How well does travel ball prepare you for college?

i am curious as to others experiences? For those who have DDs either playing or have played what is your experience? For those on the path how well do you think travel ball and your DDs current workout/practice routine is preparing them?

That depends.... On the organization. The hardest part about playing in college is the off-field activities. The travel, workouts, weight training and bunch of other things. Two of the programs my DD played for made the girls stay 4 to a room at 14U on up. They were responsible for everything when they were on the road. Much like college.

I know my DD integrated easily her freshman year. She'd already done the travel and roommate thing. It was nothing new. Some of the other freshmen had a harder time with it. She also played on teams with big rosters so she knew how to compete for circle time. No false expectations when she got to college.

Many programs can teach X's and O's of the game. It's the others who can teach rest of it who are the one's the coaches like.

One draw back that college coaches often mention is the lack of adversity TB players have to face working as a team member. If you are a TB catcher you find a team that needs a catcher and you can start. Then you sign with a team and have to sit a year behind a senior catcher, and you don't know how to handle it.

There are a million threads on here about kids switching TB teams because they don't get enough playing time or don't like the coach, and that's not the reality of college ball.

I believe that the TB program my dd played in did a great job of getting her ready. They played a good schedule and trained in the off season. DD was asked to play several positions and so, when she went to college, she literally could have played at every position but catcher.

You didn't ask about the HS Program but I tend to like the coach my dd had.

Cannonball said:

I believe that the TB program my dd played in did a great job of getting her ready. They played a good schedule and trained in the off season. DD was asked to play several positions and so, when she went to college, she literally could have played at every position but catcher.

You didn't ask about the HS Program but I tend to like the coach my dd had.

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I heard the coach your DD had in HS was pretty solid. And obviously your DD had an amazing career. It is just interesting to me how much more intense the whole college experience is versus pre-college. You can say that 100x when they are coming up but it hits when they are freshman. Everything is 10x. My DD is home for the summer and she said Dad I thought I worked hard and played for a pretty good local travel team but everything is so much more intense. She was lucky to pitch and play alot as a freshman but it was an adjustment for her. And it is amazing how much harder she is working this summer after a year of college versus last year. Maybe it is just my kid but it has transformed her.

Andy

AndyS said:

I heard the coach your DD had in HS was pretty solid. And obviously your DD had an amazing career. It is just interesting to me how much more intense the whole college experience is versus pre-college. You can say that 100x when they are coming up but it hits when they are freshman. Everything is 10x. My DD is home for the summer and she said Dad I thought I worked hard and played for a pretty good local travel team but everything is so much more intense. She was lucky to pitch and play alot as a freshman but it was an adjustment for her. And it is amazing how much harder she is working this summer after a year of college versus last year. Maybe it is just my kid but it has transformed her.

Andy

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Andy, I followed her this year and good for her. She did well. Even more important is that she knows she has more to do. IMO, a lot of players don't make that assessment until it is too late. I'm sure you had those moments this year where you wondered what you had gotten your dd into. I know I did. Still the cream still floats to the top and so, I'm certain your dd will do just fine. Hey, we're on the other side of the river but if you ever need anything, just ask.

Honestly, just asked DD1 and she held up a big 0. D3 school with no money, no practices other than the allowed in the fall, coaching a huge disappointment. First week of her Gold team did more in the first week than D3 school did in 2 years getting the team to play together. The point is just cause it is college doesn't mean it's good softball. Her D2 experience this past spring completely different - everything she hoped for. Her TB team did not prepare her for all the lifting, and performance training, stadium runs, but she loves that stuff and is thriving.


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Travel ball workout and practice routine for DD1 was "make the weekend practices when you can and show up and play these dates"... So, from the workout and practice aspect, travel ball did very little to prepare her for college ball... Of course, this was the later years of travel ball and not the earlier years and we were four hours away from the team's practice facility... However, the level of competition DD1 saw playing with that team went a long way toward preparing her for playing in college...

The "home" workouts, paid lessons, and agility training went a long way in preparing DD1 for the college aspect of the game but DD1 is a self motivator and a bit of a gym rat (her college coach limited her gym time her freshman year).... Her HS Ball experience taught her the "politics" and the "you are going to get beat - BAD sometimes" and the "everyone is not as talented" and "parents suck" and "do your part to make the team successful" aspects of the game...

All that to say, if there is a magic pill TB organization out there that teaches and develops a player for college without any outside influencing factors, I have never seen it... Not saying they don't exist, just that I have never seen one...

We have an 18U showcase team. We do not chase titles, just work to get kids opportunities. We are very up front with players and parents that no TB team can prepare them for college ball because every college program will provide a different experience. The experience that Jake had at Chipola versus that at SC was very different. One was not necessarily better than the other, just different. What we strive to do with our players is to give them the tools and as best we can to be successful, and above all properly set their expectations.

If a player goes to a competitive program every player including them was probably one of the better players on their TB team. That incoming class may include 3 SS that started every game, hit at the top of the order, etc. When they get to college they may for the first time ever, have to truly compete for playing time. The reality is that as an incoming Freshman if they want the spot of the incumbent upper clansman they will not need to just be better. They will need to be significantly better. Incoming players had better be flexible with what position they can play. I know of a pretty good slapper who was a stud outfielder in TB. She got to the SEC and the team had great outfielders but really needed an infielder. She is doing very well in the IF and has yet to play an inning in the OF. Thankfully she also took some reps at IF when she played TB so she was able to adapt. I know one very successful college coach who at times will pull the catcher when a pitcher throws a fatty on a 0-2/1-2 count and it gets hit hard. His thought process is that although the catcher does not have control, they sure as hell better have the ability to influence. On offense the expectations may be very different in college. It is not about getting a hit but where you hit the ball. With 2 outs and runner at 3 and Suzy pulls an outside pitch for a rocket to 3B or LF she is not going to get the "way to hit it hard" she did in TB. In college more than likely she will be taking a seat for at least the of the game maybe longer. The list goes on and on. Any player headed for college who thinks it is a continuation of TB or HS ball is in for a rude awakening.

We have our first TB tournament of the season tomorrow and I have several signed Seniors. Before the game everyone will be reminded that all have a role to play and they need to embrace that role. Without explanation none of the Seniors will start. To that end we will see who has some of the tools for college and who needs some work.

Some excellent posts here.

DD’s coaches were al amazing. Most were current or former college coaches from DIII to D1. She was taught early what to expect and the dedication it would take. She knew the time commitment and had a dose of the workouts. She faced some of the best competition in the country. I don’t think there’s anything else they could have done to prepare her. Was she ready for college? Not even close. There’s nothing that can duplicate the grind of 6+ months of early morning workouts, often after late night studying. Her travel teams played across the country. She was used to driving or flying and she went without us on several occasions. We thought she’d be ready for traveling in college. Again, nope, not even close. Travel ball had her leaving Thur or Friday and returning Sunday evening. Always during the summer so no school to worry about. A typical Spring weekend in college is leaving Wed or Thur and returning Sunday. Monday is their “day off” and consists of a variety of classes, homework and ice baths. Tuesday morning it’s back to weights and practice. No amount of preparation with travel ball or high school classes can prepare them for being home 2-3 days a week and doing homework in hotels and airports. One thing I never considered during the recruiting process. If you’re going to college in the north, find one in a hub city! If not be prepared to fly to the nearest hub for a long layover before starting the main leg of the journey. That amounted to several of her trips leaving campus before sunrise and returning well after midnight. Even so, she’ll tell you it’s the greatest time of her life.