So I get word today that a couple of travel ball players I know are not playing for their high school teams this fall. Not sure exactly why, but something to do with not liking the head coach, or not agreeing with the role they expect to play, but just guessing.
I'm finding myself being judgmental by this, and I want to make a question of it.
IMO, it's some sort of red flag when a travel ball player doesn't want to play for a pretty good high school team, when lots of other travel ball players are playing on that team.
Key point: I'm not talking about teams that are so dreadful that only a handful of players own a glove, and the team will go 1-22 with or without you. Or the team whose coach is abusive or a total jerk. Iget that.
But I'm talking about pretty good high school teams where every player in the starting lineup is a travel player at some level.
For those who don't want a part of that, what is it about?
Is it a failure on the case of many players and parents to grasp what it is means to play for something bigger than yourself, to take pride in the name in the front of the jersey? I see kids and parents whose only goal is college softball, and so every team is viewed as, ''What do you have to offer ME?" ''Will you make ME better?"
Would you be wary of these players if you were a college coach. Wouldn't you want to know their experience of high school softball? I think you'd learn a lot.
I'm finding myself being judgmental by this, and I want to make a question of it.
IMO, it's some sort of red flag when a travel ball player doesn't want to play for a pretty good high school team, when lots of other travel ball players are playing on that team.
Key point: I'm not talking about teams that are so dreadful that only a handful of players own a glove, and the team will go 1-22 with or without you. Or the team whose coach is abusive or a total jerk. Iget that.
But I'm talking about pretty good high school teams where every player in the starting lineup is a travel player at some level.
For those who don't want a part of that, what is it about?
Is it a failure on the case of many players and parents to grasp what it is means to play for something bigger than yourself, to take pride in the name in the front of the jersey? I see kids and parents whose only goal is college softball, and so every team is viewed as, ''What do you have to offer ME?" ''Will you make ME better?"
Would you be wary of these players if you were a college coach. Wouldn't you want to know their experience of high school softball? I think you'd learn a lot.