dtrj, parents/players all seem fine with it. Then again, almost all of our players play some form of rec ball, middle school ball, or even another sport, that has come into play here and there. Other sports like aau basketball that sometimes means they might miss a travel practice because their aau team is in the finals during that time. So far no issues. But it rarely happens that a player misses for these reasons. If it happened more often, and especially if it was the same player or two, lets say, then it might be more of an issue and some of us might change our view on this. So far, so good.
Again, my dd will be at travel practice, and surely every travel game, over anything else. We explained this to the rec ball coach and he decides how he wants to handle on his end, and we have and always will accept how he wants to handle it. If she doesn't play much then we totally understand. Its not snobbish to have players and their families more committed to travel ball over rec ball. Its common sense. Rec ball is totally optional as it is solely for recreation and fun and most programs have minimal practices as they surely don't have winter facilities and such lined up. Travel has the added goal of really getting your kid alot of instruction, and games against similar teams made up of players, coaches and families that go as hard at it all as you do, which clearly benefits the players alot. The tryouts, planning, amount of practice, level of instruction, selection of tournaments, travel costs, etc, etc, which you pay alot for, is what makes it a higher priority than rec ball. The overwhelming majority of the parents/players involved in travel ball surely look at it this way. If some people feel different, sobeit. Don't get it, but to each their own. My dd will be at the first pool game of a travel tournament instead of her rec ball championship game. And once the schedule is set for the summer nothing short of a major illness, funeral, wedding, major, major, major family plans, or 40 days and 40 nights of rain will keep her from her travel games. So its not that my daughter does rec ball unless something better comes along. We already know there is something more beneficial to her than rec ball. Travel ball. The rec ball coach has been made aware of this, and our opinion, with no offense intended. And that is, she is not committing to rec ball. She is committed to travel ball. She will come when she can to rec ball, and because of that, we will accept whatever role she winds up with. Most rec balls coaches totally understand this.
