Spring Select Fastpitch vs. HS Fastpitch??

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This is definitely a subject that requires an open mind. My daughter is part of a D1 school that has a long history of playing well into the state playoffs. As a big school there is plenty of opportunity to face top level competition especially in state playoffs. So, much like the NBA, that is what the regular season is for...to reach the playoffs. Having said that, never will you find a school team that does not have detractors regarding the decision-making and quality of coaching.

I do believe that the greatest growth for a GFPSB athlete takes place in the Summer because of the competition level weekend after weekend. I also know that throughout the state (and country) many HS teams have a schedule that can be difficult to watch and do not have the opportunity to face a schedule with top-notch competition game to game. For these schools, an alternative might not necessarily be a bad idea.

However, most would have to admit that once a Fastpitch player completes their college career their competitive softball days are over. The odds are definitely not in their favor to play on. You know, time to start families, jobs etc. What the player will look back on is quite possibly the memories and moments of trips to the State playoffs while donning their high school colors.

Hopefully all this discussion is centered around what the young ladies want to do with their teenage years and how they want to remember them, and NOT how Mom & Dad want to remember them.

Summed up...the "Elite" high school programs will likely always have a place and I think there is a place for an alternative to those who don't feel their school has what it takes to satisfy their need for competition.

 

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I am really tired of hearing about the "politics" in high school softball. Having Coached Travel ball for 14 yrs and High School ball for 16 yrs I have witnessed just as much if not more drama and "politics" in Travel ball as High School ball.
Coach's daughter, sponsors daughter, coach's daughter' best friend, coach's daughter's X-best friend, coach's girl friends' daughter. who has the most money, need I go on? The fact is there are positives and negatives for both!!!!!!!
I feel the biggest problem would be loyalty in the travel ball game. Lets face it there is little loyalty now. Girls switch teams about as often as they change clothes. At least in HS there are some guidlines (In my opinion not enough) and players have to deal with a little adversity and learn that in life you can not just sign-up for a new family, a new job, a new husband every year!!!!!!!!
Overall it is a SPORT it is supposed to be fun and as much as we no not want to admit it about 1 out of 20 travel ball girls will go on to play in college and 1 out of 50 will still be playing 4 years later.
I LOVE the game of softball but it is just that a GAME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

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dcast,

I think you just translated my initial post!!!!!

Well said.

 

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Everyone is making valid points on both sides of this issue. My DD falls on both sides of this issue.

1. She loves softball
2. Her teamates on her Travel team have the same love of the game.
3. Her travel team WANTS to improve each and every game.
4. Her HS team has about 3-4 players that Love the game, the rest are just there.
5. The HS team players DON'T want to get better with the exception of those 3-4 players.


I know all the talk of School spirit and pride are valid points. I believe Flanagan9of9 stated that the ratio of Good coaches in HS are 40%-60%, with the 40% being the good coaches. DD HS team has a good coach, but the girls just don't care. Some of that is in response to the Coaches hiring 5 years ago, and he wasn't the "Popular" pick amongst the masses (Parents). The parents talk and the kid's hear what they are saying, and they don't respond to the coaching...............Which is a shame, because the Coach is very knowledgable, but the "bad" seeds were planted in the kids minds by the parents.

The biggest losers in this are the girls who WANT to be there and LEARN........................SO, in 40% of the schools they are well coached, majority of the girls want to be there, and they may be able to cut the "Bad Apples" from the program. 60% of the HS teams just don't have the coaching, players who give a damn, and the numbers to cut the "Bad Apples" from the program.

So, YES I would support a Spring Select so my DD would have the fun that goes with playing on a team that the girls WANT to be there for the common goal of being the best they can be.

 

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Oook dcast, easy buddy...why don't you tell us how you really feel..lol. ?;D ?Good thing you didn't use CAPS I would be deaf right now..lol ? ;D ?Your not allowed salt on your dinner tonight. ?

 

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High school ball it seems is ?an a necessity for the ladies. ?The politics, bad coaching, etc. is just part of our DD?s learning to deal with adverse situations in life. ?A lot of us would love to have the travel ball teams work out together from spring until fall. ?We can all have dreams. LOL As stated previously, only a small percent will go to college and play, so let them have fun at this level and enjoy the game. ?If the situation isn?t right at the high school level, then just play in the summer. ?It can get frustrating with all of the things that go on with high school softball, but remember if the ladies are enjoying it then that is what counts. ? ?If they aren?t then they should do something else. ?Just IMHO

 

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The difference between high schools programs in Ohio is remarkable, and most people don't truly understand the disparity that exists between programs in different regions.

My oldest daughter played in a high school program where she and her younger sister were the only travel ball players, and in fact the only team members who played any type of softball outside of the official high school season. No one else on the team played any summer, fall, or winter ball. The coach was a nice guy but had no understanding of the fundamentals of fastpitch softball. Her experience was the norm for the conference and the entire region.

The summer after she graduated I moved an hour away to be closer to work. My younger daughters now play in a high school softball program with a tradition for great softball and winning championships. They receive instruction from knowledgeable coaches and play good competion, including numerous high school tournaments. It is a totally different experience.

As for college, my oldest daughter is now playing softball in college. Her high school experience didn't hurt her, but it certainly didn't help her either. She was recruited because she was seen in action at Rising Stars and had good grades and good ACT and SAT scores. I don't believe that most college coaches care much about high school. In fact, the pitcher of the year for my daugher's college conference last year was home schooled and never played high school ball.

As her softball career is drawing to a close, I reflect on what she would have done if there had been a choice to play better competition instead of high school. Since she is home for Thanksgiving, I asked her and was surprised by the response--she would have chosen high school. She knows what she missed by playing for such a weak program, but she says it was worth it to play for her school and with her friends.

 

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A spring travel season will make the expense for travel ball higher and may impact some players decision to play. ? ?Travel expenses, ?team fees will increase. ? The whole concept of skipping hs to play spring travel ball assumes that the coaching you get in travel ball is better than at the high school and that is not the case for many travel teams. ? Many times the reason the hs coach is so stupid is because the parent can smooze playing time with the travel coach and someone else beat them to it on the hs team. ? I know that this is not the case with you Cliff. ? Your teams as with many high level teams get great coaching. ? However hs teams offer the chance for players to play different roles and thereby develope different skills which may benefit the ?travel team. ? Some teams will practice fielding and baserunning techniques for hours which is great for the field players, ?however this doesn't develope the pitcher who will for the most part will decide the game. ? In hs a pitcher can get the kind of work needed to mentally and physically perform at a high level. ? It seems to me that hs and travel can compliment each other very well. ? ?You connot eliminate bad teams and bad players, ?you have them in hs and in travel ball, ? you cannot eliminate bad coaches you have them in hs and in travel ball. ? ?And for those of you that don't like your hs situation you can vote with your feet just like in travel ball, ? many people do it for boys basketball and football and we say we are just as interested in our dd's.

 

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I think I will start a sister thread of this topic to include a POLL. It would be curious to see what the coaches,players and parents think.

 

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Poll at: http://www.game-ex.com/cgi-bin/yabb2/YaBB.pl?num=1164213650

 

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High School softball is a refreshing change of pace for the players. The players get the chance to work as hard as they can to represent the schools they go to that seem to over support other sports. In our district, they over support football and boys / girls basketball. Whom neither can seem to win the league we are in. For our softball players, it is rewarding to be able to put in the most time possible and win the league we are in and gain community support. Maybe funding and allowances will shift here soon and be allocated to who's making the most difference. Building quality young atheletes and adults.

Jeff Klopfer
Classics 12U

 

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There are quite a few posts with good points. The general feeling seems to center around the lack of qualified coaches in HS. Please note, that does not mean EVERY coach, just a general statement.

Playing HS sports can be a very rewarding experience and one that the kids will remember for a long time. The social aspect is as important as anything along with juggling their schedule.

That being said, it's a shame that some HS coaches don't or won't appreciate the talent they get from a player that has played travel ball and has had great coaches.

How many HS teams are comprised solely of travel ball players? Few I would imagine so they have to fill out the team with what's available. In a perfect world, the less experienced players would learn from their more experienced teammates but all too often resent their skills and playing time and there starts the drama.

How many schools choose their football coaches just because they are teachers?

Maybe the more experienced travel coaches could put on seminars for prospective HS coaches? Would they come? Would they learn? Would it make a difference? Only if the prospective coach really cared and wanted to know more would that help. How many are out there?

Tough situation and it's easy to see the value of HS sports and we all want what's best for our daughters.

The underlying question is why should this be so hard?

 

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Great discussion--here in my area, Scioto co , we seem to have very very good little league and HS teams but travel ball lags way behind. Every year , and I mean every year the LL girls from either West Ports or Wheelersburg are playing in the state finals in LL. Nearly every year one of those 2 in the HS division is going far in the state playoffs. The reason for no strong travel ball ? They are such tremendous rivals the girls (PARENTS) won't play together in summer. They take that HS pride thing way too far down here. It's sad , very good college type players at the 16U and 18U level are either having to travel to Col or Cinci to play . The most exposure they are getting is at the HS state tourney. We are trying to do something about this but everyone knows how painful change can be. MD