. We dont have Sunday games and Id venture that shes in the lower end of competitive teams. I would urge you to consider how trustworthy Jesus is, how he can reconcile you to God, how he has paid for your sin, and how his Spirit can enable you to love others and enjoy life with them in a gathering of people joined together at a local church. Lots of practice time is great for your player's development, but it definitely affects what other extracurricular activities they are able to do. Subscribe below. Get in the car, and sleep for the whole drive home. The cost is a fraction of what a travel season would cost but may actually put you in front of more coaches. Hopefully it will make us parents pray, think, and analyze the motives behind our kids activities. As a mom of a 10 year old girl who has played both travel and rec softball we have seen first hand the pros and cons of both. Costs by region (travel mom is from California so these prices maybe a bit higher or lower than what you might spend), but here is her breakdown: FAST, FREE SHIPPING ON ALL ORDERS | WIN FREE DIAMOND CLEATS OR SPIKES FOR YOUR TEAM - LEARN MORE, Original Defense Pro Softball Fielder's Mask, Women's Period Protection Volleyball Shorts (3"). These reflections grow out of my own experience playing and coaching and watching other families. 10 Things Wrong with Youth Baseball and Softball (And How We Can Fix BE INVOLVED , VOLUNTEER, ATTEND MEETING AFTER MEETING, FUND RAISE, HOLD ALL ACCOUNTABLE FOR TIME, HONOR, COMMITMENT AND GET ALL THE KIDS TO ENJOY THIS LEAGUE YOU ARE A PART OF. (Sometimes youll find an assistant coach who is a parent, but rarely a head coach.) Along with a recreational league, they have Travel Ball Teams that play competitive softball. foster a love for the game. The journey the Lord had me on led to me being cut from the team after I did not play summer ball following my sophomore year. Most travel softball teams include between 10 and 12 players chosen by the appointed coaches. 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. Havent seen any. These teams expect you to take the game seriously: 15 minutes early is on time; you walk into a tournament in an orderly fashion; and you recognize that while theres a time and place to be goofy, youre there to get better at softball. They dropped out of church and I think it really showed their kids that priorities of baseball come before any commitment to church attendance or service. I wanted to play all the time, until I got to college and had to do so. It all depends on what attitude you approach it with. Exactly how much depends on the level of competition your daughter is looking for. They learn more socially because they have different teammates for each sport and different roles. There are typically four or five tournaments during October and November. We love them by showing them that God is infinitely more valuable than all else. With your TeammatesCommunication on the actual playing field is critical. Teaches them basic techniques. Some teams charge a flat fee up front, some allow parents to pay as they go and some combine the formulas. Travel baseball costs average around $3,700 annually. What to Look For in a Travel Softball Team - The Hitting Vault It is other worldly, it is unlike anything the Non Christian can imagine, to deny ourselves something the world says is a must and do something the world sees as foolish. I talked to a dad who was committed to having his family in church even when they were on the roadand he said they traveled as a family as often as they couldfor tournaments. We only have 1 high school senior playing basketball. We still put prior commitments first and the coach understands that we cant make all games/practices as a result. Do not tolerate conduct of the weak and uneducated. Theres usually a brief hitting session (front toss), as well as defensive reps and throws based on your position. Back in 2011, CBS News reported that one Georgia family paid $4,000 per year for their 9-year-old son's travel team. Im betting you would be better off saving your money to help him with college expenses. Excellence: Pursuing excellence is important, but be sure you know and your child knows what you mean by that. Youre just now rolling out of the soft, comfy bed to throw on some clothes and get a lazy start to the weekend after a long hard week at work. She also coached collegiately for 3 years at the University of Montevallo (D2). Watch and listen to how players respond to the coaches. The irony is that if you dont value your commitment to church (and Christ) enough to pass on sports to commit to church, you arent likely to step out and preach the gospel at the sports events either. Check out: The Nehemiah Institute (nehemiahinstitute.com) Many of the assertions in this article are quite true. vs. travel. And man (probably some do) dont evangelize. SoftballGalaxy.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. Let kids be kids, they and their bodies will decide what they can and cant do. But the reality is that if your goal is to play at the college level and especially if your goal is to play for a Division 1 program its an important part of the process. For us, travel has been amazing. #momof3boys. Cheer them on and let them entertain you. Catchers usually have 2-3 reps to throw to each base, while pitchers are usually given the opportunity to throw all their pitches and have their speeds checked by radar. Listed below are six of the pitching injuries that athletes tend to experience. Teach her other ways to stay involved throughout the game if she is not playing. We all need to be careful that identifying with just one sport and spending most of our time with it can deter a child from gaining skills, interests and appreciation for other activities and knowledge. Your daughter, as the player, is going to be pooped. Travel softball teams will also sometimes have two different dates options for tryouts, so that athletes can attend the one that best fits their schedule. Looks like a good pastor (Caldwell) commented above if thats who I think it is. Hopefully not though. But if you live in a smaller area, you may end up putting a lot of miles on your car. Voddie Bauchams Family Driven Faith. Coach B, Come play in SBMSA in Houston. 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. Confused! I simply have to go find the people that need Jesus. In general, there is no regular season with travel softball it runs all year long, with club practices once or twice per week during the spring and fall season, and a full slate of weekend tournaments during the later spring and summer season. Not necessarily, but if your kid is in the 714 age range, I will suspect that you might not be pursuing the wisest course. But players should walk away from their travel ball experience not only prepared for college athletics, but also for life in general. Theres a lot that goes into deciding what travel softball team to play for. Let them play the game. If money is a concern, ask about this ahead of time. But for us, when you lay everything out on the table, our daughter getting to play this incredible sport with an amazing team outweighs all the negatives that come with it. They learn to be a part of a team effort and that there are sacrifices that need to be made for the team (for instance being pulled during a game). What is the financial commitment? 2019;7(7). I can say without a doubt that I wouldnt have made it to the level I did without travel softball. Fifth, a child can play travel ball while a family is still committed to church. Several thoughts on that: Their chances are greater for continuing their sporting lives, whether at college or recreationally as adults, if they arent burnt out on competition by the time they turn 18or 13, as Ive seen occur far too often. Were enjoying the homeschool league to which we belong right now, but also realize that our daughters team is not a highly competitive team, but the JV/Varsity teams are a bit more competitive. Third, most days my family enjoys family travel ball, together. Allows them to play against better competition. Rec ball is shorthand for Little League Softball and/or your local city league. Its quality time in a certain way, but probably not in the way youre envisioning right now. There is no championship, just games. Personally, if I could have done things differently I would have kept my child in the rec leagues but I guess Im not sure if she would have learned to pursue excellence in the manner she did had she done so. My son is 11u, and this fall was his first (and possibly final) season of travel ball. With that, the cost to play increases. Parents: Want to Find the #1 Issue in Your Athletes Swing, Robbing Their Power? . While rec ball was enjoyable, the ever changing pool of players, coaches and parents made for inconsistent experiences for my daughter, some good and some bad. Your daughter will be around these girls for months at a time, and they say you become who you surround yourself with. So, whats the vibe of the players? Maybe you and your spouse may do some shopping and go get a nice meal. I personally know people that I can guarantee will not be living the travel softball lifestyle for more than a season or two and Im pretty sure if someone would have stopped them before they started, they would have saved a lot of headache, money, and time. Thanks, Roy. No doubt there are exceptions, but I havent personally witnessed one. How much sleep do student athletes need?. ), playing time and how its divided up, and the coaching staffs goals and priorities. The goal should always be for kids to have fun, be active, and keep learning, no matter what sport or team they choose. Eternity is at stake. Yes, they are young and this is not college softball players we are talking about here. Some of the thoughts overlap what was already said. *****. This is a an uncomfortable topic to address given that you are . "The cost for parents is steep. If the coaches seem wishy-washy about these topics, dont offer straightforward answers, or seem like they just dont want to be bothered with the questions, thats a red flag. However, as parents now of three young adult children we handled sports for them in a much different way than the current culture dictates. I have friends I respect whose kids have played (and some who do play) travel ball, and I mean no offense to them by this post. http://kristenanneglover.com/my-kids-dont-play-sports/#comment-6411. The repetitive throwing motions that softball pitchers perform may irritate the tendons of the shoulder, elbow, forearm, and wrist, causing tendonitis. Utilize the links below to browse our Travel Softball Rankings. Keeping Youth Softball Travel Teams in Perspective We all know the problem parents. Thank you for this. Ideally, you dont want to have parents serving as coaches. Jesus is God not baseball. On the court. Alexa Petersons College Softball Recruiting Journey. Softball teaches you how to communicate with those who are in authoritative positions about something you really want. Our time in sports opened up a world of opportunities, and more importantly taught us much about life, ourselves and God, so we are very pro-sports. I am coaching a 5-6 yr old team and can already feel the pull of private instructors, out of season ball, travel squads, etc. These rankings are modified based on your feedback and recommendations. Our daughter played travel softball for 9 years. Usually, these teams are part of a private or club sports program, not a recreational league or one affiliated with a school. Marley Hall is a writer and fact-checker who is certified in clinical and translational research. coming down the pike. Hey, for years sports programs operated quite successfully without Sunday morning scheduling. If your kid is good and loves to play, you wont be able to keep them from it. This is a great place to learn the rules of the game, to see if your daughter enjoys softball, and to just have fun while learning sportsmanship and the very basics of fundamentals. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); on Dont Play Travel Ball: Stay in the Rec League, Great Books Selections for Fall 2015 and Spring 2016. When children are interested in a particular elite team, it's important to find out in advance what their expectations are. Travel ball is good for those who are not afraid of being challenged and want to play at a higher level. Having said that, below are the top reasons your daughter should not play travel softball. Its wonderful that your child wants to play at a higher level, but you need to be sure they understand what all youre signing up for if they make the team. Create a Logo and Brand. Still, I wouldnt trade those times for anything and I wouldnt be where I am today without those experiences. Do they enjoy it or is it a drudge? (Sometimes you'll find an assistant coach who is a parent, but rarely a head coach.) PDF Diamond Dusters Fastpitch Organization Bylaws We enjoyed Upward for what it was and knew that it wasnt hugely competitive (for the most part). Sad to see but strengthened our resolve that sports would not take priority over God and our church family. Car pool or fund transportation for those who cant get their children on time. The only thing you have planned is to lay around the house, relax and watch football. Data Shows Travel Teams Killing Youth Sports - Samford University A few coaches who work for franchised organizations will get paid and actually make a small profit for their time. Learn from others short comings and honor God with your precious time on the field. My older brother played sports from t-ball to college, probably would have went pro if he hadnt hurt his shoulder (yes, he was THAT good, Im not just saying it, he had an unhittab,e curve ball), but the decision was made when he first started that God and His church would always come first, and he would not play if there was a conflict between his first priority and the game. We dont win Non-Christians by showing them how little we care about worship and the assembly of believers, we win them through honoring God as better than all other appetites. Within each age level there are three letters that designate the skill level: A is the highest level in a particular age group, followed by B (average) and C (kids who are playing mostly for fun). a. That would inevitably awaken the competitive impulse, leading to more practices, more effort expended, and the gradual creep to a higher key. Thus the rec league dries up. Ive seen a couple of families fall into the travel ball trap. Extend your season, make sure that all teams are drafted equally. Focusing on winning games is short-sighted and ignorant. There may be instances in which its the right thing, and when a kid gets to be 15 to 16 years old, its understandable that commitment levels and demands are going to rise and choices are going to have to be made. Here are a few of the factors you should consider when evaluating your options and picking a team. Recreational softball and competitive travel softball teach many of the same life skills, like teamwork and sportsmanship. The fear that if children dont specialize in one sport by eighth grade they will miss opportunities is unfounded. Thats why Im writing this post. 10 Ways Softball Can Change Your Life - GOOD Travel Baseball: The Ultimate Guide for Parents and Players It is important that each player is available for every team practice and game. Think about your reasons for getting your child into a sport. Travel ball isnt free by a long shot. How do players interact with their parents? Travel is not glamorous but grueling. When I was playing travel softball as a teenager in Oregon, I had a teammate from Montana who flew in once a month for our team practices. Turn your focus and see a different view. Travel Baseball - 10 Pros And 7 Cons - Little Ballparks Travel softball is not for everyone. Id bet if you polled the MLB players the vast majority of them would agree. You as a parent cannot choose the level your daughter wants to play at. 1. 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? Do you know the coach or coaches? Tendonitis describes inflammation of a tendon, typically caused by overuse. The regular season typically runs from March to May, with single games twice per week, and one or two practices per week. Several dads had told me that they were leaving rec ball for a low-key travel ball team, or that they were adding a low-key travel ball team on top of the rec ball their son was playing. My Kids Dont Play Sports And I hope all who read my question realize that there is no 1 correct answer for everyone. SAVE 25% ON ALL HER MUST HAVES - 25% OFF SITEWIDE ALL REGULAR PRICED ITEMS. While you make some great points, let me provide an alternate perspective, even if I appear at present to be the lone dissenting voice. 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. Often this will vary from league to league and from coach to coach. Praying we keep the Lord first in all thingsand your insights help!!! I think this is an important topic that needs to be discussed. Thanks, To Him Be the Gory (in travel ball and everywhere else in His Creation). My thoughts written here veer away from the focus of recreational versus travel leagues as the original blog talks about, but include some areas to think about whichever route of competition you choose. I agree with some that was said. Its hard in the county. Sadly, I do have to admit that rec leagues (at least in our area) arent what they used to be. You have to trust that all decisions are made for the good of the entire team. As a pastor, I require my daughter to be in church every Sunday, which means that she misses all Sunday games that interfere with worship. Any extra lessons are usually a large chunk of money. I played two years of major college baseball at the University of Arkansas, and Ive been coaching my sons in baseball and basketball for the last 7 years or so. For every 10 players that are forced to play at the highest level for their age, 6-8 will quit by the time they get into high school. I think it does need to be approached carefully and prayerfully, especially with the demands on the family and commitments that call us away from the church. Your subtotal today is $-.--. The most elite tournament teams (especially at the high school level) travel the farthest and play the most. Loneliness. 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. These teams travel, often long distances and out of state, to games, competitions, and/or tournaments (hence the name). Don't Play Travel Ball: Stay in the Rec League - For His Renown In raising our children in a world where developing a one-sport athlete is pushed to the extreme, we both were counter-culture, and we have happy, well-adjusted kids now, all of whom continue to pursue fitness as a lifestyle. Kids need to play more than one sport so their rotator cuffs can recover, so their elbows can rest, so they dont have to have Tommy John surgery at 17. Here are a few questions that many travel softball players and parents ask when joining or switching teams. Set the example for the kids. That may be the girl were talking about here. It always seems to happen with those families that God is really working with. Thanks for the great article I can share with the parents of my students. Many high-level programs are fully-sponsored by product manufacturers, or at least get discounted rates on things like uniforms and equipment. My daughter has played with the same girls and coaches for 3 seasons now. It did to me. These rankings contain some of the best travel softball teams in the country and are comprised of the top travel softball teams across the United States. Youre going to be purchasing a uniform (most likely more than one). If you think the coach is doing a bad job, then take your daughter off the team. Team fees may cover tournament entry costs, batting cage rental, practice field rental, uniforms, equipment and organizational costs. Likewise, I appreciate the voices of parents who have been there on both sides. Kids come out of high school where it seems that every game mattered, to a travel ball season where if you go 5-0 or 0-5 it doesn't matter. But if you need to travel far to get to competitive or college exposure tournaments (nearly every weekend during the summer plus multiple tournaments in the fall), its not unheard of to spend $5,000 per season. (No wonder God calls us to pray without ceasing!). There are many problems that can occur when playing travel softball. How do you pick a travel program? - Discuss Fastpitch Softball Community Before diving into the specific specifics of what to look for, its important to understand why you should consider playing travel softball (and why its not the right choice for every player in every situation). While thats not very common, driving three hours one way for a practice is totally commonplace. Were seeing some growth in her skills and she loves the game. Now I know the reasons. Our son never felt like he missed out on anything; he was too busy playing other sports and doing other activities. Crazy Baseball Parents #2 The Helicopter parent The Difference Between Travel Softball and Little League. Travel ball softball is the next step up from recreational softball. So Im writing in the hope that youll see that rec ball is a better route. Baseball cant raise the dead, but Jesus will do just that when he returns to make this world into the new heavens and new earth. Travel softball can be one of the most stressful aspects of the sport, especially when it comes to choosing the right team. It always seemed the season ended right about the time we got to know everyone. I had my schedule back. I had played non-stop from the summer before my freshman year, through fall ball, winter weights, the spring season, then summer ball before it started all over in my sophomore year. The pitchers pitched far more balls than strikes. Ive seen many parents try, and it never ends well. . The Sleep Foundation. Things like being on time, sportsmanship, work ethic, speaking respectfully, putting the team first, uplifting those around you, and attention to detail; those are all crucial life skills that youth sports can help build. Coaches are more open to the players exploring different positions. Between $500 and $5,000 per year (with an average of about $2,000), depending on where you live, the level of competition, and the time commitment. The specific answer varies, but the typical range of cost for participating in travel baseball is between $500 and $2,500 per year. Speaking from experience, the game, the desire to compete, and the love of always being challenged those things are either there or theyre not. Even though my son showed to every practice and gave 100% effort, it didnt matter. Tendonitis. In many instances, the coaching staff can make or break a childs experience with a team or sport. Every year, most teams host an open tryout, where anyone interested in joining has an opportunity to be evaluated by the coaching staff. 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. Coaching: Are the coaches experienced? Take the 59 second "Unlock Your Power" Analysis Tool, and find out exactly how your athlete can add 30-50 feet to their line drives (instead of ground outs). Jesse played baseball for many years, served in the U.S. Army for 15 years, and began officiating 32 years ago. Travel ball, by contrast, is not cheap participation fees average about $2,000 per player per year. The best coaches and the best players stop playing rec ball in favor of travel ball, leading to fewer teams and a lower level of competition in the rec league. Ok, now lets switch gears and imagine this. Fridays and Saturdays are pool play games, meaning you play a small number of the teams in the tournament, and then get seeded. On Sunday, you participate in double-elimination bracket play, with winners always taking home something cool like a trophy, medal, plaque or ring. If she cant get enough of softball, wants to travel around for more games, and is excited to play throughout the summer, then travel ball is the way to go. 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. 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. On a competitive travel team, players gain great experience in team play and sportsmanship. The cost of travel is not included in the monthly dues. Breakers Labs My 10 year old tried out for a travel team for over 2 months.
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