What to expect from out of town torunaments

[Hustle LI]

Hi All, we are gearing up for our first season of travel ball with a couple out of town tournaments.

what can we expect from these events:
1) is it common for there to be team activities the night before or the night of the Saturday game or do parents and kids generally go on their own when not at the field? - Being that the Saturday games will end early to mid afternoon it gives a lot of time on our hands the rest of the day.
2) What common mistakes are there we should avoid doing when going to our of state tournaments with our DD?

just curious if anyone has any advice.

 

[radness]

Expect?
Hmmm... expect everything that's been written here on dfp throughout the years,
Then add any drama comedy theater scenario you can dream up...

Seriously #1)
that sounds like a good question to ask the coach to see what the coach will be planning for the team. Will they do team dinner will they be allowed to go in the swimming pool or not that sort of thing.

#2) part of what to watch out for would be how much you choose to include yourself or not in some of the discussions that will arise in the bleachers with parents sitting next to you or at the hotel lounge at midnight near the bar usually.
(Best advice is take what you hear with a lot of grains of salt.)
Say this because often tournaments events that everybody is traveling to seem to have a lot of hoopla about them and people get wound up about who starter should be and how the coach should be coaching. Traveling tends to bring out a bit of intensity in folks.

 

[canyonjoe]

If it was possible we would usually get pizza and let the girls swim some after Saturday depending on times. Some would stay at different hotels and others would bring campers and stay at a camp ground so rarely were they all around. Friday was more of a free for all as some would go earlier others might not go until Saturday. I know my DD was a lot better getting up Saturday and driving versus trying to get ready on the road.

the pitfalls are having the kids up too late the night before the games. Some teams didn't allow swimming but most were fine. In the end it's a great way to meet parents and have some fun for the kids.

 

[Eric F]

A lot depends on the culture of the team, and the parents involved. Generally speaking, off-field team gatherings tend to be the most fun part of travel trips, and can be excellent for team-bonding. It helps a lot to have a parent take the lead on planning off-field activities, rather than leaving it up to the coaches. If you have an open Saturday afternoon, this is a perfect time, and the girls can still get to bed early enough to be ready for early games on Sunday morning. These events are also good for parents to get to know each other. DEFINITELY try to get everyone to stay in the same hotel.

One thing to make sure the girls (and parents) keep in mind...It's okay to have fun together off the field, but it's not a vacation. You're there there to play softball, and being ready to play your best is the priority. Many times, I have seen parents get wrapped up in having a good time together, and forget about getting their DD into bed at a reasonable hour.

 

[radness]

One thing to make sure the girls (and parents) keep in mind...It's okay to have fun together off the field, but it's not a vacation. You're there there to play softball, and being ready to play your best is the priority. Many times, I have seen parents get wrapped up in having a good time together, and forget about getting their DD into bed at a reasonable hour.

This☝ can be part of everybody learning what each other's goals are
and how everybody thinks that should happen...

Usually that's best communicated by the coach ahead of time so everybody understands the similar mindset. Rather than learned from oops we should have...

Hear stories of people even going to Nationals who are planning all sorts of side events
(things to go do) throughout the tournament. And can take people into different mindsets of why or what the purposes of being there. For some people/players the side events are equally a priority others not so much.

 

[krazykat]

Very important for coach to set a curfew. All girls have to be in their room by X o'clock. I had a lot of fun in the hotel lobby talking softball with parents and coaches from other teams. However, you learn who can and who cannot handle their alcohol.

 

[Eric F]

This☝ can be part of everybody learning what each other's goals are
and how everybody thinks that should happen...

Usually that's best communicated by the coach ahead of time so everybody understands the similar mindset. Rather than learned from oops we should have...

Hear stories of people even going to Nationals who are planning all sorts of side events
(things to go do) throughout the tournament. And can take people into different mindsets of why or what the purposes of being there. For some people/players the side events are equally a priority others not so much.

As long as it's planned properly, those side events can be great stress relief in the middle of a big event, and can really help keep the team vibe in a good place.

 

[_MIA_]

Proper family planning such that you don't have young children going with you who get so excited that they are staying in a hotel that they don't fall asleep until 11 pm the first two nights of a trip is a must...

 

[Lightning]

Very important for coach to set a curfew. All girls have to be in their room by X o'clock. I had a lot of fun in the hotel lobby talking softball with parents and coaches from other teams. However, you learn who can and who cannot handle their alcohol.

You've got to set a phone curfew as well. Girls on DD's old team would be texting until all hours of the morning. We would have her silence her phone at bedtime and give it to us for the night. Most other girls on the team just kept texting all night and were like zombies in the morning.

 

[wazzy]

It has been our experience that the out of town/ state teams don't play as much on Friday nights, so then the decision is should we get there Friday night and get DD to bed early, or do we get up and drive to save the money. It has always been worth it for us to get there on Friday night, get the lay of the land and have a nice low-key evening, especially if we have 8:00 games and are over 2 hours away. Our organization is great about scheduling hotel blocks, so we all stay together and there are usually a few families at least that show up on Fridays and the kids love to swim and hang out.

Ask the coach about expectations regarding off-field activities. We have always been on teams that are allowed to swim, but usually there is a curfew or time limit. If you do fun group stuff (it should go without saying), don't leave anyone out. Also, don't expect the coaches to organize the recreational stuff. They do enough. But if you are the organizer, run it past them.

You will become an expert on packing your vehicle. Find some good equipment that is easy to cart to the field if you have to park far away. A good cooler backpack, rolling cart and nice folding chairs are essential.

Even though games sometimes end mid-afternoon on Saturdays, sometimes they don't. We had to switch fields in the middle of a game once to a field with lights and did not finish until late, and then had early games on Sunday. So, it is not a given that you will have a lot of time on your hands on Saturdays. Plan flexibly.

As someone else on this string already said, tournaments are not vacations. They are really fun, but you know what's not fun? A player getting hurt bungee jumping, or someone getting feelings hurt at the bar. Pack a few room beers and know your limits.

Have fun!! You will love this!