- Jul 6, 2009
- 9
- 0
New here, informative forum. Here's my situation and question:
We have a 13yo (14 in Sept) DD who has until now played little league (which only adds up to 14 games a year in our league) and middle school ball last year (entering 8th grade in Sept.). My wife and I have had an ongoing disagreement about the value/role of softball and sports in general and because of this have not put our DD in travel ball.
Basically, wife thinks academics are king and believes especially in math and science that the curriculum and standards in our state (Washington) are so poor and so far behind the leading states and countries (especially China & India) that unless we give our kid extra math in addition to what she gets in school, she has no chance to make a smooth transition from high school to college math and even less of a chance at competing for a job in an advanced professional field. Our girl gets 90 minutes of extra math every day during the summer and at least 2 extra math sessions a week during the school year (using the same curriculum as the state of California, which has one of the highest ratings for standards/ curricula). My wife has told me that she considers anything more than little league and school ball a waste of time and money and wants no part of it for our daughter (who is our only child).
On the other hand, I believe one can have balance and can pursue all of her interests if she's willing to work at managing her time and just putting forth the effort. You look at the resumes of so many of the college players and they're almost all high level honor students with other active interests and involvements. So I ask my wife "why can't she do it all?". Also, the little league in our town has little support for softball, and may not even have a Juniors (14U) level team for her next spring. So this fall's middle school season (yes, middle schools do softball in Sept-Oct here) could possibly be her last before high school.
And on the other other hand, I see kids beginning to specialize and play at an incredibly high level at such a young age, and am being told if I don't get my kid into select ball now, she won't have a chance at making the high school team. The way it's being described to me, it seems like if we're not willing to make that huge commitment to a travel team now, our girl might as well quit softball because she's going to be too far behind the other kids by the time she gets to 9th grade. I work her out all the time (have been her coach for the last 3 years) and her individual skills are pretty good. But people are telling me that's not going to be enough, she needs to get on a good team, a team that practices year round and gets 50 or more games in the spring-summer.
DD says she doesn't intend to play softball in college, but isn't even sure about high school yet. She's played since 2nd grade and enjoys the sport but for her it isn't like some kids who seem to just love it above all else. It's one of many things she enjoys doing. I'm not convinced she's willing to put in the effort required to succeed at either travel ball or high school. But I'd like her to have the experience of working under a good coach and playing at a higher competitive level. And if she does choose to play in high school, I'd like her to be competitive when she shows up for 9th grade tryouts so the decision isn't made for her when she doesn't make the team.
So I guess this isn't really a question, since a travel team isn't likely going to happen because of DD's mom's opposition to it. But I'd appreciate your thoughts and input on the question of the value of softball and youth sports in general, the degree of seriousness kids have to apply to a sport at increasingly younger ages vs. a kid getting a good education and being competitive in college and the workplace, and how you all prioritize things and manage these priorities.
Thanks!
Jeff (Coachinagin)
We have a 13yo (14 in Sept) DD who has until now played little league (which only adds up to 14 games a year in our league) and middle school ball last year (entering 8th grade in Sept.). My wife and I have had an ongoing disagreement about the value/role of softball and sports in general and because of this have not put our DD in travel ball.
Basically, wife thinks academics are king and believes especially in math and science that the curriculum and standards in our state (Washington) are so poor and so far behind the leading states and countries (especially China & India) that unless we give our kid extra math in addition to what she gets in school, she has no chance to make a smooth transition from high school to college math and even less of a chance at competing for a job in an advanced professional field. Our girl gets 90 minutes of extra math every day during the summer and at least 2 extra math sessions a week during the school year (using the same curriculum as the state of California, which has one of the highest ratings for standards/ curricula). My wife has told me that she considers anything more than little league and school ball a waste of time and money and wants no part of it for our daughter (who is our only child).
On the other hand, I believe one can have balance and can pursue all of her interests if she's willing to work at managing her time and just putting forth the effort. You look at the resumes of so many of the college players and they're almost all high level honor students with other active interests and involvements. So I ask my wife "why can't she do it all?". Also, the little league in our town has little support for softball, and may not even have a Juniors (14U) level team for her next spring. So this fall's middle school season (yes, middle schools do softball in Sept-Oct here) could possibly be her last before high school.
And on the other other hand, I see kids beginning to specialize and play at an incredibly high level at such a young age, and am being told if I don't get my kid into select ball now, she won't have a chance at making the high school team. The way it's being described to me, it seems like if we're not willing to make that huge commitment to a travel team now, our girl might as well quit softball because she's going to be too far behind the other kids by the time she gets to 9th grade. I work her out all the time (have been her coach for the last 3 years) and her individual skills are pretty good. But people are telling me that's not going to be enough, she needs to get on a good team, a team that practices year round and gets 50 or more games in the spring-summer.
DD says she doesn't intend to play softball in college, but isn't even sure about high school yet. She's played since 2nd grade and enjoys the sport but for her it isn't like some kids who seem to just love it above all else. It's one of many things she enjoys doing. I'm not convinced she's willing to put in the effort required to succeed at either travel ball or high school. But I'd like her to have the experience of working under a good coach and playing at a higher competitive level. And if she does choose to play in high school, I'd like her to be competitive when she shows up for 9th grade tryouts so the decision isn't made for her when she doesn't make the team.
So I guess this isn't really a question, since a travel team isn't likely going to happen because of DD's mom's opposition to it. But I'd appreciate your thoughts and input on the question of the value of softball and youth sports in general, the degree of seriousness kids have to apply to a sport at increasingly younger ages vs. a kid getting a good education and being competitive in college and the workplace, and how you all prioritize things and manage these priorities.
Thanks!
Jeff (Coachinagin)