How Do You Measure Success?

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I know that this topic comes up quite a bit here on this forum, but now that we're approaching the end of the summer season and with tryouts coming up, my question is, "How do you measure success?". Now, I'm not a coach and never have been, so my opinion is solely from the perspective of a parent. At the end of the summer season, we sit down with our daughters and gauge not only how successful the team has been, but also how successful each daughter has been. We also discuss options for the next year and whether or not our daughters should investigate other teams. Both our daughters have played for their teams for more than 3 years, but we still sit down and evaluate the next season.

Each year I'm more and more surprised at the parents who only measure success by the number of games/tournaments won by the team. I think that success has to do more with growth than with wins, but that's just my opinion. Even when one of my daughter's teams can be called successful using number of wins as a measure, there are still parents who are looking for more. For example, a set of parents who have been with this team for a few years, now believe that the best thing for their daughters is to form their own team? Why? Their dds are playing 95 to 100% of the time, the team has won some big name tournaments, and beaten some of the best teams in the state. Their dds have all improved over the season to become "successful" players. I just wonder how these parents measure success?

What do you look at to determine how successful your dd's team has been?

 

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I think the problem is that your trying to measure personal success and team success. ?Each should have its own set of goals with different measures and outcomes.

 

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I believe, having watched many games this summer, that my dd has improved greatly personally. Her attitude is 100% better and she has practiced her way to become a much better pitcher. However, her team was not very successful and IMHO was not coached the best that it could have been. We will be looking for a new travel team in August.

 

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If you ask 10 different people this question, you'll get 10 different answers. In the end the only thing that matters is how you measure success, and if you and your dd feel the season has been a success.

 

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with that one, ringer, i pictured you giving advice in a dim den smoking cigars with john Houseman!

maybe you arent wacky after all.....

 

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People have a difficult time balancing the personal when the team has struggled.

IMHO the teams struggles need defined as coaching,talent,effort,and chemitstry. All easy questions for the parent to answer ;D ;D ;D. If my DD's team has coaching and chemistry one of the other two will probably be there and the ex[perience will be positive regardless of wins.

The personal is did she improve and feel of value to the team. If a girl does not play a bunch but feels of value to the team it will be a positive experience for her. Making a girl feel valued is the most difficult thing for a coach of female athletes.

It goes back to a quote I have seen many times" that girl's have to feel good to play good."

 

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with that one, ringer, i pictured you giving advice in a dim den smoking cigars with john Houseman!

maybe you arent wacky after all.....

Now see, I got lazy and didn't switch to my other alter-ego screen name, the fine upstanding responsible good-guy one. I'm making TheRinger look bad.

Now I'll have to start another Slammers thread just to get my street cred back.

 

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Not sure how I feel about saying this in public, but I agree with Ringer ;D. Everybody has their own way of defining success.

Every year I have my daughter write down her goals for softball (and other things, dare I say like education, etc.). For softball we do this for her personal goals as well as the type of team she would like to play for and their accomplishments (going to Nationals, etc). Then after the season, I have her look over her list and tell me if she is happy with where she is, the improvments she made, how things turned out, and then whether or not she wants to make any changes for the next year.

Keep in mind your daughter has to like her coach, teammates, playing time and situation or she won't be playing long. I can't imagine that anyone would be this far into the season and not have some idea how your daughter feels about the season. Only you and your dd can decide if the season was a success.

 

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Just want to post a message that Bill Lilley Head Coach of the 12u Slammers will be are guest tonight on the FPR-Fastpitch Radio Show. Air time 8:30 p.m. http://www.talkshoe.com/talkshoe/web/talkCast.jsp?masterId=35639&cmd=tc

 

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So far Ringer is ringing true all posts different........Do we not all know what the contents of the radio show will be and we definately know how success is measured ....wins scholarships BRAGGING RIGHTS ;D ;D ;D

 

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Well yes have posted some of it up on talkshoe.


Were going to talk about having a Success program.
How did you go from point A-Z
And were going to talk about him being a ex-member at the fourm..

Best thing is if you have time to join the show do so.. If not you can listen later or even download the show..

God Bless
Ricky Moorehead

 

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Do not get me wrong you cannot argue with his success. It should be a good show.

 

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Personal goals met + team goals met + coach + team chemistry + great parents + great organization = success

 

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Of course we all say if she is a better player and had fun, that is success. It does boil down to what she was expecting to get our of her season. If she wanted the above and also win 6 tournaments and they didn't win but the other two were fullfilled, then there was a measure of success. If she wanted to hit 20 homeruns and she only hit 19, she had a measure of success.
Our goal is to move the girl up to the next level on her talent skills... if we do this and she didn't have fun, we may have met our success but not her's.