Starting Travel Ball

Agree

My DD started baseball @ five (rec) and softball @ nine (rec). It was just fun. She pitched in baseball but didn't start pitching softball till age 10 and never threw a breaking pitch 'til age 12. In fact, I could list several of best pitchers ever produced in NC that didn't start TB till age 12. She played basketball thru middle school and vball until her jr year in hs.

 

Must have time to live

Spoke to a parent of a fine player this past week that played for a good travel team and she was now feeling the stress of recruiting and playing every week. I suggested having weekends off from time to time, focusing on schools that offer the best education for her major and let softball take care of itself (incorrect english). Take the approach of aggressively contacting the academic side of the schools and using that to deal with college coaches. My main point, have a life! You can have a passion and desire for softball without spending every waking minutes on the game and in fact will probably be a better player as you have a more rounded approach!
This past year was fun as I saw so many parents I have known for years have burdens lifted as their kids committed to quality schools. Have a wonderful spring and summer enjoying the game even more.

 

Excellent Comment !!

Yea R.T. we do live and learn... I've made many mistakes just fortunate that my DD's will is stronger than mine. Man she is hyped up this year for some reason. She told me she was going to knock the puppies out of the ball. I don't think over that past 13 years I've ever seen her this pumped up. Pitchers beware--LOL------GURU

BEK

 

excellent excellent points...

 

my story....

I talk to parents about this all the time. Personally, I started playing really late and sort of by accident. I played competitive soccer 3 seasons out of the year. I was also a closet TV addict. I think my mother was afraid that the TV would rot my brain so she suggested I join some of my soccer teammates and play softball. Thank goodness she did because it was softball that payed my way through college. Since I started so late I was still in love with the game through my college days. I can honestly say this sport was my first true love and that love and passion were what made me great. But I cant tell you how many of my high school, TB and college teammates hated the game. It used to make me so sad and their lack of passion would infuriate me. Finally, during my freshman year I finally broke down with one of my coaches. I was saying that I didnt understand why they werent out there an hour before practice like I was or how it was possible to just accept a loss. And she said something to me that I will never forget and will always live by....

She explained that in life there are people who do things cause they WANT to and their are people who do things cause they HAVE to. She then asked what I would do if instead of the excitement I felt when putting on my cleats, the same task would feel like a job that I had to do? I told her that would be the last day I ever put on my cleats. She laughed and said well what would your parents think? I had never thought about that. Playing ball was about me.... my parents had nothing to do with it. And then she told me that that is why I was different than others. I played cause it made ME happy. I will never forget that day that putting my cleats on felt like a job.... it was the last day that I tied my cleats.

So my advise to parents when it comes to burnout is its not something you can control or predict when and if it will happen. If they want to play then let them play there is no right or wrong age... just explain to them like my parents did that if you make a commitment to a team that they should want to uphold that commitment. But if the day comes that life pulls them in a different direction that you will always be there to support them.