School grades for travel ball

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I have started something new this year with my 14u travel team and wanted to get everyone's opinion. This fall, winter and spring I have made it mandatory for my girls to bring there interim reports and there grade cards to practice so that we can review them and to make sure they are preparing themselves for the next level.

Most travel teams have girls that wanna play at the next level so I think as coaches it is not only our responsibility to help them get better on the field, but off the field as well. The first question asked by ALL college coaches is how well does she do in the classroom. I believe this may help my girls understand a little more about how much emphasis is put on education.

Ohio Glory 14u
Chad Lytle
 
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It is so important for the girls to realize how much colleges look at the grades. What a great idea.

Our coach has always requested the end of the year report cards for the last two years to look at before the summer season starts.
 
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DD's coach at 14u and above did this. It was kept confidential, but we had no problems: As parents, our minimum grade to play sports was a B average. I think it reinforced the importance of grades and how it will affect your college plans.

DD will be teaching school soon, and it was all made possible starting with good grades in high school, followed by good grades in college. The athletic scholarship was the result of disciplined work at BOTH academics and softball. Playing DI softball and maintaining excellent grades is no easy task, and those who make it through will have developed a good vision for what it takes in today's job market.

She talked quite a bit to a coach at the Stingray tournament this summer about the importance of all this, and how it all ties together. I should talk her into hiring herself out to give seminars...
 
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Help me out here. Are you going to bench the kid if she brings you a bad report card? Does she get less playing time if she has a C average instead of a B? If you are not going to have some consequence for under performing than why go through the motions? It's kind of like making idle threats than (e.g. don't make me stop this car...)
 
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I think this is a great idea. My DD's coach said he was going to implement this but never followed through with it. I am curious as to what the consequences are if players are not making the grade.
 
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In order for my dd to play travel for 2012, she must bring home no less than a 3.5 GPA. So if she wants to play next year, she must perform this year. I'm trying to get in-grained that even of you throw 85, has a drop that breaks 2 feet from the beginnin to the end of home plate, and whose change-up is 30 but only have a C average, then no one will go after you. However, if you have all of those things and a high GPA, you'll stress out about which college to choose and that is a good thing. So far it is working. 5 A's and 2 B's, now it I can just find a way to get her to throw 85. :D.

In other words, I completely agree with holding the girls accountable for thier grades. I think it would be more important to start earlier than 12 so by the time they are 14, it will be easier.

The3dm-I'll bench my oldest if she doesn't come home with less than a 3.2 (schoolwork doesn't come as easy for her thus the lower GPA). This was last year in the 8th grade that I set the standard. At that time her GPA was 2.3 to 2.5. This year, a 3.5. If a girl truly loves ball, then she'll do whatever it takes to play.
 
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As a private, non-school team, I don't think there really needs to be any set consequences, at least at this level....the fact that you are having them bring the grades in, and offering help is a GREAT thing....My DD is a freshman this year, playing another year of 14U, and I think this really can bring into focus for the one's like her, that do desire to go further, how important the academics are and how all of the pieces of the puzzle are truly inter-connected...it is a time of transitioning more and more responsibility to the players....I commend you!!
 
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Like others have already stated...I think it's a fantastic idea. Anything that helps motivate the girls in their academics.

The pride and positive reinforcement they receive for good grades is nothing but helpful, and any minor embarrassment the ones who are not performing up to their potential might experience can only spur them to do better in the future.

The more folks caring about their education, the better, imho.
 
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My girls know that if they bring home a c on their report card they are done with all sports, phone gone and to their room they go. I stress grades to my team alot. I tell them that if they want to play at the next level then the classroom must come first. I think it would be hard to punish a player if their parents do not punish them first. Mine know what the consequences are.
 
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I'm trying to get in-grained that even of you throw 85, has a drop that breaks 2 feet from the beginnin to the end of home plate, and whose change-up is 30 but only have a C average, then no one will go after you.

Sorry, but I have to laugh at this one. This girl would have schools lined up around the block and offering her the moon to come play for them. Schools will dedicate a ton of resources to ensure you stay eligible. Remember, sports are sports and academics are academics.

Now they will not take a kid that isn't willing to work to stay eligible, but if you're willing to work they will make sure you are able to play. Also, they may insist that you enter an easier program too, something that may get you a 20K/yr after you graduate.

I personnaly do not tie my dd ability to play in the summer to her grades during the school year. She knows that she needs grades to get into a good college and that softball is a GAME and nothing more and games don't pay the bills (if your a woman and not playing golf or tennis). It is more important that she get into a good career path than play ball in college. She'll play ball in college and she'll get her share of money for her grades and not playing ball.
 
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Sorry but my daughters grades are not her travel coaches business as a parent I make that decision. If the coach told me he was doing this during tryouts and we accepted then ok but to spring this later is wrong. That being said my DD knows that grades are more important then softball and a bad report card is going to cost her
 
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Maybe we're just blessed, but with our dd grades aren't an issue, other than the stress placed on getting straight A's. When I was in school, I always found my gpa went up during a sports season I was in. For our kids, thanks to my better half who was a much better and more disciplined student than I was, the children's grades have always been high end. If dd's coach made any point about seeing a grade card, I'd first get a feeling that it's none of his business, and probably second, I'm sure the dd would be happy to pass them around.
 
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Sorry but my daughters grades are not her travel coaches business as a parent I make that decision. If the coach told me he was doing this during tryouts and we accepted then ok but to spring this later is wrong. That being said my DD knows that grades are more important then softball and a bad report card is going to cost her

I with you all the way. I think it's sad that so many think they should fill the role of parents to kids that are not there's. No wonder parents are slacking off, everyone else is doing the job for them starting with our schools. I don't want the coach of my daughter's recreational sport dealing with my daughter's grades, what she wears, when and who she dates, when and wear she drives, how much she talks on the phone, how much money she saves or anything else away from that sport..I WANT THEM TO COACH HER IN THAT SPORT.

My daughter is required to get B's or better. Doesn't have anything to do with softball. I agree that if you are going to meddle in some kid's life away from the field it should have been disclosed before they signed on. Very wrong to spring it after they joined the team.

I as a parent do not meddle in the what the coach does on the field and they should not meddle in what goes on away from the game. JMHO

Just checked, right now she has 4 A's and 3 B's. She lives another day.
 
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Phil I have to agree with you my DD's Mom does all the heavy lifting with school work. As a divorced parent all I really do is pick her up on Fri breath a little fire when I am told to and have fun all weekend then take her home dirty sore and tired
 
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I don't have a problem with my daughter's travel coach asking for report cards and or having school grade expectations. I don't need his help, but if he cares enough to ask and or set expectations it's okay with me. Let's face it some kids need another adult to help them understand what's really important. I am fortunate that my kid understands that school is number 1 and works just as hard at school as becoming a better S.B. player.
 
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If you really want to make the point to your girls about how important their grades are to recruiting, I truly believe that you should take the girls to a campus and have a college coach talk to the girls and explain the ins and outs about athletic money and academic money.

As parents we all know that we can tell the girls until we are blue in the face and they usually just let it float on by. But if it comes from someone outside of the usual circle, then the girls seem to get it, understand it better, and then they start to make those decisions concerning there softball future.
 
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If you really want to make the point to your girls about how important their grades are to recruiting, I truly believe that you should take the girls to a campus and have a college coach talk to the girls and explain the ins and outs about athletic money and academic money.

As parents we all know that we can tell the girls until we are blue in the face and they usually just let it float on by. But if it comes from someone outside of the usual circle, then the girls seem to get it, understand it better, and then they start to make those decisions concerning there softball future.

Exactly! Have the girls get the information directly from the primary source.

Len
 
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I know that our dd's last pitching coach always checked on how she was doing in school, but more importantly, she set an example as to what doing your best in school and softball can do for you. She was a CPA, and we struggled along with her as she described to our dd all the hard work it took to become a CPA so she could do the best she could in her profession. She always showed our dd that hard work in school and softball would pay off in college and later in a career you loved. I think a coach setting that kind of an example for a young teen is priceless. She personified how ambition, goal-setting hard work and sacrifice pays off in softball, in a career and in life. Her coach earned a big promotion to Chicago, but she'll always be teaching our dd what it takes to be a success.
 
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I think its a great idea for coaches to show interest in the grades of their players. I don't believe they have to offer a punishment, or consequence to a c grade. It is important to let the kids know that coaches do care about the academic success of their players. Don't the high school and college coaches find out if girls on the team have low grades, why not travel softball coaches as well? Remember, it takes a village to raise a child. Parents may tell their kids something over and over and it never sinks in, then a coach or other mentor will tell them the same thing and a light bulb is turned on inside our teenagers mind!
 
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I think its a great idea for coaches to show interest in the grades of their players. I don't believe they have to offer a punishment, or consequence to a c grade. It is important to let the kids know that coaches do care about the academic success of their players. Don't the high school and college coaches find out if girls on the team have low grades, why not travel softball coaches as well? Remember, it takes a village to raise a child. Parents may tell their kids something over and over and it never sinks in, then a coach or other mentor will tell them the same thing and a light bulb is turned on inside our teenagers mind!

Exactly so, softballmom...great post.
 

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