girls fastpitch softball is expensive ! wouldn't your bank account be better off playing rec softbal

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I think everyone that has one or more kids in travel doesn't have much of a bank account or a well groomed lawn either. We are all in it for the memories and life lessons that this brings. My family wouldn't trade it for the world. We have two dd's in travel and a 5 yo boy. My boy and middle dd have never known anything else but weekends at a ball park somewhere. Both of my youngest two were camping and at a ball park at 1 week(or less) old. Yes travel ball is a time and money vampire but unless you have done it you have no idea of what it is worth to your kids and family in general. Kudos to all of the parents who spend pretty much all of their hard earned money and time to allow their children this experience. Especially the coaches whom many have to pay for their dd's to play and volunteer their time and effort to making it all happen!

 

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As with anything, you get what you pay for....

That's what I was going to say! LOL

I grew up show jumping horses. Fastpitch is nothin'!

 

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The greatest thing that ever happened for my DD softball career was when she was 8 our rec league all-star team entered a travel ball tournament. After taking our lumps for the whole weekend my DD came up to me at 8 years old and said dad I want to be just as good as those girls. Would it have been cheaper to play rec for the past 3 years? Of course it would but if your child has the desire to be great in something in life and you have the means to support her then that's what you do. Who knows she could have played 10 games a year in rec instead of 50 or 60 in travel and been just as good but the experience and the knowledge that she has of the game at 11 years old is crazy. She "gets it" so to say, plus all of the memories and friendships that she has made over the past 3 years you really can't put a cash value on because they are priceless.

I'd rather die poor and have given my daughters the best life possible with great memories than to have money and always think to myself what if my DD would have played travel ball how good could she have been?

 

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Dawgpound19, you couldn't have said it any better with your last line! Die poor...... for me as a father my life revolves around my children. My DD got a little sick and tired of watching other teams do great things on the field while her rec team got blasted. Two years ago the best thing we've ever done for her softball "career " was go to travel ball. Yes it is expensive! But you know when I watch my DD play on a team where all the girls bust there butts just as hard as the girl next to them, it makes my DD happy. And that's what its all about right? Expensive.... but worth every dime put into it. Just wish there was travel football too, my sons a little burnt out on softball! Lol

 

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My DW summed it up onece by telling someone everyone has addictions, ours just happend to be our kids.

 

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My DW summed it up onece by telling someone everyone has addictions, ours just happend to be our kids.

Now that cools

 

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Rec ball is less expensive but not for a girl who wants to excel to the college level. Most of the college coaches I spoke with all want travel ball experience. There is a big difference in rec and travel ball. The challenge is in travel, not much of it in rec. I agree that commitment is a big plus. It takes a lot of commitment to give up your weekends the way the girls do in travel ball. My daughter loves the sport and wouldn't trade it for the world.

 

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OFC-Ohio Fastpitch Connection / TSZ-The Softball Zone question of the day.

Everyone we'll aware of the cost when your daughter(s) playing Girls Fastpitch Travel Team Softball.

Wouldn't your family bank account/college funds be better off playing "rec & youth" softball ?

The memories are priceless!

 

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Absolutely agree. We play because DD loves to play the game, loves to be with her teammates and loves the challenge to improve. This is not the gateway to college for her, that's academics all the way. If participating in softball helps because it shows a commitment to outside activities that's a bonus.

If our dd didn't play travel ball, there's a good chance by now she probably wouldn't play ball at all. She's 16U. She was too serious about playing the the game as well as she could, and lost patience with the girls in Rec ball and even school ball, even her school friends, who just looked at it as a fun time. She sees the fun from the challenge of playing with the best players.