Lack of specified instruction. They dont need to have baseball practice every week all year long, and you dont need to be their taxi for that every week all year long either. There were wide variances in playing . No formula exists, but here are a few ideas to think about: Variety: Encourage your children to play a different sport each season until their upper teens. Prior she played six years professionally, and was 1st Team All-American at the University of Oregon, helping the Ducks reach the Women's College World Series twice. While some languages are much harder to grasp than others, a lack of words is a travel problem with an easy solution. If your kid is good and loves to play, you wont be able to keep them from it. Travel softball can become quite expensive. Kids are exposed to new cities and sometimes get a chance to play tourist. Though parents are well-intentioned, often children are tired of pursuing what was once fun but has become a stressful climb to the next level of competition at the expense of other parts of their lives, or at the expense of joints injured by overuse. Thankfully, this was a better fit for all of us. Many of the assertions in this article are quite true. Dont get me wrong, there is definitely room for improvement with all players. I also need it every day of the week. I never felt that way until I got to college, but looking at the demands of travel ball, I totally understand how the kid feels. Unlike recreational softball, travel teams don't play a set number of games every season. If you're acting like your son has already made it, then you are killing his drive. The answer to that question depends on two main things: her love for the game and your wallet! Between 2013 and 2018, the number of U.S. kids playing baseball and softball combined increased by nearly 3 million, according to annual surveys by the Sports Fitness & Industry Association. Get involved with the sports governing board and voice your opinion. Wake up at 5 a.m., get in the car and fall asleep for the whole drive there. Jesus is God not baseball. Really great article Dr. Hamilton! That makes YOU the problem parent. It always seems to happen with those families that God is really working with. Not one. I do want to finish by saying that we absolutely love travel ball. This mentally effects the kids also with so much pressure to do well. Its also important for everyone involved to be honest about the players skill level. Cant keep my almost 13 yr old from it since 5, and 3 yr old hits a large bucket of real balls off the tee by himself at the indoor facility in a cage while his brother hits in another. Any extra lessons are usually a large chunk of money. Well, this certainly diverged off the main topic of traveling versus rec sports, but I hope it provides a little more to talk about, especially among family members. We may be the exception along with the league in which we play. This can be a big problem if you are trying to compete in tournaments or leagues. So many times parents have mentioned to us about the cost of being on a team. This is very true for our daughters as well. We will be staying with rec from now on. When you go to a game, you are there to support the team. Unfortunately with all the sacrifices Ive made that relocation doesnt seem likely but as usual, Ill pray about it. Young athletes can reach a point where they are bored with rec league play. sacrifice your sons childhood on the altar of the hope, each team is allowed a maximum of 11.7 scholarships, Dont Play Travel Ball: Stay in the Rec League | For His Renown | Pastor John Reading List, http://kristenanneglover.com/my-kids-dont-play-sports/#comment-6411, 6-String Salvo, February 12, 2016 Mike Lee, The Daily Discovery (February 12, 2016) - Entreating Favor, More Great Reading | Second Chance Pastor, Todays Links // 4 Free Kindle Books, Worship Songs, Socialist Millennials, Buy a Friend App, Freedom from Anxiety | Word + Life | KevinHalloran.net. Here are a few of the factors you should consider when evaluating your options and picking a team. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk. So many kids grow up dreaming, so few put on a big league uniform. Yes, we want players to get better at softball. Here are a few questions that many travel softball players and parents ask when joining or switching teams. Have your church thru fellowship and reach others who may be lost. My kid started lessons at five and at almost thirteen, still going strong. They will actually improve more at each sport because a variety of new skills enhances old ones in ways that cant be quantified. Its also likely that kids will need to miss school for team commitments. Additionally, they will probably have fewer injuries and enjoy the competition more. We are leaning strongly to go back to his Rec ball league that we enjoyed in the spring. And we want them to work hard, even when the going gets tough. I dont even want to think about how much parents pay for their 714 year old kids to travel to tournaments, to stay in hotels, to pay the tournament entry fees, and whatever else all this costs. Is playing time important, or would she prefer to surround herself with the best possible teammates (even if that means less time on the field)? Using our tools you can find travel or club Softball teams in spring, summer, winter, or fall near you or across the country in just a few minutes' time! Your marriage matters a lot more than some sport your kid plays. You, as the parent, are going to be doing the driving. I also appreciated this article: She also coached collegiately for 3 years at the University of Montevallo (D2). This can include not having enough balls, bats, or gloves. I think God led me to this article to reassure me that we are doing right. Do I think you are sinning if your kid plays travel ball? Out of these two scenarios, could you handle the 2nd scenario? If youre coaching your 12 year olds travel ball team, what does that mean for the rec league opportunities your 7 year old has? Help your kids find the joy of learning in areas other than sports. Softball programs usually get a team in fresh-off a summer season filled with travel softball games and practices. If youre exalting baseball over all these other things, areyou serving a false god, an idol, that is going to use you and then throw you away? In return, the Breakers Labs organization is committed to working with each Student-Athlete to . Rec ball is where they develop and Aspen Institute. 5. Then you get all of that extra gear and position specific lessons. My sons high school teammate played in the minors for several years before being cut and at age 26, he is just now finishing college and trying to figure out what to do with his life. Competitive Travel Softball: Key Considerations When Picking a Team, Top 7 Things to Look For in a Travel Softball Team, Picking a Travel Softball Team Final Thoughts. You have to grab a quick breakfast to eat on the way. If your daughter is interested in playing college softball, youll want to be part of an organization that: When I was coaching at a Division II school, there were a handful of travel ball coaches I knew well and could really trust to give me honest feedback on a kid as an athlete and a person. While many recreational leagues let anybody play (depending on their roster size) travel teams typically recruit players and conduct tryouts. One of the most common problems is not having enough players to field a team. The only thing you have planned is to lay around the house, relax and watch football. I was recently Contemplating to start travel ball from my son recently and for some reason Ive been holding back . They use evangelism as a spiritual reason for not being in church. It is a great starter for players to figure out if they really like the sport and would like to continue with softball at a higher level. There are typically four or five tournaments during October and November. Travel ball is being on the right team, knowing the right people, and working on your skill set; not that much different from academic pursuits really and more so I suppose. All your doing is increasing the strain and the chance of injury for no appreciable gain. But if you cant imagine doing this every weekend or every other weekend (not always cold and misty of course, but it does happen) then maybe travel softball isnt a good fit for you and your family. Travel softball can be one of the most stressful aspects of the sport, especially when it comes to choosing the right team. I know you were saying that theres no one answer for everyone. I could rest. Lack of skill It's not easy to admit that you or someone you love is not good enough for something. Our hope as parents is that they think of themselves first as members of Gods family and then our family, and then perhaps as an athlete, etc., after that. Who are these kids being forced to play? Softball teaches you how to communicate with those who are in authoritative positions about something you really want. Second, recreation leagues can be just as competitive and demanding as travel ball, but doesnt have the same season length. And with more practice and play time, the risk of injury and burnout goes up, too. There are many benefits of pursuing sports excellence, travel like any other passion filled event children can participate can be an extremely beneficial. Travel softball hurts pocket books. After establishing a manageable budget for your softball team, you need to start promoting your program and recruiting players. I recognize that although it isnt common for kids to be offered college scholarships for sports, it obviously isnt impossible. I enjoyed my time as a travel softball player, but it wasnt always easy for me or my family. Small towns breed professional athletes, and the reason seems to be that kids in small towns arent over-coached, over-organized, and over-specialized by the travel ball opportunities found in larger cities. Im not willing to give up the Lords day for sports as much as I want him to play in a better league. Having said that, below are the top reasons your daughter should not play travel softball. I got an education, got married, we started having children, and now I get to coach my kids. It would surely come in handy as a travel ball parent. These are just a few of the reasons why travel ball may not be a good fit for you. Small towns breed professional athletes, and the reason seems to be that kids in small towns aren't over-coached, over-organized, and over-specialized by the travel ball opportunities found in larger cities. Rec ball and travel ball can coexist, BUT, it has to be done with the kids as the foremost priority. Its also important that you dont make your child feel guilty if she tries a competitive team for a year and decides its not what she wants. Always keep in mind why you have this child involved in sport. And I hope all who read my question realize that there is no 1 correct answer for everyone. Look for positive, fair-minded coaching. I also when I was kid play at lyndon and never traveled and loved it and still played college baseball myself for 4 yrs. I find it filled with some great thoughts based on extreme examples and false assumptions. Sometimes travel teams also change players during the season, adding and moving around players based on performance. When we read books about how it takes 10,000 hours to become an expert on anything, it may wrongly motivate us to try to create little experts out of our kids by the time they graduate from high school. Thats fine for an 18 year old on the cusp of adulthood, but theres no reason to put a 714 year old through that kind of rigor. The three year old is already all in and ready to play. How knowledgeable are they, and will they be able to facilitate the proper degree of skill development for their athletes? College Recruiting: This is for those a little older (freshmen and up). She got to have some really good conversations with the moms who really didnt understand the philosophy behind Upward as a result. 509 County Road 540A, Lakeland, Florida 33813. Keep him in rec ball, where he wont get burnt out because hes a kid facing the demands of a profession. They open/close each practice and game with prayer and are not overwhelming us with lots of games. Get access to discounts and the latest news. The fundamentals will already be in place, and theres no question as to whether they will dive head first to catch a ball. Terms of Use | Privacy Policy | FUTURESLASH CORP. Get two articles delivered to your inbox each week. Travel ball is good for those who are not afraid of being challenged and want to play at a higher level. Watch and listen to how players respond to the coaches. Let them play the game. I imagine that we could have lived a little more comfortably had I not been playing softball. But dont hold her back if she wants to push herself. SAVE 25% ON ALL HER MUST HAVES - 25% OFF SITEWIDE ALL REGULAR PRICED ITEMS. This not only applies to the sport of baseball and softball, but in all sports where a dad coaches their own son or daughter. Competitive travel softball players come to the field every day with the intent to compete, push past their limits, and get themselves to the next level. The main ones are USSSA (United States Specialty Sports Association pronounced U-Triple-S-A), PGF (Premier Girlss Fastpitch, USA (Formerly ASA), Triple Crown, and NSA (National Softball Association). If you think the coach is doing a bad job, then take your daughter off the team. Totally agree with your article. How does a big leaguer have a family? Thankfully, we have a great group of players, coaches, and families. The travel teams are turning into a true business. (And I hope thats not the reason you involve your kids in athletics!) Eternity is at stake. Listen to truthful, accurate feedback from coaches. Being part of a team, no matter how long its for, isnt permanent, so as nice as it is to identify with activities that we love, we dont want them to define us or our kids. 14,539. I appreciate that. You can tell the girls that go home and dont touch a bat or glove until their next practice. Kids blossom at different ages. If you dont put in this extra work, you will quickly fall behind your teammates and ride the pine (plus risk being cut at the end of season). Baseball is the greatest game ever, it is exactly that, a game. Often, good organizations will reach out to a player that caught their eye and invite them to come to the open tryout. Also, keep in mind that many tournament teams have monthly dues of around $200 to play on the team and have access to their training facility. Since the start of Softball Galaxy, we have gone from two daughters playing, to only one at this moment. As Ive talked to people about this dilemma, one friend proposed this to me: he said that I should start my own travel ball team, and I should commit myself to being low-key about it. That's not to say you shouldn't do it -- just be ready to work The pitchers pitched far more balls than strikes. They also need to learn more about taking care of their body to keep it strong and healthy through conditioning, nutrition, and good sleep habits. It allows each player to have the opportunity to play. We played Upward for quite some time and my wife was amazed at how many parents going to the practices are unchurched. Accepting players from all over central Florida and have had players from all over Polk County, Hillsborough County, and Hardee County. If money is a potential concern, you need to consider both your priorities and your daughters. Those conflicts are becoming more common with the increasing secularization of our country. We should be able to admit that to ourselves, but I think sometimes our pride gets in the way.
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