Is 8u Too Soon for Travel Softball?

[alborules]

A year ago I sat in a meeting at Wizard World telling the parents of my new 8u team that we were "only 1 step over Rec Ball". I expected just a bit more dedication, just a bit more travel, but a significantly longer season counting practice. I could offer them more games and a TON more quality instruction than Rec. Ball. The top 3 rules are: 1) Have fun 2) Have fun 3) have fun. After those 3 rules, I know "learn" was #4, but who cares when you are having fun!
I had spent 5 years as an assistant, busted my butt to learn as much as possible about the game. My take was: Fastpitch was set up backwards...the most experienced and talented coaches were with the most experienced talented teams! Any decent organization should put experienced coaches with the youngest girls. The coach should make everything a game, or as much fun as possible to get these girls to learn.
After every practice my girls get candy and give each other compliments. They learn Kobata fielding while throwing at Barney the Dinosaur. Sometimes they learn RVP hitting with a doll in their arms (rock the baby, throw the baby). They always get to play "Octopus Tag" or "Dodge Ball". We often have ice cream after practice too.
I demand only 50% attendance until Februray because I want the girls to play other sports and get a good start in school for the first 2 quarters. I ask 75% attendance from February to May because we are getting ready for the May to August season, but basketball or other school activities are still happening. During the May to August season, I only ask that softball comes before other optional activities. School, family, and religious functions come first ALL year long.
I spent a lot of time making contacts last year to set up indoor and outdoor scrimmages. I met and talked to some awesome 8u coaches and tournament directors, not to mention some college coaches (when I was trying to set up indoor events at their university). I always asked my parents if they wanted to go out of town, and worked hard to get those out of town dates to be only 1 day.
So I ask you, after the revived negative comments about 8u being "too serious" or "too soon"...is 8u really too soon for travel ball? Have I pushed too hard?

Allan Abel
Wizards Nemesis

 

[Irish196]

Dang! With all of that, *I* want to play 8u with your team!!
Sounds like a lot of fun and learning too.

 

[alborules]

Dang! With all of that, *I* want to play 8u with your team!!
Sounds like a lot of fun and learning too.

Thank you. That is the response that I'm trying to get. What I do is modeled after Jamie Terry (Wizards Blackswamp and Wizards Legacy) and Mike Slob (Marion Diamonds '04 now Lasers '04). They have absolute love of the game and devotion to their girls. They pass along more than softball to their players.

 

[Ri-domination]

Thank you. That is the response that I'm trying to get. What I do is modeled after Jamie Terry (Wizards Blackswamp and Wizards Legacy) and Mike Slob (Marion Diamonds '04 now Lasers '04). They have absolute love of the game and devotion to their girls. They pass along more than softball to their players.

My dd could have played ball no matter what, (not to sound like I have the daddy blinders on, she's just a baller), my point is her knowing Mike Slob has made her a better person and she wants to play for no one else. He won't let these kids beat themselves up over a strikeout, he makes them want to push themselves to be a better athlete and person, he is adamant on them to have a smile on their face, there is a lot more there going on with Coach Mike than just running through the motions. I glad to hear someone else acknowledge it. I know there are a lot of good coaches out there and the great ones all know who you are because kids and families will remind you of the impact you have had on them. I wish more people would post on the thread about positive coaches because I feel they would love to hear it and feel appreciated. Not only that it would help others out in the future to know what to look for.

 

[freddieball]

Sounds like your doing everything right. Being too young is just someone's opinion or perception. Everyone has one. The list of too young too old too big or too small can pertain to everything in life. They are only too young if the parent's feel they are too young. I have a 8u also and I feel she is not ready for travel yet, but other 8u girls I have seen are.

 

[homerin]

This is exactly why my daughter plays for Coach Abel. Thank you Allan.

The amazing thing was at last week's practice, almost every girl stayed after a two hour practice for at least another 45 minutes working on individual stuff. A bunch of 6-8 year olds having fun learning the game.

 

[bell27]

I have to agree Mike Slob is an awesome coach. My daughter really enjoyed her experience with him on 9U Diamonds and is better because of it. It wasn't in the cards to play for him this coming year but she was very fortunate to find a team with very similar coaching philosophy. That was the absolute number one priority when we searched for a team with second being the fit with the girls on that team.

 

[FastBat]

A year ago I sat in a meeting at Wizard World telling the parents of my new 8u team that we were "only 1 step over Rec Ball". I expected just a bit more dedication, just a bit more travel, but a significantly longer season counting practice. I could offer them more games and a TON more quality instruction than Rec. Ball. The top 3 rules are: 1) Have fun 2) Have fun 3) have fun. After those 3 rules, I know "learn" was #4, but who cares when you are having fun!
I had spent 5 years as an assistant, busted my butt to learn as much as possible about the game. My take was: Fastpitch was set up backwards...the most experienced and talented coaches were with the most experienced talented teams! Any decent organization should put experienced coaches with the youngest girls. The coach should make everything a game, or as much fun as possible to get these girls to learn.
After every practice my girls get candy and give each other compliments. They learn Kobata fielding while throwing at Barney the Dinosaur. Sometimes they learn RVP hitting with a doll in their arms (rock the baby, throw the baby). They always get to play "Octopus Tag" or "Dodge Ball". We often have ice cream after practice too.
I demand only 50% attendance until Februray because I want the girls to play other sports and get a good start in school for the first 2 quarters. I ask 75% attendance from February to May because we are getting ready for the May to August season, but basketball or other school activities are still happening. During the May to August season, I only ask that softball comes before other optional activities. School, family, and religious functions come first ALL year long.
I spent a lot of time making contacts last year to set up indoor and outdoor scrimmages. I met and talked to some awesome 8u coaches and tournament directors, not to mention some college coaches (when I was trying to set up indoor events at their university). I always asked my parents if they wanted to go out of town, and worked hard to get those out of town dates to be only 1 day.
So I ask you, after the revived negative comments about 8u being "too serious" or "too soon"...is 8u really too soon for travel ball? Have I pushed too hard?

Allan Abel
Wizards Nemesis

You are going to have a great year! Good luck!