More general instruction. If you think the coach is doing a good job, then shut your mouth and watch the game. We dont win Non-Christians by loving them more than we love God and his glory. Extend your season, make sure that all teams are drafted equally. Create a Logo and Brand. I do wonder though as a parent of a child who did play travel ball and also ended up as a D1 athlete if we arent typically just exchanging one pursuit of excellence for another. Kids need to see that Jesus and his church are more important to their parents even than baseball. It seems to me that time comes in the mid to late teens, but thats going to be a judgment call . I dont normally respond to blog posts, but I wanted to respond to this one because I respect you. Breakers Labs Are you prepared and willing to skip regular family vacations because your weekends and your travel budget are going into softball? I have coached in a recreation league for almost five years, and now my eleven-year-old daughter is in soccer travel ball. First, not all travel ball destroys a childs love for the game. I was recently Contemplating to start travel ball from my son recently and for some reason Ive been holding back . (Sometimes youll find an assistant coach who is a parent, but rarely a head coach.) It always seems to happen with those families that God is really working with. Who are these kids being forced to play? Its quality time in a certain way, but probably not in the way youre envisioning right now. Alexa Petersons College Softball Recruiting Journey. I had my schedule back. Your email address will not be published. What will travel ball mean for your other kids? But if you need to travel far to get to competitive or college exposure tournaments (nearly every weekend during the summer plus multiple tournaments in the fall), its not unheard of to spend $5,000 per season. Now, teams just showcase players instead of playing team softball. Very few will walk in my church doors on Sunday. Ive seen many parents try, and it never ends well. That said, you can end up spending a lot more than that. God will open doors to tell others about Christ as we are faithful to follow Him. Our daughter played travel softball for 9 years. My sons high school teammate played in the minors for several years before being cut and at age 26, he is just now finishing college and trying to figure out what to do with his life. I do not feel we will ever look back on our decision to say no to travel ball. Does your child have the discipline, maturity, and attention span required to succeed? I got an education, got married, we started having children, and now I get to coach my kids. Ideally, you dont want to have parents serving as coaches. The specific answer varies, but the typical range of cost for participating in travel baseball is between $500 and $2,500 per year. Young athletes can reach a point where they are bored with rec league play. My name is Alexa Peterson. 12 Consideration on How to Start a Travel Softball Team Additionally, they will probably have fewer injuries and enjoy the competition more. I intend to keep it that way. Ask the coaching staff their thoughts on this, and what they do to help foster this type of development. We all need to be careful that identifying with just one sport and spending most of our time with it can deter a child from gaining skills, interests and appreciation for other activities and knowledge. Listen to truthful, accurate feedback from coaches. All of that easily runs anywhere from $2,500 to $6,000 a year, making elite travel softball one of the costlier youth sports. She excelled once she wasnt under my leadership and under the leadership of a professional. Catherine Holecko is an experienced freelance writer and editor who specializes in pregnancy, parenting, health and fitness. Alexa has been working with The Hitting Vault since 2017 as a hitting coach, social media content creator, and writer. How do you help your childs best come out, leaving the potential open for higher levels of competition, while avoiding the possible detriments of rigorous levels of the sport? They have grown together, developed rapport and strong friendships. Talk through the process and help her see the pros and cons of each option. Do not tolerate conduct of the weak and uneducated. There were wide variances in playing . It is important that each player is available for every team practice and game. I am confident that there are better ways to steward those thousands of dollars. The Sleep Foundation. We will be staying with rec from now on. My son started disliking baseball at 9 years old because the boys in rec wouldnt hit a cut off, and dropped the ball so often. There are TONs of small but critically important things young players learn over the course of YEARS playing travel softball that you'll have to catch up on, especially if you want to play catcher, the toughest of all positions. With the top-tier of competitive travelling softball teams, the coaches are generally not related to the players. They will actually improve more at each sport because a variety of new skills enhances old ones in ways that cant be quantified. Either way, you shouldnt be sideline coaching. All rights reserved. I played four years at the University of Oregon, where I was First Team All-American, played in two Womens College World Series, and went on to play six years professionally. . This is the one your wife wants you to care about. What guides me is Paul in 1Cor9:22-23 22 To the weak I became weak, that I might win the weak; I have become all things to all men, so that I may by all means save some. To establish an active select fastpitch softball organization in the area of Kitsap County, WA, exclusively to foster national and inte rnational amateur sports competition by support and development of amateur athletes for competition I fastpitch softball at the national and international level and to conduct such competition; b. One of the most common problems is not having enough players to field a team. Thank you! It became known in the United States by various names, such as kitten ball, mush ball, diamond ball, indoor-outdoor, and playground ball. We have the pressure of middle school tryouts being in 2 years, and we wanted to make sure that he did well at those tryouts. Jesus is God not baseball. In general, there is no regular season with travel softball it runs all year long, with club practices once or twice per week during the spring and fall season, and a full slate of weekend tournaments during the later spring and summer season. If you think the coach is doing a bad job, then take your daughter off the team. Fill your childrens team with morals and role models. Its hard to see him play so well and knowing we dont have the funds as most to do travel ball. So many kids grow up dreaming, so few put on a big league uniform. Do you know the coach or coaches? She also coached collegiately for 3 years at the University of Montevallo (D2). Then, another tournament every weekend from late spring through July or August. Highly-competitive programs need to have high-level coaches. If team dues seem ridiculously high, make sure youre getting your moneys worth in terms of equipment, facility use, uniforms, etc. Thank you, {{form.email}}, for signing up. I can say without a doubt that I wouldnt have made it to the level I did without travel softball. And it cuts into homework time as well. Do the social aspects improve their values and stimulate great discussions at home, or lead them away from family?). Give your kid the chance to be a great person and cultivate that through sports. There doesnt have to be a life lesson constantly pointed out. But its also a major commitment, so its important to think carefully about what kind of program is best in your specific situation. Of course, we dont love those miserable weather days where its cold and wet. At RIP-IT we match looks with performance to deliver unrivaled gear that protects and inspires. What should she do? Here are 10 reasons I think you should keep your kid in the rec league rather than quitting it for travel ball. I look at another coach who is seeded number one in the league and am very glad my kid isnt with him as I can only imagine the sort of character theyd be building. Competitive travel softball players come to the field every day with the intent to compete, push past their limits, and get themselves to the next level. The cost is a fraction of what a travel season would cost but may actually put you in front of more coaches. Wow this article really spoke to me. Our children assume that Sunday morning is time to worship with our church. Of course, we dont love giving up almost every Saturday to softball. Costs by region (travel mom is from California so these prices maybe a bit higher or lower than what you might spend), but here is her breakdown: FAST, FREE SHIPPING ON ALL ORDERS | WIN FREE DIAMOND CLEATS OR SPIKES FOR YOUR TEAM - LEARN MORE, Original Defense Pro Softball Fielder's Mask, Women's Period Protection Volleyball Shorts (3"). (And I hope thats not the reason you involve your kids in athletics!) Yes, we want players to get better at softball. Allows them to play against better competition. How do you pick a travel program? - Discuss Fastpitch Softball Community Back in the day, if you played travel softball, you were a serious player striving to become an elite athlete, and you had the full intention of playing in college. If youre a parent who never played a sport competitively, you might not understand her desire to spend every waking hour at the ballpark. (No wonder God calls us to pray without ceasing!). Travel softball is expensive and time consuming. Its hard in the county. Just like you, he burned out after two years and transferred so he could pursue his other passions and, more importantly, gain much-needed work experience which benefited him tremendously when he graduated from college and was looking for a job. Lesson learned. Tell him he's great and anything is possible if you put your mind to it, but don't let him be an entitled little asshole out there on the field, because that's your fault! This causes an influx of these types of players. 3. I chase my boys all over creation and its very taxing in many ways. She needs to be developing the leg and core muscles daily to give her the power to play that position to the best of her ability. Additionally, as an exercise physiologist, Im very pro movement, health and sports, but believe balance in life is key. The Holy Spirit leads us all differently. Dont get me wrong there are alot of rec leagues that are great but if you live in the middle of no where lile wr do that was out only option to make her the best that she could be and to teach her to challenge herself and not settle for just good enough. Here in our area not so much. If youre exalting baseball over all these other things, areyou serving a false god, an idol, that is going to use you and then throw you away? Third, most days my family enjoys family travel ball, together. A travel team is a youth sports team that plays at an elite level. Christian Smiths Soul Searching: The Religious and Spiritual Lives of American Teenagers Those were the programs I kept going back to. That would inevitably awaken the competitive impulse, leading to more practices, more effort expended, and the gradual creep to a higher key. Stay positive. 10 types of CRAZY baseball parents & how they're RUINING The three year old is already all in and ready to play. The physical and mental challenges of pursuing more than one sport is healthy in every respect. That may be the girl were talking about here. Also, since most teams only have one practice per week, theres an expectation that additional work is being done outside of practice. 10 common travel problems and how to deal with them - Worldpackers It can be a huge change in commitment, skill level, and dedication depending on the type of team and price you go into. It all depends on what attitude you approach it with. Speaking from experience, the game, the desire to compete, and the love of always being challenged those things are either there or theyre not. She might have all the natural talent in the world, but if she wants to spend her summers going to birthday parties, having sleepovers and just living life, then let her! I give you a big Amen! 6. So Im writing in the hope that youll see that rec ball is a better route. The Pros and Cons of Youth Travel Teams - Verywell Family Is the travel ball opportunity your 714 year old kid has more important than Friday nights and Saturday mornings at home with the family? But besides that, if you are a Christian parent, the absolute worst thing you can do is teach your kids that anything is more important than God. By the age of thirteen, I knew I wanted to play NCAA softball, and playing against the best competition was crucial in helping me achieve that dream. *****. If your daughter wanted to be a catcher at a higher level of play like travel ball, then shes going to be putting in some work. Don't Play Travel Ball: Stay in the Rec League - For His Renown For us, it boils down to priorities. But when it comes to things like time commitment and competitiveness, they can be as different as night and day. Girls that don't attend the Problem #2: Athletes need to OWN their decisions, both good and bad We need to put an end to the helicopter and lawnmower parents, those who mow down all the obstacles for their kids, and give ownership to the athletes. Since you are spending so much time with your teammates, long-term friendships are formed more likely than on a rec ball team. The majority of those programs cover their coaches travel expenses as an incentive. As a preachers daughter, I saw many families who were active in church get involved with a travel ball team, and not only stop being active, but eventually drop out of church altogether. My kid started lessons at five and at almost thirteen, still going strong. coming down the pike. This mentally effects the kids also with so much pressure to do well. Thank you for this. Nor am I categorically condemning their decisions and choices. With the top-tier of competitive travelling softball teams, the coaches are generally not related to the players. Do I think you are sinning if your kid plays travel ball? Recreational softball and competitive travel softball teach many of the same life skills, like teamwork and sportsmanship. Is it more important than being at church on Sunday morning? These are presented in the order in which I suspect most dads think about them, not in the order of importance I would rank them (#6 would be #1, and #4 would be #2). And for the good of rec ball leagues everywhere, for the good of your family, and for the good of your kids, I would urge you to avoid travel ball until the kid is old enough to commit to a more demanding regimen. Some of you may have fainted after mentally calculating the cost of everything in that last section. Let kids be kids, they and their bodies will decide what they can and cant do. 1. Build this league and you will have travel on the decline. Today, softball has grown so much that while there are still teams dedicated to providing elite players the absolute best competition to facilitate skill development, there are actually more and more girls playing travel softball primarily for the fun of it often because they want to play more than the standard 20-game schedule offered by rec ball. Here are a few of the factors you should consider when evaluating your options and picking a team. I recognize that although it isnt common for kids to be offered college scholarships for sports, it obviously isnt impossible. We always had food on the table, but the effort put in by my parents to facilitate my amateur softball career was exorbitant. While you make some great points, let me provide an alternate perspective, even if I appear at present to be the lone dissenting voice. That means that even if your kid is the best thing since Babe Ruth, if he goes off to play major college baseball, the baseball team isnt paying all the expenses. You also accept the fact that this may be a long day and that the next time you touch that warm bed could be 3 am the next morning if you make it to the championship. I also appreciated this article: Whos forcing their kid to play??!! We decided to engage in travel ball because the coaching was better. However, they are much more severe. Several thoughts on that: Their chances are greater for continuing their sporting lives, whether at college or recreationally as adults, if they arent burnt out on competition by the time they turn 18or 13, as Ive seen occur far too often. Sometimes coaches are not as experienced, usually a player's parent who has volunteered to help out. Jesse played baseball for many years, served in the U.S. Army for 15 years, and began officiating 32 years ago. He pulls down honor roll at school and is in band. See also: How to Pick the Right Softball Bat. Even though my son showed to every practice and gave 100% effort, it didnt matter. Often this will vary from league to league and from coach to coach. I could rest. I enjoyed your article and the discussion following it. There are multiple organizations that host tournaments around the United States. This guide will help you understand what to look for in a traveling softball team, and will answer some of the most common questions parents have about the process, including: Joining a traveling softball team can be a great experience, both in terms of enjoyment and player development. Having said that, below are the top reasons your daughter should not play travel softball. But if you don't make it into your dream team, the loss is much heavier on people's pockets as well as their minds. This is a delicate balance to strike, but its something to keep in mind. Read our, Tetra Images - Erik Isakson / Getty Images, Sports Specialization and the Risk for Injury and Burnout, Dealing With Bullying on Youth Sports Teams, Budget Friendly Extracurricular Activities for Tweens, 2019 State of play: Trends and developments in youth sports, Burnout and perceived performance among junior athletes-associations with affective and cognitive components of stress, Youth sport: positive and negative impact on young athletes. How to Start a Travel Softball Team | Jersey Watch There are two sides to every situation. There is almost always a try-out or audition process to join the team. What will travel ball mean for your marriage? BE INVOLVED , VOLUNTEER, ATTEND MEETING AFTER MEETING, FUND RAISE, HOLD ALL ACCOUNTABLE FOR TIME, HONOR, COMMITMENT AND GET ALL THE KIDS TO ENJOY THIS LEAGUE YOU ARE A PART OF. I played college baseball and never once played Travel Ball in the summer until I was 17. While thats not very common, driving three hours one way for a practice is totally commonplace. What are they learning? I am coaching a 5-6 yr old team and can already feel the pull of private instructors, out of season ball, travel squads, etc. No. After college, my husband played pro baseball for a while and I played on a national team. 5. These teams expect you to take the game seriously: 15 minutes early is on time; you walk into a tournament in an orderly fashion; and you recognize that while theres a time and place to be goofy, youre there to get better at softball. What is the time commitment? Learning that excelling takes commitment, hard work, loyalty. Ok, now lets switch gears and imagine this. If she cant get enough of softball, wants to travel around for more games, and is excited to play throughout the summer, then travel ball is the way to go. Often, good organizations will reach out to a player that caught their eye and invite them to come to the open tryout. I also grew up watching sports slowly take over Sundays as the team practices/warmups got earlier and earlier until they happened during church times. Tendonitis. I grew up wanting to be a major league baseball player, and Im so glad I never even got drafted. Fifth, a child can play travel ball while a family is still committed to church. This is how travel sofball is. I appreciate the article. Stealing home: How travel teams are eroding community baseball 10 Ways Softball Can Change Your Life - GOOD (Sometimes you'll find an assistant coach who is a parent, but rarely a head coach.) SAVE 25% ON ALL HER MUST HAVES - 25% OFF SITEWIDE ALL REGULAR PRICED ITEMS. I would urge you to consider how trustworthy Jesus is, how he can reconcile you to God, how he has paid for your sin, and how his Spirit can enable you to love others and enjoy life with them in a gathering of people joined together at a local church. Lack of skill It's not easy to admit that you or someone you love is not good enough for something. Let them play the game.
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