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I have coached sofball for only 14 years. It has spanned 2 daughters, many rec leagues, travel teams, tournaments, Jr. High leagues, and fall ball. I'm sure many of us if not all who participate on this site have similar or even much more extensive experience. I'm posting this thread hopefully to reinstate in the minds of all of us parents the overwhelming importance of High School softball. All too often on this site, comments like, "Spring Ball is just a warm up for Summer Ball" and "My dd's 16u travel team could whip her High School varsity team" go to undermining the importance of PARTICIPATION with our dd's friends and classmates in a community setting. TRAVEL BALL and HIGH SCHOOL BALL is a 2 way street. Travel ball provides a player with the opportunity to develop rapidly under ideal conditions. Six or more games a weekend in ideal weather with and against other highly motivated players for 8 to 11 weekends will do that. High School Ball provides opportunities for girls to develop a sense of community and pride and LEADERSHIP. I have seen Juniors and Seniors work with underclassmen to help them get better. A High School team is a 4 year committment, unlike a travel team, which you all know is in many many cases a constant search for greener pastures. ABSOLUTELY there are girls stuck on High School Teams with less talented and less motivated girls. HELLO MOM AND DAD, do your job, teach your star travel dd her responsibility to be a leader, she may learn the greatest satisfaction of all learning to help others not as gifted or fortunate as her. YES the High School coach will benefit from your dd's off season workouts, lessons and travel ball experience, but he is much more restricted and regulated on how when where and who he can work with. Who is regulating the wild eyed demanding travel coach. You're only action is to remove your player. At least with the High School there are rules and you can work within the system. FINALLY, High School privides things travel ball doesn't. ALL LEAGUE, ALL DITRICT and ALL STATE awards. Don't sit there and tell me you won't be adding these to your dd's resume when you put together those videos. Oh and by the way, when your daughter decides on signing with that Div. 1 college team, the local newspaper, (which you will collect 50 copies of), will state "Susie May Finklestein, All district pitcher of Moopy Heights HIGH SCHOOL signed today with the Ohio State Buckeyes". Did you notice the Lasers or Magic or Heat weren't mentioned there. Take the time to encourage your daughters to enjoy and develop in both Travel and High School Ball. My soapbox has broken under my great weight.