Disappointment....

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I realize it is the kids decision whether or not they play, but the reasons for NOT playing seem so ludicrous to me!!

Okay, I'm done! Not so sure I feel better about it yet though!

I keep hearing that by not playing these girls are being selfish and doing things the wrong way, etc., etc. I have never heard of anything more presumptuous in my life!! How dare you. Perhaps, I don't know, but perhaps these girls want to focus on ACADEMICS during the Spring semester. Perhaps they have fallen out of love with softball. Perhaps they still love softball but could use a break before travel ball begins. Perhaps a million and one other reasons that are none of your business. But you know better. They somehow OWE it to you or your DD and the dear old school to play, eh?? Reprehensible.

 

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Apparently you have never heard of charter schools, homeschooling, or other alternative forms of education. Our DD is homeschooled and is not allowed to play high school sports unless she takes a certain amount of credits at the school, which, of course, would defeat the purpose of homeschooling. Is that a good enough reason??

Reading this post & especially the one you posted right after - Seems like you have a bit of a chip on your shoulder, 29dad.......

And if your school doesn't have enough girls to field a team - You are S.O.L.!!!
But neither that reason or any you posted has anything to do with a girl DECISION NOT to play on HER school team.

And your last post really leaves me scratching my head.....If a girl can not keep up with high school work in the Spring. Then I don't want my daughter taking on the load of playing college ball & trying to earn a degree that will be the success to her future.......So problem solved.

 

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29dad ... pretty sure that if a girl is home-schooled that the college coach will find this to be a good reason. Most of us don't think about that when we talk about girls not playing in high school ... we are thinking about those going to a school and deciding not to play. The most common reasons you hear for this was that "our coach doesn't know what he is doing", or "politics". Those reasons are probably going to make a college coach wary ...

 

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I keep hearing that by not playing these girls are being selfish and doing things the wrong way, etc., etc. I have never heard of anything more presumptuous in my life!! How dare you. Perhaps, I don't know, but perhaps these girls want to focus on ACADEMICS during the Spring semester. Perhaps they have fallen out of love with softball. Perhaps they still love softball but could use a break before travel ball begins. Perhaps a million and one other reasons that are none of your business. But you know better. They somehow OWE it to you or your DD and the dear old school to play, eh?? Reprehensible.

I believe that the disagreement with EVERYONE and you is that you are trying to justify why a girl is NOT playing HS ball but still wants to play college ball. I might be out here on my own, but NONE of the reasons above seem to be valid if you WANT to play college ball IN ADDITION to their college course-load. In NO WAY should softball ever come before school, I think we all agree with that, but exactly how long do you think a college coach would continue to talk with any player after this back and forth.....

College coach:"So I see you didn't play your senior year in HS. Can I ask why?"

Recruit:"I wanted to take a break before my travel season started."

DOOR SLAM....BURNING RUBBER OUT THE DRIVEWAY

 

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Perhaps they have fallen out of love with softball.

... Then they shouldn't be concerned about playing in college. You should want to play in college. Academics + Athletics is too much of a burden if your heart isn't in it.

 

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I keep hearing that by not playing these girls are being selfish and doing things the wrong way, etc., etc. I have never heard of anything more presumptuous in my life!! How dare you. Perhaps, I don't know, but perhaps these girls want to focus on ACADEMICS during the Spring semester. Perhaps they have fallen out of love with softball. Perhaps they still love softball but could use a break before travel ball begins. Perhaps a million and one other reasons that are none of your business. But you know better. They somehow OWE it to you or your DD and the dear old school to play, eh?? Reprehensible.

Wow! Sorry I stepped on your homeschooled toes!

 

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I keep hearing that by not playing these girls are being selfish and doing things the wrong way, etc., etc. I have never heard of anything more presumptuous in my life!! How dare you. Perhaps, I don't know, but perhaps these girls want to focus on ACADEMICS during the Spring semester. Perhaps they have fallen out of love with softball. Perhaps they still love softball but could use a break before travel ball begins. Perhaps a million and one other reasons that are none of your business. But you know better. They somehow OWE it to you or your DD and the dear old school to play, eh?? Reprehensible.

Thats a problem if you want to play college ball, if a girl gets as far as a meeting with a college coach and he/she asks why she didnt play high school ball I would leave out "she needed a break before travel season" and "she wanted to concentrate on academics"

Coaches are very concerned with kids balancing academics and sports, its one of the main reasons to play high school ball. Also college ball is a job, from the 1st day of classes to the last, its going to be about softball in the majority of your free time, from 2 or 3 a days, 6 am conditioning, to many a weekends spent fundraising for the team. You have to love playing softball to go through what those girls do.

 

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Re: Disappointment....
Quote:
Originally Posted by SteamRollers
I would like to hear some GOOD reasons why a girl who has interest in playing college ball would not be playing high school ball?????
Apparently you have never heard of charter schools, homeschooling, or other alternative forms of education. Our DD is homeschooled and is not allowed to play high school sports unless she takes a certain amount of credits at the school, which, of course, would defeat the purpose of homeschooling. Is that a good enough reason??




Then she better be playing on a high tier team in summer with strong schedule....

 

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Easy big fella....homeschooling is a good excuse to not play HS ball. BUT if you are a softball player, you want to play softball in college, you attend a HS that has a softball team, and you decide NOT to play on that softball team...you had better have a damn good excuse why you didn't play when the college coach asks you why. They Do NOT care about stats or avg on the HS team, but they DO care about why an above average softball player (which every college player must be) wouldn't be willing to play for their schools team. Bad grades? Bad attitude? Unable to adjust? Doesn't like the coach? Problem parents? There are good reasons but there are also bad reasons and the bad far out number the good. With the thousands of players available to them, a bad attitude or uncoachable player is something they want to avoid at all costs.

 

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I reread SAD627's original post and found no mention about the girls that quit wanting to play college ball. Just why would they not want to letter at a varsity sport if you are good enough too. There's probably a lot of reasons some good and some bad. I've found it very interesting over the last 4 years that I've been a member, how many conversations always go to recruiting or college softball. I think we were talking about H.S softball.

 

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I need to vent a bit...

My dd's high school team went to the Div. IV final 4 last year. We have a new coaching staff this year and so far I am happy with them all.

We graduated 3 infield starters last year. This year you would think the girls would be stoked about playing and trying to get to state again. So far, of the remaining starters, only 3 are returning!! The pitcher, catcher, and 1st baseman. Several juniors, who started last year, aren't playing this year. One because she doesn't want to play with the other girl, who just quit today!!

We have a small school so all players matter at this point! Most of the girls who played the last 2 years have lettered twice playing varsity! I don't understand why you wouldn't want to play if you already know you are good enough to play varsity and letter for 4 years!

We do have some pretty talented Freshman coming up, who now have a very very good chance of starting Varsity this year! We had a pretty good shot at going back to state this year. Our chances maybe are not as good, but I am confident the freshman can get the job done!!

I am so glad my dd loves this sport!! I realize it is the kids decision whether or not they play, but the reasons for NOT playing seem so ludicrous to me!!

Okay, I'm done! Not so sure I feel better about it yet though!

You may be missing the elephant in the room. Why would a program who just made it to the final four have a complete coaching staff change? You said you are happy with the new coaching staff, what do the girls think? The girls not playing this year may have more to do with the coaching change than just losing interest in the game.

 

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Akron East changed their nickname and mascot to the Dragons.

Thank god my parents didn't move to Akron east ( orientals). I can't imagine being Asian playing for the Orientals. LOL. What kind of mascot do they have?

 

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Political Correctness wins again.

I hear that Kimoda Dragons and Dragonflies will be boycotting those games now...

 

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In this case I'm glad that political correctness won out. That had to be the STUPIDEST name ever. (though, I'm sure there're others names that are just as ignorant).

I am curious though, what was the mascot?

 

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You may be missing the elephant in the room. Why would a program who just made it to the final four have a complete coaching staff change? You said you are happy with the new coaching staff, what do the girls think? The girls not playing this year may have more to do with the coaching change than just losing interest in the game.

Our head coach retired at the end of last year after 22 years of coaching. The assistant coach was her dd so she went to.

You are right though. A couple of the seniors, who were not starters, are not coming back because of the change in coaches. Still not sure I understand that to much either. She retired, she wasn't fired!

 

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I reread SAD627's original post and found no mention about the girls that quit wanting to play college ball. Just why would they not want to letter at a varsity sport if you are good enough too. There's probably a lot of reasons some good and some bad. I've found it very interesting over the last 4 years that I've been a member, how many conversations always go to recruiting or college softball. I think we were talking about H.S softball.

We are definately talking high school ball. There is only 1 senior, and 2 (my dd and one other) juniors that want to play in college. There may be a few freshman but I don't know them well enough to know if they are interested in college ball. Several of the underclassman and a couple upperclassman played tb, but decided not to play summer ball this coming summer. There is definately lack of interest in some cases, but others, to me, are just unfortunate amounts of drama! I guess we'll have to see what happens. Right now I'm not sure we will be able to field a JV team. Shame with all the talent!

 

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Our head coach retired at the end of last year after 22 years of coaching. The assistant coach was her dd so she went to.

You are right though. A couple of the seniors, who were not starters, are not coming back because of the change in coaches. Still not sure I understand that to much either. She retired, she wasn't fired!

Maybe more of an excuse than anything else.

We have the same situation, a team that is now n 8th grade who has always been a strong team, just a handfull of losses over the last 4 years and now three of our better players decide they want some time off. Go figure.

 

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What girls that decide not to play any high school sport don't understand yet is that once their high school career is over it is over. Once they are off into adulthood with jobs, car payments, mortgages, snow to shovel, etc.... all that high school drama seems not so important.

I encourage any athlete who has the ability to play to PLAY and experience the lifetime memories and experiences you will have in pulling together to represent your school and doing all you can to beat your rivals. Train to become the best you can be so that your team is as good as it can be.

 

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What girls that decide not to play any high school sport don't understand yet is that once their high school career is over it is over. Once they are off into adulthood with jobs, car payments, mortgages, snow to shovel, etc.... all that high school drama seems not so important.

I encourage any athlete who has the ability to play to PLAY and experience the lifetime memories and experiences you will have in pulling together to represent your school and doing all you can to beat your rivals. Train to become the best you can be so that your team is as good as it can be.

Like! Lol

 

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I would like to hear some GOOD reasons why a girl who has interest in playing college ball would not be playing high school ball?????

Unless it is injury related, I think not playing goes a long way in a coach's thoughts of the girls character......Does she think she is too good to play on the team? Does it show that if things don't go just like she wants, she will not be giving 100%?

If all her Travel teammates are playing, not much she can do. No matter how good the team or coach, facing live hitting & pitching for those 2 months are much better than any other option.........

Just my 2 cents......

One reason I can think of is a bad HS coach. Not necessarily talking about bad as instruction goes but bad with how the player is treated. What if it's a HS coach that completely takes the enjoyment out of the game?