limitations

AND...

.....do let me say this....If emphasizing one sport or even overemphasizing one sport, and thats the choice that fits....Go For It!

No disrespect intended to any coach, especially when we all need to recognize that they're giving the time to the kids.
Also no disrespect to any parent, especially when we all know that Parents want nothing but the best for their kids.

Now.....if a choice is made to be part of a team, a TB/it costs $ to play team, then I do beleive that its the players responsiblity to accept the role of full time participation, as much as possilble. Dawg is right, it takes a full team with the same goals and commitment to get far.

If a kid wants to play volleyball during TB fastpitch season, and she misses TB games, then she's putting her teammates at a disadvantage, and thats not fair.

When HS playoffs come around in May/June, and a TB team has players in the HS mix, then I think its the TBs turn to give a little bit, and allow the kids to play in the HS arena.

 

I think that you need to find out what works for your family. Is this a coach that only takes top girls and tries to compete, or is this a coach that takes players to the next level with great coaching. If he is someone that can take your DD to a playing level that is special then you think about it or is he someone that is good at recruiting great girls to play on his team. If he is a great coach that his players make great strides throughout the season then that is one thing.
As a HS coach I have put tournament championships at risk because of prom. As a coach I had to say that prom is an important thing to these girls in their social lives and maybe this is a time where softball takes a back seat. Now deep down as the coach in me I was saying it is just a stupid dance, and you missing this big game will hurt us. I did not let those feelings known and told them they should go to the dance, because that is what was best for them.
Our girls give up so much to be great sb players and at some point as parents or coaches we have to step in and say there are other things that are important. Sport can teach so many things about failure and sucess but if all they know is sport they cannot apply it to life because they have not lived that life. Also, I know many college coaches that love to recruit players who play other sports because their bodies have been trained to do things that are not always focused on in SB but can be a positive.
I know this is a bit of a rant but SB maybe a huge part of life in which I spend an embarassing amount of time studying and coaching, but tomorrow is the opening of Dove season and at day break I will be out sitting on a field, does that make me a worse coach, who knows it may help teach me patience with my players.
As a second note, if you make the choice to go with this team you must live up to your commitment and word, because without that you have nothing.
Scott Miller
www.gaptogapsoftball.com

 

Here's my take

When I read this post, I thought, hmmm, do I really want to get in this conversation? But I came to the conclusion, Why not!! First of all I hope no one takes offense to my reply, this is just one man's or coaches opinion.
I have coached on the Rec league level, TB level and now at the HS level. In my opinion, a TB coach that would not allow his players to play HS ball of any kind is really not in this for the girls. Don't get me wrong!! TB is where the girls get looks, not HS. I wish it wasn't, but it is. I think while TB has it's positives, I think at times can be overated. I remember back in my HS days that if you played any sport in HS that you were looked upon as someone special and it was a great honor for you to be able to represent your school, community and town. I still think that girls have that sense of pide in their school and they are very proud to do it. My DD's proudest moment was playing for her HS team. Even after winning TB tourneys and playing on some very good teams. She never really thought she could play college ball until she was asked by a college player at a clinic one weekend if she had committed anywhere. So you see I am a little bit biased when it comes to HS ball because if you are good enough to play at the next level, you will be found, one way or the other.

 

Here's my take

When I read this post, I thought, hmmm, do I really want to get in this conversation? But I came to the conclusion, Why not!! First of all I hope no one takes offense to my reply, this is just one man's or coaches opinion.
I have coached on the Rec league level, TB level and now at the HS level. In my opinion, a TB coach that would not allow his players to play HS ball of any kind is really not in this for the girls. Don't get me wrong!! TB is where the girls get looks, not HS. I wish it wasn't, but it is. I think while TB has it's positives, I think at times can be overated. I remember back in my HS days that if you played any sport in HS that you were looked upon as someone special and it was a great honor for you to be able to represent your school, community and town. I still think that girls have that sense of pide in their school and they are very proud to do it. My DD's proudest moment was playing for her HS team. Even after winning TB tourneys and playing on some very good teams. She never really thought she could play college ball until she was asked by a college player at a clinic one weekend if she had committed anywhere. So you see I am a little bit biased when it comes to HS ball because if you are good enough to play at the next level, you will be found, one way or the other.

 

ok, so the TB "coach" states that you cannot miss any practices for other sports.
Let me add into this....would he care if they missed due to academics?
Here's a good example:
DD has a LOADED course load this semester. Well, this year, in fact. This semester she has ALL honors courses. And in these honor courses, she has homework EVERY night.
I'm gonna give the worst example here....this past Thursday, she came in the door at 3:30 pm. She had 5 pages of Honors Civics homework, and had to study for a test on the Declaration of Independance. she had to write a 3 page paper on the Brain for Honors Biology, and on top of that, she had a MOUND of Honors Geometry homework. Thank the Lord she finished her Honors English work in class!
Now, she did come out of her room to eat dinner. That's all we seen of her until 9:45 pm. Which is when she finished. Ridiculous? I agree. And they left both of her elective courses until next semester, and that's great for spring TB and HS ball. But she still has 2 other Honors courses coming up!
It's unfortunate that there is no "study hall" for them like it was when I was in school.....even though I seemed never to get anything accomplished in there, myself.
This was an extreme example, BUT you never know when they will have all of this on them. But she has homework every single night.
Now, I guess she could've chose not to take such a hard course load. (don't want to feel the wrath of her "momma" when she tells her that she wants to take fewer weighted classes just so she doesn't have the work to do) But her education is absolutely her #1 priority.
Would a coach hold THAT against a kid for thinking of her education first?
Maybe it's just about other sports that he's referring to. But missing practice is missing practice.....correct?

 

So What you saying....She not coming to practice????? HAHAHA....Yea some of these coaches are off the charts.....

 

How about the other shoe???

With all this discussion I wonder, Where does the committment to the TB team fit into all this. While I too am having issues with several of my kids playing HS volleyball, I ask, which of the HS volleyball coaches are ok with my player missing their practice? I respect the wishes of both entities. I do however question the motives behind a HS VBall coach putting the very same restrictions on my softball players, who, will not play a minute of VB in college. They may play softball in college. I had a couple of players who missed several softball recruitment opportunities in Rock Hill due to a VB scrimmage and told they would be penalized for missing them. Where is the balance in that?
The kids will, at some point, have to make a decision. It works that way with sports, work, life, and whatever they choose to pursue.
I am having TB practice tomorrow knowing going in, 4 of my players will miss due to a HS VB practice or a game. Should I just be ok with it?
Or do I change my schedule next year to remove some of the TB opportunities in fall. I am seriously considering dropping the fall schedule all together next year. It won't hurt me a bit, (I could use the rest) just the kids who focus only on the sport they chose to pursue. Softball. Do I do that to the kids who want to pursue softball only? Is that fair to them. Or, Do I carry 20 players so it doesn't matter. Who gets the benefit from that?
Sorry for the rant, just a sore subject right now. I can't have a decent practice for all the players missing.

 

double post

Sorry for the double post. Not quite sure how that happened!!

 

Practice??????....

.....describe practice folks.

Is it 1 kid at bat while others stand around in the outfield.
Is it rotational stations of soft toss, tee drill, hitting stick, etc.


The one and ONLY one practice that I think deserves all players if possible is when teaching "situations". What are you gonna do with the ball if it comes to me? What am I gonna do if the ball does not come to me?
Teaching the game within the game by instituting a fun way of learning will result in the kids retaining whats going on 100% of the time.
If school teachers could someway learn to connect a message to students in a song, the kids would never forget it.
Now tell me folks, how many songs do have in your memory bank?
Like me, more than memories of language arts in 9th grade.

Sports are no different.

and practice makes perfect only if perfect practice....

"put me in coach, i'm ready to play'. Eagles

 

Education first

I believe the priority should be hs. There are many things involved in the hs environment. As a general rule any sport outside of hs should take second seat to whatever the hs requires. Especially academics.

But I do get annoyed at hs coaches who forbid their players from participating in various activities just because there's a risk they may get hurt. One example last year was a vb coach forbidding his players from participating in powder puff football. He, in effect, stole the memories those kids could have had for years to come. He put his desires in front of the kids' desires.

I believe the bottom line (after making hs the top priority) is to guide the girls to help them make the decisions that will teach them values while letting them be happy.

It's not like baseball, or football, where there will be big money on the other end. I've seen it too many times where some kids are pushed beyond what is reasonable.

My suggestion would be the same as marlin's, tell them to KMA. Let the kid be happy--and free!! Love the kid above the sport!! There is a certain satisfaction turning down the "best team in the nation!"