Softball - because its fun

[DonnieS]

I may be off base here somewhat but there seems to be a lot of kids that play this game because its fun - its fun to hang out with the group of girls you are with most of the year, practice softball, go out to eat, play softball on the weekend until you drop and then talk and laugh about it all the way home.

But I see some teams that we play at the higher levels, gold etc., that look like they just punched a time card before they came on to the field. To me, they play well, they are good athletes, but they dont look like they are having fun. Now I hear about teams that are coming apart and some of these are the same teams I had seen earlier. I see their coaches on the side, putting on a good act, chewing their seeds, spitting, complaining, whining, ridiculing the blue, the other coaches, the other kids, and this is supposed to inspire someone? In 15 years when they are raising their families, how are they going to remember these years.

I know that we are talking about big bucks, serious money thats involved here, but what if your kid wins the big full-ride, but softball has not been fun for so long that they say 'screw it'. And I am not saying that this wont happen to my kids as well, it very well could.

I know it can be done for both - the best gold team I have seen are a bunch of friggin studs, and they are loose, relaxed, laughing, they seem to have humor directors, when they get into the dugout, the noise level rises up, the jokes, jabs, etc.

What I think is important is absolutely play to win, but keep it fun, its a game.

[AUbie]

Amen.

I seriously doubt DD will go college athlete, but right now playing softball is keeping me sane. She can swing a bat and throw a ball, both good defense against potential jerks she might date, the's covered in dirt (another boy deterrent), and there aren't many boys at the softball field. In the meantime she's cheering, laughing, focusing on a goal, learning to follow instructions, challenging herself, and making some awesome friends with great parents that we enjoy hanging out with as well.

If she didn't play, well - - I guess she could troll the mall, text message all day, and get into trouble (if we let her). Yea, we get a bit serious once in a while - - but you're right, at the end of the day it should be fun.

[wadeintothem]

Amen.

I seriously doubt DD will go college athlete, but right now playing softball is keeping me sane. She can swing a bat and throw a ball, both good defense against potential jerks she might date, the's covered in dirt (another boy deterrent), and there aren't many boys at the softball field. In the meantime she's cheering, laughing, focusing on a goal, learning to follow instructions, challenging herself, and making some awesome friends with great parents that we enjoy hanging out with as well.

If she didn't play, well - - I guess she could troll the mall, text message all day, and get into trouble (if we let her). Yea, we get a bit serious once in a while - - but you're right, at the end of the day it should be fun.

Dont fool yourself.. my son, now in the Army, loved going to softball tournaments with me. He would get up at 5 am to go. Do you know what it takes for a 16 y/o boy to get up at 5 am? Yes, he was quite a fan of softball.

[honcho55]

amen to that as well. The time spent travelling to practice, lessons, or tourneys is that much more time they are not texting, on myspace, or with boys. It to me is worth the money I pay just to have a quality time-based time with my kids. I have 4 kids (all in h.s. now) and any way I can get them out of there room, off the computer, or off the phone is worth $$$$ to me

[DonnieS]

>> .. my son, now in the Army, loved going to softball tournaments with me.<<

Smart boy. Where else are you going to find strong, athletic, confident girls and most of them are pretty as well, though through these grandpa eyes, they are all beautiful.

[Tucson]

Agree with all of the above.

I saw a parent that got mad because her senior DD drank alcohol at homecoming and not only pulled her off the softball team, but home schooled her. There would have been serious sanctions at our house, but I wouldn't have pulled her away from positive activities. The team didn't seem to be the problem.

DD had a wonderful BF, to carry the equipment for 3 seasons. That was pretty good, but we practically raised him and it was hard to let him go, when DD dumped him.

[3Bsnag]

We had a conversation like this just last week with some moms from an 18-team. They were telling us to enjoy it now because getting their DD's to the ballpark now was like pulling teeth, mostly because of BF's. The girls were even mad that they had to "give up" their 4th of July and most of the summer to go play ball in CO and wherever. Is that when it's time to quit?

They did say once they got to the fields they were fine, it was just getting them there.

[DonnieS]

>> That was pretty good, but we practically raised him and it was hard to let him go, when DD dumped him.<<

I didnt think I would but I got to like these boys that my dd would bring home - about the time I would get to enjoy their company, she would dump them. The idea I got was to make a baseball team out of them, this way I could tell her what to look for next time. We had a centerfielder, a pitcher, a corner, - I told her to look for a catcher next time. She said the magic words every dad wants to hear ' oh daddy, xxxxxx is who I am going to stay with '. Yea, right, heard it before, just think 'catcher - good arm, strong, low to the ground, good stick wouldnt hurt either'.

[yellow ball]

I have four daughters. I missed out on the first three growing up, because I was to busy working. regret that!! When the good lord blessed me with a fourth, no boys by the way, I told myself that I would not miss out on this one. Softball has been the biggest blessing because it has given us something in common. Since my daughter is a pitcher, we have spent untold hours practicing together. I would suggest if your are not apart of your daughters life, get involved or you will regret it. Get involved no matter what. Listen to an old codger like me and don't wait. My two cents.

[aubsdad#6]

BECAUSE IT'S FUN

I agree with all of you this girls softball has been so good for my DD
From 5U rec to 14U travel she has met great girls with great parents.
Time spent here is so much better then the constant texting, My Space,etc.
Softball has given her a sense of confidence and maturity that I don't see
in her school friends when they come over.
Regarding coaching there are very good, good and bad ones.
Hopefully your DD will spend some time with a very good one.
My DD plays for a coach who is serious, constantly talking , never stops teaching,
sometimes smiles and the team WINS.
If your daughter climbs in the car and tells you what a great PRACTICE they just had
and Jerry said this and Jerry said that and you can see her getting better,
you.ve found GOLD -BECAUSE IT'S FUN