Give 'em a break

default · Jul 13, 2010

I see that we are entering the "silly season" again. When coaches are posting tryouts for their team for next year - (and "TTT'ing" every 20 minutes...)

I can certainly understand the coach wanting to assemble the new roster because Next year is going to be our year. But may I offer a word of caution? Ease into the practice schedule.

Players are Burned Out by this time in the summer. Expecially 16U & 18U; they've been on the the field for HS or Tournament Ball since March. They need some down time. Maybe get them together for some "bonding activity" but I would avoid the three and four hour practices every weekend - at least for a couple of months. Us parents would like to see the return of the un-crabby, non-b*tchy, energetic daughters that we knew in February...

default · Jul 13, 2010

MustangSally said:
I see that we are entering the "silly season" again. When coaches are posting tryouts for their team for next year - (and "TTT'ing" every 20 minutes...)

I can certainly understand the coach wanting to assemble the new roster because Next year is going to be our year. But may I offer a word of caution? Ease into the practice schedule.

Players are Burned Out by this time in the summer. Expecially 16U & 18U; they've been on the the field for HS or Tournament Ball since March. They need some down time. Maybe get them together for some "bonding activity" but I would avoid the three and four hour practices every weekend - at least for a couple of months. Us parents would like to see the return of the un-crabby, non-b*tchy, energetic daughters that we knew in February...

Is there such a thing? :lmao:

default · Jul 13, 2010

I'm with you Mustang. There has to be a better way than the "bump dance". We are just as guilty as everyone else with the TTT's, but I haven't thought of a complete solution. It just mucks up the whole forum this time of year. The Tryouts Map helps and once everybody gets their info on it, hopefully the tryoutees will use it to plan their schedule. Doh! it's been 22 minutes, got to go.

default · Jul 13, 2010

amen to mustang sally

default · Jul 13, 2010

MustangSally said:
I see that we are entering the "silly season" again. When coaches are posting tryouts for their team for next year - (and "TTT'ing" every 20 minutes...)

I can certainly understand the coach wanting to assemble the new roster because Next year is going to be our year. But may I offer a word of caution? Ease into the practice schedule.

Players are Burned Out by this time in the summer. Expecially 16U & 18U; they've been on the the field for HS or Tournament Ball since March. They need some down time. Maybe get them together for some "bonding activity" but I would avoid the three and four hour practices every weekend - at least for a couple of months. Us parents would like to see the return of the un-crabby, non-b*tchy, energetic daughters that we knew in February...

Tryouts are typically first part of August. Go to the tryout(s) of your choice before the rust sets in. Inform the coach your DD uses a break in the fall to recuperate from the summer travel schedule. During that time, she uses a relaxed schedule of easy throwing, mild workouts and hitting/pitching lessons - BUT no "fall ball", no team practices and no games. After 2 weeks in August, make a decision on a team. If the coach doesn't agree with your schedule, move on.

default · Jul 13, 2010

MustangSally- You are so right! It is silly. Tryouts are in August. Give the girls a break and let them enjoy the rest of this season before they have to think and worry about next.

default · Jul 13, 2010

Depends on the girls and the team. My DD is upset we only have GAPSS and Nationals left and she is worried about not getting to play much fall ball because most of our girls will be playing fall high school sports. My DD made the decision to give up all other sports to concentrate on softball. I do not agree that all of these blanket statements cover all girls in all situations.

default · Jul 13, 2010

The problem is fall has become a big recruiting time. Many coaches are getting final looks before making offers. Depends what you want. We try to take off after November 1 til next summer. We will do nothing as far as practice or playing during August and maybe every other week in Septmeber depending on schedules.

default · Jul 13, 2010

eagle --would you advise telling the 12's and 13's and most 14's to relax and regroup during the fall ? just curious . MD

default · Jul 13, 2010

Last year our team didn't play fall ball to give them a break and EVERY girl on the team went and found another team to play with. This year we are playing fall ball. It all depends on the individual players. My team WANTS to play so why not give them that opportunity?? If they don't want the break, why make them take it??

default · Jul 13, 2010

We always make our fall ball experiences voluntary, though if a player says she is going to play and ends up missing a ton of games, it's kind of a pain. This year we are thinking of holding Sunday practices beginning around the second week of September and attending just one major recruiting showcase, probably Patti Showalt's Midwest Signature event at Berliner. And we will definitely knock off at or before the end of October. Of course, now, the HS players are playing in HS indoor leagues that begin in November.

With respect to burnout of players and families, we did not apply to the QDS 14U tournament, where we played last year over Labor Day weekend. This gave our families the choice whether to apply to the QDSS showcase event as individuals or stay home over Labor Day.

It's a tough call between Klump's point that a lot of players WANT fall ball and the problem of burnout. All we can do is to reevaluate on a year by year basis.

default · Jul 13, 2010

ManitouDan said:
eagle --would you advise telling the 12's and 13's and most 14's to relax and regroup during the fall ? just curious . MD

Yes, that is a different situation. I think it is a good time for a break, maybe get together once or twice a month in September/October. We did as much socializing at our fall practices at 14U as we did actual practicing. Keep it fun but give them the opportunity to get better if they want. During winter months we usually did once a month, it just keeps them wanting it. I think we played 1 fall Friendly(one day only) and 1 indoor tournament just to see what we needed to work on.

I think they should still be playing multiple sports at that age and figuing out what they want to pursue and what they want out of it. Both of my kids did multiple things until they got to High school and decided they were ready to committ to one. I still have many 2 and 3 sport stars on my 16U team. We have ******,volleyball, and basketball players but softball is number 1 for them.

default · Jul 13, 2010

Agree totally that there needs to be some kind of "break" that occurs after tryouts. I like our approach over the past few years.

*Nationals represents last tournament.
*Tryouts in 2nd/3rd week of August
*4 weeks of fall ball (Think there is some value in the new group getting to know each other while playing a more relaxed version)
*After fall ball...usually end of Sept....Indoor practice once a week beginning 1st week of January (14U and 16U will likely have to part ways when pitchers n catchers report for HS)
A winter Indoor event in there somewhere
This formula seems to work because the Holiday months belong to players and their families.
Oct./Nov./Dec. are good months to do some fundraising...Works for us!

default · Jul 13, 2010

As a college coach, please give em a break! The wear and tear on their bodies finally starts to take its toll by the time they get to me!

default · Jul 13, 2010

Bill_Vasko said:
As a college coach, please give em a break! The wear and tear on their bodies finally starts to take its toll by the time they get to me!

This is totally correct, especially for pitchers. Most pitchers that never stop playing after summer and go right into fall ball and then right into winter ball then right into the High School will not get better, they get worse. Pitchers need a full month off after summer ball then they need to focus on training their bodies (with a personal trainer) in the off season and work on there pitching fundamentals, spins, and there speed. My DD plays on an elite summer team, so I have seen first hand what happens to some of these pitchers that play all year long, and they are not nearly as good as they once were. Its kinda sad to see.....so coaches, give them a break, make them take the break even if they don't want to....they will thank you for it later.

default · Jul 13, 2010

JEMIII said:
Depends on the girls and the team. My DD is upset we only have GAPSS and Nationals left and she is worried about not getting to play much fall ball because most of our girls will be playing fall high school sports. My DD made the decision to give up all other sports to concentrate on softball. I do not agree that all of these blanket statements cover all girls in all situations.

Exactly. Depends on the girls and the team. Those that want to take a break, take a break but don't think everyone should do the same because it's right for you. If you don't like all the ttt's for try outs, you can set it so they don't show.

Who plays much in November and December. Isn't that a "break"? ;&

default · Jul 13, 2010

fpitchdad said:
This is totally correct, especially for pitchers. Most pitchers that never stop playing after summer and go right into fall ball and then right into winter ball then right into the High School will not get better, they get worse. Pitchers need a full month off after summer ball then they need to focus on training their bodies (with a personal trainer) in the off season and work on there pitching fundamentals, spins, and there speed. My DD plays on an elite summer team, so I have seen first hand what happens to some of these pitchers that play all year long, and they are not nearly as good as they once were. Its kinda sad to see.....so coaches, give them a break, make them take the break even if they don't want to....they will thank you for it later.

This sort of contradicts everything I've been reading about California teams that play year round. Aren't we considered behind them over here in OHIO?

default · Jul 13, 2010

Mad Hornet said:
This sort of contradicts everything I've been reading about California teams that play year round. Aren't we considered behind them over here in OHIO?

Mad, I'm kinda just talking about pitchers. I don't know what California pitchers do, I do know that Tess Sito and Jen Solanics went 14 or 15-2 between the 2 of them at the 18u ASA/USA Nationals finishing in 2nd place beating the best 18u teams in the country, including California teams. Both of those pitchers train in the off season and don't play. Pitchers can do what they want, I just know what works for my dd.

default · Jul 13, 2010

Mad Hornet said:
This sort of contradicts everything I've been reading about California teams that play year round. Aren't we considered behind them over here in OHIO?

I have gotten a lot of videos from California kids, and I have found that a lot of those teams are placing a big emphasis on physical training as part of their travel program. Many of the videos included parts of the physical regimens that their players were involved with in a team environment. This type of training can help reduce injuries when implemented properly. I would like to see travel programs take some time away from softball and focus on physical training. This can be done safely as early as 12 (or earlier depending upon the type of training). I have to spend a lot of time teaching girls how to lift and train properly.

default · Jul 13, 2010

Playing more games IS NOT the answer to becoming a quality athlete.

This past weekend I saw COUNTLESS girls with absolutely horrible throwing mechanics during warm ups. And we know what their swings looked like if they "threw like girls"

. Simply put - here's a bunch of kids trying to get to the college level "showcasing their skills". And if my son saw it, don't you think the college coaches saw it??? And why do these girls throw like that?? No weight shift, no follow through, etc. Why can't girls throw like boys? OBVIOUSLY BECAUSE NO ONE IS TEACHING THEM!! Be honest - how many of these kids did YOU folks see this weekend that fit that description?

Position players might get a thrill out of playing 24-7 with no problems, simply because very few position players work as hard at their position as the competitive pitchers do. I'm not just talking about an outfielder who does hitting 3-4 times a week. How many infielders/outfielders seriously work on drills AT MINIMUM 3 times a week DURING THE TRAVEL SEASON? I don't mean just going out and lazily shagging a few balls, or shagging during batting practice. I'm talking about a REAL competitive workout - practicing footwork, backhands, diving after balls - AND spending equal time at PROPER hitting practice - AND LEARNING TO THROW PROPERLY. I'm talking 6 days a week of dedicated quality individual practice.

Most teams you can count these kids on one hand. But I did see a handful of teams where the majority of the girls were "throwing like guys". These teams were easily in the minority, and guess where these teams placed...

So maybe just going out and playing 25 or 30 more games of fall ball will fix all that? Go ahead and call this "just my opinion", but if no one else claims to see it, you're fooling no one but yourself.

Give 'em a break

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