School Ball wrap up

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Apr 16, 2013
1,113
83
The worst part is dad continuously trying to “fix” her....thinking that was the solution....he just made it worse. He has no clue on what he is talking about but thinks he has the solution. She didn’t need someone telling her what she was doing wrong in softball but a dad to be there to comfort her, not fix the situation. She accepted the situation for what it was a lot earlier in the season. D has tried to explain to dad on several occasions but he would not listen.

If I can make a personal suggestion, sit down and talk with him and tell him how you and your DD feel. DO NOT accuse him of anything. It sounds like you're holding anger towards your husband and letting that fester will not be healthy for anyone. As a man speaking, we naturally want to "fix" things. Don't fault us for what we do naturally. Do not get angry, do not accuse, remind him fixing this isn't the solution, he just needs to hear the two of you and listen. It'll drive him nuts not trying to fix a problem, but this is a problem he simply can't fix so he needs to just be there for you and her and let her make the decisions which he then stands behind.
 
With school ball wrapping up for us, I wanted to reflect back at D's senior year and some of the lessons learned.
1)School ball is a popularity contest...the girls the coach likes the most always play and never sit the bench no matter what.
2)You can pay to play...in case point. a players parent pays for all of the softball stuff and donates to the school. She plays every game.
3)If you are not in either category you are Sh!t out of luck. You will get pulled your first error and not play again for awhile...while girls in #1 or #2 category will be moved to another position if they make too many errors. Example, center made back to back errors, then allowed a runner to get to 2nd on a bunt because she never covered 2nd...she is moved to 2nd base, and still cannot cover 2nd.
If you are fast and a coaches favorite, you will be leadoff...don't matter if your batting average is .200. She is quick, y'all(some southern twang added for effect). It doesn't matter how fast she is if she never gets on base.
With joking aside, a valuable lesson can be taken from this experience....you can only control the controllable. When things don't go your way, you will be stronger in the long run if you stick it out. D was offered a pitching spot at a private school. We could of taken the coach up on his offer and D would of played a lot more. But, what does it teach D? Just quit and go somewhere else when things don't work out the way you want it to. We see that a lot in travel ball...just quit is never the answer. Feel sorry for yourself because you were not a favorite nor mommy and daddy is going to pay for your playing time? No, get out there and work harder. It doesn't matter if not everyone sees how much you work or gotten better...it was never about them but about you. In the long wrong, D became a better player, not just physically but mentally. Sports teaches you more than the game, it also teaches you about life. Life is not always fair...either feel sorry for yourself or get over it. Whatever you do, quitting is never an option.
D's batting improved tremendously, she was at the bottom of the team...now she has the best batting average on her team with .422. Last couple of games, D pitched...she has averaged 2 K's per inning. She pitched against 2 nationally ranked teams and did well....even recorded a couple of strikeouts. Even the coach had praised her for her work ethnic and improvement. If you want to prove a point, let your action shut up the doubters...and keep working hard! Learning not to quit will take you far in life.
You are right can only control the controllable. Put the hard work in and that will speak for itself. Sports builds character and life lessons it's what you do with those lessons learned that will separate youScreenshot_20191107-125421_Chrome.jpg
 
Jun 4, 2019
134
43
I like school ball, I find the only thing that makes it bad is when a coach or parent becomes an assistant and brings up their whole TB team and cut everyone else.

There is no experience in TB that will come close to making a state run for a title in HS. I encourage all girls to play in school.
 
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I like school ball, I find the only thing that makes it bad is when a coach or parent becomes an assistant and brings up their whole TB team and cut everyone else.

We have a whole society of TB players where you can just leave and go to another team, if your parents want to pay more money you can even go get on an “elite” team and suddenly everyone thinks they are better than what their are because they played at whatever “national championship” was being played any given weekend.

There is no experience in TB that will come close to making a state run for a title in HS. I encourage all girls to play in school.
Where we live in indiana you cant have 5 girls from the same highschool on the same travel ball team IHSAA rules I beleive. And I have seen alot of teams that say they are showcase or A teams doesn't mean they are
 
Funny you say that about quitting.

Started the season with 22 players.
Going into tonight's game we will have 14 players.
We did not cut anyone. All have quit on their own.

We are a new coaching staff and they do not like the changes. We honestly have not tried to run any of them off. But as soon as they don't get their way they have a reason to leave the team. My parents would have never let em quit mid season.
IMOPO If my DD starts a sport she will finish it no matter what I dont care if she hated it and was miserable there is no auitting anything!!
 
Jun 20, 2015
848
93
With school ball wrapping up for us, I wanted to reflect back at D's senior year and some of the lessons learned.
1)School ball is a popularity contest...the girls the coach likes the most always play and never sit the bench no matter what.
2)You can pay to play...in case point. a players parent pays for all of the softball stuff and donates to the school. She plays every game.
3)If you are not in either category you are Sh!t out of luck. You will get pulled your first error and not play again for awhile...while girls in #1 or #2 category will be moved to another position if they make too many errors. Example, center made back to back errors, then allowed a runner to get to 2nd on a bunt because she never covered 2nd...she is moved to 2nd base, and still cannot cover 2nd.
If you are fast and a coaches favorite, you will be leadoff...don't matter if your batting average is .200. She is quick, y'all(some southern twang added for effect). It doesn't matter how fast she is if she never gets on base.
With joking aside, a valuable lesson can be taken from this experience....you can only control the controllable. When things don't go your way, you will be stronger in the long run if you stick it out. D was offered a pitching spot at a private school. We could of taken the coach up on his offer and D would of played a lot more. But, what does it teach D? Just quit and go somewhere else when things don't work out the way you want it to. We see that a lot in travel ball...just quit is never the answer. Feel sorry for yourself because you were not a favorite nor mommy and daddy is going to pay for your playing time? No, get out there and work harder. It doesn't matter if not everyone sees how much you work or gotten better...it was never about them but about you. In the long wrong, D became a better player, not just physically but mentally. Sports teaches you more than the game, it also teaches you about life. Life is not always fair...either feel sorry for yourself or get over it. Whatever you do, quitting is never an option.
D's batting improved tremendously, she was at the bottom of the team...now she has the best batting average on her team with .422. Last couple of games, D pitched...she has averaged 2 K's per inning. She pitched against 2 nationally ranked teams and did well....even recorded a couple of strikeouts. Even the coach had praised her for her work ethnic and improvement. If you want to prove a point, let your action shut up the doubters...and keep working hard! Learning not to quit will take you far in life.


Won't help much, but the exact points you describe happen everywhere.
 
Aug 19, 2015
1,118
113
Atlanta, GA
I think the main problem with school ball is that coaches are generally in one of two schools of thought:

1. Players get playing time according to seniority (if you have a senior pitcher, she will pitch more than a sophomore pitcher, regardless of ability)

vs.

2. The best 9 play regardless of age.

I think that if coaches make their philosophy clear, that would save a lot of heartache. At least you would know what to expect.
 
Oct 5, 2017
214
43
Western Indiana
I think the main problem with school ball is that coaches are generally in one of two schools of thought:

1. Players get playing time according to seniority (if you have a senior pitcher, she will pitch more than a sophomore pitcher, regardless of ability)

vs.

2. The best 9 play regardless of age.

I think that if coaches make their philosophy clear, that would save a lot of heartache. At least you would know what to expect.


I know it has been said multiple times but again.....
Most parents want a coach to play the best 8 players and their DD.

As a high school coach our staff works hard to play the best 9 (or 10) players that give us a chance to win the game at the varsity level. At our JV level we try to get as many players innnings as possible to help the program grow. We have only been the coaching staff going into our third year now. We finally feel we have the culture we would like for our program.

Three most important things.
1. Attitude
1. Effort
1. Be a good teammate.

You pick the order.
 

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