Just wondering how many DDs on here play for both a rec league (Little League, Babe Ruth etc) and a pay-to-play Travel tournament team? My DD has played since she was 5yoa (T-ball) and she's 10 now. Her father has coached as the AC each year except the first and has just stepped into the HC roll. Up until this year softball has been for her in her words "time with daddy". She's been an average player, probably getting a little daddyball preference on the field. This past season her interest in the game has skyrocketed. She has improved tremendously. Has asked to go watch older teams play. The day came when she discovered TB through a girl on her team. She asked about it and after explaining the time obligations and the difference in the level of competitiveness, asked to play this as well as LL ball.
Softball isn't huge in this area. We are limited in clubs to join. Her father wasn't happy about her wanting to play TB to start with, then when he talked to one of the coaches they clashed in their opinions about playing both rec and TB. The coach said he didn't want his players playing rec because it interferes with his team (schedules, pitching availability, injuries etc). Her father basically is against her playing for a tournament team now. To make matters worse, the original girl that made my DD interested in TB has decided to not play in the rec league that the ex (DD's dad) coaches, and a handful of other girls have just joined the TB club (but are still playing rec for him so far this fall ball season). He has expressed to me that he feels that he coaches them to a certain level and then they "leave rec for a perceived better team" and he doesn't want his daughter to be as ungrateful for what "got her to be the player she is".
I have found another team she could join that is more "rec friendly" and approached him with that option. He's now saying he feels it will be too much. Our rec league tops out at 12u. He thinks she should wait until then to play for a TB team. I say she should play now for competitive reasons and continue with rec for that daddy/daughter time as well as more playing time and social time with friends she's made there. She wants to do both. If she does, she will be doing it without his blessing and he has stated that if there is ever a scheduling conflict his team will be the one she's playing or practicing with.
So, back to my original question... how many DDs play on more than one team/league and if so are there any issues you have had doing both?
Thanks in advance, and please be gentle! I've been a lurker for awhile, and this is my first post.
Softball isn't huge in this area. We are limited in clubs to join. Her father wasn't happy about her wanting to play TB to start with, then when he talked to one of the coaches they clashed in their opinions about playing both rec and TB. The coach said he didn't want his players playing rec because it interferes with his team (schedules, pitching availability, injuries etc). Her father basically is against her playing for a tournament team now. To make matters worse, the original girl that made my DD interested in TB has decided to not play in the rec league that the ex (DD's dad) coaches, and a handful of other girls have just joined the TB club (but are still playing rec for him so far this fall ball season). He has expressed to me that he feels that he coaches them to a certain level and then they "leave rec for a perceived better team" and he doesn't want his daughter to be as ungrateful for what "got her to be the player she is".
I have found another team she could join that is more "rec friendly" and approached him with that option. He's now saying he feels it will be too much. Our rec league tops out at 12u. He thinks she should wait until then to play for a TB team. I say she should play now for competitive reasons and continue with rec for that daddy/daughter time as well as more playing time and social time with friends she's made there. She wants to do both. If she does, she will be doing it without his blessing and he has stated that if there is ever a scheduling conflict his team will be the one she's playing or practicing with.
So, back to my original question... how many DDs play on more than one team/league and if so are there any issues you have had doing both?
Thanks in advance, and please be gentle! I've been a lurker for awhile, and this is my first post.