Travel Ball - The Good and The Bad

I just read this article on prep alert and thought it really hit home. After many years coaching travel ball I see that a lot of the good and the ugly is stated in this article. You might not like what is said and it may not fully apply to your organization but I think it describes a lot of the situations out there. The article is written by Alan Parhams, scout for NSR...http://www.prepalert.com/ask_the_scout/may_column.html

 

I agree with most of what Alan mentioned.
You do have to contact the colleges and coaches that you want to play for. Travel ball is diluted compared to what it was some years ago.
And Accurate Stats are important but but even with good score keepers the road from scorebook to college coach can distort some stats, much like a story told from person to person changes a little every time its told. I think HS and club ball play an important part in your college search (provided the head coach of either is willing to do what is needed for each individual girl and even then NO club team or coach can or should promise any child that they are the road to college) The MOST IMPORTANT people in the process is the player and her family.
Go out and identify the schools that have the courses you want. then the softball programs you are interested in. Contact both school and coach. send a well made packet of your DD information and achevments, along with a list of tournaments you will be playing in during the summer.
My opinion is that this along with what Alan mentioned will give your child the best chance of attaining her dreams. .......just my

 

This may be getting off subject, but dawgfan brought up some very good points and this information is always needed. I'm just going to post about the junior year and rising seniors...one of the most important years of all.
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September


Send out your first contact letters --

Ask your high school coach to write letters to a few preferred colleges

Include a copy of your fall schedule (if available)
SEPTEMBER 1


Written contact by college coaches is allowed

Register with the NCAA Initial - Eligibility Clearinghouse (your high school guidance counselor should have these forms)

Register for the fall ACT / SAT standardized tests ... most students take these tests at least twice ... try to avoid the spring dates, as they may conflict with your high school season Request that your ACT/SAT test scores be sent to the NCAA Clearinghouse (there is a box on the application form that you check for this)

Find more information about the NCAA Clearinghouse follow this link

Continue the fall and winter schedule as you did for your freshman and sophomore years
DO NOT LET UP ON ACADEMICS


Familiarize yourself with the NCAA admission / eligibility requirements NCAA Online or check with your school's guidance counselor
Feb -March


Send out your spring high school schedule

Prepare a videotape to be sent out when requested (do not send unsolicited tapes

Plan visits to as many schools as possible this spring and summer

Some schools have "Junior Days" during the spring season ... don't be shy write a letter to the coach and ask about them.

All of these visits are "unofficial" this means that the college can not pay for any part of the visit. These are done on your own.

Make contact with showcase groups - Work on getting your information to them - So that if you qualify they can send out an invitation - If you wait until school is over for the year, it may be too late! The better showcases fill up fast.

June and July are the primary showcase months

Summer


Send out letters to college programs - Tell them about your high school junior year (11th) season - Sending stats is okay

Focus this summer should be on attending "Select or Advanced" College Camps .

In this environment you will be able to gauge yourself against some of the best players, at each camp. The college coaches will be able to do the same.

The summer between a player's junior and senior year of high school is very important

JULY 1st


Phone contact from college coaches is permissible

July is showcase month

 

social pressure?

what does Mr. Parham mean by "social pressure" placed on parents & kids participating in travel ball?

 

Pressure

I'm not sure what Mr Parham means but do know that travel ball has gotten out of hand. For example, there is virtually no value in 8U/10U travel ball. Parents who think there is simply do not understand child development. Kids this age need skill development. The best place for this is the local rec league. The hotel rooms, fast food and 12 hour days in the June and July are totally inappropriate for kids this age and, in fact, create a formula for burnout. Of course the sofball parent has to keep up with soccer parent who has to keep up with gymnastic parent . . . really sad. If there's no rec league around let your daughter play baseball like mine did. If she has any skill at all she'll be the physical equal to the boys and, because little girls generally have better attention spans, will actually out perform many of them and have a great time doing it. The skills generalize just fine. And don't say "but my DD is a pitcher". Mine is too, and good enough now to have a full ride at a D1 school. Didn't start travel ball until her last eligible year in 12U.

I've always thought it better to do less than more. Sure she might be a little better if we had started TB @ 8U but she also might have gotten fed up with it. As it is she'll be soph in college and still asks me to chuck her balls at the LL field on Sunday afternoon. We'll do it today!

 

Great post dukedog and one that I believe in 100%

 

8U/10U TB

Yes, I agree with dukedog4 on this............however just observing parents there's a desire to hurry & get these young girls into better competition than the rec league provides. Most girls of these ages that play travel ball also play rec.
In our area the 8U is machine-pitch & 10U is player-pitch; the 10U rec pitchers that don't play TB really struggle to consistently throw strikes. There's lots of walks.

 

alot of us are working on those youngins(8-12 y/o pitchers)! work in progress!!! enjoy the ride with your young pitchers.....great time in their/your lives!!!

 

Point well taken Cheeze