How good is Middle School/Junior High Softball in your Area?

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They are not very good Musty... not at all. And then making it school sponsored to regulate the girls from their travel teams... then some idiot scheduled Saturday double headers to boot which messed up the rec leagues as well.

If it was NOT a school sponsored team and playing on Saturday.. when it come to playing middle school ball games on Saturday or going to travel practices I think travel practices would win out.

 

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Club Ball is also governed by OHSAA rules and regulations.

 

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Justa...I was of similar opinion last year as my daughter was a 12 u and where she would have missed half of her travel season had she played school ball. I do agree about the definite difference in the play, but not ALL players that play Rec stink. Some are actually good athletes and either play a different travel sport whether it be ****** or volleyball or even basketball.
Now as my daughter is an eighth grader, and a 13u there are very few 14u tourneys during the middle school season that would conflict with her playing. In fact our coach ENCOURAGES the girls to play for their respective teams and then to come back after it ends to kick some butt! I don't know how old your daughter is, but mine is excited to play for her school team. In fact she is going to play a position that she never has the opportunity to play on her travel team-PITCHER! As I also see there are a few other girls at her school that are travel players that didn't play last year because of the 12u vs 13u thing and now they are back and all excited to play.

Maybe that is the difference for your daughter as well, maybe not, but for the girls that are travel players and are eighth graders now on our team, they have the opportunity to shine and be leaders and hopefully show our community that it is possible to play better ball!

Just a thought!

 

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I was under the belief that Wilmington's MS team was a Club team. And I still hear varying opinions on whether OHSAA regs apply to Club teams.

 

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Justa...I was of similar opinion last year as my daughter was a 12 u and where she would have missed half of her travel season had she played school ball. I do agree about the definite difference in the play, but not ALL players that play Rec stink. Some are actually good athletes and either play a different travel sport whether it be ****** or volleyball or even basketball.
Now as my daughter is an eighth grader, and a 13u there are very few 14u tourneys during the middle school season that would conflict with her playing. In fact our coach ENCOURAGES the girls to play for their respective teams and then to come back after it ends to kick some butt! I don't know how old your daughter is, but mine is excited to play for her school team. In fact she is going to play a position that she never has the opportunity to play on her travel team-PITCHER! As I also see there are a few other girls at her school that are travel players that didn't play last year because of the 12u vs 13u thing and now they are back and all excited to play.

Maybe that is the difference for your daughter as well, maybe not, but for the girls that are travel players and are eighth graders now on our team, they have the opportunity to shine and be leaders and hopefully show our community that it is possible to play better ball!

Just a thought!

My thought too and we will be in the stands watching my DD catch your DD's pitches. First scrimmage is only 3 weeks away against Goshen. :yahoo:

I think justa's beef is with the goofy OSHAA rule prohibiting school sanctioned players from practicing with their travel team which I think everybody agrees stupid.

 

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My DD is playing on her schools MS Club team.........I contacted the Coach prior to her committing and asked the questions I needed to know. She plays Travel Ball and has 2 upcoming tournaments in April and 2 tournaments in May. She is the starting catcher on her team, I let him know that her Travel team would come first. And that if it would cause problems then she would not go out, due to it was not worth causing problems for both the teams. She like some of the other girls who play Travel ball will possibly get to play a position that she does not get to play. She is excited about this, she will get to work on some areas of her game that she normally doesnt get to work on. The other way I look at it also, is maybe the pitching wont be the greatest. So she is also going to learn patience at the plate, to stay in her strike zone more than she would in Travel, and if the pitcher is slow (okay that's extra work on how to time up for a change up in Travel). Plus she is supporting her school, helping to expand and grow a program that you hope in the long run also helps grow and support your High School program.

 

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It is dumb, but everyone in Ohio has the same ruling so might as well make the best of it!

Musty, I really hope our daughters are on the same team. I heard they may split them up anyway and put some on blue. Sam and Mandy would have a blast together!

 

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MOMRLZ22--
She can only do that if her school is not sanctioned by the OHSSA. If it is, she can cause them forfeits of games..

 

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MOMRLZ22--
She can only do that if her school is not sanctioned by the OHSSA. If it is, she can cause them forfeits of games..

Hilliardad3.......do you mean the MS team being sanctioned? If so the answer is no it is not. It has nothing to do with the school itself other than the girls. In our area most all of the MS teams are club teams, not sanctioned through the school. Many players are playing on club teams in other school districts than the district they attend.

 

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good..

 

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Club Ball is also governed by OHSAA rules and regulations.

Read the above posts.

Only way CLUB ball is sanctioned by OHSAA is IF a Club teams plays a School sponsored team... if I am correct. I think that is the way it is.. I'd have to go back through my e-mails with Ms Price of OHSAA.

Roger Delawder could tell you as he as well communicated with her before he started the league up around Marion last year to get the particulars.

 

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There is no way that my daughter is going to play for some "rec" middle school team and face sub-par pitching after the money I spent on her with hitting classes, etc...

The talk on here is always how teams want to play good competition to get better. Does anyone really think that these middle school teams are good?

And how disrespectful is it to the travel ball coaches that work hard for our DD all winter long and then mess up practices because of middle school ball. As well, being involved in "school sanctioned" teams and messing up travel practices because of regulations. Doesn't make any sense to me.

It is fine to have middle school ball. Great. But just don't disappoint the other girls on the travel teams because your DD is tied up with middle school ball and can't practice or play on her travel team. To me that shows the lack of respect to the other girls and coaches that works hard to make them better all winter long or organizations that spend money for our DD for hitting classes and indoor ball.

And as for prestige of playing for the middle school team. Give me a break ! What prestige ? It's middle school ball folks !!!! Let the rec kids play middle school ball and get better to supply the travel ball teams and their high schools. Let the rec kids get the experience they need and the playing time instead of having travel ball kids on the team to take that opportunity away from those rec kids.

I guess it is probally area dependent.. but when Wilmington rec only offers slow pitch to the girls all the way until they are 12u and have nothing afterwards..... it's sad and of course hurts our high school.

I know Wilmington has a middle school team.. but there is no way my daughter is playing for them... I'm not going to disrespect all the hard work by our organization to spend money on teaching the correct way to do things...and watch her work hard at it... just to play sub-par middle school ball or disrespect the coach and tie her up because it is a "school sponsored" team and OHSAA regulations follow them through the Spring.

It's one thing to be a CLUB middle school team and another to be a "school-sponsored" team and not be able to practice with the travel team. I think it is a huge disrespect to the coaches of travel ball to place your kid and their player in a school sponsored team where they can't practice with the other girls of the travel team. That spring time practice or occassional tournament is a MUST in my opinion for them to gel for June readiness.

Everybody has an opinion I guess.

I didn't see where I said anything about playing HS ball for her. The early years are about teaching and refining the art of hitting and fielding and knowledge of what to do with the ball when you get it.

When HS ball comes to her.. I am sure she will be playing with Mom and Dad supporting her all the way.

My point is.. the HS girls are playing and get right into June with playing time on their high school teams. Good or bad. That is the PRIDE of playing HS and playing for your high school.

But, Middle school ball ? Half those kids can't even hit the ball let alone field it and throw and I'm not going to put my kid in that situation and be regulated from playing her "level" of play for what ? At that age, I want her to practice and get better so she can indeed help her high school when the time comes.

But, middle school ball and on a school sponsored team.. is out of the question for me. I'll be darn if she is going to do that stuff. She swings the bat every night in the basement.. hits tons of balls because SHE wants to and she wants that starting spot on her team. She has the desire and drive and I don't push her into anything. I'm not going to put her in a postion of being bored by playing middle school ball. And on Saturday to boot when she has travel ball practices in the Spring.

I think it is a HUGE disrespect to her coach to do so after all the work he has done for these girls... free of charge !

And I'll add this as well.

I bet in August when tryouts are happening... two questions will be on many team questionaires. They will be:

1. Do you play Middle School Ball ? Yes or No

2. Is your Middle School a CLUB team or a SCHOOL Sponsored Team ?

Let's see who is ready when Memorial Day weekend hits. Is it going to be the travel team that has been playing together in two or three early tournaments and practicing together. Or will it be the team that just got together two weeks earlier and started practicing together because SOME of their players played on school sponsored teams and was regulated from practing with their travel ball team.

What coach is going to put up with a player missing practice because of middle school ball? It's fair to say not many after this year and see the consequences from it.

It's a nice idea for middle school ball. If it is club sanctioned and not school sponsored and it helps the rec kids that never get a chance to play get better for their high school down the road.

Let's be honest. Half these rec kids are never going to see HS ball because of their lack of talent and drive to better themselves. It's a "social" thing for most. If Middle school ball helps them then so be it. That'll be a great thing. And in that case, the travel girls playing school sponsored ball should step aside and let the other girls play. That way it doesn't effect their "level" of play and gives the rec girls an opportunity to get better.

Just my opinion.

It is total disrespect to the travel coaches as well as the other players who work hard and practice TOGETHER and not be separated by playing school sponsored Middle School ball and be regulated.

I think it is total disrespect to the organizations that put up the money for clinics within their organization. I think it is a total disrespect for the coaches that want to be ready for the big tournaments starting Memorial Day.

They are not very good Musty... not at all. And then making it school sponsored to regulate the girls from their travel teams... then some idiot scheduled Saturday double headers to boot which messed up the rec leagues as well.

If it was NOT a school sponsored team and playing on Saturday.. when it come to playing middle school ball games on Saturday or going to travel practices I think travel practices would win out.

Question...

So what have you done to improve the situation? Not happy with the way rec is slowpitch only? So start a different rec program. No law that says you can't. Volunteer your time to the ms program.

Just don't pull your kid out, do nothing, and then gripe when ms/hs ball isn't good enough for you.

 

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It is dumb, but everyone in Ohio has the same ruling so might as well make the best of it!

Musty, I really hope our daughters are on the same team. I heard they may split them up anyway and put some on blue. Sam and Mandy would have a blast together!

YEA! Same team. They will have a blast.

 

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YEA! Same team. They will have a blast.

Congrats to both your DDs. Can't wait to walk over and catch a couple games. C Ya soon.

To JUSTAWONDERING, I hear what you are saying, but to answer your question, "Who is going to put up with MS players in future...".

ANSWER: EVERYONE! At least proactive Orgs NEED to embrace this as it's no different then what they do for their HS Players. And the more the Middle Schools & High Schools become integrated with their programs the importance of MS Ball in April & May will far outway playing Travel Ball in April and May.

That is how High School athletes and Travel operate today. Middle School ball has more momentum in Ohio then ever. No Reason parents NEED to pay for 6 more weekends of Travel for vary little value add to those teams or players by playing in April & May. Travel orgs that are smart will embrace the new frontier and encourage their players to play MS ball as that provides a much different but high value on the social side for these kids. I find it kind of rediculous to see 8, 10, 12 year olds playing in 11,12 tournies per year jacking up the cost tremendously on families for vary little extra value. Kids at that age don't mature or grow tremendously in 2 months. At that age, it's a marathon, not a sprint. The work they put in during fall & winter is already enough if not too much at those ages.

 

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Amen Bob!

 

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Question...

So what have you done to improve the situation? Not happy with the way rec is slowpitch only? So start a different rec program. No law that says you can't. Volunteer your time to the ms program.

Just don't pull your kid out, do nothing, and then gripe when ms/hs ball isn't good enough for you.

No field usage available in Wilmington for a "NEW" rec league.

I am sure that the other cities and their rec leagues are going to be hurting as well since their leagues start in April.. meaning less girls get to play because the girls can't play from middle school ball.

And when the travel girls head off the first weekend of June to go play travel ball.... the rec leagues aren't playing because back in April they didn't have enough players to play at that certain age group. So, now the rec girls who were playing for year in the Summer are not now.

And why is that ? Because some moron thinks it's a great thing to play middle schol ball and because some can't afford the club status and pay their own way and now get the district to sponsor them .. now they can't play rec and the program fails.

And for what? Sub-par ball being played ? A "social setting".

Look at the whole picture... not what is best for you. The rec system is already in place and has been for years. Why make another rec program ( MS ball) and mess up what is already there and give the non-travel ball kids nothing to do in June because their leagues didn't get off the ground.

 

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jmo ohio should just go to travel ball

 

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No field usage available in Wilmington for a "NEW" rec league.

I am sure that the other cities and their rec leagues are going to be hurting as well since their leagues start in April.. meaning less girls get to play because the girls can't play from middle school ball.

And when the travel girls head off the first weekend of June to go play travel ball.... the rec leagues aren't playing because back in April they didn't have enough players to play at that certain age group. So, now the rec girls who were playing for year in the Summer are not now.

And why is that ? Because some moron thinks it's a great thing to play middle schol ball and because some can't afford the club status and pay their own way and now get the district to sponsor them .. now they can't play rec and the program fails.

And for what? Sub-par ball being played ? A "social setting".

Look at the whole picture... not what is best for you. The rec system is already in place and has been for years. Why make another rec program ( MS ball) and mess up what is already there and give the non-travel ball kids nothing to do in June because their leagues didn't get off the ground.

Guess kids around my neck of the woods are lucky. The ms season lasts until mother's day weekend and rec games start the last week of May and goes til early/mid July depending on the age group. None of the "schools" in MS league are board sanctioned. Despite that, we cut our travel team loose until May 10th. We had'em all fall & winter.

 

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Justawondering- I'll save you some headaches. Pull your DD from all softball organizations, travel, rec, and school. Instead of spending your money on softball, put it into a college savings account and make sure she gets good grades. She will get more college scholarships from academics than she will from softball.

 

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Well stated Bill..... by the post count total, just a stirrer......