girlzgotgame wrote:I am hearing stories of girlz who play travel ball, then HS and travel ball, get recruited for college, but turn down scholarships because they are burned out. How do you help prevent burn out, especially when you have coaches who practice their teams or have them in a friendly or tourney every weekend? When do girlz fit in time with friends or participate in activities that are not softball related???
What age group? That makes a difference.
My daughter (12 years old) is not allowed to pick up a softball (she can ice skate, play volleyball, basketball, roller skate, whatever sport she likes...but NO SOFTBALL) from: Dec 1 to Jan 17th and from August 3 to Sept 5th. That allows her break time at Christmas and right after Nationals during a full year sport!
I wish more coaches would understand this but the emphasis on winning isn't always what is best for the kids. It is not only good for them mentally, it is good for them physically (they need to rest their bodies, especially when growing) and they will come back a little rusty but will catch up soon and be even stronger!
During the week, she practices 3-4 times a week. Since most games are on Sunday, she doesn't pick up a ball on Monday and her hard workouts are Tues/Wed/Thurs during the fall and Fri too during the spring. I think that is a good balance for her, espcially at an age where they miss their friends, birthday parties, have a lot of homework, etc. They need to be kids too!
Burn out happens all of the time. I coached an amazing player from 9th grade to 12th grade. She got a full scholarship to LSU (a top team). She broke every freshman record hir first year and hit two grand slams in extra innings on TV and quit right after that season ended and never played college softball again. I would have thought that would have been one of the best times in her life and I was in shock when she walked away! I thought I would see this kid on the Olympic team because she worked so hard and was so great at what she did.
She was burnt out, her Mom was devestated, I was crying and could not believe it but she was burn out. It's crazy but happens all the time so keep it in perspective when your daughter maybe wants to take a day off! They NEED breaks.
In HS, they are now playing 6 days a week so that gets tough too. I think playing other sports helped me love each one of them and take tie off the other so that is a good idea too so they don't get burned out.
Good luck!