Advice Requested Regarding HS Softball

[Takeyourbase]

Our daughter has a promising career in softball. Her travel coach stated that she has to play high school softball. We would like to hear opinions from other travel coaches, experienced parents, etc. regarding playing high school ball. She is doing well, however, unfortunately, the coaching leaves a great deal to be desired. Here's the question: Does she have to play high school ball if she would like to play in college? She is going to college regardless of a scholarship although it would be nice. We are just trying to figure out if she really needs to play High School ball. What are (if any) the alternatives?

Thank you for your time!
Renee

[Fredegar]

You didn't say what year of high school your daughter is in. But to answer your question, the vast majority of softball players get recruited based on their TB teams participating in college showcases. So HS isn't crucial for getting recruited.

However, college coaches may consider it a red flag when they find out she's not playing HS. If the reason is "bad HS coaching", it doesn't look good that she can't adjust/adapt for a coach she doesn't like. If the reason is "HS team is pathetic", it doesn't look good that she considers herself above the rest of the girls.

Basically, it can be a no-win scenario. My advice is to encourage her to play and be a team leader. Possibly she can suggest some useful/fun drills she's learned from her TB coaches. If she still chooses not to play, be prepared to have a good explanation for college coaches who ask about it. And the explanation should be a lot better than "coaching leaves a great deal to be desired", which may scare them off. Good luck!

[Tyler Durden]

Our daughter has a promising career in softball. Her travel coach stated that she has to play high school softball. We would like to hear opinions from other travel coaches, experienced parents, etc. regarding playing high school ball. She is doing well, however, unfortunately, the coaching leaves a great deal to be desired. Here's the question: Does she have to play high school ball if she would like to play in college? She is going to college regardless of a scholarship although it would be nice. We are just trying to figure out if she really needs to play High School ball. What are (if any) the alternatives?

Thank you for your time!
Renee

Renee, let me offer you some friendly advice. Tell your DD she is goingto play HS ball. Tell her to play hard, be a team leader, and be a good teammate. Go to all the games. Be supportive of EVERYTHING involved with the HS team. NEVER ever ever ever say anything negative about the coach(es) of your team. It will get back to them, I promise. When your DD is asked by any prospective college coaches about her experiences with her HS team, she is to tell them it was a fantastic experience to play as a team member and represent her town and her school, and that she loved her HS coaches, they were the bee's knees and the cat's meow.
Now, one final thing. Immediately delete this post and change your HB name, and never mention this again.
You're welcome.

[Safebyahare]

Tyler is only half jerking your chain.
Yes play HS ball, for all the reasons and suggestions he mentioned.
To perform what he has said, you will have to grit your teeth and take it, no matter what the verdict. DO NOT WAIVER!
Any training is good training, Your dd can get something out of it.
Remember do not freak out,,,,it's HS ball,,,let her be a part of the team. The rest is up to her.
Don't have her not play, as your sign says, tell her to takeyourbase.

[Tyler Durden]

Tyler is only half jerking your chain.
Yes play HS ball, for all the reasons and suggestions he mentioned.
To perform what he has said, you will have to grit your teeth and take it, no matter what the verdict. DO NOT WAIVER!
Any training is good training, Your dd can get something out of it.
Remember do not freak out,,,,it's HS ball,,,let her be a part of the team. The rest is up to her.
Don't have her not play, as your sign says, tell her to takeyourbase.

Speak for yourself. I was entirely serious.

[polcerstull]

I know hs ball is extremely frustrating...... the favoritism, politics, lack of skill both from other players and coaches. No she will not be scouted through hs ball. However; it looks real good on the athlete that she participated at her hs. You don't want colleges to look at your athlete and wonder, why wouldn't she support her school?
So push through, it will be over soon.
~Cathy

[Safebyahare]

Tyler,,,,you really want him/or/her to delete post because you gave good nice advise.
Oh yea and change sign in name.
That is the half of chain to which I was referring. The rest was spot on.

[exD1dad]

If your DD has a "promising career" wouldn't she want to win awards every year?

For all the mud slung at HS softball I have noticed that almost all college rosters say where the kid played in HS and her achievements there too.

[DDG]

Don't get caught up in the HS softball bashing that many like to do.

You should be able to find something good in every experience. Look for it on the HS team. I bet you will be surprised that if you have the right attitude, after 4 years, everyone will be better off from the experience.

Also, look at every college roster you can find online. Try finding anyone that does not list the high school in the bio. How many list the travel ball team (hint - not many)?

[CatWoman]

Renee - From everything I have learned through travel ball and four years of high school ball, is that in the long run, your daughter does not have to play BUT she has to do something. If the state of softball at your high school is such that her skills are just going to sink and no matter how hard she tries, her attitude might go downhill with her skills then you should see what else she could do that would benefit her softball. Is there a good track coach there that could increase her speed which would improve her softball? Also, coaches like to see how the girls handle their school work while playing. If all of a sudden their grades plummet as soon as softball starts, this may be an indication that there may be academic issues ahead if a kid cannot handle the rigors of the softball season and her school work.

So, if playing high school softball is going to be one long neverending migraine then find another way for her to improve herself and make herself more valuable.

My $.02. Good luck!