How do you know when enough is enough?

Injury

Just had a very good young softball player break a finger playing basketball and is out 4-6 weeks. She is a great kid but does not have the size to play bigtime basketball, she can play bigtime softball.

 

All good points....

CrazeCoach, you are right about the some HS teams conferences are more competetive than others. That does play a large role in a HS coaches decision on TB during season. I do not agree with the coach letting HS players leave practice early to attend TB practice, that is not fair to the other team members! If they are going to be a part of the HS team then they should be at the entire practice and then attend TB practice. JMO

Playball24, You are right on the point of TB has given HS ball a big help up! TB is what makes HS ball look better. There are great reasons to play HS ball though! You play for your SCHOOL, it does impress a college coach, to see that you did so, you get the opportunity to strut your talent in front of your peers, that is big in HS! I don't think a player's opportunity to play another sport, if they wish, should ever be blocked. (No basketball) not good! So should we in turn block playing soccer, volleyball and should we also block dance? See my point! There is a thing called Cross Training, this allows a player to have a chance for something different while staying in shape and lessens the chance for burn out, in 1 sport.

Sports Buff, I also agree with your point! I too loved watching each phase of softball my DD has gone through! Starting with 8U coach pitch, rec ball, then moved to 10U TB, then the DD took up pithing, so we went to 2 & 3 pitching leesons a week, in addition to all the practices and/or games, then on to making the school team in middle school, then on to HS ball, making, varsity or JV, then we moved on to mainly Showcase tournaments for the exporsure to college coaches and now we are just 2 weeks away from her pitching in her 1st college game, I can't wait!!!!
Each phase holds its own special memory, in my dd's life and our lives! It has been an INCREDIBLE ride, that I would not change a moment of!! Even the bad things taught us something! So don't be so quick to cut any of them out, or try to lessen the importance of any of the phases! Just be HAPPY and Thankful, you get to enjoy each!

 

That's why Softball players should join the HS Swim team over the winter...

 

Leave her alone....for a bit.....

....with a careful eye dad. She'll determine her threshold of committment first, then her schedule will follow. Nice problem to have with a DD but it can be a problem, remember, "practice makes perfect only if perfect practice".

 

That is what I'm saying. Why prohibit the one thing that is going to make your high school softball team better but yet not prohibit activities where they have a greater risk of getting hurt? Don't get me wrong, I think kids should be able to play multi sports in high school if they want to, but don't use the excuse that you are afraid they will get hurt in travel ball. I don't think high schools should prohibit anything that my child wants to do on her own time! Frankly, I don't think it is any of their business.

 

Thought

Kids can get hurt playing, driving, walking, heck slipping in shower. Representing your HS is big and many small schools depend on players that can play multiple sports, I understand completely!

Now college ball! If a kid wants to play college ball, say softball, the college softball coach could care less if that kid is a good basketball player, soccer player, or whatever, they just want them to play their sport and to be the best they can be. There are only a few very gifted kids that can play multiple sports and be outstanding, most will be good or just, OK! Does it not make sense do excel in the sports that U love and have the most talent to play? Whatever sport? Not only do you acheive more personal success but you will also help your HS team acheive more success.
That said, I certainly do not tell any Blues player not to play another sport, that is their decision.

 

These high school coaches that prohibit travel ball are saying "I don't care what you do this weekend you can go four wheeling, play basketball, go skiing, skateboarding whatever but if I find out you played softball, you are off the high school softball team." Now how stupid is that?? Can anyone explain that one to me?

 

On the other side...

how far do you push a 10 year old pitcher. We go to pitching lessons one day a week. I have been pushing DD to pitch three more days a week with me. Sometimes she acts like she don't want to go but when we get going she seems fine. I don't want to push to hard but if she is going to be good I feel like she needs to continue to workout. Am I pushing to hard. She does love the game and wants to pitch.

 

Suggestion

Why not get an older, say HS pitcher talk to her and explain the effort it takes to be good at pitching. She maybe a little young to stay focused for long periods of time but after a talk from a older kid who has been there, done that, work on ways to make pitching practice more fun. Use props to help her hit spots, small awards for meeting or exceeding goals U set together, watch movies or videos of a college or professional pitcher together, then maybe a movie she wants to watch. Guess what I am saying is take away a routine! When she gets a little older, U can get back to a more rigid practice or workout. Bet if U create ways to make it more fun, she will deliver for U and get better without even noticing.