my dislike for travel ball compared to high school ball

[hittinseedz]

I see mostly a bashing of high school ball on this page and would like to throw in my 2 cents the other way. So many things I here about travel ball being better make me sick. Do they play better competition, probably, if they are playing at a high level. There are also the c level all star/travel team coaches who work around a high school field and think they are gods. Believing if it is not there way, then it isnt being done right. Are there jokes as high school coaches...yes, but there are also quite a few coaching travel teams. I hear people saying "there is so much more pressure in travel ball." REALLY. Have a bad weekend in travel ball and buy into another tourney next weekend...lots of pressure. Lose to a rival in travel ball you may play them again next weekend, lose to one in high school and they have braggin rights for a year. I dont know if anything beats the state tournament in pure emotion, as if you even lose in nationals, there is somewhere you can play next week. There is not the bouncing around of players from team to team, in high school you battle with the hand you are dealt. You want to talk about pressure play a semi-state or state final in front of a couple thousand people that know you, as well as the pride of your entire community on the line. Have to come into the school the next day and face your fellow students after you stink up a big game...that is pressure. As a high school coach I am not bashing travel ball completely, as it has made many of my players better which has made my program better. But the constant downplaying of high school ball is rediculious to me

[Joe]

I see mostly a bashing of high school ball on this page and would like to throw in my 2 cents the other way. So many things I here about travel ball being better make me sick. Do they play better competition, probably, if they are playing at a high level. There are also the c level all star/travel team coaches who work around a high school field and think they are gods. Believing if it is not there way, then it isnt being done right. Are there jokes as high school coaches...yes, but there are also quite a few coaching travel teams. I hear people saying "there is so much more pressure in travel ball." REALLY. Have a bad weekend in travel ball and buy into another tourney next weekend...lots of pressure. Lose to a rival in travel ball you may play them again next weekend, lose to one in high school and they have braggin rights for a year. I dont know if anything beats the state tournament in pure emotion, as if you even lose in nationals, there is somewhere you can play next week. There is not the bouncing around of players from team to team, in high school you battle with the hand you are dealt. You want to talk about pressure play a semi-state or state final in front of a couple thousand people that know you, as well as the pride of your entire community on the line. Have to come into the school the next day and face your fellow students after you stink up a big game...that is pressure. As a high school coach I am not bashing travel ball completely, as it has made many of my players better which has made my program better. But the constant downplaying of high school ball is rediculious to me

Most of the folks bashing HS ball are the moms and dads that have to sit and watch it. Many bash it because, unlike TB, most school coaches won't allow parent intervention to shore up DDs crappy play and/or playing time. In TB, if we don't like the way it's going... we simply pack our bags and look for greener pastures. Not so easy in HS.

If you survey the players, most will agree that HS ball IS very important to them. They play with and against their peers in an environment where sports isn't the only game in town. Social status in HS is very important to these young people and demonstrating their skills helps them climb the ladder, makes them fell good about themselves... and enhances self-esteem.

[SiddFinch]

I see mostly a bashing of high school ball on this page and would like to throw in my 2 cents the other way. So many things I here about travel ball being better make me sick. Do they play better competition, probably, if they are playing at a high level. There are also the c level all star/travel team coaches who work around a high school field and think they are gods. Believing if it is not there way, then it isnt being done right. Are there jokes as high school coaches...yes, but there are also quite a few coaching travel teams. I hear people saying "there is so much more pressure in travel ball." REALLY. Have a bad weekend in travel ball and buy into another tourney next weekend...lots of pressure. Lose to a rival in travel ball you may play them again next weekend, lose to one in high school and they have braggin rights for a year. I dont know if anything beats the state tournament in pure emotion, as if you even lose in nationals, there is somewhere you can play next week. There is not the bouncing around of players from team to team, in high school you battle with the hand you are dealt. You want to talk about pressure play a semi-state or state final in front of a couple thousand people that know you, as well as the pride of your entire community on the line. Have to come into the school the next day and face your fellow students after you stink up a big game...that is pressure. As a high school coach I am not bashing travel ball completely, as it has made many of my players better which has made my program better. But the constant downplaying of high school ball is rediculious to me

Who are the hitting and pitching coaches in the state? Who benefits from that work.
Hey, lets go swimming, even though it is 55 degrees.

So you never look across the diamond and think out loud. "that coach is an idiot." Sure you don't. I know I do from the stands....

You are so very right about the pressures of peers, community, etc. I see it mostly from the coaches. The worst coaching decisions start during the 1st inning of the 1st sectional game. Coaches losing their mind.

[anonlooker]

I see mostly a bashing of high school ball on this page and would like to throw in my 2 cents the other way. So many things I here about travel ball being better make me sick. Do they play better competition, probably, if they are playing at a high level. There are also the c level all star/travel team coaches who work around a high school field and think they are gods. Believing if it is not there way, then it isnt being done right. Are there jokes as high school coaches...yes, but there are also quite a few coaching travel teams. I hear people saying "there is so much more pressure in travel ball." REALLY. Have a bad weekend in travel ball and buy into another tourney next weekend...lots of pressure. Lose to a rival in travel ball you may play them again next weekend, lose to one in high school and they have braggin rights for a year. I dont know if anything beats the state tournament in pure emotion, as if you even lose in nationals, there is somewhere you can play next week. There is not the bouncing around of players from team to team, in high school you battle with the hand you are dealt. You want to talk about pressure play a semi-state or state final in front of a couple thousand people that know you, as well as the pride of your entire community on the line. Have to come into the school the next day and face your fellow students after you stink up a big game...that is pressure. As a high school coach I am not bashing travel ball completely, as it has made many of my players better which has made my program better. But the constant downplaying of high school ball is rediculious to me

PARAGRAPHS!

[Battle]

As a high school coach I am not bashing travel ball completely

Why would you bash TB at all? Where does the majority of the colleges recruit from? HS ball or TB? Just wondering how you see it.

[softball_rules5]

Having been on both sides of the coin here is my opinion. I love them both. I hate them both. They both serve a purpose. These high school coaches that every travel ball coach bashes do, in spite of what many think, know what they are doing. I agree that in HS you play the hand you are dealt and that is it. There really is no alternative. One of the major things that comes from HS is pride and loyalty, two things that have been completely lost in the TB circuit.

TB allows players to expand their games. I once heard a HS coach tell some players, I need TB simply because our HS season is too short for me to rebuild your swing, teach you a brand new skill, etc. TB is an opportunity to learn that and work on it simply because of the number of reps a player will get. The problem with TB is the same with all sports. It all starts and end with the parents. They sit in the stands and rip apart the coach and tear apart teams when their little star who UCLA started recruiting at 10 isn't playing the position they want. This fact was proven by the statement in the posting, "don't like it, pack up and move on". Loyalty is a concept that is completely absent from TB because it isn't demanded.

The sooner both sides realize they need each other the better off the sport will be. Continue to be at odds with one another and people on the outside will continue to say that is nothing more that a bunch of Texas Cheerleader moms going after one another.

[slapperdad]

For the record, I've never bashed "high school" ball per se. I have bashed my local high school program. I stand by everything I've said and if you want to label me as a snob TB parent so be it. But I would challenge any of you to refute anything I've stated regarding my hometown team.

[softball_rules5]

Its fine to criticize your own local coach if you choose, but don't lump every highschool coach into the conversation. I'm not saying you do this, but there are many on this board that proclaim that every highschool coach is an idiot and every TB coach is the next Candrea or Enquivst. Like I said, each has their own positive and negatives. They just need to get closer to being on the same page and promote the sport together, not tear it apart.

[slapperdad]

They just need to get closer to being on the same page and promote the sport together, not tear it apart.

I'm not sure that's possible, they're two completely different animals.

[softball_rules5]

They just need to get closer to being on the same page and promote the sport together, not tear it apart.

I'm not sure that's possible, they're two completely different animals.

And that's where the problem lies...Too many egos (on both sides) fogetting who this is really about - the players!