National Rankings

[AnotherSoftballDad]

Just so you know, being 10 and playing competitive ball doesn't guarantee college play. If you really look into it, some of the best don't start until they are older, because they aren't given the opportunity to play really competitively at 10u d/t parent financial ability, etc. As a 10u parent, I reminded myself, there will be great players my dd has yet to see who are out playing baseball, basketball, or gymnastics, and will soon just discover softball and start playing.

To me if your 10u loves it, by all means, travel the world in pursuit of playing the sport they love. But, if as a 10u parent, your goal for your dd is to play softball in college, then your goal should be the "slow and steady" approach. Just continuing to play at 14u, when your dd is 14, would be an accomplishment.

So age 14 is the appropriate age to have dreams and goals, not 10? I do understand what you are saying and if I misinterpreted it, I do apologize. Now I know very few kids have college goals and dreams at age 10. But it is part of being a parent to teach and explain things to them. Just like chores or being respectful, they don't get why right now.

I will definitely agree "some" parents are probably scouring colleges as we speak. But most I have been around are ecstatic of their progress and hard work and they are just trying to work to get to the next level........12u. You can ALWAYS find a few that go overboard, but to lump them all together is a nice, stereotypical ball, as some like to do is unfair at the least. There is a lot of valuable information on here, in regards to coming up through "the ranks".

For the record, I disagree with these 10 year olds joining teams out of state. That would fit in the "overboard" category and again, very few of those. But some of the comments on here is simply a slap in the face as everyone is labeled just a "10u parent".

 

[lewam3]

So age 14 is the appropriate age to have dreams and goals, not 10? I do understand what you are saying and if I misinterpreted it, I do apologize. Now I know very few kids have college goals and dreams at age 10.

Yes this is true. My daughter didn't even know that you could play softball in college until 14u, second year, at a college team winter camp. Dead serious. She didn't even have college ball on HER radar screen until 2nd year 16u! So I do agree with your post AnotherSoftballDad, in that DD's drive came from wanting to stay tough as she moved up age groups-nothing more than that, not from some dream of playing in college as a 10 year old.

 

[DanMaz]

So I guess we should not be proud of all the hard work our daughters put in to travel ball. Some of these young girls want to grow up to be college softball players. So to sit and make fun of some of parents and young children who dedicate there Summer to play ball vs some of the best teams around is sad on your part. You are pretty much telling our kids not to set goals and try to reach the top. I for one want my child to play the best cause beating up on bad teams does not teach her anything and if that by chance takes us out of the state of Ohio to play the best so be it..... You should never settle for less when u can have more. And when a team full of young talented girls represent the state of Ohio like a few of these teams do why can't we as parents be proud of them even though they are 10!! Don't forget all those girls playing College ball used to be 10 before and had dreams of playing the best. So, I think it is OK for our little girls to dream.

AGREE - darn right its ok to dream!!! how the heck does anyone know but the kid herself what she really dreams of doing... heck when i was 4 or 5 or 7 i wanted and would dream of playing in the NFL. my parents didn't tell me to dream about it... i did dream about being in the NFL period. and they sure didn't shoot me down for my "dreams". who would do that?

and the second part of your statement is the exact reason most players get out of rec ball. beating up teams 10-0 every game with walk fests... does nothing to improve your game. makes you "think" you are untouchable because you have never seen any real competition. It only makes the daddy coaches head get bigger and bigger and his ego gets as big as the moon! then when they get to HS ball and their super star rec players cant keep up with any of the travel girls.... POP goes the ego!!! lol and its too late to try and catch up.

 

[FastBat]

I was trying to add some reality that not every player in College, played on a highly competitive 10u travel team or even played at 10 years old.

Don't forget all those girls playing College ball used to be 10 before and had dreams of playing the best.

If your child doesn't play highly competitive travel or even the sport at 10u, don't worry, all hope is not lost. She may actually be able to play softball in college, if that is what she loves to do.

If your 10u has a dream of playing softball in college, good for her, keep working hard and enjoy.




Scratching my head, trying to figure out, how the following somehow implies 10 year olds can't have dreams?

Just so you know, being 10 and playing competitive ball doesn't guarantee college play. If you really look into it, some of the best don't start until they are older, because they aren't given the opportunity to play really competitively at 10u d/t parent financial ability, etc. As a 10u parent, I reminded myself, there will be great players my dd has yet to see who are out playing baseball, basketball, or gymnastics, and will soon just discover softball and start playing.

To me if your 10u loves it, by all means, travel the world in pursuit of playing the sport they love. But, if as a 10u parent, your goal for your dd is to play softball in college, then your goal should be the "slow and steady" approach. Just continuing to play at 14u, when your dd is 14, would be an accomplishment.

 

[wow]

So is MOJO good or not? Back to yr regular scheduled programming..