WHY?

[dodgerblue]

Save the money and save for college instead.

[as the world turns]

Save the money and save for college instead.

That would be one option

[softballdaddi]

why the big jump for everyone to play travel ball? and younger and younger?
there are a lot of teams that keep popping up. it seems any kid can find a team now and the rec leagues are being depleted. and the big orgs? forget about it. " back in the day " or even just a few years ago. travel ball meant something.

sooooo.....

my question's are...
to the parents.. why are you pushing your DD into travel? does she want to? or you?

to the big orgs..... why are you allowing more and more teams in your org? is it to help the girls grow? or to make money? can you do both? I'm just asking......

I will speak from personal experience. For us it, it came down to coaching, talent levels and expectations differences between rec and club. We have not joined a team where the coaching was not better than any rec coach. Talent levels are usually higher on club. I hated when coaches told my daughter to not throw so hard. My daughter had to "dumb" down her game to accommodate weak players. Last, rec ball means everyone plays, very good and very bad together. see comment above.

[SDTitans]

I do not see why people bag on rec ball. It is recreational sport for all kids in the community to go out and have fun. All these people jumping to travel at a young age and using the excuse rec league is the problem cause they suck. Maybe should volunteer their time and coach a team. Since they say all the coaching sucks too. But they will not, they will complain and take the little 8/9 yr old out to travel to flame their egos and most likely ruin the kid having fun at that age.

[Sam]

why the big jump for everyone to play travel ball? and younger and younger?
there are a lot of teams that keep popping up. it seems any kid can find a team now and the rec leagues are being depleted. and the big orgs? forget about it. " back in the day " or even just a few years ago. travel ball meant something.

sooooo.....

my question's are...
to the parents.. why are you pushing your DD into travel? does she want to? or you?

to the big orgs..... why are you allowing more and more teams in your org? is it to help the girls grow? or to make money? can you do both? I'm just asking......

I will speak from personal experience. For us it, it came down to coaching, talent levels and expectations differences between rec and club. We have not joined a team where the coaching was not better than any rec coach. Talent levels are usually higher on club. I hated when coaches told my daughter to not throw so hard. My daughter had to "dumb" down her game to accommodate weak players. Last, rec ball means everyone plays, very good and very bad together. see comment above.

So what age did you take her to travel? How many games per year does she play? How much time off does she get....I mean "don't even pick up a ball" time off? What age is she now? Did she make all stars as a rec player? Did you have her play up an age?

I notice you didn't mention what your kid wanted to do....

[29dad]

DD played two years of rec ball before we even knew what travel ball was. We thought she was a pretty special ball player... until she went to her first travel ball tryout. The difference in coaching and player development between rec and travel ball is... gargantuan. Some people enjoy low stress softball with no ability to choose your coach or teammates, few if any practices, and treats for everyone after the game. More power to you. DD wouldn't go back to that in a million years.

[DDG]

I think the timing of moving to TB also has a lot to do with how strong the rec leagues are in your area.

If you have leagues with good competition and coaching, there may not be the desire or need to move on so early.

DD was fortunate enough to have some good coaching in rec ball and didn't move to TB until a 1st year 14u player. The transition to TB was fairly easy for her thanks to the coaching she received in Rec.

YMMV

[DonnieS]

. Maybe should volunteer their time and coach a team. Since they say all the coaching sucks too. But they will not, they will complain and take the little 8/9 yr old out to travel to flame their egos and most likely ruin the kid having fun at that age.

Wow - what a hell of an idea - why didnt I think of going out to the rec league and coaching two different age groups at one time - one practiced 3 days a week - the younger 2 days a week. Do you people think before you write ? Damn near every body I know in our area that moved their kids to travel - did exactly that - some were cut out for it - some werent - but most did it. What piss ant part of the country do you come from anyway - must be pitiful there.

[Fastpitch4Life]

I do not see why people bag on rec ball. It is recreational sport for all kids in the community to go out and have fun. All these people jumping to travel at a young age and using the excuse rec league is the problem cause they suck. Maybe should volunteer their time and coach a team. Since they say all the coaching sucks too. But they will not, they will complain and take the little 8/9 yr old out to travel to flame their egos and most likely ruin the kid having fun at that age.

I re-read all the posts on this thread and I don't think the flavor is rec ball sucks and rec ball coaches suck. Depending upon how competitive your local rec league is, girls can learn the basics and enjoy competition with their peers, and if they stand out, might play all-stars and face better competition, and that is great. Did this for 5 years and it was a good experience for the most part.

TB kind of fell in our lap when a coach on a new team associated with a well-known org came calling. Probably would have stayed in rec for a season or two more if the opportunity didn't present itself. If your kid loves to play and has some God-given talent and displays that talent, I don't think it is unreasonable to want her to keep improving and get top-notch coaching as opposed to being drafted by a well-meaning dad in your local rec league who may or may not have any experience with organized softball. If DD had stayed in rec, she wouldn't have had the experience of playing at nationals and playing good teams from all over the country and having a great time doing "team things" in a small town 2400 miles from home. And speaking from experience I don't want my ego or anything else "flamed" when its 100 degrees and 70% humidity!

[Sam]

I do not see why people bag on rec ball. It is recreational sport for all kids in the community to go out and have fun. All these people jumping to travel at a young age and using the excuse rec league is the problem cause they suck. Maybe should volunteer their time and coach a team. Since they say all the coaching sucks too. But they will not, they will complain and take the little 8/9 yr old out to travel to flame their egos and most likely ruin the kid having fun at that age.

Some of us have done that and some choose not to go back because of the drama involved at the rec level with the absolute most psycho parents on the face of the planet. We love coaching the kids.....hate dealing with the psycho's.....board members picking all star teams....board members coaching all star teams.....board members cherry picking players to ensure their championship rec season.....etc.