Parents point of veiw?

[okiedad1961]

What do you do when your dd's team or coach's decide your joining a larger org at the 10/12u level where your now a premier or elite team? And now travelling to CO/Cali for events and Nats.Know this can be a tough decision for some at that level.Not knowing your now moving into the 1000/1500$ fee range w travel expenses,This can be the norm for showcasing at the 14/16/18 level but 10/12u?

 

[Louuuuu]

A few thoughts:

-Do what is right for your daughter. If it's not a good fit, move on.
-10U/12U "Elite" is a case of "Too Much/Too Soon".
-A person is supposed to get what they pay for. With this new organization, will you? Or is this more about bragging rights than player development?

 

[Hilliarddad3]

Put that money into a college fund and play local travel..... Proven facts..... 1 in 100,000 kids get a full athletic scholarship 1 in a million go pro.......

 

[HITTER23]

Put that money into a college fund and play local travel..... Proven facts..... 1 in 100,000 kids get a full athletic scholarship 1 in a million go pro.......

Shhhh, practical common sense like that could put all us coaches home on weekends where there are honey do lists.

 

[CARDS]

The ladies at that age gain no advantage traveling 2000 miles to play softball.
At 10 and 12U these are the ages where the players develop and work on skills. Most find out if this is what they want to do by 14. You can find just as good competition traveling a few hours away if that is what you are looking for at these age ranges.

Save the money as others have stated and play within a distance you and your family are comfortable with. At 14/16/18U there are plenty of teams willing to travel and looking for talent if that is what you decide you want to do.

 

[24GahannaLadyLions7]

2016 ASA/USA 10U is in Stockton, California and I would want to make the trip for my second daughter who is an 06 if her team would qualify for it. We participated in this years 2015 ASA/USA in Illinois with my 04 and it was an experience that we will remember for the rest of our lives. We may never again get to participate in it.

Once in a while heading out of town is fine in-state/regionally, but every weekend we could not or want to do.

 

[Dad of Daughters]

I think the assumption that making an organization move at 10 or 12U, even the one that is being referenced by okie, has to come along with traveling to Cali/CO and paying double fees/expenses immediately is a bit of a leap. The topic is fine to be discussed, but I hope it's not an attempt to criticize a specific move by injecting "facts" about it that aren't necessarily accurate.

 

[Louuuuu]

Put that money into a college fund and play local travel..... Proven facts..... 1 in 100,000 kids get a full athletic scholarship 1 in a million go pro.......

HilliardDad, as usual, is correct.

But let me add that if your daughter wants to play travel ball, then do it - Because it's fun. Because it's a great experience. Because it will provide memories that will last a lifetime...
Just don't do it thinking it's your ticket to college.

 

[DanMaz]

HilliardDad, as usual, is correct.

But let me add that if your daughter wants to play travel ball, then do it - Because it's fun. Because it's a great experience. Because it will provide memories that will last a lifetime...
Just don't do it thinking it's your ticket to college.

AGREE! In fact I look at it this way........ vacations? not in travel ball! BUT if you enjoy spending the time watching your DD play AND can go to places you have never been and maybe fly on a plane for the first time together... get to hike in the Rockies, fish for trout together and do things with your family as a kind of vacation AND watch you DD play in top tier tournaments.... I wouldn't want it any other way!!!! I LOVE IT !

 

[okiedad1961]

I think the assumption that making an organization move at 10 or 12U, even the one that is being referenced by okie, has to come along with traveling to Cali/CO and paying double fees/expenses immediately is a bit of a leap. The topic is fine to be discussed, but I hope it's not an attempt to criticize a specific move by injecting "facts" about it that aren't necessarily accurate.

This is no way a reference to any org,All Ohio top teir orgs have teams that go national or regional for tourneys at the 10/12u level.This happening to any team changing its goals and level of play ultimately affects the parents and there pocketbook.When your with the teams that move,it can take your family,and dd out of the picture and off the team,just as orgs drop teams to change direction.

 

[Dad of Daughters]

This is no way a reference to any org,All Ohio top teir orgs have teams that go national or regional for tourneys at the 10/12u level.This happening to any team changing its goals and level of play ultimately affects the parents and there pocketbook.When your with the teams that move,it can take your family,and dd out of the picture and off the team,just as orgs drop teams to change direction.

Fair enough, Okie.

 

[lewam3]

This is no way a reference to any org,All Ohio top teir orgs have teams that go national or regional for tourneys at the 10/12u level.This happening to any team changing its goals and level of play ultimately affects the parents and there pocketbook.When your with the teams that move,it can take your family,and dd out of the picture and off the team,just as orgs drop teams to change direction.

Well put, Okie. I think that travelling to Co, Cali, Fla at an early age can be very exciting for both the family and the player, but coming from the parent of a DD who will be playing her last year of travel at 18u next summer, I am glad that "the travel" was end loaded rather than front loaded. DD still got recruited and will be playing at a great school next year, but she did not get on a plane to go to a tourney until she was 16u! Where does it go from there if its front loaded? Expectations year to year have to go up, with the risk of burnout or complacency if it doesn't. Should a 10 or 11yo consider flying with her bat and equiptment to Denver the "norm?" Really? Just playing devils advocate.

 

[Louuuuu]

Fair enough, Okie.

Would that be an "Okie Dokie"?

 

[coachjwb]

Louuu ... great post about what travel ball really should be about for the majority of players and families. I know both my daughter and I had a blast over the years and, while we never flew to any tournaments, we had some long memorable drives (Alabama, Georgia, South Dakota, etc.) and that was part of the fun.

 

[Louuuuu]

An added benefit of this realization is that when you play travel ball without college recruitment expectations, you tend to be less of a jack-a$$ toward coaches and umpires...

 

[okiedad1961]

An added benefit of this realization is that when you play travel ball without college recruitment expectations, you tend to be less of a jack-a$$ toward coaches and umpires...

Don't think those we're the good memories that coach was speaking of

 

[Fairman]

I agree with Dad and Louuu that there are very few athletic full-rides and most of those will only be found at D-1 programs for truly outstanding athletes.

However all Colleges are capable of granting substantial scholarships for academic prowess and most do this coupled to very small athletic awards (None at D-3) in order to buy down the schools retail price. I have had two dd's accomplish this that were average players that worked hard and were academically solid. My oldest received a 50% reduction from a D-3 and my youngest received combined awards that reduced her costs by some 80% at an NAIA school. These awards saved dad over $250,000 for 8 years of education.

While I don't dispute the one in a million chance for a D-1 full ride, there is a high proportion of college players that receive financial help in the form of academic grants and some even receive a few bucks of athletic money.

12 seems very young to be heading to California but never to early to get your academic house in order. So get your grades up, knock the SAT's/ACT's out of the park, hit .450 with an .89ERA and watch the price of college fall to nearly affordable. What a great father's day present.

 

[honest1]

TOO YOUNG!!! Save that money...you will need it for the "REAL" exposure years...TRUST ME!!! There has been a CRAZY movement by some to attempt to convince people that it is somehow dire and necessary for players to be "showcased" at these young ages. If you really think it through its just not SMART or rational to do it for that reason. Players are NEVER peaking at those ages so WHY would you want them to be "showcased" so many years before a college coach will "legitimately" consider them?