IN
Travel vs School?
I just take high school ball for what it is. My DD's high school coach encourages kids to play ball in the off season. But he also is a head coach that his his limitations. My DD's team has some success in school but it is the experience of playing with her school friends that I am learning what is important to her. She hates to lose and wants her team to do well but I've learned not to make any derogatory comments about her underachieving team mates!
- ballguy
- Posts: 107
- Joined: Mon Aug 11, 2008 7:03 am
A couple of things here. If your DD is talented, she will eventually play.. Maybe not on your preferred timetable, but she will play. Coaches have to win to keep their job and eventually need their best talent on the field. Coaches also don't like looking bad and if you DD remains patient and takes advantage of any little opportunity she gets, she will play. Coaches play the players that everyone in the stands can see should be playing.
Most Importantly, your DD will regret not playing at her high school. Sooner or later, players that love the game regret not having softball be part of their high school experience. Whether the softball experience is good or bad, the personal gratification of being part of something bigger than herself in high school will last forever. Our family knows 3 players who skipped some portion of HS ball and all 3 went on to play in college. All 3 will tell you that not playing HS ball is one of their biggest regrets.
Encourage her to play for her HS. Sit in the stands, root for your team, and just enjoy watching softball. June will be here before you know it.
Most Importantly, your DD will regret not playing at her high school. Sooner or later, players that love the game regret not having softball be part of their high school experience. Whether the softball experience is good or bad, the personal gratification of being part of something bigger than herself in high school will last forever. Our family knows 3 players who skipped some portion of HS ball and all 3 went on to play in college. All 3 will tell you that not playing HS ball is one of their biggest regrets.
Encourage her to play for her HS. Sit in the stands, root for your team, and just enjoy watching softball. June will be here before you know it.
- smokenmirrors86
- Posts: 26
- Joined: Mon Sep 21, 2009 12:48 pm
Good advice Smoke! I don't think I will have a problem with my DD playing as she is a good player, and the cream will always rise to the top. She will play School ball, up till the point she is miserable! If this happens we will look at other options. I don't really think it will get to that point but I'm not very impressed so far... Thanks for the input.
- Mavrick67
- Posts: 30
- Joined: Thu Feb 26, 2009 5:49 pm
You guys bring up some good points. I'm relatively new to the HS coaching scene, and one of the biggest challenges I've faced is balancing the player's travel practices and other requirements (pitching/hitting instruction), with HS practices/workouts. For the most part, the girls do a great job communicating with me when their travel practices are. I appreciate the fact they're comfortable communicating this with me, and plan to continue supporting their efforts to become better softball players. It is my wish that the numerous travel coaches, whom my HS players play for, continue demonstrating the same awareness, fairness, and understanding of the player's goals and priorities throughout their HS years. I do not know all of these coaches personally, but the one's I've met seem to have the same expectations and goals as I have. Thank you for your efforts!!
Last edited by DLauck on Mon Jan 18, 2010 10:52 am, edited 1 time in total.
- DLauck
- Posts: 100
- Joined: Mon Jan 18, 2010 9:11 am
Dlauck,
You must be really new!!! You shouldn't have any issues with TB schedules or anything! When you have the girls, they are yours! They can't play TB till the tournament(State) is over for your school! The only issue is off season stuff thats not "manditory"!But, it is nice to hear a coach suppport the girls who work hard all year!! not just march to may! Good luck!
You must be really new!!! You shouldn't have any issues with TB schedules or anything! When you have the girls, they are yours! They can't play TB till the tournament(State) is over for your school! The only issue is off season stuff thats not "manditory"!But, it is nice to hear a coach suppport the girls who work hard all year!! not just march to may! Good luck!
- looking in
- Posts: 268
- Joined: Thu Oct 02, 2008 9:20 am
looking in wrote:Dlauck,
You must be really new!!! You shouldn't have any issues with TB schedules or anything! When you have the girls, they are yours! They can't play TB till the tournament(State) is over for your school! The only issue is off season stuff thats not "manditory"!But, it is nice to hear a coach suppport the girls who work hard all year!! not just march to may! Good luck!
looking in,
I've added pitching and hitting instruction to the list of schedule "issues" players, parents, and coaches must attempt to balance. Again, it is my wish that all stakeholders would emphasize balance when planning the girl's schedules.
Just to give you an example about travel conflicts, I had at least 3 girls miss Saturday morning workouts due to travel tournaments, and others due to travel practices. This was our first Saturday workout. As you stated, they aren't missing mandatory HS workouts, and the girls can choose where they want to go. Also, I will never say the girls are "mine", even during March-May.
For the record, I believe all the players communicated with me their intentions, which I'm thankful for. And to go along with my philosophy, as long as the girls and decision makers in their lives think they're getting better, I'll continue supporting these decisions.
- DLauck
- Posts: 100
- Joined: Mon Jan 18, 2010 9:11 am
Dlauck,
You must not be from Indy. There should be know way for a girl to miss a HS function for anything to do with TB! Even hitting or pitching lessons! Those have to be private lessons also! (I believe that is correct) I'll let the big boys on here correct me if i'm wrong!These are the rules in Indiana also! Maybe different in other states! Other than freshman(young) there are no tournaments for HS girls till the first week of June! I will say this, i wish you coached at my DD's HS!! Just mention TB and it will cost you playing time! Good luck!!
You must not be from Indy. There should be know way for a girl to miss a HS function for anything to do with TB! Even hitting or pitching lessons! Those have to be private lessons also! (I believe that is correct) I'll let the big boys on here correct me if i'm wrong!These are the rules in Indiana also! Maybe different in other states! Other than freshman(young) there are no tournaments for HS girls till the first week of June! I will say this, i wish you coached at my DD's HS!! Just mention TB and it will cost you playing time! Good luck!!
- looking in
- Posts: 268
- Joined: Thu Oct 02, 2008 9:20 am
DLauck
Be sure to keep in mind over use injuries. Especially for pitchers.
My own daughter's. (Not a pitcher)current schedule includes workouts with travel team twice a week, fielding and batting spread across 4 days a week with her varsity team....catching for her varsity pitchers once or twice a week....all on top of 4 days of fitness training each week.
And its only January.
I have spoken with the coaches of each team and let them know that she will let them know what practices she may need to pass on each week.All are in agreement.
Be sure to keep in mind over use injuries. Especially for pitchers.
My own daughter's. (Not a pitcher)current schedule includes workouts with travel team twice a week, fielding and batting spread across 4 days a week with her varsity team....catching for her varsity pitchers once or twice a week....all on top of 4 days of fitness training each week.
And its only January.
I have spoken with the coaches of each team and let them know that she will let them know what practices she may need to pass on each week.All are in agreement.
- Coach11
- Posts: 512
- Joined: Tue Jan 13, 2009 10:56 am
Coach11
I hope the HS coach isn't around for these "fielding and batting" events at the HS. That breaks IHSAA rules! 2 workouts a week for the TB team? That's crazy this time of year! For what? The TB coach can't touch them in 5-6 weeks and there is nothing worth playing in right now! Unless you count the Sportzone World championships!! Which much to my dismay, we have one left we got talked into! Love those 3-4am games!! So much gained there!!!
I hope the HS coach isn't around for these "fielding and batting" events at the HS. That breaks IHSAA rules! 2 workouts a week for the TB team? That's crazy this time of year! For what? The TB coach can't touch them in 5-6 weeks and there is nothing worth playing in right now! Unless you count the Sportzone World championships!! Which much to my dismay, we have one left we got talked into! Love those 3-4am games!! So much gained there!!!
- looking in
- Posts: 268
- Joined: Thu Oct 02, 2008 9:20 am
looking in wrote:Dlauck,
Even hitting or pitching lessons! Those have to be private lessons also! (I believe that is correct)
Looking in, that's correct for "in school in season". We are currently in school out of season.
Every man lives by a code:
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2.Never get lost
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1.Always look cool
2.Never get lost
3.If you get lost, look cool
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slapperdad - Posts: 887
- Joined: Fri May 01, 2009 7:28 pm
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