Politics in high school softball suck!

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Cannonball

Ex "Expert"
Feb 25, 2009
4,854
113
RubberBiscuit, we all know that what you say is true and that is a shame. You don't owe anyone an apology AND you have ever right here to vent. Believe me, I vent enough on this site to know it does some good!!!
 
May 7, 2008
8,506
48
Tucson
Yes politics can be part of HS softball. It can also be part of travel ball. My boys went to a HS, where if you weren't in sports, you were basically nothing. When the coach is winning state championships, he can basically write his own ticket.

That said, I have yet to see a coach that will sit a player that is in the top 5-10 athletes on the team. If a girl comes to practice and she hits a few home runs, the coach will find a place for her. Work hard and good things will come to you.

I know that sports are hard on parents. I can remember that feeling. But you can't will your DD to play. It is usually in her hands.
 
Jan 25, 2011
2,282
38
Last year was my first time with HS softball as as AC. I found that, I myself would try to get girls in the game, depending on how many times they went to the snack bar and the quality of the snack they bought me. The relish that they put on my hotdog, showed me that they went that extra step.:p
 
Jan 18, 2010
4,284
0
In your face
RB you don't have to apologize. All you did was voice your opinion and personal HS experience, as I was.

My DD makes the 3rd generation and 6th person ( from my father to the grandchildren ) to be involved in the HS diamond game political arena. We've seen or heard just about every lunical event possible, so I guess we are less shocked by it.

Of course we have not learned it all, and never will. But I try to pass on how I feel you/we can make the high school ball experience pleasant and more productive.

People like Perfect Circle are at the best ages to start working and developing a "core" group of young athletes to make a state playoff run. ( 10u ) You pick out 7-8-9 players who show some raw talent and the drive to get better and you start the building block process.

Keeping those girls together for years of practice, local TB tournaments, state TB tournaments, national events and pretty soon you've not only developed the skills to compete and win at those levels, but you've given them the experience of playing against the best softball has to offer for later in high school. ( I can't speak for every state but I posted links last year how girls from ours beat and tied national records in NFHS, there are some beasts at state )

^^^^^This was a theory my older ( and wiser ) brother passed onto me. The proof is in the pudding as I've posted the links before. His oldest pitched and won HS state championship in 2009, his youngest ( the big dummy that signed last week ) pitched and was runner up last spring HS state, my DD's HS has been to state the past 2 years ( never been done before in 27 year history ) and we do better each time and hopefully this year bring home that ring with our 7 "core" seniors.

So yes "we" can make a difference in HS sports. What we can't do is walk on the field as a freshman ( while doing nothing for the group in the past ) and expect the experience to be positive.
 
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gvm

Sep 3, 2010
311
18
I think this could be good... maybe. Getting some consistency. Only problem is that if they don't make it to state, or the top 50 nationally in TB, then its time to get all new people. TB & HS

i'm pretty sure you misunderstood? girls that play on other travel teams are blackballed from the school teams?
 
Nov 26, 2010
4,784
113
Michigan
i'm pretty sure you misunderstood? girls that play on other travel teams are blackballed from the school teams?

In michigan you wouldn't bother with the AD the second time, you would go straight to the governing body for sports MSHAA, because that would be a violation of its rules and could result in big problems for the coach and the school
 
Jul 26, 2010
3,567
0
HS ball is about playing with other players that you have no control over for a coach that you have no control over. It is a chance to get a glimpse of the reality of the real world, where life is not fair and you often don't get to choose your boss or your co-workers. It is a very valuable life experience in this regard.

Other then that, it's 3 months of rec ball part deux, in a world where softball players (unfortunatly) play year-round.

* No offense to the areas of Illinois and other random southeastern states where HS ball seems to matter more.

-W
 
Sep 18, 2011
1,411
0
I know I should just bite my tongue, but I've said it before and I'll say it again - I am so happy that my DD does not play school ball. She's homeschooled which makes her ineligible (we don't have a "Tim Tebow law" in our state), but really we could not care less. While her TB teammates are in school ball in the Spring, DD is getting individual training from her TB coach, one of the best softball instructors I've ever known. Free instruction - priceless.
 

sluggers

Super Moderator
Staff member
May 26, 2008
7,133
113
Dallas, Texas
Softball is a small part of HS. Please, don't make decisions about where your child goes to school based upon the coach.

I am so happy that my DD does not play school ball.

I'm so happy my kids did play school sports. They had a blast. They had fun playing summer ball as well, but it is different.

Politics? Of course...but, it doesn't get any better in college...or after college for that matter. To be successful, you have to learn how to manage team/office/family politics. It is part of life. Sequestering a kid away from reality doesn't make a whole lot of sense.
 
Softball is a small part of HS. Please, don't make decisions about where your child goes to school based upon the coach.



I'm so happy my kids did play school sports. They had a blast. They had fun playing summer ball as well, but it is different.

Politics? Of course...but, it doesn't get any better in college...or after college for that matter. To be successful, you have to learn how to manage team/office/family politics. It is part of life. Sequestering a kid away from reality doesn't make a whole lot of sense.


As a fellow homeschooling Dad lets don't get off on a tangent.
 
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