Pro's/Con's of Winter Ball & Playing year round

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I have wondered about playing all year long. Why is that the trend? Are coaches/parents not afraid of burnout. Does it really make your team better playing every weekend during the winter plus a practice once a week? I see there are quite a few teams looking for winter leagues and fall tourney's. I can site two girls that played in the 1997 state championship game in the state of Ohio that ended up quiting their college team because the were wore out from all the playing growing up. My dd participates in other sports. How can she give her best to a team is she is in volleyball season and is expected to make softball practice during the weekend and tournaments on weekends plus maybe a softball practice during the week plus keep her grades up and play volleyball for her school. I think this is asking to much from the girls. This however seems to be the trend. Maybe someone can convince me that playing all year long is best for the girls. I am not sure it is.

 

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Re: Pro's/Con's of Winter Ball & Playing year roun

Broncho,

I'm with you on this one so I can't convince you otherwise! ?Right now our oldest could play softball everyday all week long. ?She is practicing with her team 2 days a week, playing Fall ball on the weekend, doing conditioners with her high school team 2 days, practicing out in the back yard with her sister, and taking pitching lessons. ?Then last week she asked if she could just take her glove to school so that she could find some one to pass with during her lunch time!! ?I'm not sure we could stop her from playing/praciticing even if we wanted to!!

What we do is offer other opportunities for our kids. ?Music lessons, martial arts, sokker (the players are called "grass fairies" in our house though ?), church youth activities, etc. ?Will it avoid the burnout? ?I don't know. ?


Honestly, I don't know who will burn out faster, me or the kids.... I can't wait for the oldest to start driving!! LOL

 

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Re: Pro's/Con's of Winter Ball & Playing year roun

veni

our children are involved in church every wednesday night and sunday. I have 5 children and all but the youngest are involved in activities at home at school and at church. My sons are good wrestlers for their ages (no the best of the best) but good wrestlers and they don't start until November. All of my sons play baseball and they don't start that until April. My oldest son plays on a travel team and they don't begin until late February. Why the need to play all year for girls?

 

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Re: Pro's/Con's of Winter Ball & Playing year roun

When Sacrifices Have to be Made

By: Amanda Rawson

There comes a time in every player's softball career when you need to decide how seriously you want to pursue softball. At some point, every youth softball player will be asked the question: Do you want to play softball in college? If being a collegiate student-athlete is something that a youth player wants to purse, that is when sacrifices might have to be made.

Pressures typically mount as players get older and begin high school. The tradeoff is usually between playing softball year round and pursuing other high school sports such as golf, track, volleyball, basketball or soccer. The opportunity cost of choosing to play fall ball, club and having the ability to attend winter camps, showcases & tournaments over high school sports is the sacrifice of participation in a sport that is loved. And although it can be a tough; if playing softball at a high level in college is the ultimate goal, it is a sacrifice that might have to be considered.

There are several reasons why playing year round softball is so important if you want to play college softball. First, club softball is more competitive than high school softball and consequently athletes who play club softball are generally better players than those who do not. Second, college coaches do most of their recruiting from tournaments & showcases which club softball teams attend. If you are not at those tournaments, than it is hard for a coach to see you play and ultimately recruit you. And lastly, the experience gained from playing softball at a competitive level will help mold you into a more desirable college prospect.

Not all players need to give up everything just to play club softball; if you can balance academics, club softball and another high school sport, then by all means don't stop. But, playing two sports can get very time consuming, and if academics are slipping or coming in second to athletics, then it is time to reevaluate where your time is spent.

It is important to understand that you do not have to quit all other sports if you want to play softball in college. Different coaches and teams offer various degrees of flexibility. Many current collegiate student-athletes played multiple sports in high school while still playing club softball. But, these student-athletes may have given up playing for a more competitive club team so they could balance their other activities and in turn, were a better fit at a Division II, Division III or NAIA school.

Playing college softball is not for everyone; do not worry about being on a competitive club team or dropping other sports if collegiate athletics isn't for you. But, if your goal is to play college softball, especially if it is Division I college softball, make sure that you are maximizing all of your opportunities and getting the most out of every club season.




http://www.ncsasports.org/student-athletes-families/softball/softball-archives/index.cfm?i=4714

 

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Re: Pro's/Con's of Winter Ball & Playing year roun

: All the travel sports are trying to demand that you only play their sport. ?With my dds the soccer coaches know that spring is for softball and the fall is for soccer. ?It does blend in the winter with indoor in both sports and we have to make choices weekend to weekend.
I am still a firm believer in overuse injuries and by switching to different sports in different seasons it helps them both physically and mentally. ?We take about 2 months off in the fall from softball and I don't believe that it hurts either dd by doing so.
If making the choice of being a 1 sport athlete is so important, then why do college ask all the time about what other sports and athlete plays. ?There was a football player that graduated a year ahead of me in school who was all conference in football (probably more awards also) State runner up in track, and a 3rd place finish in state in wrestling. Of couses when he went to college he picked his sport, which was football, was all-american, outland trophy winner and had a 14yr career in the pros. ?So you have to quit telling people that it can't be done. Of course not everyone can do it, but it can be done.

 

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Re: Pro's/Con's of Winter Ball & Playing year roun

Here is another article:

http://www.womenssportsfoundation.org/cgi-bin/iowa/sports/gogetfit/article.html?record=142

 

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Re: Pro's/Con's of Winter Ball & Playing year roun

About the only thing I recommend to parents about other sports is playing local rec ball. Where we are from it is so bad that it actually pulls them backwards. I'm pretty flexible in the fall/winter when it comes to other sports (basketball, volleyball, cross country, etc.). Like Triple V stated, it depends on the kid. I think having some variety does help with burnout. Every kid is different.

 

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I check with my dd atleast once a month to make sure she isnt getting burned out or tired. She is one of the odd ones that cant get enough of this sport. But I still check with her.
Her weekly schedule now consist of softball practice, travel basketball practice (for her 6th grade school team),and volleyball practice and games now on weekends. She is 11 years old. But she is into these sports so much. Yes she does get plenty of her girls time with her friends and such. A few times I saw where she had a basketball league game then we had to rush her to softball practice in Toledo kind of wore her down.

Luckily for us this season my dd`s coach told us that if we have a game in a different sport during softballs offseason,that she has no problem missing practice and she encourages the girls to play other sports. This will help us alot big time!!!!! Alot of coaches wont do that or believe in that.

I told her when it comes to 9th grade she will haft to drop atleast one of these sports. Of course to help her to take breaks from sporting events,mean ole daddy here wont let her be a cheerleader! LOL! ;D

As of now it doesnt seem to be wearing her down,but I will always keep an eye out for signs and keep asking her. As long she is healthy and she has the attitude of wanting to keep playing,then I will let her keep on going.

***Best part of all that hastle is dont matter if its a game or practice my dd is having fun at the event and enjoys spending time with her teammates/friends. ***

This doesnt answer the question or if its nothing buy jibber jabber,then forgive me!

 

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Re: Pro's/Con's of Winter Ball & Playing year roun

You just cannot make a blanket statement like "If you want to play DI softball, you HAVE to play year 'round". Every athlete is different, just as every student is different. Athletes who played multiple sports in high school are very common at the DI college level. What impresses the college coaches is not necessarily that they are talented enough to do it, but rather they have their act together with organizational skills, juggling studies, practices - you name it - JUST as they have to do in college.

Dan Delucia from Watterson is a good example. State football champion QB, Basketball star, and All-State baseball pitcher - and the biggie - an honor student. He wound up as a pitcher at Ohio State. Now, not every kid is going to be able to handle that. But if you can, doors will open.

DD skipped fall ball every year to take a two month break, except for light throwing. Those two months off every fall were a refresher for her. She still made it as a college pitcher. As an individual, do what you need to do to increase your skill level. That's a different project for every kid. It's not a "one size fits all" proposition.

A footnote - the NCSA web site linked in a previous post lists Kent State as DIII... say what???

 

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Re: Pro's/Con's of Winter Ball & Playing year roun

I think it really does make them better players and I think that is one of the reasons California stays ahead of everyone else. However, even a kid who truely loves the sport could get burned out playing year round. I would say that if you play year round you need some major breaks like a month off for Christmas, a month off after summer nationals, etc. I personally like to see kids play other sports.

 

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Re: Pro's/Con's of Winter Ball & Playing year roun

It is up to the player!!

In my home, if they want to play year round, and their grades are excellent, it is fine with me. Who is to say when they are destine to play college ball or not; burn out or not. Grades are paramount and if any sport got in the way of excellent grades in High School or college, then the sport goes.

I think every athlete has their own decision about playing mulitple sports or giving 100% attention to one. I have two daughters, one plays mulitple sports, as well as softball year round and one plays softball only. As long as their grades are excellent......

Who can get their crystal ball out and tell me which one or when both will have a burn out?

If they burn out in college have we some how failed them by not protecting them from burn out? Is that our job, or maybe the kid that burns out in college, just didn't want to give the commitment. Hard to know and certainly even harder to prevent.

I beleive it is up to the player. JMHO

 

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Re: Pro's/Con's of Winter Ball & Playing year roun

Hope

What happens in the event your dd wants to play and loves the game but makes winter mandatory (which is kind of the norm). Your dd says she needs a break but coach wants to get the most out of her by practicing all winter and says you have to be there?

 

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I think every parent and player need to decide what's best for them and their family. On the same note, every coach needs to decide what is best for the team. If you do not choose to play all year, then it is up to you to find a team that shares that philosophy. Most coaches are up front about the amount of playing time(practices, fall, winter, etc) and the number of tournaments they expect to play, at tryouts.

 

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Re: Pro's/Con's of Winter Ball & Playing year roun

Hi Bronco,

Parent first. If my DD wants a break then she gets it. If her coach wants to cut her, then we would have evaluated that into her decision and we would be looking for another team .

I hear on this forum so often Bronco, not you particularly but alot of pitching posts that indicate the parent has abdicated their job as parent for a team support role.

Parent first, team supporter, fan, etc.... second.

If the coach mandates winterball then I would have known that at the tryouts. If a kids needs a break, then by all means, give them a break regardless what the Coach says. "Sorry Coach, my daughter's needs come first."

Easy for me to say, my daughters want to play winterball. Have a catcher and pitcher and they both want to keep practicing so I am not faced with that decision. My daughters call it getting their softball fix. Too much time without a game and they are buggin'.

 

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Re: Pro's/Con's of Winter Ball & Playing year roun

Will a kid get burned out playing year round? ?It definately depends on the kid. ?I see girls who can't get enough softball and I think that's cool. ?I encourage my dd to play softball year round but I see the "burn-out" creeping in from time to time. ?When that happens, we take a break. ?Is it in a player's best interest to play year round? ?I think so. ?If they're serious about continuing to develop and becoming increasingly more competitive, I think playing all year helps with that tremendously. ?I do think a couple weeks off, here and there, with no games or practices is very important. ?We're going on vacation in a few weeks and I can hardly wait! ?No work, no school, and yes, its true........NO SOFTBALL! ?How will we cope with it??? ?I'm sure we'll think of something.

 

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Re: Pro's/Con's of Winter Ball & Playing year roun

Hope

I understand what you are saying about the break if she needs one, but that is easier said than done. A coach could say come when you can but them half way through decide he/she wants everyone there every time with no exceptions. Majority of teams have been settled by winter ball and that leaves a dd out of travel ball if she decides to quit. Plus we try (knock on wood) not to let our children quit once they have started. We believe this will not give them an out every time something gets difficult.

 

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Re: Pro's/Con's of Winter Ball & Playing year roun

Hi Bronco;

Yes, Coaches have been known to change their requirements but that is when a parent has to talk to the Coach and explain your daughter's need for a break, or to play another sport. Yes, most teams are settled but NOT all and there is always an opportunity just look on the board for teams that need players.

You can't let the Coach run your daughter's life. That is your job and sometime.... it is a tough job. I wish you luck with your seasons!!

 

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Re: Pro's/Con's of Winter Ball & Playing year roun

Many good posts here. We have played travel ball, fall ball and winter ball for the last 6 years. Two years ago, you would need to start throwing in high school ball too. We were averaging 90 games per year. Plus playing high school volleyball. In 2007 we backed off that number and played about 50 games. We played in a summer league this year with other travel teams, but no summer tournaments. My dd was invited to go to the ASA nationals with another travel team. She played in one tournament with them before we left. She played horrible throughout the entire time. On our way home from the nationals, she explained to me that the game was too fast. She had forgotten how quickly everything moves in travel ball. When we got home she decided to stop playing volleyball (I disagreed because of the additional conditioning, but it was her decision) and concentrate just on softball. We have been playing in a fall league as well as additional practices. There has been a dramatic improvement in the level of play. I think it depends on the player. Hope this helps.