Part Time vs. Full Time

Every year I am always surprised at the attitudes of school ball coaches towards travel ball practices and team functions.
They are glad to have travel ball players, which they are concerned with 3 month's out of the year - while a travel ball coach is concerned with their player 12 out of the 12 months of the year.
I am all about supporting the players school but it is not always the case in return - I have heard recently about a School ball coach saying that if his players attended a travel ball practice they would be suspended one game. If hurt - suspended five . This of course makes no sense to me - they depend on these programs the other nine months to develop the players they are using for 3 month's - once the season is over - you are history till next season.
To me this put's the girls in a rock and hard place - Hypothetical question - What if travel coaches said - No school ball .
Like I said I am all about supporting your school but find can't fathom these coaches drawing a line in the sand like that.
What advantages are there to putting your "part time" job before your full time job - How much do these coaches work with schools to get their girls seen?
How many times does the HS softball coach talk to the player outside of the school season?
How many college coaches are attending your "normal" games?
They certainly enjoy the effort, attitude, and play when they are playing for them.
In one year a travel ball coach will put in the time that a HS coach puts in, in four - just saying.

 

PT VS. FT

This has been a common thread every year since my daughter has been playing. She is a senior now and has decided that college softball is not for her despite opportunities offered . She played travel since she was 9 and I also have had the same feelings as you at times. I also am a coach on the high school level in another sport. Every situation is different as are all coaches. The involvement level is different in the off season with each program. Some programs do extensive off season workouts while others do nothing and depend totally on travel ball and coaches to better develop their players. I will say that I understand when a school coach says no practice. They practice everyday at school which leaves only the weekends open. I think certain drills such as batting drills and fielding drills should be acceptable. However any type of live practice or play probably should be avoided during season. Most if not all coaches want to win and they do not want their players getting hurt on the weekends. School teams are very lucky if they have 9 seasoned players on their teams which does not allow for injuries. Great topic!

 

IMO, I do not see an issue with practicing above and beyond the HS practice. Some girls do not get the reps or drills they need in HS practice due to a variety of reasons such as time constraints, weather, etc. IMO, injuries are more likley to occur in games rather than practice. Therefore, I feel that additional outside practice/workouts are OK and is most cases would benefit the player (which would also benefit the HS team). However, I do feel that a player should also honor their commitment to their HS team and not play additional games during the season. I also believe that most travel ball coaches are respectful of that commitment and do not expect their players to play travel ball during their HS season. If a HS coach has a rule for no outside practice with a travel team, then the players should follow the team rules.

 

we understand 1st hand or left thumb

My DD played MS last yr on HS team this yr. Last school yr in April while playing on the TB team. DD hit a ball to OF and slid into 3rd base and ended up w a broken left thumb and trip to Presbyterian Ortho and surgury and out of pocket expence. MS season and Spring TB season finished all at once w one slide into 3rd. Both MS and TB coaches were upset. DD did not get back to TB playing till July. HS coach this year said to girls to limit your TB to just SAT practices only. Used my DD as example as to what might can happen. SOOOOO we understand.

 

My kid loves playing ball, but spends much of high school talking about she can't wait until summer when it gets serious. She loves her friends in high school, but playing against the best every weekend to see how you stack up is what she loves the most. We enjoy going to the bigger tournament and see the competition. If she gave one up it would be school ball. There are very few high schools that can come up with the competitive level some girls want.

 

It's easy to see where either side is coming from, but nobody likes it when they end up being told what to do our not, I suppose.
Our HS coach never has restrictions, but there are only a couple of girls on the team who play travel. My kid has girls on her travel team that have HS coaches that forbid games but not practice with travel ball, and others that ban all travel activities.
My daughter got hurt in school ball her sophomore year. It effectively ended her season and her summer until the following September.
Haven't heard of this in softball yet: my daughter has friends who play travel soccer and the coach doesn't allow them to play HS ball . . .

 

It only makes them better

This is going to stir the pot but I really don't care anymore.
I caved into some of the HS coaches wishes not have TB practice last year. It won't happen again. We came out unprepared in our first few tournaments last year. Our practices are more about chemistry, getting them accustomed to one another, and getting them ready for the strenuous schedule we will face.
I have stopped playing scrimmages during the HS season but will require my players to attend our TB practices this spring. We will not start the season like we did last year. If the HS season is more important than what we do 12 months a year, maybe their HS coach should start a TB team and have them play for them.
As a former HS coach who has lost players to injury during TB and HS games, it happens. Get over it. Players can get hurt getting out of bed.
Oh BTW, I have had two serious injuires to a couple of my kids this week during their HS games. Are the HS coaches concerned about the loss of a player for my upcoming season? I would venture to say no.
These kids play all summer/fall without serious injury. What the heck happens during HS ball?
I have kids with a pulled this or that. What the heck are you doing???
Now don't get me wrong. I have a lot of friends coaching HS ball that I respect immensley. The kids get very good instruction. There are some kids though. that receive very little.
As a TB coach who sincerely cares about my kids, I won't do anything to hinder their HS season. I will be considerate during the playoffs. I will not try to "kill" my players anytime during practice. But I still have to get my team ready for my season.
Sorry for the soapbox but I'm so tired of this crap. The extra work only makes the kid better.

 

I've coached HS and TB, also. I agree with you 100%!

Not all HS coaches forbid players from TB or even other sports. In the past, we have asked only that our pitchers be aware of upcoming games and not to pitch TB games if they have a game coming up the next day.

Assuming the coaches have the adequate skills, the more practice they get the better they get. All within reason, of course.

I believe a lot of these demands come from coaches who have a more selfish interest than in the interest of the players.

I believe a player should follow their coach's rules, but not blindly. At least try to enlighten the coach.

 

It really depends on the situation

I do understand the argument and it really depends on the situation. I am a Head Varsity Coach and there is absolutly nothing part time with what I do. In my program as with many other good programs we offer development for our players all year round. Our development is not just on the field, we develop functional softball strength, speed, agility and explosiveness. Our players also have the opportunity to participate in community service and serve as leaders as well. I also make regular contact to various college coaches in the south east. As a Varsity coach I believe it is my responsibility to cover all of the details for my players.
I also coach TB and showcase ball so I completely understand the benefits of playing on that platform. But much like the advantage that showcases have with college coaches, high school programs have built in advantages that travel ball just cannot compete with; facilities, weightrooms, physical training equipment, softball facilities, funds, ect. The reality is that players need both and do not forget its about the girls. I have rules thats restrict Travel ball practices during my season(1 a month) But that is because I know how hard my girls work. Extra work can make the girls better but it can also cause burnout, its a fine line. I have also seen more bad travel ball/showcase practices than good one's. So no, I am not selfish, my concern is the girls. The softball season is a marathon, not a sprint, and I believe we must pace our work.

 

PT or FT

I D K...But I saw tonight a game of FT 12 mo TB players playing a PT 3 mo HS game. 1 team loaded w players from Lightning, Cardinals, Lady Blues, TeamNC, Blaze VS 1 team loaded w players from Lady Blues, TeamNC, Curve, NC Breeze.... Could have been some other TB teams that I might not have known of. What a game it was. A 7 inning 3-2 game. It was as intense a game any college coach would loved to have scouted and seen. D1 and D2 signed players and Fresh, Soph, Jr, Sr, all playing against each other. Would have thought it was some kind of State Final.... There are a few HS coaches/teams out there, that take HS ball is as serious as TB...... JMO