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Re: YOUR BEST ADVICE FOR THOSE NEW TO TRAVEL BALL!
SAVE UP!!!! ;D
SAVE UP!!!! ;D
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Re: YOUR BEST ADVICE FOR THOSE NEW TO TRAVEL BALL!
Do your homework....Ask alot of questions.....talk to the parents on the team if you can to get their point of view.....We had a bad time with travel ball,the coach lied to all the parents and over half the team moved on......It costs a ton of money and time but can be alot of fun with the right team....Good Luck
Do your homework....Ask alot of questions.....talk to the parents on the team if you can to get their point of view.....We had a bad time with travel ball,the coach lied to all the parents and over half the team moved on......It costs a ton of money and time but can be alot of fun with the right team....Good Luck
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Re: YOUR BEST ADVICE FOR THOSE NEW TO TRAVEL BALL!
If you don?t have one already, I?d recommend a GPS unit. We got one last year (our first year in travel ball) and it really came in handy especially at night finding our way back from the fields to the hotel. It was also nice being able to find gas stations, grocery stores, pharmacies, restaurants, etc. near the field or hotel.
I?d also second the recommendation about staying in a nicer hotel. At first, our team tried the cheapest hotel approach and we ended up in some real winners
. About half way through the season, we decided to pay a little more for the hotel rooms and it was definitely worth it.
If you don?t have one already, I?d recommend a GPS unit. We got one last year (our first year in travel ball) and it really came in handy especially at night finding our way back from the fields to the hotel. It was also nice being able to find gas stations, grocery stores, pharmacies, restaurants, etc. near the field or hotel.
I?d also second the recommendation about staying in a nicer hotel. At first, our team tried the cheapest hotel approach and we ended up in some real winners
. About half way through the season, we decided to pay a little more for the hotel rooms and it was definitely worth it.
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Re: YOUR BEST ADVICE FOR THOSE NEW TO TRAVEL BALL!
You are right about the GPS. You will get your money back in saved gas for sure.
You are right about the GPS. You will get your money back in saved gas for sure.
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Re: YOUR BEST ADVICE FOR THOSE NEW TO TRAVEL BALL!
Love my GPS. After 24 years of marriage my husband finally got me something I could use.
Love my GPS. After 24 years of marriage my husband finally got me something I could use.
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Re: YOUR BEST ADVICE FOR THOSE NEW TO TRAVEL BALL!
and sgf67 you are right on also . MD
Too stinkin funny !mwitteki said:
and sgf67 you are right on also . MD
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Re: YOUR BEST ADVICE FOR THOSE NEW TO TRAVEL BALL!
I triple the GPS suggestion. Learn how to find the ball fields on a satellite map using Yahoo Maps or Google Maps/Google Earth. Most fields are out in the middle of nowhere, and very few have a street address. Find the field on the satellite map, plug the coordinates (Lattitude/Longitude) into your GPS, save it in favorites, and you'll never get lost again!!
OH - Get a pair of Crocs flip-flops (NOT the shoes with the strap). They are incredibly comfortable - they'll last 2 summers, and your feet will thank you.
I triple the GPS suggestion. Learn how to find the ball fields on a satellite map using Yahoo Maps or Google Maps/Google Earth. Most fields are out in the middle of nowhere, and very few have a street address. Find the field on the satellite map, plug the coordinates (Lattitude/Longitude) into your GPS, save it in favorites, and you'll never get lost again!!
OH - Get a pair of Crocs flip-flops (NOT the shoes with the strap). They are incredibly comfortable - they'll last 2 summers, and your feet will thank you.
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Re: YOUR BEST ADVICE FOR THOSE NEW TO TRAVEL BALL!
Enjoy each game and tournament regadless of the result- the time with your DD flies way too fast!!
Enjoy each game and tournament regadless of the result- the time with your DD flies way too fast!!
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Re: YOUR BEST ADVICE FOR THOSE NEW TO TRAVEL BALL!
sammy--I'm with you on the crocs! As a teacher, they have been my life saver! Not sure if I'm ready to bring them to the park, but what do i do but take score...do they sell crocs for lazy butts?
sammy--I'm with you on the crocs! As a teacher, they have been my life saver! Not sure if I'm ready to bring them to the park, but what do i do but take score...do they sell crocs for lazy butts?
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Re: YOUR BEST ADVICE FOR THOSE NEW TO TRAVEL BALL!
Love everyone's advice so far ?;D ?
Here's a few things I've learned:
1. Before you leave for the weekend, make sure your DD has her batbag, not her brother's identical batbag! (Better yet, buy different batbags for each of your kids!)
2. If your DD complains that her feet hurt and her shoes seem to small, check to be sure she hasn't put last year's pair back in her batbag by mistake! (Really happened to us. ?DD played all Saturday in shoes one size too small. OUCH!)
3. Definitely have a "hide a key" for your vehicle, and don't ever leave you keys at the tournament check in tent, because you will never get them back. ?LOL
4. "Easy Up" tents are a God send and when you put several together, it's like softball tent town.
5. ?Be ready to deal with the fact the hot dogs, walking tacos, and nachos may be the only source of nurishment you get during the weekend. ?
6. ?Make friends, laugh a lot, share what you have, and enjoy every momment.
Love everyone's advice so far ?;D ?
Here's a few things I've learned:
1. Before you leave for the weekend, make sure your DD has her batbag, not her brother's identical batbag! (Better yet, buy different batbags for each of your kids!)
2. If your DD complains that her feet hurt and her shoes seem to small, check to be sure she hasn't put last year's pair back in her batbag by mistake! (Really happened to us. ?DD played all Saturday in shoes one size too small. OUCH!)
3. Definitely have a "hide a key" for your vehicle, and don't ever leave you keys at the tournament check in tent, because you will never get them back. ?LOL
4. "Easy Up" tents are a God send and when you put several together, it's like softball tent town.
5. ?Be ready to deal with the fact the hot dogs, walking tacos, and nachos may be the only source of nurishment you get during the weekend. ?
6. ?Make friends, laugh a lot, share what you have, and enjoy every momment.
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Re: YOUR BEST ADVICE FOR THOSE NEW TO TRAVEL BALL!
crocs flip-flops:
http://shop.crocs.com/pc-14-4-athen...;subsectionname=footwear&section=products
crocs flip-flops:
http://shop.crocs.com/pc-14-4-athen...;subsectionname=footwear&section=products
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Re: YOUR BEST ADVICE FOR THOSE NEW TO TRAVEL BALL!
1) If she pitches invest in the cleates with the pitcher toe built in.
2) Have dd clean out bat bag often. you will be surprised what they accumulate over time. (empt water bottles, dirty socks, empty chip bags.
3) remember its just a sport if she makes a mistake its ok, she's human
1) If she pitches invest in the cleates with the pitcher toe built in.
2) Have dd clean out bat bag often. you will be surprised what they accumulate over time. (empt water bottles, dirty socks, empty chip bags.
3) remember its just a sport if she makes a mistake its ok, she's human
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Re: YOUR BEST ADVICE FOR THOSE NEW TO TRAVEL BALL!
- Don't forget to have the DD pack the visor or sunglasses for those early morning/late afternoon games.
- Have them clean out the old bats from the bag so you don't have bats from 5 years ago in there.
- Don't encourage both DD's to play travel ball. Boy this hits the bank account hard. LOL ;D ;D
- Always remember even as a coach you know nothing just like when you are their parent. : :
- Don't forget to have the DD pack the visor or sunglasses for those early morning/late afternoon games.
- Have them clean out the old bats from the bag so you don't have bats from 5 years ago in there.
- Don't encourage both DD's to play travel ball. Boy this hits the bank account hard. LOL ;D ;D
- Always remember even as a coach you know nothing just like when you are their parent. :
:
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Re: YOUR BEST ADVICE FOR THOSE NEW TO TRAVEL BALL!
Cooler with wheels, lots of fluid and fruit. Larger vehicles are best to sleeping when the 7 am game has a rain delay.
It is a small community, that is you will see the same faces alot and there is so much fun. Don't be in a hurry and don't make plans around the tournament schedule. It will rain and there will be delays. LOL
Best times ahead.
Cooler with wheels, lots of fluid and fruit. Larger vehicles are best to sleeping when the 7 am game has a rain delay.
It is a small community, that is you will see the same faces alot and there is so much fun. Don't be in a hurry and don't make plans around the tournament schedule. It will rain and there will be delays. LOL
Best times ahead.
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Re: YOUR BEST ADVICE FOR THOSE NEW TO TRAVEL BALL!
By all means, clean out the batbags!!! I don't mind the bats from five years ago, but the socks that have been fermenting for five years are the worst!! And if the bag ever gets thrown into a deep body of water, they will float because of all the empty water bottles!
By all means, clean out the batbags!!! I don't mind the bats from five years ago, but the socks that have been fermenting for five years are the worst!! And if the bag ever gets thrown into a deep body of water, they will float because of all the empty water bottles!
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Re: YOUR BEST ADVICE FOR THOSE NEW TO TRAVEL BALL!
Bite the bullet and install the ceiling mounted DVD player in the SUV. Great for those long trips and rain delays.
Bite the bullet and install the ceiling mounted DVD player in the SUV. Great for those long trips and rain delays.
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Re: YOUR BEST ADVICE FOR THOSE NEW TO TRAVEL BALL!
Always carry sunscreen
Participate in as much fundraising as you can (every little bit helps)
Support your DD (& her teammates) Even body language signals from parents can upset the players
Always carry sunscreen
Participate in as much fundraising as you can (every little bit helps)
Support your DD (& her teammates) Even body language signals from parents can upset the players
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Re: YOUR BEST ADVICE FOR THOSE NEW TO TRAVEL BALL!
Don't do it! Just put the money in the bank that you would spend for about 9 summers about $6-7000 and that should pay for your daughters college tuition That way your family can have a life in the summer! Just kidding We have been doing this for 10 summers and have another 9 to go. It is fun and you get to meet alot of great people and see a lot of great places. Invest in a mini heater for fall and spring and it is not so bad and a pop up tent for summer
Don't do it! Just put the money in the bank that you would spend for about 9 summers about $6-7000 and that should pay for your daughters college tuition
That way your family can have a life in the summer! Just kidding We have been doing this for 10 summers and have another 9 to go. It is fun and you get to meet alot of great people and see a lot of great places. Invest in a mini heater for fall and spring and it is not so bad and a pop up tent for summer
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Re: YOUR BEST ADVICE FOR THOSE NEW TO TRAVEL BALL!
Being one who is at the end of travel ball, it was worth all the money, travel,tears,pain,and laughter.You meet the best people and get some life long friends. The time with the girls and your daughter can not be replaced. I would do it all over if I had the chance.
Being one who is at the end of travel ball, it was worth all the money, travel,tears,pain,and laughter.You meet the best people and get some life long friends. The time with the girls and your daughter can not be replaced. I would do it all over if I had the chance.
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Re: YOUR BEST ADVICE FOR THOSE NEW TO TRAVEL BALL!
Oh yeah! ?A GPS is worth its weight in gold! ?A must-have for travel-ballers!
Oh yeah! ?A GPS is worth its weight in gold! ?A must-have for travel-ballers!
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