Travel vs School?

[snoop]

My ultimate question is with all the pay to play talk going on in several schools are we a year away from the travel season starting in April instead of June?


I know a "guy" that has 8 right now ready to go to missouri and play 18U USSSA a couple times in April and May!! If it doesn't start here soon!

[slapperdad]

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!!!

He is.....but they are "voluntary" workouts. Anyone in the school district is invited to attend.....whether you play for the varsity, JV, modified, or are just looking for some extracaricular during the winter months. It's stretching a fine line, as those who actually attend with regularity are predominently the varsity players. Hitting instruction is private and off of school grounds.
TB workouts are just part of the program. They played in an indoor tournament last weekend.....may join a few friendlies before the school season starts...but "off season" workouts are one of the reasons she left her previous team after last summer.

Be careful what you wish for. What if the IHSAA were to do the same thing with in-school rules they've done with out-of-school rules? Summers SUCK if you have a multiple sport athlete, particularly if you're kid doesn't drive yet. In the month of June last summer, my DD skipped high school softball workouts on Tuesdays and Thursdays, because if she didn't she would not have had time to eat from 7:00 am to about 5:30 pm. Ironically those were the only two days they were offered.

The other side of the coin is these rules are bent more in Softball than perhaps any other sport. Well at least since the traffic chopper flew over the northeast side one April morning a couple of years back. So at what point does the IHSAA do the same thing they did with the summers and just say "to heck with it", we can't police it, there are no rules, go do whatever you want? Every one of you on here know what I'm talking about, you see the same things I do.

[killerbee]

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.

Ah cmon guys, I've been biting my tongue here and trying to turn over a new leaf for 2010 regarding school ball banter.

I'll have to disagree that softball coaches need to win to keep their jobs. I would say the higher revenue sports such as football and basketball would be true. Softball not the case. Many coaches are in the position to coach a school team because no one else stepped up to take the position. Keep in mind just how many schools have softball and how few experienced coaches we have. Very few coaches such as the NP's PH's etc... Right Snoop?!

As to someones daughter regretting not playing school ball... I think this depends on the school program and the kid. For instance, my dd #1 enjoyed her experience-very social, loves controversy, drama and skill sets were above the others so this made her a leader as well. DD#2 Didn't enjoy the experience as much. Much more introverted, only had one close friend she played with, always sore, over use(conditioned like a defensive tackle and threw daily batting prac till Dr. put foot down). Fortunately we had another good pitch. DD#3 wants to play tennis/travel ball only this year. She too only has one good friend on the team that keeps trying to talk her into playing but has very little desire. It's totally her decision. #4-Will enjoy the experience, loves the social circle.
Every situation , every program will vary. I don't think Danielle Miller(not mentioned in commitments) will miss not playing for her school program(Triton) when she gets to Stanford.

[snoop]

Killer,
Tennis???!!?? Look out Serena!!! Your 3 and my 3 alot alike!! Oldest, all in, loved it! Drama and all! DD#2 not so much!!! Could do with out!! DD #3 will own that place!!! if she gets there:)!!!

[snoop]

Oh, is Mavrick in my shoes??

[Coach11]

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!!!

He is.....but they are "voluntary" workouts. Anyone in the school district is invited to attend.....whether you play for the varsity, JV, modified, or are just looking for some extracaricular during the winter months. It's stretching a fine line, as those who actually attend with regularity are predominently the varsity players. Hitting instruction is private and off of school grounds.
TB workouts are just part of the program. They played in an indoor tournament last weekend.....may join a few friendlies before the school season starts...but "off season" workouts are one of the reasons she left her previous team after last summer.

Be careful what you wish for. What if the IHSAA were to do the same thing with in-school rules they've done with out-of-school rules? Summers SUCK if you have a multiple sport athlete, particularly if you're kid doesn't drive yet. In the month of June last summer, my DD skipped high school softball workouts on Tuesdays and Thursdays, because if she didn't she would not have had time to eat from 7:00 am to about 5:30 pm. Ironically those were the only two days they were offered.

The other side of the coin is these rules are bent more in Softball than perhaps any other sport. Well at least since the traffic chopper flew over the northeast side one April morning a couple of years back. So at what point does the IHSAA do the same thing they did with the summers and just say "to heck with it", we can't police it, there are no rules, go do whatever you want? Every one of you on here know what I'm talking about, you see the same things I do.

I think it's nearly impossible to police. Our VB coach has his girls playing year round.....all while skirting current regulations.

[SiddFinch]

I have never understood how ISHAA can regulated what a student does on their time, after their daily committment to their High School sport. How they can tell a player what she cannot do on a Saturday from 1 to 4pm. I.E. practicing with her travel or playing in a game for their travel team. I really don't know how they get away with it legally. I understand they can regulate to death their own (ISHAA) sanction. But how do you tell a kid they cant do something in their spare time. I would like to see it challenged in court. Just my two cents.

[DLauck]

bucket boy,

My cover has been blown! Oh well, I have nothing to hide; I appreciate the nice gestures about the program, and perhaps I can figure out who you are one of these days.

I'm very intrigued by this site, its content and the overwhelming displeasure with HS ball.

More to come...

[bucketboy]

bucket boy,

My cover has been blown! Oh well, I have nothing to hide; I appreciate the nice gestures about the program, and perhaps I can figure out who you are one of these days.

I'm very intrigued by this site, its content and the overwhelming displeasure with HS ball.

More to come...

Just so you know my dd does not attend Roncalli so not trying to brown nose. My dd pitches at Lutheran so that will tell you who I am as everyone else on here knows anyway.

As mentioned you don't hold it against a kid for going to a winter travel tournament and support the efforts of the kids that play in your program with their travel teams so you are now in the minority which is a good thing. There are many HS coaches out there that don't understand the travel side of things and would hold the situation you had last Saturday against the player for not attending the "voluntary workouts"

There are those "old school" coaches out there that still think recruiting is done at the high school level and don't get us started on athletic directors, lack of experienced coaches, coaches that try to change a skill a kid has been working on all winter with their private hitting/pitching instructor that the parents have paid for, etc.... and thus the displeasure with high school softball. My favorite of last season has to be the coach that instead of going outside on a 50 degree day in March to work on softball skills took the team to swimming pool to do laps.......... And you wonder why people are unhappy or kids are running track or playing tennis?

[slapperdad]

Come on Bucket Boy, you don't think Tennis develops hand/eye coordination????