This issue has been discussed in many threads under different titles however the message is the same....what is their plan verses you forcing them to play so you can brag my daughter took it to the next level?
I had a parent tell me her kid would never play D3 as she is better than the other girls on her team and then told everyone on OFC she was going D1 and guess what? It never happened and she is not even in college!
You need a plan and guess what the kid has to buy into it also.
I would say the cost to tote them around at a top level schedule is about $4,000 dollars, hotels, meals, gas, equipment for the most part. For some of you that may start at 12 years old so lets say for the next 6 years you may spend $24,000 dollars, some a little more or less. Do not forget to factor in your vehicle expenses also as it is a cost. Plus time off work if you do not have vacation time to cover it. Plus ER visits, x rays, MRI's, PT and lessons or maybe she does not need lessons and is just gifted.
Now what school do you
wish her to go to or does she even have a clue yet and where can you afford to send her? OK still too young to decide so we wait a little longer. By the way how are the grades coming along? All the money you are spending on pitching lessons, hitting, catching etc are also a factor. Who are you taking her to for work ethic also? If she only practices with the team and when she goes to lessons then you need to keep an eye on the grades or did I mention that? Yes we have kids who have full academic rides and walked on the team and want to play because they love the game. You can not make them love the sport and do not compare your kid to someone elses kid as you do not know how or why they do or what they do either but their kid seems to work harder and gets good grades. Do you take them to every college clinic in the state for learning techniques or exposure? That's right we have not been able to select what she wants to do yet or what college she wants to attend and the clock is still ticking and you my friend are spending a lot of money. Do you have a college fund set up yet as many started that when their kid was born or very young.
In your plan how often does she practice on her own? How much does she really want it? Have you even talked to her about it or this what
YOU want?
Students loans are an option as every one wants to bring in $40 to $100,000 dollars into their marriage as debt to each other. How are the grades coming along? 2.8 GPA as a freshman in high school? No problem as she will get a 4.0 her sophomore and that if she can pull that off it will be a 3.4 GPA! Whoops it did not happen again and she got a 2.75 and now it is 2.755! Oh well there is her junior year! Get the point! Without the grades it makes getting academic money even more difficult!
Worry about her grades and have a plan and if that includes softball it is even better HOWEVER do not plan on soft ball paying for college as it is very difficult especially if you do not see them practice on their own unless you are requiring it and if that is the case you better worry about their grades as that may be your only way to reduce your costs...in my opinion!
Some of these kids would be better off not playing soft ball in high school and focusing on their grades and also improving their ability to get in shape and train. Then play travel ball and pick the right school that your daughter can get an education at and possiblly play soft ball.
