Choosing rec or travel only after 10u

One option is to move Southern California. Some of those rec league teams are pretty good.

DD left rec for travel in 2nd year 8U. She was way, way ahead of the other rec players and was bored. Since she's a pitcher we considered having her also play up in rec for circle time but she wasn't interested and really, facing rec-level batters wasn't going to do much for her pitching skills anyway. At least in our county's program, if they're ready for travel they're way too advanced for rec.

The program that DD was in for rec and her first 3 years of travel had a rule that the travel players weren't allowed to play rec.

It would have been dangerous for my DD to play rec after her first year of 10u travel. Pitching wise, it wouldn't have been fair for DD to play rec then.

I guess it might also depend on the area where the rec league is. During DD time was in that program, the league had 60-70 teams every year, ranging all age groups. There were also 2 and sometimes 3 travel teams per age group. We didn't need the travel players to play rec for numbers.

If most TB orgs have scholarship programs I have no issues with there being such a big disparity between TB and rec competition and having
kids choose TB when they feel they are no longer being challenged in rec. I know my DD's
org does but am not sure if that is the norm. Also, yes I know this means
that my fees are probably higher than what they would be without the scholarships..I am fine with that. I think most of the top AAU basketball programs have this which may be one of the reasons why we see so many
of the better athletes gravitating towards basketball vs. baseball/softball.

My main concern is that a hard-working talented kid is being denied good coaching/competition just
because their parents cannot afford it (yes I know this happens in all aspects of life..don't get me started). When everything was rec 20 to 30 years ago this wouldn't have been the case.

#bleedingheart

pattar said:

My main concern is that a hard-working talented kid is being denied good coaching/competition just
because their parents cannot afford it (yes I know this happens in all aspects of life..don't get me started).

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This is a good point, something that those of us with a half-dozen $300 bats in the garage tend to overlook.

It's great seeing responses from all over the country, and it does sound like the quality of play in Rec is really dependent on geography. In some places the district All-Star tournaments (and beyond) are very competitive and a big deal to the community, so it's worthwhile to remain in the program. Other places have such a vibrant travel scene that the better players leave Rec ball to the beginners. So to address the OP, there's no right or wrong answer here -- it all depends on your DD's unique situation. Most importantly, at 10U & 12U, make sure your DD is having fun.

I sit on the board for a rec league in VA and I also coach 12U and 10U teams. TB is killing rec league (ours anyway). A year ago we had 120+ girls register and play spring/summer ball and this year we have 32 with evaluation day a little over a week away. We had two 12U TB teams established by rec coaches (dads) after last season who took all of the girls with them. We have three 12U girls who are signed up for spring ball this year (we are hoping the cuts from the middle school tryouts will increase these numbers).

So after saying all that, I say why choose? I beg parents to keep their girls in rec and play TB. Because now it just isn't the "very skilled" girls who are going to TB and leaving rec behind, its anyone who a "TB coach" can pull to fill their team and it is leaving the rec league high and dry. What happens next year when we do not have enough girls to have a season? And the year after that when there is no rec league? Now the girls who would have played or shown an interest in softball do not have the opportunity. And so on and so on.

I get the skill gap but to me rec league is not all about the games and winning. Parents that are choosing travel over rec should not base it on what is happening during the game (how boring it is) but rather what developmental skills are being offered during practices (and games for certain positions, age dependent). A good coach should be able to develop both the most and least skilled players on a team and everyone in between.

Thanks for listening to my venting, lol.

We stopped playing rec when Dd was 9 to play on a 12u tb team thought tb and rec would be to much softball. This year she begged to play rec so her friends could see her play so she just made 13 will be playing on 18u rec team. She already goes to the high school and pitches some live batting practices so I know she can compete with them. And this way it’s not a waste of time building bad habits because she is on a weaker team.

I really can't see how a player that wants to take travel seriously would even consider playing rec. You have travel practice and games. You have rec practice and games. You have lessons. Is there enough time to go around?

heman1202 said:

I sit on the board for a rec league in VA and I also coach 12U and 10U teams. TB is killing rec league (ours anyway). A year ago we had 120+ girls register and play spring/summer ball and this year we have 32 with evaluation day a little over a week away. We had two 12U TB teams established by rec coaches (dads) after last season who took all of the girls with them. We have three 12U girls who are signed up for spring ball this year (we are hoping the cuts from the middle school tryouts will increase these numbers).

So after saying all that, I say why choose? I beg parents to keep their girls in rec and play TB. Because now it just isn't the "very skilled" girls who are going to TB and leaving rec behind, its anyone who a "TB coach" can pull to fill their team and it is leaving the rec league high and dry. What happens next year when we do not have enough girls to have a season? And the year after that when there is no rec league? Now the girls who would have played or shown an interest in softball do not have the opportunity. And so on and so on.

I get the skill gap but to me rec league is not all about the games and winning. Parents that are choosing travel over rec should not base it on what is happening during the game (how boring it is) but rather what developmental skills are being offered during practices (and games for certain positions, age dependent). A good coach should be able to develop both the most and least skilled players on a team and everyone in between.

Thanks for listening to my venting, lol.

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Valid post. My DD played REC through 12U. All of the girls on my TB team, that were in district, played rec as well. It was tough at times with multiple practices and managing games. But we all wanted to continue to support the health of the rec program. Now my players are giving back/helping out with evals for the rec program It was a lot of softball. Sometimes a little too much.

A good coach.....and that is usually the problem. Good coaches generally leave rec with their DD leaving a disparity in quality coaching in rec. No knock on any Rec coach, I was one. But more often than not they are the ones who step up to help or coach when no one else has. They are learning on the fly. No solutions...just an observation. Unless that coach has a passion for the game....at any skill level....the Rec program is also suffering from quality coaching. I think if you had 'better' coaching at the rec level you might see players stick with sport longer. it is a conundrum.

Chris8 said:

Valid post. My DD played REC through 12U. All of the girls on my TB team, that were in district, played rec as well. It was tough at times with multiple practices and managing games. But we all wanted to continue to support the health of the rec program. Now my players are giving back/helping out with evals for the rec program It was a lot of softball. Sometimes a little too much.

A good coach.....and that is usually the problem. Good coaches generally leave rec with their DD leaving a disparity in quality coaching in rec. No knock on any Rec coach, I was one. But more often than not they are the ones who step up to help or coach when no one else has. They are learning on the fly. No solutions...just an observation. Unless that coach has a passion for the game....at any skill level....the Rec program is also suffering from quality coaching. I think if you had 'better' coaching at the rec level you might see players stick with sport longer. it is a conundrum.

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Yes, I 100% agree you here. I think everyone (except maybe a few parents from time to time, lol) appreciates volunteer parents taking the time to coach. This can leave much to be desired from a softball knowledge and player development standpoint.

I am strongly urging the director of our softball league to take an active approach to this and better player development. Rec league sponsored coaching clinics, active recruitment of knowledgeable (volunteer) coaches from high school kids to adults, league sponsored seasonal softball clinics, and maybe even dabble in a rec league sponsored TB team. These are ways to show the local softball community that our rec league cares about player/coaching development and maybe draws those TB players who probably should be in rec back to rec (and maybe even a few other TB players as well).