What if she said, " IM DONE"- No more softball ?

[homerunnerfan]

Ok I have a question, has anybody's dd ever taken fall "off", and just concetrated on volleyball and basketball school sports and then hit softball in the Spring? It has been alot on my dd this year in 7th grade juggling all of them, and she's a pitcher so thats even harder. I have debated this idea but Ive been told " DONT DO IT SHE WILL BE BEHIND THE CURVE" she is extremly athletic and strong would this really hurt her?

[looking in]

Not a pitcher!! Other girls do it all the time but still get in swings and throw! But pitchers HAVE to throw! If she wants it she'll find time to throw! If not, then there is nothing wrong with a 3 sport athlete in school! She will be in better shape than most come spring, but maybe not the #1 or#2! SHE has to make the decision though!! If you do it for her, she's done!

[DunninLA]

I don't understand how your title and your post are related to each other....

[18'sdad]

If you are having this problem in 7th grade then you are in bad shape. It gets worse in high school. Those telling you she will be behind the curve if she takes the fall off are correct. Pitchers have to put in the extra work at home year round. You can take a week or so off every so often and be ok, but not a whole fall season.

[CrushersDad]

Ok I have a question, has anybody's dd ever taken fall "off", and just concetrated on volleyball and basketball school sports and then hit softball in the Spring? It has been alot on my dd this year in 7th grade juggling all of them, and she's a pitcher so thats even harder. I have debated this idea but Ive been told " DONT DO IT SHE WILL BE BEHIND THE CURVE" she is extremly athletic and strong would this really hurt her?

What if she said "I'M DONE"? No more softball?

[CrushersDad]

By the way...

I don't agree that she shouldn't take a break. 7th grade would put her at about 12, if she doesn't take a break occasionally she could burn out! Or worse, develop an overuse injury.

Take a break for the entire fall season? NO
Take a break for a month or so around the holidays? YES

[asmackdaddy]

Agreed. A holiday break is okay (2-3 weeks) but not the entire Fall season

[Pontiac]

Here's my take and I have a DD (pitcher) who just signed her NLI to play in college at a large D1 school in TX.

First......you didn't say if your DD was asking to take off or if you are just trying to stay one step ahead in case the question comes up.
Second......if she's strong and athletic taking a fall break from ANY sport is not gonna hurt her at age 12. Many times they will come back more excited and eager to play. There isn't a college out there that is looking at 7th graders for women's sports.
Third.....most 12 year olds don't have a clue on a specific sport they may want to play in college.
Fourth.....If she asks and you force her to play then you've messed up. If she asks, remember the word compromise. A good thing would be "Hey I know you want a break right now but do you think we could go out a throw the ball together a couple of times a month?"

Lastly........the age/time you have to worry about most is their Freshman year of high school (age 14). Burnout is most often at this age and your kid will discover boys and all the other distractions that go along with high school.

Good luck, believe in your kid and she will reward you many times over.

[Wormburner]

I agree with Pontiac. I am going through softball for the first time with my DD, who is a 99, and she is not a pitcher, but I believe that an athlete is an athlete. No kid at this age knows for sure what they want to do, and if the desire is there to try some other sports or activities, this is the only time that they get to do that risk free. Mine is a die-hard, but if she came home tomorrow and wanted to try something else, we would discuss it completely, sleep on it, and move the direction that she wanted to move. If she wanted to come back to softball, I have no doubt that she could hone the skills necessary to get back in with little or no detriment to her game. Obviously, I am no softball expert, but I did stay at a Holiday Inn Express last night...

Bill Savell

[DonnieS]

I agree with Pontiac. I am going through softball for the first time with my DD, who is a 99, and she is not a pitcher, but I believe that an athlete is an athlete. No kid at this age knows for sure what they want to do, and if the desire is there to try some other sports or activities, this is the only time that they get to do that risk free. Mine is a die-hard, but if she came home tomorrow and wanted to try something else, we would discuss it completely, sleep on it, and move the direction that she wanted to move. If she wanted to come back to softball, I have no doubt that she could hone the skills necessary to get back in with little or no detriment to her game. Obviously, I am no softball expert, but I did stay at a Holiday Inn Express last night...

Bill Savell

Bill, my older kid did exactly that around age 12/13 as I recall. The words were "Dad, I'm done with softball, softball is your sport, not mine. You love it - I dont." Now this was after playing for a team that won a lot but took the game extremely serious. Errors were handling by screaming at the kids until they cried - mine didnt - but anyway she bailed out. I was sad about it but I didnt say anything other than 'what are you going to do?' . She did track, basketball, flag football, and volleyball during the interim. She traveled some with me and my younger dd as we did the tournament trips. She got back into our game some time later, 6 months or a year later, and has never looked back. She is playing college ball now and having the time of her life.