School grades for travel ball

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with our daughter being homeschooled she doesn't have a grade card to show. and being a very normal teen girl when you talk with her she appears at times to have left her brain at home- so please don't blame homeschooling for that-haha -point is -I could tell you how she's doing in school or you ask me to make up a grade card - in our situation my daughter doesn't move on in any subject till she truly grasps it -how do you handle this and make it fair to all the girls on the team? just curious

 

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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

Question, Outside of looking at end results or report cards what are you or your parents doing to help the 13/14 year old DD go to the next level?

Setting high expectations and encouraging players to become critical thinkers or students of the game will not only help them in the classroom but, on the field as well. Showing examples of quality work, organization, leadership in your practices, stats, even proper wearing of uniform, or organization of equipment all helps start to develop critical thinking and collaborative working skills they need as they grow (the earlier the better).

When we first started 8 years ago we developed softball school that ran 8 nights in the winter to help our players become students of the game. This also gave them resources to help in everyday life, including school with building relationships and helping their peers.
Our older players were able to practice some peer mentoring with the younger players and share their experiences.
Most of the players that have stayed the course are now actively involved in the recruiting process.

 

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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 agree, whats next showing up for tryouts with your portfolio in hand..give me a break!Travel ball in my opinion is 11 or 12 skilled individules comming together as a team and if a coach would bench his stud pitcher,catcher or who ever is a gamechanger for getting a sub-par grade on her reportcard while being a couple hundred miles away from home would be stupid and honestly i find it laughable that any coach would do that.Even at the collage level coach's dont make that decision its up to a board to determine that...again coaches coach players play and the responsability for grades
(being prepared)are with the athlete.
My dd's coach will ask if the girls if they are doing ok in school and thats it and i like that, let me be responsable for my dd's grades and her private instuctions and you coach the team. To me it that easy.
If my dd would come home with a bad grade I WOULD DETERMINE THE PUNISHMENT ,dont need a travel coach doing that for me. Whats next doing weigh ins every six weeks or how about drug testing.....some coaches think they are the end all be all and its not true..i respect the coaches for what they are doing and would never discount their worth to the team but leave to parenting to the parents.
These young ladies and her parents at this level know what they have to do to go to the next level and for the most part are on that path(3.3 gpa in pr-collage studies, comunity service,ect,ect.).If you dont think driving 2 hours for practice spending enough money over the course of 5 years of travel ball(btw would pay for a good education)and countless hours at private instruction is for nothing then your crazy.Take your "show me your report card little sally" mentality to the rec programs and leave the true travel ball parents and coaches alone!
Im sure Sammy would agree that with their daughter, the travel coach didnt instill in her good work ethic,determination,to rise above the norm....these are things that parents must do if they want their children to become productive people.BTW congrats sammy,good to hear about goal achivements.

 

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Wow LILron, this topic seems to have really touched a nerve with you.

Maybe I missed it, but I don't remember the original post saying anything about punishments or benching girls for under-performing academically...but maybe I don't read with comprehension like I used to, lol.

My take on this was just a coach/team/organization showing concern for the complete girl, the whole player, if you will...with the coach in more an avuncular type role, displaying interest in her general development/progress, not so much using grades to determine who will play or not. But again, perhaps I missed something...it's certainly been the case before, lol.

 

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grades are another "stat" in their lives, just so happens to be the foundation or predicter (not always I know) as to how that child is developing. I like the idea of having them discuss their grades with a travel coach but ultimately the punishment is a parental issue. Now when it comes time to help them get exposure, they had better discuss their grades.

Setting expectations and sticking to them is important. Being their parent isn't a coaches ultimate role but there are many grey areas because "we coaches" have "their ears" on a regular basis. I know some coaches that I don't want to have my daughter's ear....

No sense in not supporting the ultimate goal which is helping them develop into successfull women. We talk about grades but don't make them show anything.

 

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Wow LILron, this topic seems to have really touched a nerve with you.

Maybe I missed it, but I don't remember the original post saying anything about punishments or benching girls for under-performing academically...but maybe I don't read with comprehension like I used to, lol.

My take on this was just a coach/team/organization showing concern for the complete girl, the whole player, if you will...with the coach in more an avuncular type role, displaying interest in her general development/progress, not so much using grades to determine who will play or not. But again, perhaps I missed something...it's certainly been the case before, lol.

Ya know kat it just upsets me that the big brother mentallity of "i know better than you do about how to raise your kids" just strikes me as a another way of control.
Yea i know i went a bit overboard but some people it always starts small and then snowballs out of control trying to impose their will on to other people and i dont like it.

Maybe I missed it, but I don't remember the original post saying anything about punishments or benching girls for under-performing academically...Then why ask for them to bring their personal school business and put it on display to their travel ball coach for wich they pay to play.

 

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ron...I guess I just didn't get that vibe from the op. It sounded more like showing concern for the whole girl, not just the ball player to me, hon.

I think most of us know that the girls (or at least I did, and my dd does, lol) will strive to do better if they think someone actually cares about their progress and is keeping some sort of tabs on it. Many of us coasted because we knew we could get by with "ok" grades, even though we certainly could have done better.

I would hope the coach is not overly critical, or thinking to mete out punishments (because you're absolutely right...that is totally the domain of the parent). Again, I think this was more about demonstrating concern/interest in the well-rounded individual.

 

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ron...I guess I just didn't get that vibe from the op. It sounded more like showing concern for the whole girl, not just the ball player to me, hon.

I think most of us know that the girls (or at least I did, and my dd does, lol) will strive to do better if they think someone actually cares about their progress and is keeping some sort of tabs on it. Many of us coasted because we knew we could get by with "ok" grades, even though we certainly could have done better.

I would hope the coach is not overly critical, or thinking to mete out punishments (because you're absolutely right...that is totally the domain of the parent). Again, I think this was more about demonstrating concern/interest in the well-rounded individual.

yea i probably read a whole bunch more into it but i think that there is enough pressure on these young ladies without having to answer to the travel ball coach when the parents should be holding their dd's accountable for her grades.

As far as the op,i didnt mean any disrespect for what you think and what your trying to do but these are my opinions.

 

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yea i probably read a whole bunch more into it but i think that there is enough pressure on these young ladies without having to answer to the travel ball coach when the parents should be holding their dd's accountable for her grades.

And I absolutely agree with you...there can be just a tremendous amount of pressure on kids today. I sure wouldn't want to be a teen in this day and age, that's for sure.

But I truly feel this was a well-intentioned move to try and be supportive of the girls, not a coach seeking to usurp the the role of the parent (or at least I hope not, lol)

Good discussion, ron...that's what the OFC is all about.

 

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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...)

Worth repeating as no one touched the subject. If you believe a recreational sport coach should be involved in a players school life, what happens if the child is underperforming??

If she plays several sports should they all be involved?

Are we assuming every child has the desire and intent to go to college?

Are we assuming every travel ball player is in it for a college scholarship?

If a travel ball coach is involved in a child's school life under the pretense of helping them get a scholarship, should that coach have their team at the top of the rankings, winning all their tournaments before they can justify taking the time away from getting their team there. In other words wouldn't it be important to a girls chance of getting a scholarship to be on a great team? Maybe that coach should concentrate on getting their team to that level so the kid has a better chance of getting noticed by the scouts and leave the grades to the parents.

 

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Not sure where my question went wrong, but it seems to have touched a nerve with a few of you. My thinking behind bringing a part of the classroom to the ball field isn't to embarrass the girls in any way. I feel that I owe it to the parents to HELP there daughter become a complete player on and off the field. I do not have a daughter that plays so this was my way of throwing in a little extra time to let my girls know that I really care about where there future is headed. I had a high school coach that would pull me aside and we would talk about acedemics quite often. To this day I respect him more than any other coach that I played for.

 

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Not sure where my question went wrong, but it seems to have touched a nerve with a few of you. My thinking behind bringing a part of the classroom to the ball field isn't to embarrass the girls in any way. I feel that I owe it to the parents to HELP there daughter become a complete player on and off the field. I do not have a daughter that plays so this was my way of throwing in a little extra time to let my girls know that I really care about where there future is headed. I had a high school coach that would pull me aside and we would talk about acedemics quite often. To this day I respect him more than any other coach that I played for.

So what are your thoughts if one of your players show you sub-par grades or refuses to even show you the report card?Tell them how important it is do get good grades and they should strive for it,Tell them that collage expect good grades no matter how good they are on the field because in relm of women athletes, collages want them to go out in the work-force and make mega-bucks so they send some back in to the university in the form of boosters...Im sorry but these young ladies and parents should relise this by now if they are planning on trying to get full or partial monies for collage.
i believe what your trying to do is noble in a way but for some reason i just cant seem to wrap my head around select team coaches at 14u wanting to evaluate report cards.

 

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This is what is great about the non-regulated, non-OHSAA system that we have in travel ball. Everyone has a free choice of the type of team and coach you want! You want a team that requires certain grades, then have your daughter try out for those teams. If you want a team that focuses only on softball, that's fine, too.

Whether a team wants to require certain grades or anything else is fine, so long as it's not a post-tryout surprise. Introduce the regulators into travel ball and many things will be required or not permitted and everyone's choice of different types of teams will go down the drain, as the regulators know what is best for all families.

 

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this is what is great about the non-regulated, non-ohsaa system that we have in travel ball. Everyone has a free choice of the type of team and coach you want! You want a team that requires certain grades, then have your daughter try out for those teams. If you want a team that focuses only on softball, that's fine, too.

Whether a team wants to require certain grades or anything else is fine, so long as it's not a post-tryout surprise. Introduce the regulators into travel ball and many things will be required or not permitted and everyone's choice of different types of teams will go down the drain, as the regulators know what is best for all families.

amen joe!!!!!

 

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Sorry guys and gals, I don't agree with this one at all. Making sure a kids grades are good is the parents and the kids responsibility. I check my dd's grades online 3 times per week, I've made it very clear what her mother and I expect, and she knows the consequences. Because of our active role in both our children's lives and expectations, good grades have never been an issue. In my opinion there are too many parents out there that don't pay enough attention to their kids. They have them and then count on someone else to raise them. This in my eyes is just one more tool that a parent could use to not be a parent. Don't need a travel ball coach doing what mom and dad should be doing;&

 

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Not sure where my question went wrong, but it seems to have touched a nerve with a few of you. My thinking behind bringing a part of the classroom to the ball field isn't to embarrass the girls in any way. I feel that I owe it to the parents to HELP there daughter become a complete player on and off the field. I do not have a daughter that plays so this was my way of throwing in a little extra time to let my girls know that I really care about where there future is headed. I had a high school coach that would pull me aside and we would talk about acedemics quite often. To this day I respect him more than any other coach that I played for.

BIG difference between a travel coach and a school coach. Grades are part of the formula with school ball so it is in the scope of things for the coach to discuss grades with the player. Not so at all with travel or any recreational sport.

 

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As I read, I can see the reasoning behind both sides of the story. HOWEVER, my my dd's coach came up to me, says hey, I want to see the report card, I'm fine with that, as long as the 1st report card is a baseline for what is expected. Remember, I'm looking at a player who wants to go to college to play softball there as well. My youngest wants to go to college to play ball, as well as being a teacher. My oldest doesn't, so I can truly look at both sides.

For example, dd has a 3.4 on her first report card. That is the baseline. Second report card, she now has a 3.3, is that worth a benching no, she is still a B student. If it is a 2.8, maybe less game time. Why? Because maybe as a parent, I'm putting more emphasis on her pitching then I am on grades. What is wrong with a coach holding me accountable since my dd wants to go to college as a softball player? Remember, for the 2nd report card it is like January, so what if you miss action during a winter tournament. Maybe it isn't big brother looking at you, but a coach who cares about the development of your dd into college player IF she wants that route. For a travel player who doesn't want to go that route, then who cares if she has a 1.72 GPA. For my oldest; if a coach asks her for her report card, I'll let him know that this is fun for her so let her be. That's my job to worry about her grades.

buckncm- I check my dd's grades the same amount as you do. I see a missed assignment, it is 1 less practice at home for pitching for my youngest. If my older, at least a weeks extension before she can think about her license.

Please remember, I'm looking at both sides, as a parent who has a dd wanting to go to college, and another who wants to go but not for softball, but music (yet she's a great RF, decent catcher, and runs like lightning). So I see both sides of the story.

 

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As I read, I can see the reasoning behind both sides of the story. HOWEVER, my my dd's coach came up to me, says hey, I want to see the report card, I'm fine with that, as long as the 1st report card is a baseline for what is expected. Remember, I'm looking at a player who wants to go to college to play softball there as well. My youngest wants to go to college to play ball, as well as being a teacher. My oldest doesn't, so I can truly look at both sides.

For example, dd has a 3.4 on her first report card. That is the baseline. Second report card, she now has a 3.3, is that worth a benching no, she is still a B student. If it is a 2.8, maybe less game time. Why? Because maybe as a parent, I'm putting more emphasis on her pitching then I am on grades. What is wrong with a coach holding me accountable since my dd wants to go to college as a softball player? Remember, for the 2nd report card it is like January, so what if you miss action during a winter tournament. Maybe it isn't big brother looking at you, but a coach who cares about the development of your dd into college player IF she wants that route. For a travel player who doesn't want to go that route, then who cares if she has a 1.72 GPA. For my oldest; if a coach asks her for her report card, I'll let him know that this is fun for her so let her be. That's my job to worry about her grades.

buckncm- I check my dd's grades the same amount as you do. I see a missed assignment, it is 1 less practice at home for pitching for my youngest. If my older, at least a weeks extension before she can think about her license.

Please remember, I'm looking at both sides, as a parent who has a dd wanting to go to college, and another who wants to go but not for softball, but music (yet she's a great RF, decent catcher, and runs like lightning). So I see both sides of the story.

But why is the coach playing the role of you, the parent? If you as a parent have a kid that wants to go to college then you should be watching her grades and taking action if they slip. If cutting back her softball is part of that action then you should be doing it. You are in a better position as you are not limited to just softball. Maybe you make it a combo of softball, TV, hanging with friends etc. Shouldn't be the coaches job to find out which kids want to go to college and then make sure their grades are the best they can be.

And a coach shouldn't take the presumption that they can step in and help with parenting, uninvited. Nervy to me.

 

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Okay, I just got done reading through my latest NFCA paper and the ranking of team GPA (those who reported) for All NCAA divisions as well as NAIA. I can honestly say that I was surprised that there were so many sub 3.0 teams, primarily DI & DII.

With that said, someone would have to have a very convincing argument to make me believe that these schools are concerned more about grades than they are winning. I now see why so many kids decide NOT to play once they get to college.

 

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I have never once had any administrator from my school, or any other person for that matter, ask me about my college team's GPA. I am asked at least once a day by someone about our win-loss record last year or just generally how I think we will be on the field this coming year.

Our girls do very well in the classroom, with a 3.5 GPA in 2008/2009 and a 3.41 in 2009/2010, but I feel far, far, far more pressure to win games than to post a good team GPA. And I'm at Div. III, so you can imagine what it's like at Div. I. In many ways that makes sesne, as I have little control over their GPA, but much more control over the softball part of it.