College athletes 2nd year 18U

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Was just curious what the "norm" is for girls that are heading off to college this fall, and will still be 18U eligable next summer. dd has no plans for try-outs and is leaving next summer open for now. What are others doing?

 

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Same here. Ball is such a grind at the college level she is going to just wait and see how she feels come summer break next year vs making a commitment now.

Tim

 

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Is your DD playing in college? Because if she is, the desire of the college coach as to whether she plays summer ball should control. Our DD played for a Division III coach who didn't dictate one way or another, and our DD opted to take the summer off (actually, she also opted to take the summer after her senior year in high school off). Given our druthers, we would have liked to see her play both summers, but she'd been in the travel ball pressure-cooker for years (and then there was the pressure-cooker of playing college ball while adapting to college academic requirements) and I don't think her decisions were wrong for her. She got full time summer jobs and, at least after her senior year in high school, she filled in once or twice for teams needing players. In those days, OFC wasn't as active as it is now in hooking up players who want to sub with teams who need subs, so if your DD wants to play occasionally next summer, that should be fairly easy to arrange through OFC.

If you clear the college coach hurdle, I'd say leave it to your DD to decide what she wants to do.

 

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The summer after her freshman year, DD was invited to pitch for a former rival travel team from Cinci at GAPSS. Those were some fun games to watch! That was when 18u was still 40'. Going back to 40' from 43' added a little zip on her pitches! They were eventually beat in the championship game by a VERY good WV Roadrunners team playing impossible small ball.

Beyond that, her work schedule didn't permit the grind of playing full time on a tournament team. Along with DD, most of the kids split from school in the summer, so forming a team there was not possible.

I think vegging-out the entire summer can have consequences when going back to school in the fall. Staying in good physical shape is very important - and takes work. The coach can see in a heartbeat who has worked over the summer on that first fall run...

 

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My DD and 5 of her summer ball teammates can back after their freshman year of playing college ball and played another summer of 18u. They seemed to have a blast together.

 

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Erica is 18U eligible next summer and plans to play for someone.......hitting the tryout trail this weekend and if she doesn't find a fit who knows might have to strap it up and coach one more season

 

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As of now, my daughter has no plans for summer ball next year. Maybe a guest appearance here or there if some of her friends' teams need a player on a given weekend.

One thing to consider if you have a college freshman who wants to play next summer is the fact that some tournaments are posting "no college players" in their tournament regulations. A couple of those in the already short 18U season makes it hard for a coach to keep the roster open for you.

 

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Is your DD playing in college? Because if she is, the desire of the college coach as to whether she plays summer ball should control. Our DD played for a Division III coach who didn't dictate one way or another, and our DD opted to take the summer off (actually, she also opted to take the summer after her senior year in high school off). Given our druthers, we would have liked to see her play both summers, but she'd been in the travel ball pressure-cooker for years (and then there was the pressure-cooker of playing college ball while adapting to college academic requirements) and I don't think her decisions were wrong for her. She got full time summer jobs and, at least after her senior year in high school, she filled in once or twice for teams needing players. In those days, OFC wasn't as active as it is now in hooking up players who want to sub with teams who need subs, so if your DD wants to play occasionally next summer, that should be fairly easy to arrange through OFC.

If you clear the college coach hurdle, I'd say leave it to your DD to decide what she wants to do.

Carol your right about the coach if he says play then she wouldn't really have any other option than to do as she was told. But at this time when tryouts are in full swing she has made no plans to attend any and leaves next summer open. Maybe to guest play, to help coach or do the unthinkable and seek employment outside of softball lol.


Tim

 

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DD is in the same boat as she will still be 18U eligable and only really wants to commit to 3-4 tournaments next summer at the most. It was suggested that she simply put her name out to fill in as needed next summer, so right now that's what she's planning to do. Of course, she would probably consider committing to a team who was going to play a limited schedule if one existed...hint, hint, BD...Miami.?..LOL

 

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Well since we will be in the same conference....we will have to have a few wings/sodas and some conversations now won't we

 

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Sounds good to me

 

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dd will play next summer, but nationals are a definte no she said.

 

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Well there's two pitchers and two power hitters just find 7 more to play in four tourneys or so. 3 quality coaches there as well Sounds perfect