High School Softball ,No Thanks I'll pass

[RubberBiscuit]

High School Softball is the best.

You know I can't sit by with a pull the pin and launch post like this.... ;-)

I thought we semi-confirmed SC that you are experiencing a 1% HS experience..? (you are in the top SB state, in the top HS division, with a top winning team, - How can't ya love that!?!? - But I submit your experience is a way-minority experience in HS)

What I have trouble with is Daddy Ball coaches. The same coaches who did not know how to coach at all when their DD was 7 years old. They coach her all the way up. Stepping on other folks (yes, while helping many out) as their DD gets prime billing. Finally learn how to coach. There is a whole posse of them. HC, AC, another AC, 3 ball players getting propped up on every team.

Again, you are living in your little fairy-tale experience that makes these many-times realities seem so bad to you. I could go on for miles on the terrible traits of HS varsity SB coaches (like the varsity coach that was removed JUST before my DD got there who was a lady who new nothing but gymnastics... this is for one of our states biggest HS in the biggest division!!)

Only to stand in the High School sidelines (or a message board) dissin on the high school coach who is working as hard as they can for a pittance.

Now you're starting to sound like a union teacher,..... I LOVE the trend these days AWAY from granting precedence of getting a HS coaching spot just because of union seniority (even though they might only know gymnastics....)

It's the "benched travel ball coaches" who are the worst. And most are not allowed in HS ball, only adding to my pleasure.

WRONG! Yes the ego-TB coaches can be bad at times BUT the worst scenario for any youth is to want to play solid-learning SB and then to have to get on a HS SB team and get coached by a gymnastics background coach...? Are you kidding me..? They're sucking the wind out of a child's goal right there.

The worst are all those posers in HS coaching that are just there to supplement their income that have NO passion for the sport or the kids goals.

The atmosphere of high school, playing for your community, is so much better than travel ball, in my opinion. Not always the play. But the joy, if you truly understand life, and how to soak in the good parts presented to you along the way.

And the tooth fairy exists too...... SC I am NOT questioning your specific HS SB experience for your DD that might fit better in the HS SB world. BUT their are other watching these posts and when I think of them seeing that HS IS a suitable outlet for a kid that has next level goals,....I cringe!!!

 

[SCDad]

The joy of playing softball is just about that ... joy.

If you are good enough, the college scouts will find you. It is rare the great player do not get found these days.

So you can structure your whole life around getting that all important scholarship. In the end, the ones who deserve it get one, no matter where they play. The ones who don't, don't. But how does your DD feel about her life, right now?

And the good ones who get overlooked, just walk on the college they want to go to, make the team earning a scholarship in her college sophomore year. Happens more than many know, and talked about here. There are so may ways to do it, and have a happy, fully adjusted, young lady.

Or do everything right in your mind. Pay a bunch to get all the exposure anyone could possibly get. Push, push your DD. Scholarship, scholarship, scholarship !!! get a bunch of offers as her play has been advertised, propped up by her coaching parents. Only to show at a college, not be good enough, and lose interest because she was only playing for her parents anyways.

Yeah, yeah, I get it from you. HS sucks, the HS coaches suck, and the players are not good, even though they are the same girls.

I prefer to enjoy the game. HS is part of it if you take the time to smell the roses.

 

[flipper14]

my kid is a starter on her high school team but the coaching is so bad she doesn't want to return. I'm not sure I want her to return. Her TB team is a very solid ASA Team and it's always great experiance. What a let down it is when HS ball rolls around. Clueless coaches, drama and the worse team in the district. I think if you can spell "softball" they will let you coach. Why bother ?

Maybe your daughter can make a difference. I know as a coach I learned a lot from some of my best players. I am always trying to improve. There is a girl that lives in our area who has completely transformed a local high school program. She went to a school that in 2009 had eight girls in the entire school at the first practice. It's a very good private school and the girl knew nothing about the softball program when she enrolled in 2010.

Her travel team won a PGF national championship this summer and she was playing with kids whom had never played before. She elevated everyone's level of play and the entire school became more interested in softball. She became a DI commit prior to her junior season. This past spring, with only one senior on the roster, they won a league title, albeit in the poorer of the two divisions in the league.This spring they will have three players on the roster who played at PGF nationals this past summer. Five years ago the team's outfielders would jump around when they simply caught a ball.

This girl became a softball role model for the girls and more of them are playing year round, taking lessons, etc. She wasn't thrilled with the quality of high school ball either but she did something about it and has transformed a program. What is she wouldn't have played because she thought she was too good?

 

[SCDad]

Maybe your daughter can make a difference. I know as a coach I learned a lot from some of my best players. I am always trying to improve. There is a girl that lives in our area who has completely transformed a local high school program. She went to a school that in 2009 had eight girls in the entire school at the first practice. It's a very good private school and the girl knew nothing about the softball program when she enrolled in 2010.

Her travel team won a PGF national championship this summer and she was playing with kids whom had never played before. She elevated everyone's level of play and the entire school became more interested in softball. She became a DI commit prior to her junior season. This past spring, with only one senior on the roster, they won a league title, albeit in the poorer of the two divisions in the league.This spring they will have three players on the roster who played at PGF nationals this past summer. Five years ago the team's outfielders would jump around when they simply caught a ball.

This girl became a softball role model for the girls and more of them are playing year round, taking lessons, etc. She wasn't thrilled with the quality of high school ball either but she did something about it and has transformed a program. What is she wouldn't have played because she thought she was too good?

Thank you... that dad must be super proud of his DD. She has transcended the game and showed everyone what this wonderful game is all about !!!

A true winner in every sense of the word. I am willing to bet she gets more recognition walking around her town, and school, by folks who know little about the game of softball, but do know what the young lady has done for the people around her.

She gave ... sacrificed herself for others. The best !!! I wish I could see her play, get to know who she is, and root for her in college. That is the affect great people have on others.

 

[flipper14]

Thank you... you must be super proud of your DD. She has transcended the game and showed everyone what this wonderful game is all about !!!

A true winner in every sense of the word. I am willing to bet she gets more recognition walking around her town, and school, by folks who know little about the game of softball, but do know what your DD has done for the people around her.

She gave ... sacrificed herself for others. The best !!! I wish I could see her play, get to know who she is, and root for her in college. That is the affect great people have on others.

She isn't my daughter but I have the utmost respect for her and what she's done for that program.

 

[RubberBiscuit]

If you are good enough, the college scouts will find you. It is rare the great player do not get found these days.

So you can structure your whole life around getting that all important scholarship. In the end, the ones who deserve it get one, no matter where they play. The ones who don't, don't. But how does your DD feel about her life, right now?

And the good ones who get overlooked, just walk on the college they want to go to, make the team earning a scholarship in her college sophomore year. Happens more than many know, and talked about here.

There is so much inaccuracy here - again, from a nation-wide perspective.

I am SO VERY intrigued to live a day in your shoes SC to be able to even write this stuff.......

 

[nanotech14]

I have to ask, are you a HS coach and your dd just wasn't good enough to get to the next level? So in your little narrow minded world, there is something wrong with helping your dd to excel in a sport she loves? I think HS softball is a great experience, but it isn't at the same level with TB. This is the problem in this country now and your tought process, we have to have an equal playing field, so as not to hurt the ones that don't want to work hard and make something out of themselves. Thats what I have got out of your post.

 

[CoogansBluff]

So in your little narrow minded world, there is something wrong with helping your dd to excel in a sport she loves?

People are sensitive to being stereotyped. If SC meant his comments as a broad generalization of TB parents, then he was off base. If he was making the point that some TB parents push, push, push, thinking that a scholarship is a pot of gold at the end, only to find that it wasn't DD's dream in the first place, then he is correct. That does happen. Similarly, HS softball is meaningful in many ways, but it also can be ugly.

 

[Easton33]

I am a lucky one too. Where we live if you go to an "independant" school (K-8) you get to choose what high school you go to, any school. There are 7 different high schools within 20 miles (4a-a size) and I have had the luxury of scouting. (Academically as well) The school I chose has a great coach, arguably one of the best in the state. Like I said, we are lucky but I see these horrible coaches at the HS level and don't understand how they can be this bad and still keep their job. As bad as high school is, Jr High is 10 times worse for a competitive kid to be involved in. Let's not praise TB coaches too much either, some of them are pretty bad and the daddy ball is sometimes out of control. Again, lucky us, HS coach has a TB team too. "Git in where you fit in". Everyone's situation is not the same and different experiences cultivate different view points.

 

[RubberBiscuit]

I am a lucky one too. Where we live if you go to an "independant" school (K-8) you get to choose what high school you go to, any school. There are 7 different high schools within 20 miles (4a-a size) and I have had the luxury of scouting. (Academically as well) The school I chose has a great coach, arguably one of the best in the state. Like I said, we are lucky but I see these horrible coaches at the HS level and don't understand how they can be this bad and still keep their job. As bad as high school is, Jr High is 10 times worse for a competitive kid to be involved in. Let's not praise TB coaches too much either, some of them are pretty bad and the daddy ball is sometimes out of control. Again, lucky us, HS coach has a TB team too. "Git in where you fit in". Everyone's situation is not the same and different experiences cultivate different view points.

Great balance in your words here Easton.

Ya daddy-ball can be demoralizing too - no question about that. I will also give a "bash" to many TB coaches as MANY are way too "old-school" and/or way too "baseball" and/or way too "8U" (older DD parents will know what I mean with this last one). Some of these ole-timers would be SHOCKED if they actually watched and learned the skills & strategies of the D1 games played on tv (speaking to TB-A level here)