High School Ball-Pros and Cons

[jonriv]

Pros

1) An actual season with standings and playoffs- one part(and the only part) it has over TB tournament play

2) Town/school pride

3) Each game feels like a reuinon with other TB parents on oposing teams

Cons

1) The politics

2) The level of play- even if your DD's team is good, there are too many weaker teams out there

3) Too many "throw-in" and former baseball/never saw Fastpitch before coaches

4) Too many obnoxiouxs parents who no nothing about softball but think their daughter should start at every position



HS softball can be a great experience- a good coach is key to that.

Successful coaches(in thi area) work with the town rec league, have a good relationship with the TB programs, and many of the better coaches coach TB as well

[Lunatic Fringe]

I like that the games mean something. It matters if you win or lose, which is nice after a steady dose of exposure tournaments

[jonriv]

New Add ons

Pro

No time limits(although around here darkness sometimes comes into play)


Con

Also around here- too many fields without fences

[Pale Rider]

Pros

1) An actual season with standings and playoffs- one part(and the only part) it has over TB tournament play

2) Town/school pride

3) Each game feels like a reuinon with other TB parents on oposing teams

Cons

1) The politics

2) The level of play- even if your DD's team is good, there are too many weaker teams out there

3) Too many "throw-in" and former baseball/never saw Fastpitch before coaches

4) Too many obnoxiouxs parents who no nothing about softball but think their daughter should start at every position



HS softball can be a great experience- a good coach is key to that.

Successful coaches(in thi area) work with the town rec league, have a good relationship with the TB programs, and many of the better coaches coach TB as well

Thats 4-3, TB Wins!!!!
...lets just play TB

...and Artomatic, what brand duct you recommend....I usually melt thru the brand I bought

[jonriv]

Never meant as a TB/HS comparison. Just was trying to point out that HS ball was not that bad and in many instances both enjoyable and useful. I would agree that the level of play is better in TB is superior to HS, the grind and the "season"in HS is good practice for the college experience. IMO it is good for players to experience both. For many reasons it is a good lesson parents as well. Many a freshmen parent learns that they can't pull the same antics with the college coach that they did with their travel coach.

[Blind Squirrel]

In my kid's bedroom there is a college award plaque that my wife put up one random day. I forget what it's for. On her bulletin board my kid put a patch from HS ball and the little crown she got on Senior Day. On her dresser she has her HS championship ring. On the rare occasions that we talk about softball it is never about TB. Only about HS and college.

Just an observation. No cosmic message intended.

Squirrel the Dog, Vodka Hunter

[Sam]

You forgot some "pros:"

Your kid can get her name/picture in the paper.

Your kid can make "All" teams (league, county, state)

Your kid gets to deal with coaches that were not hand picked for them.

Your kid must balance scholastics with sports.

Your kid's self esteem can increase with her success on the softball field for her school being recognized within her school.

Your kid gets to realize the pressure to perform well in every game, not in only 2 tournaments per year.

[Battle]

I like that the games mean something. It matters if you win or lose, which is nice after a steady dose of exposure tournaments

Very true. IMO it's the closest you will get to the college experience when you throw in grades, school pride, playoffs, awards...etc.

[hit4power]

We are renovating the house and DD had to clean out her room and closet. Out went nearly every TB tournament award she'd ever received save a couple. Kept every HS award (and even some Jr High stuff) she'd ever received.
We are still very close to the parents of the other 4 HS players in DD's class - we had four years of great road trips, parties, and fun, and we still get together 3-4 times/yr to socialize (aka drink and reminisce). Until college, HS ball was the best sports experience, on and off the field, that one could ask for.

College is looking like the quality of TB with the camaradarie of HS ball - great combination.

[Ed Hill]

Dittos to what hit4power said in his post. Friendships that were made with hs parents have lasted for many years. In high school, there was a sense of civic pride my DD had playing for her school team. She played travel ball and also played D-1 ball. However, she still reminiscences fondly abut the 2 state championships that her hs team won while she was in school. When she comes home for visits, the older townfolk will stop her in the store or at a restaurants to talk about all of the "big games" that she played in.

Travel ball seemed to be more mercenary in that the team dynamic was constantly changing with girls leaving or being added to the team. Relationships with travel ball parents were more cordial in that you never new if you were going to see them after summer ball ended. While travel ball was the tool that got my DD her scholarship offer, I would say that hs ball has definitely left her more lasting memories than travel ball has. In a strict comparison between hs ball and travel ball, I would venture to say that for my DD, hs ball has more "pros" associated with it than travel ball.