Is High School Ball a Must?

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Member

• Jun 1, 2009

• #1

My daughter is a pretty good pitcher and hitter who plays for a well-respected travel organization. The problem is that her school program leaves A LOT to be desired and she is only in 7th grade. My daughter hated playing this year with that level of players and coaches who couldn't give her pointers and wouldn't even call her pitches. She says she never wants to play for her school again unless we move to somewhere with a decent softball program. I am NOT moving just for her... so my question is, is it imperative that she play high-school ball or can she get recognition (if she continues to improve and excel) by just playing travel ball?

 

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• Jun 1, 2009

• #2

When your daughter is a freshman, she will probably be playing on a travel team with all freshman who WILL be playing with their high schools. Therefore, her travel team will not be able to practice or play together until probably June. What will she do March, April, and May? She won't be able to play with any of her travel friends or high school friends. Just a little food for thought.

 

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• Jun 1, 2009

• #3

I know exactly what you are saying, my DD was in a very simialar situation @ that age, is High School ball necessary , probably not, is it a good idea to do it...absolutely....there are many more things than just softball to be learned by playing on a team that represents your school and community and the recognition she will get from the experience will be well worth it...if nothing more than the "people skills" she will learn by dealing with players @ all levels of the learning curve...as a pitcher she is pretty much in a leadership role and this is where my DD learn many things about being a TEAM LEADER....was she @ times frustrated absolutely, but I am pretty sure if you ask her now as a college pitcher would she have skipped High School Ball her answer would be NO WAY....also there is something about being able to share her love of softball with her school friends...something unfortuntely you don't really get to do in travel ball especially if she is on an Elite team (kids coming from all over the state or @ least several counties)....there also something to be said for having your name announced @ the High School Awards assembly of All Ohio or All District or All Conference Player or even Softball Player of the year by your hometown newspaper....Makes for a great scrapbook....

 

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• Jun 1, 2009

• #4

No matter what school district you move to, middle school ball is going to be the same, just like rec ball. You won't get any meaningful instruction until varsity.

When your DD goes to a college clinic/camp, ask the college coach what he/she thinks about it. It is always better to hear it from the horse's mouth.

 

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• Jun 1, 2009

• #5

When we did the recruiting game, the majority of college coaches told us they dont take H.S. games into account as the competition is so varied that the stats are skewed. They were more interested in sat/act scores. They did say that not playing school ball throws up red flags and brings up more character questions like loyalty etc.

 

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• Jun 1, 2009

• #6

high school ball teaches you tolerance and patience of those who may not have your talent or experience. it's a chance to maybe prove yourself a leader, it will also teach you things you may need to know once you are out in the real world..

 

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• Jun 1, 2009

• #7

Thank you all for your thoughts on this matter. I will definitely have to show my daughter your valid points.

 

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• Jun 1, 2009

• #8

At the Jr.High level for alot of schools it is a joke.(and not a good one)

 

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• Jun 2, 2009

• #9

Toletoted,

I am glad to know it's not just my daughter's school! After the abysmal season was finally over, the coaches never even had any banquet or recognition at all for any of the players. The girls never even got their pins or their letters.

 

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Member

• Jun 2, 2009

• #10

sounds like it is a joke not a good one

 

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• Jun 2, 2009

• #11

I can't figure out who's avatar is more disturbing. toledoteds or johnnies? I'm starting to lean towards tt.

 

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Member

• Jun 2, 2009

• #12

Yes, I vote to TT, that avatar is definitely a stop and stare. . . and then an eewwhhh.

 

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• Jun 2, 2009

• #13

wgman21 said:

I can't figure out who's avatar is more disturbing. toledoteds or johnnies? I'm starting to lean towards tt.

Click to expand...

They are both WTF avatars! :lmao:

Lenski is in there too.

 

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Member

• Jun 3, 2009

• #14

wvanalmsick said:

No matter what school district you move to, middle school ball is going to be the same, just like rec ball. You won't get any meaningful instruction until varsity.

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Not necessarily true. Many middle school teams are club teams and are coached or helped by travel ball coaches who offer very good instruction. I'll also bet that there are varsity coaches out there who do not know what they are doing, hence they offer poor instruction. I believe it is more a function of the program, not the school level.

Len

 

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Member

• Jun 3, 2009

• #15

Hey be glad there is a program in your middle school.....many do not have a program at all......I have mixed emotions about HS ball as it is very political but do realize that any game time is good game time.......top notch HS ball is usually only seen at the Varsity level .....up to that point most Varsity coaches consider it only MS ball or only JV ball......I think our Varsity coach came to 2 JV games all season......doesn't matter what they do down there....most rosters are made well before tryouts trust me been there done that! Unless you have relatives in the program or are a top notch pitcher you will wait until you are a Jr or Sr to get a shot!
At the end of the day though as long as the kid is having fun is school ball she should stick it out.......if any college aspirations at all good to have school ball on the proverbial resume.

 

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• Jun 3, 2009

• #16

I agree our school does not have Middle school ball. As a matter of fact they just recently went to "semi" fastpitch at our local rec center. Our high school team is horrible. I went to a game and watched in horror. My dd is the only one in our community that plays travel. The other girls consider the local rec teams travel since they travel about 2 miles to the next community to play. LOL.

 

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• Jun 4, 2009

• #17

Mbootsy said:

My dd is the only one in our community that plays travel. The other girls consider the local rec teams travel since they travel about 2 miles to the next community to play. LOL.

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That is just sad...i guess i won't complain about my daughters middle school program quite as much cause it definitely could be worse.

 

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• Jun 7, 2009

• #18

what exactly is semi fast??????Do they regulate the speed of the pitch stop the game if the pitcher throws too fast? Do the runners trot the bases insted of running?Is it like fastpitch where the umps semi ump the game:lmao:missing a few important calls