New to this!

[Davidhailey2012]

How do I go about getting my soon to be 10 year old on a traveling team?

 

[yocoach]

There are many ways to do it. However, I would suggest taking this Summer and sub for teams. Contact your local TB 10U teams and let them know that your DD is available to sub this Summer. Also, post on the "Players looking for team or sub master list" forum found on here in the next section down. By subbing, this will allow you to get first hand experience of how the coaches coach, what they teach, how the potential teammates are and allow you to talk to parents on the team and get their impressions/opinions/how happy they are with the team. Then keep an eye on the tryouts master list, again found on here and look through the "Girls Tryout Discussions" Forum for other posts to see when some of the teams you want her to tryout for are having them. I would also suggest trying out for at least 3 if not 4 or more to give you options to find what you feel would be the best fit for your DD should offers be made.

 

[M & R Davis]

Agree with first reply. In addition I would get out and go watch some tournaments. Paying close attention to the coaches, the parents and the skill levels of the girls. Be completely honest with where you’re daughter fits in skill level wise so you can start to focus on what level to start at. There is nothing wrong starting at C level if that is where she is at but nothing worse then starting at C level if she should be at A level. See how coaches act and teach during the heat of the moment. They can all be on best behavior during tryouts and phone calls but during games you will get a true picture of them. Same for parents. Do the parents seem to sit together or are they all apart and don’t talk to each other? Little things that can clue you in on the chemistry of the team.

Most importantly find the right fit for your daughter and your family. Don’t settle and don’t get worried if you don’t have a team at the middle of August. There will be opportunities out there that come open. I’ve always told parents there is a team for every girl and every skill level you just have to find it. Pitchers and catchers are always in demand so if your daughter has interest in either of those positions I would encourage her to try those.

Now for the reality part. Get ready to drive endless miles on most summer weekends to go to tournaments. There is no off season so when not playing be ready to go to practices, camps and tournaments you aren’t playing in to watch a potential new team or just to watch some ball games. You will get to know the UPS guy by first name as he is dropping off gloves, bats and other must have softball items. You will end up with enough “stuff” to outfit at least half a team or more by the time it’s over. Multiply that by 3 if you decide to get in to the coaching side of it.

You will get to spend hours and hours with your daughter watching her become a young lady and those memories will last a lifetime. You will make friends with other parents and the girls will make friends they would have never known if not for the softball journey bringing them together. Cherish every minute of it, enjoys the highs of it and don’t let the lows eat you up as there will be both. Just told my daughter yesterday it seems like just a few months ago that we went to that first 12U tryout as she is getting ready for Senior night and to hang up her spikes for the last time in about 2 weeks. It goes by fast so don’t short change the experience.

Best of luck on finding a team and have fun!

 

[daboss]

Agree with first reply. In addition I would get out and go watch some tournaments. Paying close attention to the coaches, the parents and the skill levels of the girls. Be completely honest with where you’re daughter fits in skill level wise so you can start to focus on what level to start at. There is nothing wrong starting at C level if that is where she is at but nothing worse then starting at C level if she should be at A level. See how coaches act and teach during the heat of the moment. They can all be on best behavior during tryouts and phone calls but during games you will get a true picture of them. Same for parents. Do the parents seem to sit together or are they all apart and don’t talk to each other? Little things that can clue you in on the chemistry of the team.

Most importantly find the right fit for your daughter and your family. Don’t settle and don’t get worried if you don’t have a team at the middle of August. There will be opportunities out there that come open. I’ve always told parents there is a team for every girl and every skill level you just have to find it. Pitchers and catchers are always in demand so if your daughter has interest in either of those positions I would encourage her to try those.

Now for the reality part. Get ready to drive endless miles on most summer weekends to go to tournaments. There is no off season so when not playing be ready to go to practices, camps and tournaments you aren’t playing in to watch a potential new team or just to watch some ball games. You will get to know the UPS guy by first name as he is dropping off gloves, bats and other must have softball items. You will end up with enough “stuff” to outfit at least half a team or more by the time it’s over. Multiply that by 3 if you decide to get in to the coaching side of it.

You will get to spend hours and hours with your daughter watching her become a young lady and those memories will last a lifetime. You will make friends with other parents and the girls will make friends they would have never known if not for the softball journey bringing them together. Cherish every minute of it, enjoys the highs of it and don’t let the lows eat you up as there will be both. Just told my daughter yesterday it seems like just a few months ago that we went to that first 12U tryout as she is getting ready for Senior night and to hang up her spikes for the last time in about 2 weeks. It goes by fast so don’t short change the experience.

Best of luck on finding a team and have fun!

This is spot on and beautifully written. Thank you for sharing. It truly moved me.