How much is too much for Fall?

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Sep 10, 2017
52
8
Southeast US
DD played this year from late February through first of August. Had to age up, found a good team, and is happy with the coaches and girls.

However, this team wants to play every weekend through November (we started with them in August). I don't mean 2-3 weekends a month, I mean every weekend from here on out.

We have never played for a team that played more than 3 tournaments a month, and the 3 a month was usually in the peak of Summer season when school was out. So it wasn't typically a big deal.

I'm not trying to whine, but at what point do you risk not only player burnout, but also family burnout? My DD loves the game and is a very solid player and teammate, but I can tell the grind is getting to her a bit. She starts school ball practice in January, but is lamenting the lack of any real time off in her own quiet way. School started recently and she is adjusting to a new school with new challenges, on top of practice 2-3 times a week plus tournaments and daily weight/fitness training.

Am I just naive or am I reasonable to expect that we have some time to have a life outside of this for a couple months?

Sorry if I sound whiny, I'm just not sure if my expectations are out of whack.
 

Strike2

Allergic to BS
Nov 14, 2014
2,044
113
It does look like too much on paper, but as a practical matter, you probably won't play that much. It's really hard to play EVERY weekend. Weather will undoubtedly get in the way at least a couple of times, and then there's injuries, and school related stuff that can and will interfere.
 
Feb 7, 2013
3,188
48
I think these are the type of questions you ask before you join a team. With that said typical monthly schedule for travel teams in the fall is 1-2 tournaments a month, one weekend for longer practices and one weekend of 2 or 3 game friendlies/scrimmages but DD played year round with a small two week break in August and 3 week break mid-December through the 1st week of January. Of course they go dark during HS ball around March 1 - May 30th.
 
Nov 29, 2009
2,975
83
Am I just naive or am I reasonable to expect that we have some time to have a life outside of this for a couple months?

You left off some really important information. What age level? What talent level? Is the organization one of the top groups in your area? I'm guessing you are in a warm weather state from the SE in your information? What did the coach say they were going to do?
 
Last edited:
Jun 12, 2015
3,848
83
This makes me curious about your location, because I've seen a team here in GA advertising they'll be playing 8 tournaments this fall and I thought that seemed like a lot. We did 6 last fall; this year we're doing 4. Our girls also have middle school ball all through September. I don't know what age group your DD is but I know mine would burn out at that rate. She loves softball but she loves other things too.
 
Apr 16, 2010
924
43
Alabama
Even before showcases and volleyball started interfereing we would never play that many a month. I think our max back in 10U was 7. This year in 14U it will be only 4 with three big showcases and one local tourney to knock some rust off and help another team with their fundraiser.
 
May 17, 2012
2,804
113
We are playing every weekend but the overwhelming majority are double headers or Sunday only events. It's not unreasonable.
 
Sep 18, 2017
21
3
I think game activity is an individual decision.

My daughter has played Full Time Travel Softball since the age of 10 (now 2nd year 14U) and her season in our area really goes from Mid to end August to the following End July. So, in short she has played pretty much (and trained) for many years in a row.

Personally for us, we want as much game activity as possible in the fall, before we move indoors. So, we have something on our calendar from here on out, until Mother Nature says no more.
 

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