where's the upperclassmen?

HS Ball

I think all players should play for their hs as it is a very special time. But, unfortunately the experience can be bad for some for many reasons. Bad coaching, playing out of position due to teams needs. I remember being approached about a player to play on my travel team and I had only seen her pitch and really didn't think she could perform at that level in travel ball. What I found out was she was out of position as a pitcher due to her hs team needs and was an unbelievable outfielder. With the exception of a very few hs teams it depends upon what your goals are and whether you are having fun. If you have no aspirations to play at the next level or at the upper DII or DI level then HS probably is the best experience. But, if you want to play at the next level and just enjoy tough competition then Travel Ball and the Big tournaments is the place to be. Nothing like it. To find the same excitement in HS you almost have to make it to Raleigh and that just doesn't happen very often for most HS teams. My DD was lucky in the fact she got there 2 out of 3 years that she played varsity. Everybody's opinions are going to be different based upon how big a pond you are swimming in and how level the playing field is at your hs. Enka HS softball was an experience for me and my DD that we will never forget nor would we ever want to have missed experiencing those memories.

 

Well, my dd has now approached me and says she wants to get in the weight room and get serious about it. I guess that answers my questions huh?

 

Be careful. Seen way too many players develop shoulder problems from incorrect supervision and too much weight..

 

I can understand why some kids tire of HS ball

especially if they have a level of commitment to the game that exceeds their teammates and coach. My daughter was conference player of the year as senior ('05). Her coach got around to delivering her award last week, just one calendar year after he received it from the athletic director. Need I say more about HS ball? No. But I will. I think kids should play it unless the coach is downright abusive. My DD's HS coach basically ignored her. He just sent her to circle and watched. Besides pitching, she hit .400, set a school record for HR's and just went about her business. Sometimes I think he would not even speak to her at practice. He finally lost her respect completely on a trip to the western part of the state. She was psyched to play some of the "best in the west" but he treated it like a HS sleepover. Girls had a "makeup party" on the bus going out and goofed off in he hotel till 4 AM (despite having a 10AM game) with the coaches' blessing. Fortunately, by that point in her career she could see the light at the end of tunnel. She had already signed and travel ball was only six weeks away so she just smiled and plowed on. She learned a lot in HS ball!