I'm pretty sure every parent thinks his/her 6YOA child is exceptional...
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I'm pretty sure every parent thinks his/her 6YOA child is exceptional...
- Apr 25, 2010
- 772
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My DD didn't begin playing travel ball until she was 10. By the time she was 16, she was playing on, arguably, the best team in Ohio. A team that placed very high at Boulder and has almost the whole roster committed. It's not going to hurt her to wait a couple years, but it may very well hurt her to start too soon. A lot, and I mean A LOT of girls burn out when they get older because that is all their life has become. Let her be a little girl.
Good Post crystlemc!!!!!!
I must be getting old! My DD started rec ball at 8yo. Travel ball
when she was 11 and played primarily local tournaments until 16U. I agree
with many others that 8U is too young. She is now starting her
2nd year in college and we have no regrets. (yes she plays college ball)
A least once per season we had the same conversation where I told her that
"she could quit anytime. Softball is a game and is supposed to be fun blah-blah blah."
Fast forward to present day, she is now having more fun than any travel club she
ever played on. She is happy and I can look back on the trips from 16U and higher
when we traveled extensively and made more memories together than one could ever hope.
OP-your daughter is a little girl-let her have fun with no pressure to perform that comes at
12U and increases at every level. MY neighbor coaches 8U travel, they only play 3-4 times
in the summer. Personally I think this is to break in the parents not the players
I must be getting old! My DD started rec ball at 8yo. Travel ball
when she was 11 and played primarily local tournaments until 16U. I agree
with many others that 8U is too young. She is now starting her
2nd year in college and we have no regrets. (yes she plays college ball)
A least once per season we had the same conversation where I told her that
"she could quit anytime. Softball is a game and is supposed to be fun blah-blah blah."
Fast forward to present day, she is now having more fun than any travel club she
ever played on. She is happy and I can look back on the trips from 16U and higher
when we traveled extensively and made more memories together than one could ever hope.
OP-your daughter is a little girl-let her have fun with no pressure to perform that comes at
12U and increases at every level. MY neighbor coaches 8U travel, they only play 3-4 times
in the summer. Personally I think this is to break in the parents not the players
- Feb 17, 2014
- 551
- 28
I think it all comes down to you and her coaches as far as burn out is concerned.
You sound like a reasonable parent. If you're going to be overbearing, always demanding excellence, yelling when she screws up, then yeah I think she's going to burn out. If you're patient and let her live through some failure without ripping her head off, then she's going to continue to have fun. A lot of times the parents & coaches are what take the fun out of the game. Don't be that parent and find coaches that are a good fit for that.
Everyone is different. You'll find the right situation for your DD. You're already doing the right thing by thinking about this stuff.
You sound like a reasonable parent. If you're going to be overbearing, always demanding excellence, yelling when she screws up, then yeah I think she's going to burn out. If you're patient and let her live through some failure without ripping her head off, then she's going to continue to have fun. A lot of times the parents & coaches are what take the fun out of the game. Don't be that parent and find coaches that are a good fit for that.
Everyone is different. You'll find the right situation for your DD. You're already doing the right thing by thinking about this stuff.
