How did you decide if your player was good enough for travelling?

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Member

• Apr 15, 2009

• #1

I went through this with my son as we started a team and finally turned them over to the high school program. Now I am going through it with my daughter. As I watch her progress I know will be ready to play at some point, but in 2010? 2011? Here are the arguments:

- If she gets in too soon she will be overwhelmed and it won't be a good experience for her.

- If she gets in too late she will be behind where she could have been if she got in the prior year, and behind the girls that decided to get in the year prior.

- And somewhere between.

I'd like to think that many many girls have a year of adjustment to go through and I'd rather have this year happen sooner than later. She is 9yrs old NOW and next year would be on a 10U team.

How did you argue with yourself over this situation?

 

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• Apr 15, 2009

• #2

Get onto a team that plays something like a lower level, local schedule to try it out and test the waters. If you as a family like the local travel circuit, then tryout for a higher level competetive team that plays more than just a summer schedule. It can be a great experience that you will truly enjoy, where else will a teenage girl talk to her parents in a car for two or more hour rides?

Wouldn't trade it for the world and have met great coaches and parents from all over the state...

Biggest thing to remember, It's kids playing a game, nothing more.....Too easy to fall into the trap of forgetting the main reason you are doing it.

 

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• Apr 15, 2009

• #3

That is some great advice by Hilliarddada3. Start with a local select or travel team and build from there.

 

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• Apr 15, 2009

• #4

I think every girl is different. I got ****ered into coaching a coach pitch team when my dd was 6. She wasn't interested, but I told her to play anyway. For some dumb reason that to this day I don't know why...I let her play in the pitcher's circle for her first game ever, first hit ball was a line drive to her mouth. As I carried her off the field crying, she said she was never ever ever playing softball again. I told her she had to finish out the season, which she did...in the outfield or sometimes behind the plate in catchers gear. She couldn't hit all that well, but was super fast. At the end of the season, she got invited to play on an all star team. I asked the coach why on earth he wanted her, she usually was picking dandelions in the outfield during the game. He said he wanted someone that was fast. He was a rec ball coach, but so enthusiastic about the game that by the end of the all star tournament he made her in love with the game. She spent the next 3 years in rec ball, her last year in 10U, she went to a rec ball all star tournament where there were travel teams, she knew immediately that was the level at which she wanted to play. She started playing the next year at 12U and the first year was a struggle, but she never gave up and now wouldn't trade it for anything. That is just my experience. I have seen girls come along and play and never get the hang of it, and I have seen girls play for 2 seasons and look like they have been doing it forever.

 

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• Apr 15, 2009

• #5

I'm at the same point with my 9 year old now. I have 11 year old that is playing her 1st year of travel ball. At times I wish that I started travel ball with her when she was 9 or 10, but really at this point I think 11 was a pretty good age. I look forward to reading posts from folks a little further down the road.

 

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• Apr 15, 2009

• #6

My daughter has made the all-star team each of the past two years and greatly enjoys it. However being an all-star doesn't mean you are "good enough" to be on a traveling team. When my son played travel ball we came across several teams that were full of kids that very clearly should still be playing rec ball and we getting NOTHING out of getting stomped on each game they played. I don't want to be the parent that gets their player into that situation. However chances are that I will be involved in starting the 10U team in this area and may not have the luxury of having her "try out" for the team.

 

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• Apr 15, 2009

• #7

I don't think there is a magic age. The older they are, the harder it could be to break in. It's definately a change of speed. With my dd, I don't know if it was about her being good enough as much as it was about her wanting to play at a higher level...she had to make that decision. She struggled a lot the first year, but never gave up and pushed on. I have seen rec ball girls that belong in travel and travel ball girls that belong in rec, I don't think there really is a magic formula for it.

 

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• Apr 15, 2009

• #8

Coach Mike You mention starting the "travel team in your area". IMHO, I would be cautious of starting a new team, especially if you are going to try to get the players from one area. Look at the posts of teams still trying to fill rosters with tournaments starting in just a few weeks. I would research a few established organizations and go to a few tryouts next fall. There are all levels of talent and competion to be found. When my oldest DD was 9 we went to a few just so I could get a feel for where she was ability wise because she was getting bored playing in the rec program. We got a few offers to join teams and moved forward and have loved every minute of it. She has made so many friends (as I have) from all over the state and has played against some of the best competition available. Now I am starting over with my youngest and enjoying it all over again!

 

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• Apr 15, 2009

• #9

Good advice. The team I may be involved with in starting is within an already established organization. They start at 10U. This particular organization already draws from a few designated towns yet branch out as needed to fill the roster.

 

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• Apr 15, 2009

• #10

My daughter was 11 years old last summer playing slow pitch. We had a team of "older" girls that just swept everyone coming our way eventually going undefeated. Most scores were 20 something to a couple. About 8 games into the season most of the "athletes" on the team were bored, due to lack of competition.

After the slow pitch season i knew if she wanted to play in high school she had to learn now and was probably late as it was. I contacted some local teams to inquire about learning the travel scene,tryouts and such.

I had one team invite her to "open practices" for the entire month of August. 2 weeks into it they offered her a spot on the team. The coach knew she could play ball. Of course she was very raw but his philosphy is,"gimme an athlete and i can teach them to play".

The open practice routine was great and opened the door for many others to learn the game. There are 5 new girls on the team, 3 of whom never played fastpitch before.

Would this happen with some of the know powerhouses out there, probably not, but there are more small town teams out there than not.


What area are you from ? I expect open practices again this august....

 

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• Apr 15, 2009

• #11

I am North of Dayton.

 

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• Apr 15, 2009

• #12

I have (2) 2nd year 10u players on my team that will both be eligible for 3 yrs at 10u in 2010. Both have different skill sets, similar heart and drive, and both will have to decide do they move up with me or stay behind. My point is, if they want it bad enough and the team goals are aligned with the talent level competitively you can start them when "mom/dad" is ready or when you know a significant challenge will outweigh the uncertainty. Fear is you can run them from the game, play in the wrong level of the game, or put yourself into a situation that isn't fun for you as a DAD or coach. I'm optimistic and choose to put my DD in early and year one was somewhat rough. She actually learned the mental side (my DD and the 2 young'ins) of the game as her physical abilities "grew-up" if you will and now year 2 for my DD at 10u is going to be a smooth year for her. She will have much more fun, less bench time, and should be able to decide for herself what next year will mean. I don't play daddy ball and this didn't help my situation. My DD sat 50% of the season at least and that may be something you have to "clear with the boss" since you will spend so much time at the park, burning up high dollar gas, chatting constantly on the phone, and eating walking taco's and end up 'cashless' by Sunday afternoon. I too agree with Stingrays 10u that you should consider joining another team unless you have a set of pitchers and core players that you can start out with 7-8 players, or be an assistant. Just another man's opinion. Toooo hard to build a team as he said and apparently you know plenty about the time commitment and have a open point of view by asking these questions up front. As a parent we have to choose is this about the Kid and what are the pro's and con's. So far for me the "push" helped and we are doing OK with it, not great-yet!!

 

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• Apr 15, 2009

• #13

I think we as parents are given the ability to truely know what is best for our own kids, and each kid is different. I have normally just followed my instincts and it has worked for me very well. My oldest DD is 17. She started playing at 12U for a local team and now plays for the Lasers. My middle DD just turned 8, she doesnt have the basic skills to play travel yet but is really athletic she just finished her first season of travel volleyball and is playing on a coach pitch team. This summer we are going to work on her game and she is going to tryout for the Lasers 8U team for next year. She has a certain chip on her shoulder, she would not be a good fit on a local team. She already talks smak to her 17 year old sister about her game. My youngest DD is all princess, IF she plays lol, it be to socialize. Its fairly obvious already :lmao:

So my advice listen to yourself, you know what to do. Nobody can tell you, go with instincts.

 

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• Apr 15, 2009

• #14

Our decision was easy, we got run out of our rec slow pitch org by prents that complained the dd hit to hard, so at 11 we went to fast pitch, we diddnt even know travel existed for kids that age at the time, was a real eye opener and discoverd a whole new world,

Tim

 

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• Apr 15, 2009

• #15

I think the question is not is she good enough but does she want to challenge herself to get better? If the answer is yes make the move to the highest level that will challenge but not humilate her.
If she works hard no coach at that age should be afraid because she will get better.

 

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• Apr 15, 2009

• #16

She needs to play the game and not be overwhelmed and sitting the bench the whole year on a travel team if she can't compete with the now travel girls.

I liked 10uStingrays advice. Take her out for a tryout and see how she fares with teh other girls.

She will tell you by the end of practice. Lot of 10u teams looking for a player this year.
She can play rec ball during the week at home.

 

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• Apr 15, 2009

• #17

Coach_MikeH said:

I went through this with my son as we started a team and finally turned them over to the high school program. Now I am going through it with my daughter. As I watch her progress I know will be ready to play at some point, but in 2010? 2011? Here are the arguments:

- If she gets in too soon she will be overwhelmed and it won't be a good experience for her.

- If she gets in too late she will be behind where she could have been if she got in the prior year, and behind the girls that decided to get in the year prior.

- And somewhere between.

I'd like to think that many many girls have a year of adjustment to go through and I'd rather have this year happen sooner than later. She is 9yrs old NOW and next year would be on a 10U team.

How did you argue with yourself over this situation?

Click to expand...

They are almost all in over their head at 9, so I say, throw her to wolves and let it sort itself out. These are the formative years. She'll grow more as a player between now and 12 than any other stretch of time. You'll be glad you did when she's 14 and belting homers and throwing like an 18 yr old.

 

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• Apr 15, 2009

• #18

If you can look at her objectively and say yes I can see some talent there and SHE wants to play I say go for it. Remember there are a lot of different levels of play and all can be rewarding.

 

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• Apr 15, 2009

• #19

Wgman is old school, he still lets his kids play with mercury :lmao:

Throw her to the wolves and let it sort itself out, awesome!!!

 

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• Apr 15, 2009

• #20

I agree, get involved at 9u and find a coach that is willing to teach and work with her.