If youre not in one of those states, expect to be travelling far and often. Baseball should be a fun game for him not a demanding job. It is simply not necessary for the younger kids. Be a parent. Lack of skill It's not easy to admit that you or someone you love is not good enough for something. Other important considerations are coaching style, character and overall attitude. Thats particularly true for parents and players who are just beginning their travel softball journey, because it can be difficult to know how to evaluate a team and coach. Our league is like the one you described. Was it really worth it? Its better to honor God than to win, and its better for your kid to enjoy the game than for him to play at the highest possible level. In my experience as a recreation coach, I found the rec league filled with as much politics and drama and team stacking as travel ball leagues. If you forego travel for these right reasons then you should challenge yourself and those in the league to make it the utopia described here (I believe it should be). I have also read some of your other works and have learned much from them and enjoyed reading them. If you stumble across a high level program that does, most likely the coach has been around for a long time and is trusted to look after the best interests of the whole roster (not just their own child). This is mainly to get those on the fence to really question if this type of play is a good fit for them or if maybe rec ball would be a little more suitable for them. 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. The regular season typically runs from March to May, with single games twice per week, and one or two practices per week. The travel teams are turning into a true business. They understand the intangibles of the game, and can teach a higher level of mechanics that go beyond the fundamentals. 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. This can include not having enough balls, bats, or gloves. Our youngest has decided that gymnastics is a little more important to her than softball, so we have taken her out of travel softball. Travel softball can become quite expensive. My 5 year old has peers that are playing baseball year round already! Overall, you want your daughter to have a good experience on the field and off with her teammates and coaches. . Is it more important than being at church on Sunday morning? Your subtotal today is $-.--. The answer to that question depends on two main things: her love for the game and your wallet! Of course our children have bents that we want to nurture, encourage and help them develop, but lets make sure we arent pursuing our own agenda. In travel ball, players have to try out. My arm hurt all the time, and I wasnt a pitcher. Team fees may cover tournament entry costs, batting cage rental, practice field rental, uniforms, equipment and organizational costs. Yes, I need Sunday fellowship and worship. Kids need to see that Jesus and his church are more important to their parents even than baseball. Like I said earlier, if youre in Southern California you might end up paying on the lower end of that range, because your cost for travel will be much lower than someone flying into California every weekend. Coaching: Are the coaches experienced? I dont believe in definitive s. Verywell Family's content is for informational and educational purposes only. And man (probably some do) dont evangelize. For them, it was a matter of priorities. So Im writing in the hope that youll see that rec ball is a better route. Rec ball and travel ball can coexist, BUT, it has to be done with the kids as the foremost priority. The true reality of life is that we arent going to be successful at everything. Wr had to travel 3 ours to find a competitive travel team. Check out: The Nehemiah Institute (nehemiahinstitute.com) Growing up, I was more on the lower end of the middle class. If you think the coach is doing a bad job, then take your daughter off the team. And at best a professional athlete might play into his late 30s or early 40s, then what? Terms of Use | Privacy Policy | FUTURESLASH CORP. Get two articles delivered to your inbox each week. 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. Listen to truthful, accurate feedback from coaches. I could rest. vs. travel. (on which more below). If you are traveling every weekend, or most of them, for a Friday, Saturday, Sunday tournament, what happens to non-sport family time? I could be wrong. Turn your focus and see a different view. James Jesse, Vice President (Umpires) for Grand Slam Tournaments (GS), leads corporate oversight of all GS umpires and directly manages a team of 60 umpires in Atlanta, Georgia. I hope that this guide was informative and helped you understand what to look for, so that you can make the best choice for your family and have as rewarding of an experience as I did. Hopefully it will make us parents pray, think, and analyze the motives behind our kids activities. Talk through the process and help her see the pros and cons of each option. If you plan on being on a travel ball team, you need to be prepared to dish out some money. The only kind of baseball scholarship D1 programs offer is a partial one. 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! Sports (Basel). Now I know the reasons. 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. You all make very good points to consider. 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. Age brackets are 8U (8-years-old and under), 10U, 12U, 14U, 16U and 18U. Watch and listen to how players respond to the coaches. Youll usually stay within a 30 minute radius for games and practices. Thank you for sharing your experiences. Most travel softball teams include between 10 and 12 players chosen by the appointed coaches. We dont recommend this for everybody, but for the right people travel softball can literally be life-changing in a great way. As of now, we do believe that we are pursing the wisest course. Its not for every child or family, but we have enjoyed allowing our child to play travel ball, at least today. And while its obviously better to find a coaching staff that believes in you and is committed to nurturing your talent, I was able to learn important lessons and grow in both types of environments. Travel softball is expensive! But my friend who suggested that I do this also told me what was going to happen: he said I needed to understand that the other travel ball teams werent going to be low-key, so we would get pummeled at tournaments and probably lose every game. I know you were saying that theres no one answer for everyone. 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. Regardless, there is gas money that you will be spending. It's really helpful to talk with other parents a few years ahead of you on the paththose who have experience with the same club or league you're looking at. If the tournament is really far from home, you may end up getting a hotel room. And for the good of rec ball leagues everywhere, for the good of your family, and for the good of your kids, I would urge you to avoid travel ball until the kid is old enough to commit to a more demanding regimen. I hear this quite a bit. 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. You have to grab a quick breakfast to eat on the way. But its also a major commitment, so its important to think carefully about what kind of program is best in your specific situation. Coaches are more open to the players exploring different positions. If youre coaching your 12 year olds travel ball team, what does that mean for the rec league opportunities your 7 year old has? Do they want to try out for the travel team just because friends are doing it, or because it seems like the next step? Then you get all of that extra gear and position specific lessons. This is related to the previous: the best players leave the rec league for travel ball, and then the mediocre players get tempted to do so, and then all the kids get burnt out and stop playing baseball. We have truly enjoyed getting to know our travel team family! The physical and mental challenges of pursuing more than one sport is healthy in every respect. For some may not even be an issue. I played college baseball and never once played Travel Ball in the summer until I was 17. Please advertise when you have this league so I can get the 70 or so kids I will bring with me to get in registration line. These coaches have years of experience, and often played many years themselves. The goal should always be for kids to have fun, be active, and keep learning, no matter what sport or team they choose. Ok, so there were still good players in rec when you played. Do the social aspects improve their values and stimulate great discussions at home, or lead them away from family?). My name is Alexa Peterson. In those cases, your club fees might include two or three uniforms, matching bat bags, visors and bats (some teams exclusively swing one brand). Listed below are six of the pitching injuries that athletes tend to experience. Dont get me wrong: I love competition. If you are ok with giving away your weekends to softball, then maybe travel ball is a fit for you. 5. If non-Christians are playing travel ball on Sundays and all the Christians are in church with other Christians, how will the Christians win the non-Christians to Christ? Breakers Labs, located in North San Diego County, is an elite, competitive Fastpitch Softball Organization dedicated to developing the student athlete. Ive seen many parents try, and it never ends well. If instead you go to games and yell out how to do things to the girls or degrade them or constantly run to the dugout to chit chat, then you are a problem parent. Coach B, Come play in SBMSA in Houston. The best outcomes were consistently when we stayed in the local rec leagues. Just like you, he burned out after two years and transferred so he could pursue his other passions and, more importantly, gain much-needed work experience which benefited him tremendously when he graduated from college and was looking for a job. Likewise, I appreciate the voices of parents who have been there on both sides. I intend to keep it that way. It became known in the United States by various names, such as kitten ball, mush ball, diamond ball, indoor-outdoor, and playground ball. As a long-term pastor Ive watched parents who were convinced their sons would benefit by travel ball deeply regret their decisions a decade later. 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). It would surely come in handy as a travel ball parent. Alexa has been working with The Hitting Vault since 2017 as a hitting coach, social media content creator, and writer. Here are a few of the factors you should consider when evaluating your options and picking a team. You need the church, and the church needs you. 2019 State of play: Trends and developments in youth sports. Its also increasingly common for elite travel softball organizations to have two 18U teams, with the highest level designated as 18 Gold. There are no tournaments for which classification as an 18 Gold team is mandatory for entry these teams participate in the same high-level tournaments as A-level teams. SAVE 25% ON ALL HER MUST HAVES - 25% OFF SITEWIDE ALL REGULAR PRICED ITEMS. Her work has been published in medical journals in the field of surgery, and she has received numerous awards for publication in education. Some of you may have fainted after mentally calculating the cost of everything in that last section. I pray that God keeps me humble and rightly focused. What is the true cost of travel softball? While thats not very common, driving three hours one way for a practice is totally commonplace. After my first year of it in college, I found that what had been so fun because I had the opportunity to look forward to it in the off season, or even on days between practice or games, began to feel like a dreaded obligation that consumed a significant portion of every day. 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. A travel team is a youth sports team that plays at an elite level. Toughness is OK (even necessary for some kids and teams), but hostility isnt. My son started disliking baseball at 9 years old because the boys in rec wouldnt hit a cut off, and dropped the ball so often. This is how travel sofball is. Its Saturday morning and the sun hasnt risen yet. Christian Smiths Soul Searching: The Religious and Spiritual Lives of American Teenagers That means that even if your kid is the best thing since Babe Ruth, if he goes off to play major college baseball, the baseball team isnt paying all the expenses. But dont hold her back if she wants to push herself. coming down the pike. Nor am I categorically condemning their decisions and choices. She needs to throw on her gear almost daily and work on blocking up the ball. 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. We practiced a lot, doing as much as the NCAA allowed, all year long, in season and out. Also, parents may not have a realistic view of how talented their son or daughter is in sports, often over or underestimating their abilities. We have made this decision for the past three years and been ridiculed for it and told we are not being fair to our son. I appreciate that. Very good and same principles work for hockey too. 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. 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. Fourth, travel ball is expensive, but so are the other activities in which many parents place their children like show choir and band. The specific answer varies, but the typical range of cost for participating in travel baseball is between $500 and $2,500 per year. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk. Fill your childrens team with morals and role models. Travel ball, by contrast, is not cheap participation fees average about $2,000 per player per year. God bless. Give MVP, Player of the game, most improved player of the game.. Its also important for everyone involved to be honest about the players skill level. Usually, these teams are part of a private or club sports program, not a recreational league or one affiliated with a school. Plus, thats in addition to fees and travel for camps, which many top-tier players also participate in. Since the start of Softball Galaxy, we have gone from two daughters playing, to only one at this moment. 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. Travel ball softball is the next step up from recreational softball. Tendonitis describes inflammation of a tendon, typically caused by overuse. After college, my husband played pro baseball for a while and I played on a national team. Shes the one that still plays in the dirt instead of gets in the ready position. I dont see anything wrong with having children that play recreational sports. Not necessarily, but if your kid is in the 714 age range, I will suspect that you might not be pursuing the wisest course. 6. No zoning restrictions. 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. I see quite a few girls that are not willing to put in the extra work to get better. You have to trust that all decisions are made for the good of the entire team. The cost of travel is not included in the monthly dues. 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. Here in our area not so much. My husband and I were both very competitive athletes growing up (though we had a wide variety of interests), played travel ball in high school, and won scholarships to a Big 10 university. 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). Communication:Its important to have all your questions answered. Either way, you shouldnt be sideline coaching. (He never would have been able to do this had he continued playing in college as all of the players were expected to play in a summer league each year.) We enjoyed Upward for what it was and knew that it wasnt hugely competitive (for the most part). 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. This is a straw man argument that has nothing to do with the very valid points the author makes. Because the goal of this type of program is to prepare the athlete for college athletics, the teams want to win. Also, some teams have fundraising opportunities that can bring down the cost to participate. I understand that now I may be bringing up an exception to the norm. There were wide variances in playing . 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. . 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. 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. Now, this doesnt mean that her coach and teammates like it, but we have found that our commitment has opened the door for spiritual conversations. Rec ball pushes equality, fairness, and gives each player the same opportunities. He played Little League all the way through age 14 and has wonderful memories of playoff games, sometimes leading all the way to state. The Sleep Foundation. Wow this article really spoke to me. At 12, our son tells us he thinks we have made the right decision. Loneliness. As a volunteer basketball coach for 18+ years, Ive seen girls spiritually suffer by the same well-intentioned convictions of their parents. There are half a million pieces of debris larger than 1 centimetre and 100 million pieces of. And if she has a hard time deciding what she wants? Problem #2: Athletes need to OWN their decisions, both good and bad We need to put an end to the helicopter and lawnmower parents, those who mow down all the obstacles for their kids, and give ownership to the athletes. So, during pool play, playing time tends to be more evenly distributed in order to give everyone game experience (as well as the opportunity to be noticed by college coaches, when the time comes for that). Shipping and taxes will be calculated at checkout. Go to practice twice a week, throw on her hundreds of dollars worth of catchers gear, catch for a few hours, then go home and not touch the gear until the next team practice day? Hey, for years sports programs operated quite successfully without Sunday morning scheduling. It's not just what you'll spend on equipment and fees, which can be significant, but extras such as travel costs and required apparel purchases (like a team jacket or bag). From a father of 3 boys I can confirm this to be absolute truth. (Sometimes youll find an assistant coach who is a parent, but rarely a head coach.) Subscribe below. Every expert agreed that kids are being played too hard and too long. Get involved with the sports governing board and voice your opinion. And we want them to work hard, even when the going gets tough. Sadly, I do have to admit that rec leagues (at least in our area) arent what they used to be. If you're acting like your son has already made it, then you are killing his drive. There are multiple organizations that host tournaments around the United States. Softball programs usually get a team in fresh-off a summer season filled with travel softball games and practices. I submit that even with all the excitement of the game, and the money and fame that come with it, the life of a professional athlete is not one to be envied. He was so upset. (Matthew 6:33) I pray that many folks take heed of what you shared. Thank you, {{form.email}}, for signing up. That said, you can end up spending a lot more than that. Teaches them basic techniques. See also: How to Pick the Right Softball Bat. If youre a parent who never played a sport competitively, you might not understand her desire to spend every waking hour at the ballpark. Baseball is the greatest game ever, it is exactly that, a game. To establish an active select fastpitch softball organization in the area of Kitsap County, WA, exclusively to foster national and inte rnational amateur sports competition by support and development of amateur athletes for competition I fastpitch softball at the national and international level and to conduct such competition; b. Really great article Dr. Hamilton! As more and more kids get involved in travel ball, the best players are taken out of the rec league. That's not to say you shouldn't do it -- just be ready to work Ask former or current players and parents to describe the coaching staff, and see if they would be a good fit for your daughter. Non-Christians exist because what they worship is false. Are those stewardship issues as well? How dedicated is your child? The low-end travel teams can be local teams going to a few tournaments outside the region. Second, recreation leagues can be just as competitive and demanding as travel ball, but doesnt have the same season length. Since you are spending so much time with your teammates, long-term friendships are formed more likely than on a rec ball team. " (Travel softball) has taken high school softball out of the equation," Hutchinson says. This includes the travel teams, specialized . What will travel ball mean for your other kids? 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. The only thing you have planned is to lay around the house, relax and watch football. But I say be wise. More important than that, you and your family dont need a summer long break from the life and fellowship of your local church. But we have had a great experience with travel ball and have been able to balance our commitments to both Christ, his church, and our family. Utilize the links below to browse our Travel Softball Rankings. Rec ball. When children are interested in a particular elite team, it's important to find out in advance what their expectations are. I also appreciated this article: You will have to have tournament entry fees and food for the day, whether you bring it or buy it from concessions. You as a parent cannot choose the level your daughter wants to play at. And yes, they will see how I live and whats important to me the other 6 days a week; for better or worse. What is the time commitment? 2. Alexa Petersons College Softball Recruiting Journey. I dont know. And you are right about MLB not being all its cracked up to be; several of my sons college teammates were drafted in the top 10 rounds (as high as supplemental 1st round), and with only one exception, they all complained about the grind and monotony (not to mention extremely low salaries) once they entered the minor leagues. Give your kid the chance to be a great person and cultivate that through sports. #momof3boys. Maybe its you? Small town kids grow up playing lots of sports not getting burnt out playing the same one all year round.

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