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You mean there are parents out there who could afford the cost of two travel teams? 
I'm lucky to afford one!!
I'm lucky to afford one!! 
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Uhhhh - not cool.
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Who can afford the time of two travel teams, must only have one kid and plenty of time on your hands for that
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bigred as stated it would get expensive to play for more than one team. Even with only one DD playing who has the time. From the beginning of June until the end of July we played in 8 tournaments with only 3 weekends of downtime. Those weekends were much needed to rest the injuries and re-energize the batteries for everyone.
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If your dd is playing for more than 1 travel team, when are they possibly able to be......well.......a kid???? I mean, even an 18U needs time to hang out with their friends and have some fun. When can that possibly happen if they're gone each and every weekend playing ball. I love softball as much as they next guy, but come on....are we really putting the kids first here??? I want my dd to go to college and make a name for herself in softball as much as the next parent, but I can't live with knowing she was forced to sacrifice every summer her entire teenage life because I played her life away. I guess everybody's priorities are different. I want my daughter to excel in the sport she loves and I have no doubt, she can do it playing for one travel team and having some down time now and then.
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With most travel teams, especially here in Ohio, you can only commit to play on one team due to a short season of play time. Most coaches will load their travel teams schedules up with 6 - 8 consecutive weeks of tournaments with practices added. This doesn't seem much at first, but ask any player or parent how they fell at the end of this period.
Players attempting to play on more than one team at the travel ball level will usually cause disharmony on one of teams they play on. If she is counted on playing full time by either team, it makes it too difficult for the coach to schedule around her availability.
It could also disenchant some of the other team members that are putting their full efforts into one of the teams. This can cause disharmony issues it not handle correctly. Having coached I wanted my players to be on board full time. I was giving them my full attention and wanted that respect as well. If they need the extra play time then additional practices or scrimmages should be scheduled. Plus the demands of other sports also makes it difficult as it is.
I would have to agree with eatsleepfatpitch that putting that kind of pressure on the kids, they could play their teenage life away. They need to excel both on and off the field. At some point they will need to depend on more than what the game offers. The game does help to teach them many good life characteristic, but as they get older and more responsible for their own life's they will need more than just fastpitch. Let your daughter have more of well a rounded social aspect or have time for other things. If not you may find out she burns out before she makes the game play for her. Let her play aggressively for one team if possible.
Players attempting to play on more than one team at the travel ball level will usually cause disharmony on one of teams they play on. If she is counted on playing full time by either team, it makes it too difficult for the coach to schedule around her availability.
It could also disenchant some of the other team members that are putting their full efforts into one of the teams. This can cause disharmony issues it not handle correctly. Having coached I wanted my players to be on board full time. I was giving them my full attention and wanted that respect as well. If they need the extra play time then additional practices or scrimmages should be scheduled. Plus the demands of other sports also makes it difficult as it is.
I would have to agree with eatsleepfatpitch that putting that kind of pressure on the kids, they could play their teenage life away. They need to excel both on and off the field. At some point they will need to depend on more than what the game offers. The game does help to teach them many good life characteristic, but as they get older and more responsible for their own life's they will need more than just fastpitch. Let your daughter have more of well a rounded social aspect or have time for other things. If not you may find out she burns out before she makes the game play for her. Let her play aggressively for one team if possible.
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As a coach I would have to agree that this could cause problems between both teams and the player.
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When we attended the All Sanctioned World Series in Columbus we had this same scenario play out with a girl on the ********** team. We heard this 10U girl is on two other rosters. It's not my call to be this child's parents - they have chosen to play on all these teams - that's their call as parents of the 10U girl.
However, here are some thoughts about the practice of "guest" players ---
1. What about the team who has practiced all year together and now certain players have to take a back seat to this "guest" player?
2.How is picking up a stud "guest" player indicative of being the "best" team in the end?
Wouldn't every team like to just pick up a stud player before big tournaments?
3. When I hear statements from coaches on this site saying "this was a great group of girls and parents, great season," I think.. where does this "guest" player fit in those statements? She wasn't there all year practicing to win in these tournaments? I wonder what the other parents think about that? Or is winning all that really matters?
4. I like to see a team who worked together all year and end it together and hopefully they get the wins. There doesn't appear to be loyalty on either end anymore.
5. Lastly, I understand things happen (injuries, players not being able to make it to tournaments, etc)....I don't think this was case with this particular situation in the All Sanctioned World Series since about 2-3 girls were sitting the bench while this "guest" player played every game and pitched in the semi-finals.
Everyone has different thoughts on "guest" players - those are just mine.
However, here are some thoughts about the practice of "guest" players ---
1. What about the team who has practiced all year together and now certain players have to take a back seat to this "guest" player?
2.How is picking up a stud "guest" player indicative of being the "best" team in the end?
Wouldn't every team like to just pick up a stud player before big tournaments?
3. When I hear statements from coaches on this site saying "this was a great group of girls and parents, great season," I think.. where does this "guest" player fit in those statements? She wasn't there all year practicing to win in these tournaments? I wonder what the other parents think about that? Or is winning all that really matters?
4. I like to see a team who worked together all year and end it together and hopefully they get the wins. There doesn't appear to be loyalty on either end anymore.
5. Lastly, I understand things happen (injuries, players not being able to make it to tournaments, etc)....I don't think this was case with this particular situation in the All Sanctioned World Series since about 2-3 girls were sitting the bench while this "guest" player played every game and pitched in the semi-finals.
Everyone has different thoughts on "guest" players - those are just mine.
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My DD played for a travel team this year who was pretty competitive and her high school team during the week that was very unsuccessful. She's pretty much their only pitcher. When she told them that she wouldn't be pitching on Mondays after tournaments, the coach was fine with it, but the girls gave her a hard time and asked her where her loyalties were. We were very happy when that season was done, it was no fun. We've already decided that if she makes 1 of the 3 teams she's trying out for in the next 2 weeks, that she won't be doing that team again.
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Why would you take the chance of buring your DD out with that much obligation. Let her be a kid...they grow up so fast as it is!
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I agree! unless one team plays in just a few tourni's then burnout might not be an issue (ex: for an older girl who is looking for more exposure- but then -why play with the team that only plays in a few tourni's
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I agree, pick and play for 1 team per season. Only use pick up players if you are going to be short for the tournament or for injuries. Players who commit to a team don't want to see some stud come in just for the weekend and take their play time when they worked all year for it.
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"Why would you take the chance of buring your DD out with that much obligation. Let her be a kid...they grow up so fast as it is!"
We really didn't choose this for our daughter. She had committed to her travel team and then her HS coach decided to do a team during the week. We were told it wasn't mandatory, but more like strongly suggested. She won't do it again next year. I agree with being a kid. However, she's quite excited for her try-outs this weekend and next!
We really didn't choose this for our daughter. She had committed to her travel team and then her HS coach decided to do a team during the week. We were told it wasn't mandatory, but more like strongly suggested. She won't do it again next year. I agree with being a kid. However, she's quite excited for her try-outs this weekend and next!
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my dd was that girl who played in columbus. yes,wewere on 3 rosters.not because we were a "gun for hire", but because she loves softball. we played with the other teams when are main team did not have a 10u tourney.at the all sanction w.s. this team had only 1 available pitcher. my dd wasn't an additional player, just a fill in.there are teams who recruit stud players for tourneys. this was not the case. most travel teams are in it to win. the team in columbus was far from needing help to win games. every player on that team was very talented. but having only 1 pitcher they needed another. when you are looking for a guest player don't you want the best you can find? we didn't take anyones position away. i don't think the parents or players had any issues, considering the outcome. from start to finish we felt nothing short of part of the "family". that said, done properly a guest player can be a valuable asset.
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Have a clue.
I think you are fine to make the decsion that you did. I hear and see way to many parents spending their time worring what other kids are doing. Each player is different and each family is different. The question I have is way do some many people care about other players? I hear a lot of this, girl can't do this, or shouldn't do that, or she isn't good enough, when we criticize others. I try very hard to supportive of all the girls on my DD's team. I may not agree with the things they do all the time, but frankly most of it ( if not all) really is none of my business. Is it good to play on 3 teams, well I have no clue and since my daughter doesn't, i'm not going to spend to much time thinking it over. It is great to get on OFC and exchange ideas and opinions, but also remember that we all are here because in some way or other we love and support the game.
I think you are fine to make the decsion that you did. I hear and see way to many parents spending their time worring what other kids are doing. Each player is different and each family is different. The question I have is way do some many people care about other players? I hear a lot of this, girl can't do this, or shouldn't do that, or she isn't good enough, when we criticize others. I try very hard to supportive of all the girls on my DD's team. I may not agree with the things they do all the time, but frankly most of it ( if not all) really is none of my business. Is it good to play on 3 teams, well I have no clue and since my daughter doesn't, i'm not going to spend to much time thinking it over. It is great to get on OFC and exchange ideas and opinions, but also remember that we all are here because in some way or other we love and support the game.
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True my daughter did Just that this year. Got her and extra 16 games by years end and mostly a a different position ...so very helpful.
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we have tournaments every weekend how would someone do more than that? that would really burn a girl and then she wouldnt be able to play for either teams!
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I frankly am shocked to hear all the "burnout" talk. Our rec commissioner thinks all girls 12 and under should only play 6 games a year so they don't get burned out, and no travel ball=yet the boys that age play 20 rec games, plus all-star teams play tourns. every weekend. How is that for a sexist attitude? Either we believe girls can do what boys can, or we don't. At 16 and on, I played school summer ball, Legion baseball, church softball, and men's Open softball. Doubleheader every night somewhere, only problem was keeping schedule straight. So if the girls want to play and can, then let them. Just make sure EVERY coach is aware of your priority list, and make sure they sign off on it.
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Wow! That is a ton of work! How is it even possible?
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I've seen this happen because parents seem to be more interested in getting their daughter seen than really having her be part of a team - generally because it was not handled correctly. Good life lessons for the kids though.
If the kid is interested in playing a lot - and it's ok by the rules and doesn't hurt either team, AND is affordable, that's a very different story. But to leave your team in the lurch to play somewhere else, not really a good lesson for the girl. Or maybe I am misunderstanding and there is no overlap.
