There are still several softball teams where rec players can get playing time. But those are schools w/ bad teams, or schools that are very small. Your point is correct.
whats your view on this
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There are still several softball teams where rec players can get playing time. But those are schools w/ bad teams, or schools that are very small. Your point is correct.
IMHO, a lot depends upon the age of the child. Children under 13YOA should play a variety of sports. At around 13YOA, then they should then be allowed, *IF THEY CHOOSE*, to pick a sport and specialize in that sport. Kids under the age of 13 simply are not sufficiently mature mentally, physically or socially to make any reasoned choices about a sport.
After 13YOA, if the child wants to play a sport at an advanced level, s/he has to specialize. It is not possible to be exceptionally good at multiple sports.
My DDs went to a large HS (3500+ students). They played in an area where there were many 3000+ HSs. So, there were many, many very good players in all sports. To stand out in HS, they had to play summer sports with advanced coaching. There are just too many good players out there.
You said "master", and all sports are equally tough to *master*.
Softball and baseball are among the toughest sport to learn to play at a basic level.
Until a person learns how to throw and catch a ball, it is impossible to play softball/baseball. And, it takes "forever" to learn that basic movement. Once a person learn that, then mastering softball/baseball takes no longer than mastering any other sport.
Take football...it is real easy to learn the basics of blocking. But, to master the coordinated movement to operate as part of an offensive line takes years.
After 13YOA, if the child wants to play a sport at an advanced level, s/he has to specialize. It is not possible to be exceptionally good at multiple sports.
My DDs went to a large HS (3500+ students). They played in an area where there were many 3000+ HSs. So, there were many, many very good players in all sports. To stand out in HS, they had to play summer sports with advanced coaching. There are just too many good players out there.
You said "master", and all sports are equally tough to *master*.
Softball and baseball are among the toughest sport to learn to play at a basic level.
Until a person learns how to throw and catch a ball, it is impossible to play softball/baseball. And, it takes "forever" to learn that basic movement. Once a person learn that, then mastering softball/baseball takes no longer than mastering any other sport.
Take football...it is real easy to learn the basics of blocking. But, to master the coordinated movement to operate as part of an offensive line takes years.
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Been thinking about what you said here today, RB, and I appreciate that you prompted me to think about it. ...
I'm not sure exactly what you mean by ''ANYTHING that requires hard work and commitment.'' ...
Do you mean an activity as consuming as year-round softball? Or just any positive activity that requires a little dedication, even if it's recreational, like being in an occasional play, or learning to do pottery?
I don't think kids should be ''pushed'' to find some activity like travel ball. If they have a passion for it, then support it, of course. But that's not something that kids need to become healthy adults. Not sure you were saying it was.
My take on RB's post was that it was important to find a competitive pursuit for your child that he/she enjoys. As long as the kids learn that they have to compete for a position such as a solo in choir or starting quarterback on the football team it doesn't matter. Also that they need to learn to handle adversity such as not getting that solo or being the 3rd string quarterback. They need to learn the life lessons associated with the disappointment of not achieving their wants and how to strive to achieve them in the future. These are life lessons that they need to learn so that they can achieve success in their life's pursuits such as a job promotion.
He and I both fear the fact that many kids today are celebrated for mediocrity at best and outright failure at worst. How can the future generations expect to succeed when their sole goal is to sit on their collective butts and beat the video game "HALO" or "Dark Soul 2?" I agree that there will always be those that learn these lessons and the future generations may be "fine," but with fewer of each new generation learning these life lessons, how long until we, as a nation, are no longer "fine?"
Sorry RB if I put words in your mouth you don't agree with. It's just what I took away from your post. Feel free to correct me if I'm wrong.
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- Dec 7, 2011
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Definitely NOT the latter. Don't get me wrong, doing a "positive activity" requiring "little dedication" is better than laying on the couch all day BUT I strongly suggest a developmental piece is missing when a youth is not challenged to commit and pour energies/passion/dedication into something where they experience success AND failure doing what they invested so strongly in. I would even go as far as suggesting that a youth that is not pushed like this has the potential to become an adult that is not be able to cope well with what real life has to offer (the need for strong dedication, ability to withstand rejection, having perseverance, etc).
So does this mean it needs to be a year-round commitment....?,.....Ya, I believe it might. Does this "learn" I am suggesting here come from 6 months of coasting? I think not....
Here is a silly analogy that might further express what I am suggesting -
What is "learned" by an individual that loses a dime of their salary one day and then finds a dime a month later? Nothing, in fact they probably don't "experience" anything. Then what might be learned by an individual that loses $10,000 of their hard earned salary one day and then finds $10,000 a month later? I bet you the individual that experienced that latter case has developed more smarter deeper thought and resilience than the former....
- Dec 7, 2011
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Jeepers YoCoach, I could have saved myself the commitment and energy of writing my last post if I would have read your wonderfully expressed one here first!
But then again I feel that I have incrementally improved myself having committed and performed in my post too
RB, YO - Thanks for the replies.
I agree that doing something beyond "HALO" or "Dark Soul 2" would be a good idea. But I don't think it's important that children find something that is as demanding as both of you are suggesting. Not saying that those pursuits don't have their rewards, or that we should not support those things if they become our children's passions, but I do not believe children need to be pushed toward those kinds of super-competitive things in order to be healthy adults. Life presents enough challenges and growth opportunities for children without the need for a year-round sport or other similar challenge.
Keep in mind that my own DD has chosen the path of year-round competition. Her goals are very ambitious, and she's certainly experienced an inordinate amount of glory and disappointment compared to the average kid. But if she'd chosen to be active in a wider variety of things but at a more recreational level (drama, brand, art, church, etc.), I think she'd be fine. I suspect there would be some tradeoffs. For all the things that she's learned through softball - and that's a lot - I remain concerned that she's sacrificed other things that would've made her more well-rounded, that too much of her identity is tied up into one thing, that her self-esteem will be tied too closely to achievement and not character.
I agree that doing something beyond "HALO" or "Dark Soul 2" would be a good idea. But I don't think it's important that children find something that is as demanding as both of you are suggesting. Not saying that those pursuits don't have their rewards, or that we should not support those things if they become our children's passions, but I do not believe children need to be pushed toward those kinds of super-competitive things in order to be healthy adults. Life presents enough challenges and growth opportunities for children without the need for a year-round sport or other similar challenge.
Keep in mind that my own DD has chosen the path of year-round competition. Her goals are very ambitious, and she's certainly experienced an inordinate amount of glory and disappointment compared to the average kid. But if she'd chosen to be active in a wider variety of things but at a more recreational level (drama, brand, art, church, etc.), I think she'd be fine. I suspect there would be some tradeoffs. For all the things that she's learned through softball - and that's a lot - I remain concerned that she's sacrificed other things that would've made her more well-rounded, that too much of her identity is tied up into one thing, that her self-esteem will be tied too closely to achievement and not character.
My problem with "the parents today" is their insufferable fear of their child's failure at anything. And, "failure" has become defined as anything short of an "A" or a trophy.
Competition means someone wins and someone loses. As long as no one is physically scarred from the competition, move on.
Competition means someone wins and someone loses. As long as no one is physically scarred from the competition, move on.
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CB, I'm not advocating the lifestyle that our DD's have chosen is for everyone nor should the kids be pushed into that sort of situation. I am merely saying that kids should participate in an activity or multiple activities that they enjoy no matter the level and sometimes a little parental push is needed to start them off. Too many times I have seen kids that don't do anything other than float through school and life. All of a sudden they graduate college after 6 years and are thrown out into the real world to find a job. They come out completely unprepared because they never had to compete for anything in their lives thus never learning all of the life lessons associated with it.
Sluggers, don't forget the other end of the spectrum where the parents blame their child's failure on something/someone else or make up some excuse. It's never the kids fault for failing. Forget about learning some personal responsibility.
Sluggers, don't forget the other end of the spectrum where the parents blame their child's failure on something/someone else or make up some excuse. It's never the kids fault for failing. Forget about learning some personal responsibility.
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- Jun 24, 2013
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I agree. Learning to throw a softball actually helps out in other sports. I know it made my DD's stand out in volleyball (one of the younger ones that were able to overhand serve) and basketball (could throw those "baseball" passes down the court with no problem).
Learning to run in other sports helps out softball.
Once you hit a certain age, you do have to start to specialize or you do lose out to those who are getting more reps than you. Just like in life. I have passed people in my field (no pun intended) because I worked harder and studied harder and went after the certifications that made me more knowledgeable and stand out in my field. I never forced my DD's to pick a sport, but did tell them they had some options. 1) Continue to play multiple sports in a "rec" league capacity or 2) Narrow it down and begin to specialize in a sport and play it at a higher level. My DW and I never forced their decision. On their own they decided to narrow it down and become really good at 1 or 2 things rather than be above average at many things.
As a coach I have seen the other side of it also. Parents who are pushing their kids too hard to excel at everything hoping that they will become good enough to hit the scholarship lottery in one of the sports they are running around like mad attending. I saw a very talented girl who was an awesome catcher have to give it up because she was tall and her dad told me "Volleyball has more scholarships available.". This girl was going to be good at whichever sport she chose. She could have been an awesome catcher with some more work.
SO I see both sides of it. Parents should never force a child to do something they do not like. Finishing out the season is one thing. Forcing them to do it because the mom or dad did it and was good at it, is wrong.
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