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......
Fastpitch Discussions
itsJustaGame wrote: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......
Parents love to brag about DD playing travel and there are orgs out there willing to take their money. There are players and teams out there that do not belong. It all comes out in the wash.
“Life is hard; it's harder if you're stupid.” John Wayne
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as the world turns - Posts: 1519
- Joined: Thu Oct 02, 2008 9:54 am
itsJustaGame wrote: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......
Your questions are hypothetical since the "big guys" in the "big orgs" are not going to come on HB and give you direct answers. Maybe some other parents, like me, will weigh-in on whether we are pushing our DDs or not. When it's not fun anymore, my DD will tell me and we will move on to another sport.
Is your DD in rec and you're thinking about going out for a TB team? Is your DD on a team that is not a "big org" but you want to be? The major tournaments, including nationals, separates the good teams from the not so good teams that shouldn't be there.
In general, it all comes down to coaching and player development. Is your DD improving or just treading water? If she isn't getting better, you're on the wrong team or with the wrong coach, or she just isn't meant to play higher-level softball. My DD is in one of the big orgs, and gets excellent coaching, but I get your question. I think the big orgs can do both, jmo.
"I learned the path to Heaven is full of sinners and believers,
learned that happiness on earth ain't just for high achievers."
learned that happiness on earth ain't just for high achievers."
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Fastpitch4Life - Premium Member
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We started in rec at 6yo, started travel at 8u, played both until 10 and then played A class travel only from then on. It has been a blast. All those special times as a family and with other parents and kids were/are priceless.
Lots of orgs ARE just in it for the money. Some are good feeders into college. You have to shop around for what fits you and your needs.
Travel ball is not for everyone. Some do it as a hobby, some do it just because "friends" do. For us it was just a way of life. My brother and I played D1 baseball, his oldest playes D2 now, youngest signed D1 this fall, my daughter has committed and signs this year. It's what we enjoy as a whole family.
Lots of orgs ARE just in it for the money. Some are good feeders into college. You have to shop around for what fits you and your needs.
Travel ball is not for everyone. Some do it as a hobby, some do it just because "friends" do. For us it was just a way of life. My brother and I played D1 baseball, his oldest playes D2 now, youngest signed D1 this fall, my daughter has committed and signs this year. It's what we enjoy as a whole family.
- thebigshow
- Posts: 8
- Joined: Fri Nov 30, 2012 9:57 am
this has nothing to do with my DD. just making an observation. and as far as I can tell, some of the orgs do come on here. at least their coaches do.
- itsJustaGame
- Posts: 7
- Joined: Tue Jan 31, 2012 11:01 pm
itsJustaGame wrote:this has nothing to do with my DD. just making an observation. and as far as I can tell, some of the orgs do come on here. at least their coaches do.
Cool. We will see what they have to say. I'm with thebigshow, it's been a great ride...
"I learned the path to Heaven is full of sinners and believers,
learned that happiness on earth ain't just for high achievers."
learned that happiness on earth ain't just for high achievers."
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Fastpitch4Life - Premium Member
- Posts: 729
- Joined: Wed Sep 01, 2010 12:24 pm
It's a business. The orgs (some) make money helping kids get into college as softball players. Some do it better than others. Best to make the right choices for your kid and not get too caught up in what everybody else is doing.
Ladies, if a man tells you he will fix it, he will fix it. There is no reason to remind him about it every six months.
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Trophy Hunter - Posts: 889
- Joined: Wed Dec 17, 2008 4:50 pm
- Location: Where the big game is.
My daughter is 10, she loves to play. At 8 years old, she decided she wanted to learn to pitch. I didn't know how to begin so I took her to a few lessons. She was mentored by high school and college girls that sparked a passion to play. I just wanted her to be able to throw a strike when our rec season rolled around.
Before our first "kid pitch" rec season began parents were complaining that my daughter threw too hard and was too advanced for rec. Parents asked me to tell her to pitch slower, tone it down, other kids would get hurt, etc. She had yet to even take the mound in a game and probably threw 35-ish mph. 6 -8 weeks later our rec season was over but my daughter still wanted to play. We played travel all Spring, Summer and Fall. This year, she throws a lot harder and more accurate. It wouldn't be challenging for her (or fun for the other kids) so I'm not signing her up for rec.
The fact of the matter is a lot of "travel" teams in our area play locally or semi-locally nearly year around. Kids love it. It's a lot better then rec. I personally like that unlike rec, I can pick our coach (by trying out for them) and I feel like I have more options/buying power then just getting assigned to who ever volunteered to coach rec. Rec politics were awful for us to the point, I'm highly considering not signing my younger daughter up with our local rec league. The "competition" in rec was a joke. Overall, pitching was horrible, kids didn't always show up and teams were short players. If you had a good team, then you were accused of cheating and stacking your team.
Now, we're playing for a smaller start up org but I really like our coach and we've played well against some bigger name teams. I can see why some people think the play at the big orgs is "watered down" but that just depends on your outlook. The sport of softball is growing, as a parent I'm glad we have so many choices. We enjoy the schedule, the families and the better competition of travel softball. My daughter has been mentored by some great older girls (high school and college players) and set big goals of her own. The more girls that have the opportunity to play the better for those girls. College bound or not, the impact sports have on girls have lifelong benefits. And for those worried about the worthy-ness of the elite teams, the creme will still rise to the top.
P.S. When asked if it's the parents or the kids. We've been in the off season since the weekend after Thanksgiving. My daughter is counting down the days until our first practice and looking forward to next season. She can't wait to get back on the field.
Before our first "kid pitch" rec season began parents were complaining that my daughter threw too hard and was too advanced for rec. Parents asked me to tell her to pitch slower, tone it down, other kids would get hurt, etc. She had yet to even take the mound in a game and probably threw 35-ish mph. 6 -8 weeks later our rec season was over but my daughter still wanted to play. We played travel all Spring, Summer and Fall. This year, she throws a lot harder and more accurate. It wouldn't be challenging for her (or fun for the other kids) so I'm not signing her up for rec.
The fact of the matter is a lot of "travel" teams in our area play locally or semi-locally nearly year around. Kids love it. It's a lot better then rec. I personally like that unlike rec, I can pick our coach (by trying out for them) and I feel like I have more options/buying power then just getting assigned to who ever volunteered to coach rec. Rec politics were awful for us to the point, I'm highly considering not signing my younger daughter up with our local rec league. The "competition" in rec was a joke. Overall, pitching was horrible, kids didn't always show up and teams were short players. If you had a good team, then you were accused of cheating and stacking your team.
Now, we're playing for a smaller start up org but I really like our coach and we've played well against some bigger name teams. I can see why some people think the play at the big orgs is "watered down" but that just depends on your outlook. The sport of softball is growing, as a parent I'm glad we have so many choices. We enjoy the schedule, the families and the better competition of travel softball. My daughter has been mentored by some great older girls (high school and college players) and set big goals of her own. The more girls that have the opportunity to play the better for those girls. College bound or not, the impact sports have on girls have lifelong benefits. And for those worried about the worthy-ness of the elite teams, the creme will still rise to the top.
P.S. When asked if it's the parents or the kids. We've been in the off season since the weekend after Thanksgiving. My daughter is counting down the days until our first practice and looking forward to next season. She can't wait to get back on the field.
- Watermanhouse
- Posts: 18
- Joined: Mon Jul 23, 2012 5:29 pm
itsJustaGame wrote: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.
...
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......
Most of the big orgs can do both.
IMO, most of the expansion of the big orgs is being driven by established teams that want to differentiate themselves from all the other teams.
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PDad - Premium Member
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- Joined: Sun Mar 29, 2009 4:52 pm
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