Should DD play Travel & League?

[fivepotsogold]

I guess it depends on the schedule and situation.
We have a lighted field for LL ... games are later in the day/night for this age group (9-12).
Her Travel team this year plans on staying close (in state) so we may not miss much of LL at all. Not more than any other kid who might play spring soccer, dance...etc....
My DD does not feel as though LL is inferior ... just a place for kids who like to do multiple activities or for kids who are just having fun with friends. This is basically what OUR LL is at the current moment.

Every area will be different, Travel requirements will be different for each as well.
Do what you feel is best for your situation....

My daughter is very young and just starting softball (2 seasons under her belt). She played rec. last year and is playing travel this year. I have spent a lot of time explaining to her the team concept ideals such as "It is all about the team, nothing else matters" I am not sure waht it says when the travel team would be "priority", it says that the rec. team is somehow inferior, although I am sure the level of play is. I feel that it is not possible and unfair to the rec. team to play both.

 

[mksoftball759]

Travel & Rec

As far as play goes, rec ball is definetly inferior, but as some others have said, learning to be part of a team is also important, when it comes to this important aspect of sports, rec is superior. Many Travel coaches put too much of an emphasis on winning rather than learning. I have also seen rec coaches get crazy. My DD does both & luckily it has worked out with LL All-stars- no conflicts

 

[newsoftballdad]

Travel and rec.

My daughter was in a unique situation last year. She played rec. all spring, after her season was over she was asked to sub for the travel team in her age group who would be a few players short due to summer vacations. She played in two tournaments and practice for about 3 weeks with them. I explained to her that once she committed to travel she would need to live up to it and she did. We had a couple of mornings were we were up at 5:30 to be at a tournament by 7:15am for warmups. She did love playing rec. but once she got the taste of travel it was game over. In our situation it would be difficult to play both the level of play is much different, but I agree with fivepots it always comes down to doing what is best for your daughter.

 

[NYLadyCobras]

Izzy, Just my oppinion but I think your daughter can play both. especially if she is not playing school ball yet. I could be wrong but I'm sure she wants to play and "Hang out" with her freinds who probably play little league. Remember for most girls it is still a very social event. Just make sure you tell her little league coach that her travel team does come 1st and any conflicts she will attend the travel team function.

What I did with my older daughter at 12U and 14U was still play little league to get work in against live batters. But her stats did not matter to us. She used little league to work on her pitches and location. Yes most batters in little league she could have just thrown a fastball past them as some coaches and parents wanted. Use the little league to work her change-up, drop or whatever her pitching coach has her working on. One game my daughter had over 9 (I think) runners reach 1st base on dropped third strikes, were we upset? NO way, because her drop pitch was droping alot and the little league catcher couldn't handle it. I don't remember if we won or lost but it was a productive workout for her.

 

[Wellphyt]

I tend to agree with sluggers. On off days from travel, I think your daughter would be better off working with you one on one, or just doing something unrelated to softball.

I have purposely kept my daughter out of travel ball because the coaches are way too intense and serious. I live in the most competative fastpitch county in the Atlanta area and it's not unusual for 10u and 12u travel teams to play 130 plus games per season.

This season we joined a 12u laid back travel team that is made up of girls that all go to the same school and know each other. The focus of the team is to learn and have fun. We're expecting to play about 60 games. It's kind of a cross between rec and travel ball.

Unless your daughter is fanatical about playing softball, I would be careful about committing to both rec and travel.
Even though rec can be fun, in your daughter's eyes it is still structured time. Meaning she has to be at a field at a certain time and is expected to follow instructions while she is at the field.

Kids need some unstructured time where an adult isn't telling them what to do.

 

[FJRGerry]

This is my daughter's first year in travel playing at the 12U level. Since she's also been playing LL SB for the last 5 years with the same core group of girls she didn't want to miss out on her LL season. We discussed options (prior to even signing up for travel) and I left up to her with the understanding that travel would take priority over LL. She really enjoys the cameraderie of LL (and being a dominant pitcher in our league doesn't hurt either). Once she decided to do LL as well I explained to her travel coach and her LL coach the situation. Fortunately both are very flexible. Since most LL games are weeknights and travel tournaments are weekends there shouldn't too much conflict I'm hoping.

What will make it interesting is if she makes her 7th grade school team!

Gerry

 

[Coach-n-Dad]

DD will play both this year. Travel ball for the competition and rec for the fun, laid back day at the park.

 

[jofus13]

My DD has done both for the last 2 years, and will again this year. Obviously, travel takes priority over rec (Little League). She's moving up this year (Juniors, or Seniors, or whatever the league ends up doing with 13 year olds), and they don't schedule games on weekends, which will help a lot.