Softball: An increasingly rural game?

I'm starting this thread at some risk but I think it's a valid question to ask. I know, locally, this is absolutely true. My daughter's high school that produced two of the best pitchers in state history (along with a number of other D1 & D2 players) is no longer capable of fielding a JV team. Every day I drive past the middle school field where I lost many a toe nail to a drop ball and now only see LL baseball boys using it.

Why? It appears the athletes and parents with the means to support travel ball have shifted to volleyball and soccer. Now I see that ultimate 'preppy' sport LaX gaining a foothold in the Raleigh and Wilmington areas and , I suspect, will soon be played on a field near my and your home! When I look at the high schools that will be at Walnut Creek this weekend I certainly see a 'rural flavor'. No schools from Mecklenburg and only FV from the most distal reaches of Wake. No representation from Wilmington, Fville, Gboro, or WS .

What do those who know more than me (most of you) think? Is this a problem or just passing trend? If it is a problem why is it occurring and what might be done to counter it?

 

In the triving metropoli of Greenville, SC and Spartanburg, SC, neither namesake school has much of a softball team. Both are situated near the city center and draw their students from that area. Their city spring recreation program don't provide much, if any, softball opportunity. Around the cities, the suburbs have had softball programs (though some are in steep decline) and, surprise, surprise, high schools in those areas seem to be perenial favorites in the playoffs.

JL Mann sits only a few miles away from Greenville High and has a much more success, but it draws probably half of its students from the Mauldin recreational area and also has a well respected magnet program.

Soccer seems to be one distraction from girls who might otherwise play softball (my youngest DD has turned to that dark side), and LAX has claimed its share as well (I know of at least two around here). I've seen two softball/volleyball players decide to focus on volleyball (one due to shoulder injury) and another go the other way (due to knee injuries).

You probably would consider Greenville and Spartanburg "rural" compared to the NC cities you spoke of, but... that's what I'm seeing down here.

 

America isn't what it used to be; and this is just a part of it.

I guess we need to learn the rules of soccer. If it comes down to a vote it won't be a surprise to see softball fields turned into soccer fields.

 

Money?

Has the cost of softball increased faster than the cost of soccer, laX or 'cheer' sport (whatever the H that is!)? I don't know since I'm not involved in any of them. I understand that inner city schools rarely had strong softball programs. For that matter they haven't been strong in volleyball or soccer either. What I THINK I see happening though is that SUBurban kids are moving away from softball to other sports. Are there reasons besides $$.

 

....Raleigh Broughton Soccer has been one of the top 10 programs in the USA for a long long time. The coach is smart, the kids want to play for him and that program and when big sis comes home from practice or a game and is happy, then little sis wants to play when she gets to HS.

BTW, that truth applies to all sports.

Make it fun, provide quality coaches, and positive parental support with love and yes $,..........and the rest will take care of itself.

to be continued due to knowing that long winded posts bloat!

Fishdad

 

Softball is a rural sport... just like baseball is or was. The Country Club sports have been in the city high schools for a long time up north and they are migrating to the south with the folks that moved here. My highschool 35 years ago in a smallish town in PA had field hockey for girls LONG before it ever had softball for girls.

 

.....kinda sorta brother. But why? What perpetuates the longevity of sports?
And BTW Duke is from a growing town not a city and they had one of the best fastpitch programs anywhere in NC a few years back and now it appears that there is less interest in softball, why?

to be contiunued....

Fish

 

Bottom Line!

Popularity! If playing Lax, or soccer for a girl makes you in "the" click, then thats where a kid will put in time.


Fitting in and social acceptance will go on forever.

Fish

 

Those organizations and coaches that work with the 10U and 12U really have a major impact on the sport.

If we wait until they are HS age, only the ones who have experience are going to really enjoy playing. It's not fun sitting on the bench. It's not fun getting run-ruled by teams that have those players that were fortunate enough to have someone put some time in with them when they were young.

Coaches who enjoy working with the younger kids can really make a difference. Parents who have followed their kid through HS and TB have a lot of knowledge that would truly benefit the younger kids.