Starting Travel Ball

Just thinking, I have a daughter that plays 16U ball and I have seen where girls just get burned out and quit at this age. Jobs, boys or other activities become more important. I started her playing travel ball in 10U. I have a younger daughter who is 9 and just wanted some opinions on when would be a good time to start, 10U or 12U. I see now that alot of 10U teams play tournaments basically 3 weekends a month starting in the spring and going through the fall. The biggest thing I have learned through the years is to find a team she can grow with and have a good time. Thoughts?

 

The key thing is having a good time at that age. The player will usually let you know about how much she wants to play. The growing with a team is a good idea but does not happen that often. Good luck!

 

Growing and having fun????

The coach on the 1st 10u team my DD played on had a different idea. You would think every game was the 7th game of the WS. Practice was great but the games were terrible. Coach was constantly on the kids backs. We moved on..... My DD loves playing now and is in 2nd yr of 12u. Coaches and attitudes are 180* opposite. She was asking what the difference between showcase and TB was. Wants to know how to get into showcase. She wants to play in college. My 1st thought is how these kids are treated when they start out at age 6-8-10. Some coaches think these kids should be the Yankees at age 8. Wait till they are 18 or in HS before you take them to the wood shed for that tongue lashing they may need , not 8-10. JMHO....

 

Hey !!

Get rid of the boys that would solve most issues !!! And keep her away from other activities...enough said on that subject !!!

Guru

 

IMHO there is nothing you can do or avoid doing that will have an impact on whether she stays with it. I had one stay with TB and one who didnt. At various stages of their careers I had coaches who thought they hung the moon and coaches who didn't believe in them.

I treated them both the same and one just didnt want to play in college. Ironically, I always thought the one who didnt continue on was the better hitter of the two.

I always wince when I see some of my fellow TBR posters blame themselves or some other dad for DD's "burnout". This is squarely on the kids shoulders. In the end she with either have the hudspah/desire/drive/heart or whatever you want to call it to see it through until the end. To me the "between the ears component" is just as important as hand/eye, foot speed or arm strength. On the other side of the equation I have seen kids get college money who didn't posses the physical attributes but DID have bulldog determination.

My advice to you is to do what YOU think is right for her and be prepared for whatever the journey brings. As I have told several folks who have asked me about running for public office.... "throw your hat in the ring.. but ONLY if you are mentally prepared to loose".

Good Luck

 

Way things are now getting her away form boys may not be the best thing to do. lol

 

pressure

Teach them, encourage them and let them have fun early. I can tell you from experience that if you push them to hard to early it will drive them away. Its fine to push them and tear them down some but tell them the good things they do and build them up. If some parents will leave them alone and let them play on a team that everyone gets along winning will take care of itself. Stay out of the sideline bashing with other parents. Its amazing to see teams that play together for a while then they start winning and they bust up. If you find out they want to do something else let them. Enjoy your time with your DD, it will be gone quick????

 

Yep

I see your point !!!!!

Guru

 

My opinion I would not begin travel ball for your youngest until she is 12. Work with her on a consistent basis, let her play in any local leagues that are near you and let her have fun. I have watched this the last 8 years and many girls do loose their edge by the time they freshman if they have been playing travel ball since 10u or earlier. There are plenty of summers to play between ages 12-18. I know a lot of people believe you need to start earlier but I disagree too many parents got caught up in these events and forget it is for the girls to have fun, and learn the game at an early age. Too many people get caught up un chasing trophies, and yes I have also witnessed teams that had great success and then all of the sudden fall apart because parents forget it is for the girls not them.