stuck between rec ball and travel ball choice

[artomatic]

My kid made the move after 10u allstars into 12U.
It was the right time for her.
I was worried, but it has worked out great.
If you are dreading the regular rec season, just to get to all stars, it's time.
If your kid has to dummy down to play with her team, it's time.
If she wants to be challenged and being the top dog isn't a factor, it's time.

Some tips:
Don't spew your kid's rec/all star stats to the coaches she is trying out for.
If she has talent, let it speak for itself.

Don't dwell on her failures or rest on success, stay positive and let her find her way.
She will have to fail at times to progress.

Go with your gut feelings if you have any doubts about teams or coaches.

Some people will look down on you because you are coming out of rec.
Those people arent the ones you need to impress.


At my kid's hitting/pitching warehouse, there is a poem that hangs on the wall.
It has nothing to do with softball, but everything to do with how you deal with it.
I especially like #3:

The Paradoxical Commandments
1. People are illogical, unreasonable, and self-centered.
Love them anyway.

2. If you do good, people will accuse you of selfish ulterior motives.
Do good anyway.

3. If you are successful, you win false friends and true enemies.
Succeed anyway.

4. The good you do today will be forgotten tomorrow.
Do good anyway.

5. Honesty and frankness make you vulnerable.
Be honest and frank anyway.

6. The biggest men and women with the biggest ideas can be shot down by the smallest men and women with the smallest minds.
Think big anyway.

7. People favor underdogs but follow only top dogs.
Fight for a few underdogs anyway.

8. What you spend years building may be destroyed overnight.
Build anyway.

9. People really need help but may attack you if you do help them.
Help people anyway.

10. Give the world the best you have and you'll get kicked in the teeth.
Give the world the best you have anyway.

Good luck!

[NORCALGOLD]

Bronco, You got some very good advice from the top 5 post. Stop after surehitter, Don't read or listen to any advice after that if you stick with the theme of the first 5 post you and your DD have a very good chance of a great life experiance. Enjoy
I understand that my advice comes after the 5 posts, But I think you get my point everyones opinion after this will be bad advice at best.
Have a Nice Day,

[thirdout98]

If she is good, you are wasting your time in recreation because she will never get to the next level. Ask yourself if you are ready to step down from coaching her? Can you sit back and allow her to be coached by someone else? If the answer is "yes," then get her on a "reputable" travel ball team not a "wannabe" travel ball team. Not sure where you live but reputable teams such as Batbusters, Corona Angels, SD Breakers, Minors Gold, etc. are what you are shooting for. Careful of the "start-up" teams (because EVERYONE is starting a team) although there may be some good ones with very decent coaching. I would start her in "winterball" travel to see how she fairs and it will give you the opportunity to see if you can sit by and allow someone else to coach her. Sounds like you are realistic about her abilities and if you can find a coach that doesn't have a daughter on the team (not likely, but possible) even better. Hope this helps.

[Skarp]

Bronco, You got some very good advice from the top 5 post. Stop after surehitter, Don't read or listen to any advice after that if you stick with the theme of the first 5 post you and your DD have a very good chance of a great life experiance. Enjoy
I understand that my advice comes after the 5 posts, But I think you get my point everyones opinion after this will be bad advice at best.
Have a Nice Day,

Actually, you should listen to everybody's advice but mine and NORCALGOLD's. I understand that you have to follow my advice in order to ignore my advice, and that you have to ignore NCG's advice in order to follow my advice to ignore both of our advice, but I think you get my point. Our opinions will be bad advice at best (except my opinion that our opinions will be bad advice at best, and NCG's opinion that my advice will be bad advice at best). Capiche?

[anonlooker]

Bronco, You got some very good advice from the top 5 post. Stop after surehitter, Don't read or listen to any advice after that if you stick with the theme of the first 5 post you and your DD have a very good chance of a great life experiance. Enjoy
I understand that my advice comes after the 5 posts, But I think you get my point everyones opinion after this will be bad advice at best.
Have a Nice Day,

Actually, you should listen to everybody's advice but mine and NORCALGOLD's. I understand that you have to follow my advice in order to ignore my advice, and that you have to ignore NCG's advice in order to follow my advice to ignore both of our advice, but I think you get my point. Our opinions will be bad advice at best (except my opinion that our opinions will be bad advice at best, and NCG's opinion that my advice will be bad advice at best). Capiche?

If all this Escher-esque logic escapes you, just put her in Travel Ball.

If she thrives, you'll know. If she doesn't, you'll know. In either case, you'll know.

Beats where you're at now.

[NORCALGOLD]

Skarp, I followed your logic on everything you said up to" Actualy" Then you lost me.

[Skarp]

Then you lost me.

Now there's a shocker.

[Gone in 2.6]

I'm usually drunk, so don't quote me, but I don't think I've ever heard anyone say "damn, we should have stayed in rec ball!"

Even drunk, I'd wager the first time you saw CA Smith a few years back, or FC Arto last year, or Campbell's team, you simply said... "Damn!"

The "We Got Smoked by Campbell" group has a very large membership.

[Dropn N]

Actually, you should listen to everybody's advice but mine and NORCALGOLD's. I understand that you have to follow my advice in order to ignore my advice, and that you have to ignore NCG's advice in order to follow my advice to ignore both of our advice, but I think you get my point. Our opinions will be bad advice at best (except my opinion that our opinions will be bad advice at best, and NCG's opinion that my advice will be bad advice at best). Capiche?

An all time HeyBucket classic!!!!!!!

[Wolf]

If she is good, you are wasting your time in recreation because she will never get to the next level. Ask yourself if you are ready to step down from coaching her? Can you sit back and allow her to be coached by someone else? If the answer is "yes," then get her on a "reputable" travel ball team not a "wannabe" travel ball team. Not sure where you live but reputable teams such as Batbusters, Corona Angels, SD Breakers, Minors Gold, etc. are what you are shooting for. Careful of the "start-up" teams (because EVERYONE is starting a team) although there may be some good ones with very decent coaching. I would start her in "winterball" travel to see how she fairs and it will give you the opportunity to see if you can sit by and allow someone else to coach her. Sounds like you are realistic about her abilities and if you can find a coach that doesn't have a daughter on the team (not likely, but possible) even better. Hope this helps.

I am ready to step aside. The last couple of years have been wonderful getting to spend the time on the field as her coach/manager especially when I missed most of her first 8 years or so while overseas in service to our great country. I know if she is to take it to that next level I need to step aside and let some of these great coaches out there take over. Just looking for the right fit for her.