- Nov 18, 2013
- 2,258
- 113
I’m going to assume this is a troll post, but here goes anyway.
How are travel sports ruining rec ball? Better coaching? Better training? Higher competition? Higher level of commitment?
Most travel programs have fundraising or scholarships to make it affordable for everyone. Travel teams ARE turning kids into college athletes. Some better than others, but you’ll be hard pressed to find any D1 softball players that didn’t come from travel programs. You won’t see many at D2 either. You’ll see several at D3 or JUCO, but they seldom see the field. The starters mostly come from travel teams. Sorry to burst your bubble, but those are facts.
Claiming size and speed are the two main thigs coaches look at is completely false. That myth comes from parents of kids that aren’t getting recruited. Look at any college roster and you’ll see girls who are close to 5’, close to 6’ and everywhere in between. I met a lot more families in rec ball that think their kid is the next sensation than I ever did in travel. Most travel parents just want to supply their kids opportunities. What they do with that is up to the kids. Most rec parents are clueless what it takes to get to the next level and that’s sad.
Both rec and travel parents agree multiple sports at a young age help create well rounded athletes. By the time they get in HS they can still play other sports, but they need to do some level of training year round in the sport they wish to pursue in college. All the basketball, volleyball or soccer in the world isn’t going to help them hit a rise ball and I can guarantee they aren’t going to see one in rec ball.
How are travel sports ruining rec ball? Better coaching? Better training? Higher competition? Higher level of commitment?
Most travel programs have fundraising or scholarships to make it affordable for everyone. Travel teams ARE turning kids into college athletes. Some better than others, but you’ll be hard pressed to find any D1 softball players that didn’t come from travel programs. You won’t see many at D2 either. You’ll see several at D3 or JUCO, but they seldom see the field. The starters mostly come from travel teams. Sorry to burst your bubble, but those are facts.
Claiming size and speed are the two main thigs coaches look at is completely false. That myth comes from parents of kids that aren’t getting recruited. Look at any college roster and you’ll see girls who are close to 5’, close to 6’ and everywhere in between. I met a lot more families in rec ball that think their kid is the next sensation than I ever did in travel. Most travel parents just want to supply their kids opportunities. What they do with that is up to the kids. Most rec parents are clueless what it takes to get to the next level and that’s sad.
Both rec and travel parents agree multiple sports at a young age help create well rounded athletes. By the time they get in HS they can still play other sports, but they need to do some level of training year round in the sport they wish to pursue in college. All the basketball, volleyball or soccer in the world isn’t going to help them hit a rise ball and I can guarantee they aren’t going to see one in rec ball.