too much time for any reason.
 

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