JJsqueeze
Dad, Husband....legend
I ran into a potential dilemma this weekend. Both girls currently play with the same org and we love the org, but lil DDs 10U squad is short quite a few players and it doesn't look like they will get any games for at least a few months and the full squad may not come together at all. We like it because the coaching staff is top notch and she gets a lot of reps and individual attention but the lack of games is something that is not ideal. So I started looking around to see what other options there were. Part of this was to see what was out there, part to see how she stacked up, not really because we want to leave but wanting to make sure we had a good sense of the options. I figured we might as well see what she's got so I inquired with one of the top orgs (we are talking multiple PGF champs at various age levels) that happens to be 20 minutes away and found they were looking for a couple more 2004s and invited her out to workout with the team.
Holy crap, it is no wonder these girls turn into softball machines. The workout was so precise, so detailed oriented and so long that my head was spinning just envisioning the commitment it would take from the family if she were to join up. They work out for 4 hours on Saturdays and Sundays plus a 3 hour conditioning and hitting workout during the week. They had the groups cycling in right on time, the 14s were practicing when we showed up and at the allotted time they left the field and the 10s immediately took the field. The tone, drills and expectations for the 10s was identical to the older girls, no babying going on there. The orgs pres oversaw the practices at every level.
Really impressive org, but I just kept trying to figure out what life would look like if she were to be offered a spot and took it. EVERY weekend we would be splitting up to get them to different practices/friendlies etc. How do families do this? Even if both girls were on this team it would still mean every weekend basically all day at practice.
Luckily we don't have to make the decision just yet, the workout was just fielding/base running and they want to see her hit at the next workout before making a decision. She did well, could definitely play with those girls, but I can't quite wrap my head around the commitment it would take from the entire family.
Maybe this solves itself and she doesn't make the squad, but if she is offered a spot, it is going to be a really tough decision, because I know she would become an incredibly well rounded player with this org and be on a path to have a really good chance to be competing for national championships on a consistent basis, but I also know that nothing would be getting done around the house and she would miss out on a lot of kid stuff.
For her part, she is all gung ho about it and says that she can handle the practices, but I have my reservations about how she will feel the first time she has to turn down a birthday party at DISNEYLAND and go to practice.
she will be hitting a lot this week in preparation for the workout though
Holy crap, it is no wonder these girls turn into softball machines. The workout was so precise, so detailed oriented and so long that my head was spinning just envisioning the commitment it would take from the family if she were to join up. They work out for 4 hours on Saturdays and Sundays plus a 3 hour conditioning and hitting workout during the week. They had the groups cycling in right on time, the 14s were practicing when we showed up and at the allotted time they left the field and the 10s immediately took the field. The tone, drills and expectations for the 10s was identical to the older girls, no babying going on there. The orgs pres oversaw the practices at every level.
Really impressive org, but I just kept trying to figure out what life would look like if she were to be offered a spot and took it. EVERY weekend we would be splitting up to get them to different practices/friendlies etc. How do families do this? Even if both girls were on this team it would still mean every weekend basically all day at practice.
Luckily we don't have to make the decision just yet, the workout was just fielding/base running and they want to see her hit at the next workout before making a decision. She did well, could definitely play with those girls, but I can't quite wrap my head around the commitment it would take from the entire family.
Maybe this solves itself and she doesn't make the squad, but if she is offered a spot, it is going to be a really tough decision, because I know she would become an incredibly well rounded player with this org and be on a path to have a really good chance to be competing for national championships on a consistent basis, but I also know that nothing would be getting done around the house and she would miss out on a lot of kid stuff.
For her part, she is all gung ho about it and says that she can handle the practices, but I have my reservations about how she will feel the first time she has to turn down a birthday party at DISNEYLAND and go to practice.
she will be hitting a lot this week in preparation for the workout though