but not always in ways that are advantageous to learning softball!I do not know what age it stops if ever but 10Us will keep themselves busy if they do not get enough attention from coach.
but not always in ways that are advantageous to learning softball!I do not know what age it stops if ever but 10Us will keep themselves busy if they do not get enough attention from coach.
But very advantageous for keeping weeds off the fields with all those dandelions that get pulled…lolbut not always in ways that are advantageous to learning softball!
so my DD is a young 2009 played ball with the boys unti getting into softball @ 9 years old in 2019, and fell in love, started pitching lessons but was still very green, and had a a lot of catching up to do. She was able to get on with a local 10U travel team...unfortunately, they were kinda the same way as your team, not much as far as practice and developent goes, so most of her work was at home with me and with her private pitching/hitting coach. She was ready to rock come spring 2020...then Covid hit, and we had zero team practice time all spring. Luckily my DD has a love for the game and an amazing work ethic, so we spent that entire spring on the field 5 days a week...made it fun and worked fundamental, ground balls, fly balls, bunting. Long story short by the time we came back around, she had closed the developmental gap and then some. We actually moved her up to 12U early last fall, and found the right organization for her and haven't looked back. You can work on a lot of things at home, but the one thing you can't give her is that game experience. That's where they put it all together. I hope that helps!!First, let me say that I know the HUGE time commitment involved with coaching. It's usually not a paid gig and it's a huge sacrifice. I've coached one rec season and I appreciate anyone that is willing to step up and help lead a team. I'm also going to admit up front that as a parent I'm at fault for my daughter being in this scenario by not asking enough questions and doing enough research. That's probably why I'm so frustrated.
Today was our first tournament as part of a 2nd year 10U select team that's part of a well established organization in our area. The coach has been running practices mostly by himself up to this point and despite repeated offers to help he has been uninterested or dismissive at best. I was concerned, but figured surely he had things worked out. He showed up for the tournament today and our select team had no other coaches. He was going to run the entire thing from 3rd base. That includes the dugout and the first base coach responsibilities. We were told to arrive 50 minutes early, but he did no hitting or fielding practice other than throws to first. He had no typical team equipment with him.
I'm now officially worried that my daughter is going to lose a year of development time at the team level and be woefully unprepared for the jump to 12U at tryouts next Summer. Yes, we will work on things at home, but it's different than practicing with a team and having coaches guide you along the way. I'm torn between the lesson of commitment to her team and what's best for her if she wants to continue to compete at the select level next season.
Looking for advice from many of you here that have much more experience than I do! What would you do in this scenario?
If polled, I would think that the majority on this site would state that the overall experience of HS and TB combined have been a positive experience for their dds. I know for mine it was. She didn't care about the opportunity to play professionally and was great with the idea of playing in college. Overall, my dd just loved to take the field and now is enjoying coaching this great sport.I believe that softball would be better served without coaches at games and no travel ball until you can drive. Allow other girls to be base coaches and make line ups, no more than 2 games a day, and parents need a breathalyzer and or sobriety test to watch a game. The travel scene is way too serious to early. And for what? When can colleges recruit, 11th grade? There is no multi million dollar contracts awarded to best athletes like baseball. What are we doing? Why do we allow this behavior to continue
Colleges and Pros recruit as early as the rules allow and bend the rules as much as they can. Which is pretty early.I believe that softball would be better served without coaches at games and no travel ball until you can drive. Allow other girls to be base coaches and make line ups, no more than 2 games a day, and parents need a breathalyzer and or sobriety test to watch a game. The travel scene is way too serious to early. And for what? When can colleges recruit, 11th grade? There is no multi million dollar contracts awarded to best athletes like baseball. What are we doing? Why do we allow this behavior to continue