multi-sport athletes

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I have a question to all the veteran moms and dads who have had this issue,How do you tell and or ask your dd who is just as good at one sport as they are at another to make a decision on what to focus on during conflicting schedules?
As my example we all know that if you want to play elite softball you must practice almost year around to compete at high levels but my dd has always been up for the challenge and she has done well, but this year going into highschool she has been asked to play varsity v-ball,she also very good at that but as we all know that takes dedication and practice as well. So the question is what is one to do when both sports overlap each other and she begins to struggle with one?

 

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Re: multi-spot athletes

Not an easy issue, either for the player or the "out of season" coach. We opt to accommodate the multi-sport athletes, but the volleyball conflict with fall exposure and fall qualifiers makes it increasingly hard as the players get older and the travel ball team starts getting accepted to fall exposure events. We have had parents who have had discussions with the volleyball coaches about the issue and some volleyball coaches have been good about being flexible. Other volleyball coaches, I am sure, won't be at all inclined to that flexibility.

The bottom line is the multi-sport athlete needs to give primary attention to her in-sport high school season (unless she really knows she wants to play softball in college and gets things worked out with the volleyball coach) BUT she also needs to use time management skills to practice softball mechanics and techniques on her own. Those can be done at odd times using a tee and a net for hitting, using (as Howard is fond of pointing out) a tee and a roll of socks while looking in the mirror to check on various points in the swing process, using that same roll of socks and a mirror to check on her throwing mechanics, etc. etc.

Implementing time management so that softball skills don't get too rusty is also an important "life lesson." Young women who want to play in college will definitely need to know how to manage their time.

And thank goodness for OFC as a way of getting pick-up players for those fall exposure and qualifier events.

 

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Re: multi-spot athletes

School sports come first. In the end, it is her decision.

 

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Re: multi-spot athletes

Forgot to add that one of the time management issues is communicating with college coaches if the player is participating in fall exposure events. Fall is a key time for exposure.

 

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Re: multi-spot athletes

As my example we all know that if you want to play elite softball you must practice almost year around to compete at high levels but my dd has always been up for the challenge and she has done well, but this year going into highschool she has been asked to play varsity v-ball,she also very good at that but as we all know that takes dedication and practice as well.


We all don't know that you have to practice anything year around. In fact i would suggest there are many reasons not to do so. The MAJORITY of collegiant softball players also played other sports in high school.

Don't drink the Kool Aide

 

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Re: multi-spot athletes

You don't tell her, only she knows what she truly wants and in the end it all works out.....

 

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Re: multi-spot athletes

Good post and solid advice by cgs. Nice job!

 

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Re: multi-spot athletes

My dd was a 3 sport athlete, and as said above she will decide which ones she will stick with. Fortunately she gave up the right one, the evil communist sport.

 

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Re: multi-spot athletes

my dd was a 3 sport athlete, and as said above she will decide which ones she will stick with. Fortunately she gave up the right one, the evil communist sport.

golf????

 

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Re: multi-spot athletes

This situation has actually come to an end for us. This year my dd made the decision on her own to pursue softball over volleyball. It is not that she couldn't play both but to reach her goals it required her to make this decision. She has several opportunities this fall that are outside of the norm and she knew that she needed to have the time to prepare for them as well as maintain her academics. She is a very good v-ball player and loves it, but in the end she was resolute in her decision and is confident it was the right one. No one can make this type of decision for their kids it has to come from what is important to them. Priorities are the guidelines. Academics, fitness, and skills training make a full week of work for her. She also has to be a kid and do fun stuff too. So in my dd case the decision was a good one.

 

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Re: multi-spot athletes

I have a question to all the veteran moms and dads who have had this issue,How do you tell and or ask your dd who is just as good at one sport as they are at another to make a decision on what to focus on during conflicting schedules?
As my example we all know that if you want to play elite softball you must practice almost year around to compete at high levels but my dd has always been up for the challenge and she has done well, but this year going into highschool she has been asked to play varsity v-ball,she also very good at that but as we all know that takes dedication and practice as well. So the question is what is one to do when both sports overlap each other and she begins to struggle with one?

My daughter is a senior plays - travel fall ball and is still a three sport athlete. Her volleyball coach is letting her miss two Sat. volleyball matches for fall ball.
She could be a better softball player, but would she be happy?

She wanted to do it all and has.

Only go through High School once I say. Make the most of it.



Side note: If she stays healthy she will graduate with 12 varsity letters.
Any body know of a kid - boy or girl that has done that in high school.



Straightleg

 

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Re: multi-spot athletes

First rule is school sports before other teams if it is game vs game.
Games always over practices.
School sports over other team if it is practice vs practice.

Main reason is I can take my kids and practice the other sports when schools are locked as to when they practice. I also value HS sports. HS sports are the thing I want my kids involved in more than anything. Maybe that is the public school teacher in me coming out, but I feel that it is more important.

 

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Re: multi-spot athletes

DD letterd in 5 sports..1 year.. givining up basketball this year to work on speed and strength...
CC, s o c c e r,baasketball,track and softball... helps to go to small school. w/o saying she enjoys staying busy.. before you ask she is top 2 in her class and class president scored 29 her sophomore in her ACT.

 

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Re: multi-spot athletes

I miss the good old days when you could play multiple sports in HS and not have any problem. Things have changed a lot in the last 15-20 years. I think it can still be be done but it gets much harder. I am not looking forward to decision time. Fortunately for me my oldest is only 11 and I have a few more years of bliss.

 

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Just remember: Jack-of-all trades and a master of none.

 

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Evil Dad-my junior daughter swiched to the evil communist sport this year as well, so we had to bag FallBall due to "team-bonding" events....Never had a conflict with Vball. She may end up with 12 or 13 letters before all said and done, I frankly hoped she would bag the fall sports....Again, helps when you go to a small (D5) school. Made the decision this year not to touch a bat or glove from mid-Aug to middle of October to let some muscles rest and hopefully avoid burnout, shes been softball all year since 5th grade. She is getting aerobic exercise from running and is lifting to get stronger, real problem is in spring when she does track and softball at same time, that is when the fur really flies....How many other track/softball players out there, and how does your school handle it? Strictly a personal poll, and if you want to know my opinion, pm me--I will not put that on a public website for reasons I will make clear off the record....One local big school forbids conflict athletes, costing them the girl who set the school records in the throwing events, still don't see the wisdom in that. Some of the college coaches we have talked to appreciate multi-sport athletes, others have acted like we just ate lindberger cheese....My personal opinion is if that the child can excell in multiple sports and prove they can handle time demands and conflicts, then wouldn't they be more likely to really tear it up at college when the coach can get them to strictly focus on thier scholarship sport? My two cents...

 

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with all those sports, when will you find time to go to the OSU/michigan game when you win ...2-OSU VS MICHIGAN tickets Deck 23AA Row 4, 1 night hotel accomodations at the Hilton Garden Inn-OSU area and $100.00 gift certificate to Eddie Georges Grill. Thats the 1st prize in the ..
Stingrays (Theophilus) raffle

tickets are 3 for $10.00.

Second prize is OSU VS PERDUE tickets
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Anyone interested can send a check to...
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Attn: Treasurer

along with your contact information and tickets will mailed out when we receive your check...


Drawing will be held October 15th.
Results will be posted by 5:00 pm Monday October 18th at
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evil dad-my junior daughter swiched to the evil communist sport this year as well, so we had to bag fallball due to "team-bonding" events....never had a conflict with vball. She may end up with 12 or 13 letters before all said and done, i frankly hoped she would bag the fall sports....again, helps when you go to a small (d5) school. Made the decision this year not to touch a bat or glove from mid-aug to middle of october to let some muscles rest and hopefully avoid burnout, shes been softball all year since 5th grade. She is getting aerobic exercise from running and is lifting to get stronger, real problem is in spring when she does track and softball at same time, that is when the fur really flies....how many other track/softball players out there, and how does your school handle it? Strictly a personal poll, and if you want to know my opinion, pm me--i will not put that on a public website for reasons i will make clear off the record....one local big school forbids conflict athletes, costing them the girl who set the school records in the throwing events, still don't see the wisdom in that. Some of the college coaches we have talked to appreciate multi-sport athletes, others have acted like we just ate lindberger cheese....my personal opinion is if that the child can excel in multiple sports and prove they can handle time demands and conflicts, then wouldn't they be more likely to really tear it up at college when the coach can get them to strictly focus on their scholarship sport? My two cents...

yes!

 

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Re: multi-spot athletes

My daughter is a senior plays - travel fall ball and is still a three sport athlete. Her volleyball coach is letting her miss two Sat. volleyball matches for fall ball.
She could be a better softball player, but would she be happy?

She wanted to do it all and has.

Only go through High School once I say. Make the most of it.



Side note: If she stays healthy she will graduate with 12 varsity letters.
Any body know of a kid - boy or girl that has done that in high school.



Straightleg

That is awesome Gerry!! So cool to hear that.

I agree, max it out. An athlete is hard to hold back!

Greg Abbott's (our 14u teal coach) DD did with 12 letters as well. She went onto Rio Grande a led their team in many categories and was a full scholarship player due to her 4.0 along with her amazing abilities as a runner, basketball, tennis, and softball. She is now the assistant coach for the SB program at Rio Grande effective this year. Great family and one girl that did it all. Modest too.

 

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Lot of good points. I know several girls in HS who play travel and are able to play HS sports.