hs softball

FOCUS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Many years ago a fellow TBR member had an idea of forming a team from players out of the rec league where he was coaching. The goal was to keep these kids together along with any new recruits, develop their knowledge and skills and get them ready for HS softball. This coach formed a NSA sanctioned team, like numerous others, and started the journey. I am proud to say, that because of this individual, my DD along with many others have developed: the skills, knowledge, lifetime relationships, and a love of the game. These kids played MS ball and are currently playing HS and TB. Some of the older players are currently being recruited by colleges and others will be doing the same in the near future.
There are others that are doing the same today with the younger kids and we all should support them. Getting kids to play HS softball takes leadership and commitment from us the parents. Blame can be laid upon anyone for any reason for the lack of anything. I have always told my players that you have to preform to your very best at anything you do, there will always be others that are better or less than you, and at the end of the day it is how you feel about yourself and the way that you have performed that matters.
One issue that did come up at the HS level with kids not playing TB was that they would not go out for the team because they would never get to play with all the TB players on the team. This is in fact somewhat a reality, we see it in TB also, this is one reason why some TB kids jump from team to team. Now don't get me wrong here, I learned this form my son's youth Lacrosse & Hockey team players. Most kids understand different levels of talent and are willing to let kids play of all talent levels. I have seen great youth Hockey players hold back against a lesser player and allow that player hone his skills, then praise the kid for his performance. We as parents and coaches should learn from the kids as we provide the opportunities for them to grow.
We are providers and as such need to continue to nurture all sports at a young age. The veterans of our sport need to encourage others to follow our lead and continue the process of development within softball. Trust me, the reward for the effort is much greater than the cost, and the cost of not doing it is expensive.
Dad

 

Excellent post

 

Hey

You have done well with Steph !!!

Guru

 

Thanks Guru. All of us here on TBR have done well with everyone we've helped throughout the years and this tradition will continue.

 

I think another thing that hurt the sport this year in particular was the lack of primetime Olympic Softball coverage. This usually kicks off another couple of years of interest for young girls in the sport.

My youngest daughter has been swimming year round for 7 years and we see it after each Olympics... especially this year with all the coverage of Michael Phelps. The number of new kids that come into the program after an Olympic year is much higher than a non-Olympic Year.

 

My take for what it's worth

Ok my thoughts on this. First, there needs to be a progression in a softball players career. IMHO, 4-6 is for TBall, learn to have fun, 7-10 or 11 should be in rec ball, yes TB has killed this area. Kept mine in rec ball until she was 11. Started traveling in the late summer and fall when they were 10. Took rec team to play TB w/ just a couple of tweaks. Took our lumps but one some. After 11 went to TB full time for the competition. The problem is that alot of parents and coaches (since mostly they are one in the same) are overly competitive w/ their 8 year old. Lost alot of kids between ages 12 and 15 because the parents want them to win EVERYTHING. Lost some more at 16 because let's face it guys, sometimes cars and guys take precedence. It has another definition BURNOUT. Missing b'day parties, vacations, & sleepovers w/ "other" friends eventually takes a toll on a kid whether or not they tell you a million times how much they play softball. The other main problem is school. Now days the curriculum is tougher and tougher. Mine were taking classes in middle school that i took as a junior in high school. School is getting tougher and tougher and w/ 3-4 hours of homework a night, a volleyball team that plays 3 nights a week, a hs coach who wants to work at least 1 time a week, a TB coach who wants to work once a week and once on the weekend, pitching lessons, hitting lessons.....whoops where did their childhood go. Really sympathize w/ mine. She's working her butt off but at times all everyone wants is more, more, more, and be pefect at everything you do. Geez, no wonder we lose some, and surprise we don't lose more. Bottom line is if they enjoy it they will play. DO NOT live vicariously through your kids, and when they're young let them be that A KID.

 

.....excellent post there Parkdaddy!
My favorite part is " if they enjoy it, they will play". fishman

 

Wow, when you total it up it makes you wonder how it can happen. But it does. And you didn't even mention the parttime job to pay for their insurance on the car. Or the effect it has on other kids in the family.

When you think of all the fun and glory they can have you kind of believe it's all worthwhile. But when you think of the downside it doesn't look so good sometimes. The busted lips, skinned knees, broken fingers, torn acl, etc.

3-4 hours of homework is ridiculous. 6 days/nights of athletics is just as ridiculous.

There are no easy answers but if someone was having doubts about whether it's too much, it probably is. I would explore other options and put those options on the table for the family to look at.

There is nothing that's been talked about on this board that is more important than your kids! If one keeps the kid at the top of the priority list then everything should work out. Maybe not for the coach, or the teacher, but for the highest priority--the kid!!

 

Lack of fresh. coming out for HS softball

I guess each area has there own problems in this, fortunately at SC here in the NW conf. we in the last two years have had very good turnouts. This year we have eleven frsh's taking part in conditioning, and had appx that number last year, while that is not twenty or so player, it is enough to field a good JV team and Varsity with appx fourteen on each squad.
All the teams in the NW conf. this past year fielded JV teams, while several teams in CATVA conf did not field JV squads, one being St. Stephens whom has a very good program.
One thing that parents of all youngesters should alway be alert to, and that is, do not burn your childern out, some of these kids are playing close to a hundred games per year. all there time is taken in playing softball, (also applies to baseball)they start in Dec, and finish in Dec, for pete's sake give the kids some rest