DD taking a mental break from softball

She finally committed to a D1 Juco program last week after visiting 5 schools - 3 offered full, 1 offered 80-85% and 1 offered a meal plan . She is very happy with her choice and is really excited to move forward. However, she has asked to take off from travel ball for the last two tournaments for a mental recoup. She has been struggling - mechanics are sound, but she is overthinking and getting too wound up about it. She has played non-stop since January starting with HS ball (from Jan - April), then 3 rounds of playoffs, prom & graduation month of May and first week of June, and bam straight into travel ball AND 5 college visits (travel ball and college visits all since June 6th). She's mentally and physically tired. So we discussed her playing one more tournament/showcase in July and being done. The remaining tournaments are showcases so she isn't missing out on anything and this will allow for other players to step up and get exposure. TB coaches are not happy about it because of her bat and pitching, but honestly, the other two pitchers can hold their own and need more exposure than she does - and other players are stepping up at the plate too. It's time for them to shine, ifykwim. She could use this time to workout and practice on her own while clearing her head and having a little fun too before hitting the grind again toward end of August...it would be about 6.5 weeks total. I never thought she would ask for it, and honestly, she surprised herself wanting this - but she's never had the grueling schedule she had last 6 months. Her college coaches are okay with it so long as she maintains her workouts and practices on her own. Any other rising college players (omg I have one now) do this?

This is a great idea. I would encourage her to continue to workout with the plan that she not pick up a bat or ball for a few weeks. As she prepares to move on to the next level her physical conditioning and mental state is much more important than her softball skills. My guess is that after a few weeks she will be ready to get busy.

Any other rising college players (omg I have one now) do this?

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No. In fact DD is working harder (2 college year)this summer then any previous summers. Reason being, the competition on her team and in the division. Every year there's a new set of competitors on the team and in the division. DD is guest playing on what ever team will have her just to see live game pitching because there is no substitute. Again JMHO and every player is different.

I understand. My DD is in a similar boat.
She's a 2019 and she has made this summer/fall her target to make her verbal. The pace has been swift since HS ball started mid January.
She is already showing signs of fatigue and still has a ways to go. She has 3 offers on the table, but hasn't had the ah ha moment yet.

The crowd seems to be all over the place regarding your issue. We have 3 committed seniors and they are 1) Traveling and playing the season as scheduled. 2) Only playing local (Texas) gigs 3) Playing when she feels like it.
As a underclassman family, I understand the dilemma. I wish they would be a little more committed. It helps the other players showcasing just as those players had upper classmen helping them along the showcase trail.

I think a mental break is good as long as the conditioning continues. DD is in her first summer home and spending more time training privately as opposed to practicing with a team. She's guest played in two tournaments but is finding she can spend her time more wisely then spending every weekend on the road. She is definitely working harder than ever though on her weaknesses.

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maksoftball said:

The remaining tournaments are showcases so she isn't missing out on anything and this will allow for other players to step up and get exposure.
TB coaches are not happy about it because of her bat and pitching, but honestly, the other two pitchers can hold their own and need more exposure than she does - and other players are stepping up at the plate too. It's time for them to shine,

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To me this depends on what the remaining tournaments are... since you have already stated that they are showcases and there are players who still need exposure on the team, as long as they have the players to play it should really not be a big deal.

If it was nationals or some other big competitive tournament that you had committed to as part of the team, I would have issues.

At some point there needs to be balance and you need to listen to your body and mind which is telling you have gone too far and need a break before you get broken and you end up involuntarily taking way more time off.