Suddenly, I learn I'll have no more games to watch.

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They say we should prepare for our daughter's last game. I didn't even get a 2-minute warning.

Louuuuuise was told by her college coach that her role with the team, from this point forward, would be DP. Some people would be thrilled with this. Some; not so much.

My daughter has been a position player all of her life up to this point. When she weighed the time spent in college on softball (and it is considerable) against the actual time she would be getting on the field, it made her do some serious soul-searching. Fall practices, winter conditioning, Six-AM's after Christmas Break - on top of her studies (which is the reason she's there) all for the chance to swing the bat three times a game ...

There are a number of ways to look at this.
- You're on the team, right. Quit complaining.
- There are plenty of players who will be lucky to get even a pinch hit opportunity over the entire season.
- A player injury/transfer/drop out could change everything.
- etc.

But my daughter made the tearful decision to hang up the cleats. The pursuit of the Bachelor's Degree, then Grad School, is too significant. Having to divert all the extra time toward a sport that she's not going to fully embrace doesn't make sense to her.

And it's like someone punched me in the gut!

But, it's her decision to make, and I understand and support her decision. My wife and I have always told her to play because shes wants to - and for no other reason. (Of all the "life's lessons" lessons I've tried to give her, this is the one she hears!)

I guess the reason I'm rambling here is to say Enjoy the time you have while your daughter is playing. You never know when it will be over. (and when it's over - it leaves an emptiness in your life.)

:cap:

 

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Well Louuuuu sounds like you raised a DD that is capable of making a mature decision on her future, good for and her. I will send you a Wizards-Blackswamp T-shirt once the design is complete and we can be your new favorite team lol.

Take care bud!

 

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I am currently on my third daughter, and she is still in 10u and I am trying to enjoy every moment. The time flys by. I do not look forward to that time when she stops playing but I know there is nothing that you can do about it, so you are right enjoy it while its here!

 

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I fully understand the decision she made, although I'm sure it was a tough one for her. There is SO much that goes into playing college ball and when you are told you will only get a few swings a game, it really isn't worth all the effort a player NEEDS to put into it, especially when you consider the strain on the school work college ball requires. Not knowing her last game was in fact her last game makes you feel like you were robbed of a chance to savor the moment...definately leaves an emptiness I'm sure. That sukks!!!

 

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I probably would have sobbed through the entire game anyhow...

All I know is that I'm gonna be honked if I don't see a 3.5 GPA when this is all done!

 

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Now thats funny.

 

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OUCH! OUCH OUCH OUCH........... I feel for you!!!!! I agree it IS our daughters' decision to make, but ouch. It's really heartbreaking for all of you.

Was she at D1, 2 or 3? My daughter is only considering D3 for softball so it won't "own" all of her college time. She loves to play, loves being part of a team and understands early morning weights etc. I hope we aren't going in with an incorrect perception. However, I know she would be sorely disappointed to not be a position player (after a year or two), no matter what level school.

 

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I am currently on my third daughter, and she is still in 10u and I am trying to enjoy every moment. The time flys by. I do not look forward to that time when she stops playing but I know there is nothing that you can do about it, so you are right enjoy it while its here!

Ok did anybody else find this a little funny? Did you keep trading them in or what?

btw: I knew what you meant just struck me as funny on the first read!

 

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This is D3. Fall practices - I think NCAA limits you to 20. Then "conditioning" until Christmas. Then 6 AM's and indoor practices 'till the season starts. Plus Team Meetings. Individual meetings to monitor academic progress. And the always popular text message any time rain is near "Get down to the field to help with the Tarp"...

Plus - D2 and D1 get progressively more "time consuming".

I suppose the tolerability depends on the school, the major, the coach, and above all, the individual player.

 

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Louuuuu - congrats on raising a quality kid. She will miss it, so will you, but the focus will change. Maybe she will coach down the road sometime!!

Sue99 - While the NCAA allows less contacts in D3 - the demands and expectations are the same as with most higher divisions. Lots of small group and individual work!!!

This is D3. Fall practices - I think NCAA limits you to 20. Then "conditioning" until Christmas. Then 6 AM's and indoor practices 'till the season starts. Plus Team Meetings. Individual meetings to monitor academic progress. And the always popular text message any time rain is near "Get down to the field to help with the Tarp"...

Plus - D2 and D1 get progressively more "time consuming".

I suppose the tolerability depends on the school, the major, the coach, and above all, the individual player.

 

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Well Louuuuu sounds like you raised a DD that is capable of making a mature decision on her future, good for and her. I will send you a Wizards-Blackswamp T-shirt once the design is complete and we can be your new favorite team lol.

Take care bud!

Uber! I need a new favorite team...can I get a T-shirt too?

 

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Sorry to hear about his Lou, for you and for your daughter. Hopefully in time she realizes that she went further than the vast majority of players ever will and she feels fulfilled by her experiences.

 

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Louuuuu best of luck to you both. I'm not there yet with my dd but I can imagine what you're going through. We'll all be there sooner than we'd like. So my advice to you is...

Pray for grandchildren of the female persuasion! Maybe between the Bachelors degree and the Masters degree?! Lol!

 

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you have a lot of fastpitch knowledge, dont let it go to waste, share it maybe with a kid in the neighborhood who has the desire to play,

 

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My older dd realized that she was never going to get much of a break form her college coach and decided to hang up her spikes. It was harder on me than on her. She had plenty of more interesting stuff to concentrate on, graduated on the deans list and never looked back.

It did warm my evil heart when her coach was forced to use a right fielder to pitch because of injuries due to the overwork of her pet pitchers, something that some more care and feeding of my dd would have prevented but my dd was in England taking classes.

 

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Sounds Like she made an adult decision as tough as it may have been. Shows you raised her well!

 

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This is D3. Fall practices - I think NCAA limits you to 20. Then "conditioning" until Christmas. Then 6 AM's and indoor practices 'till the season starts. Plus Team Meetings. Individual meetings to monitor academic progress. And the always popular text message any time rain is near "Get down to the field to help with the Tarp"...

Plus - D2 and D1 get progressively more "time consuming".

I suppose the tolerability depends on the school, the major, the coach, and above all, the individual player.

This post is true. I know it's not the reason why Louuuuu's daughter quit, but I have seen plenty of girls decide to play D3 thinking it's going to be about like a high school softball commitment, only to find out it is exactly as Louuuuu describes above. And depending upon the location of the school, in-season practice can begin in early to mid January, not late February or early March like high school. The only time at school that is mostly off (still have lifting and conditioning) is mid-late October to Christmas break.

Also, most D3 softball coaches are now full-time, although they might have an additional, secondary, job in the department. The softball team is their professional life. To think they aren't as committed to winning as any D1 coach is simply incorrect.

 

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I agree. I think they are very committed to winning - and DD has been clearly told what to expect and she feels it will fit in with her life. Based on what I hear though - and other posts I have read and saved, D3 does not practice together or alone as much as D1. I agree it's more than HS - or even travel.

All this input is very good for families and daughters just starting to explore the idea of college ball.

 

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They say we should prepare for our daughter's last game. I didn't even get a 2-minute warning.

Louuuuuise was told by her college coach that her role with the team, from this point forward, would be DP. Some people would be thrilled with this. Some; not so much.

My daughter has been a position player all of her life up to this point. When she weighed the time spent in college on softball (and it is considerable) against the actual time she would be getting on the field, it made her do some serious soul-searching. Fall practices, winter conditioning, Six-AM's after Christmas Break - on top of her studies (which is the reason she's there) all for the chance to swing the bat three times a game ...

There are a number of ways to look at this.
- You're on the team, right. Quit complaining.
- There are plenty of players who will be lucky to get even a pinch hit opportunity over the entire season.
- A player injury/transfer/drop out could change everything.
- etc.

But my daughter made the tearful decision to hang up the cleats. The pursuit of the Bachelor's Degree, then Grad School, is too significant. Having to divert all the extra time toward a sport that she's not going to fully embrace doesn't make sense to her.

And it's like someone punched me in the gut!

But, it's her decision to make, and I understand and support her decision. My wife and I have always told her to play because shes wants to - and for no other reason. (Of all the "life's lessons" lessons I've tried to give her, this is the one she hears!)

I guess the reason I'm rambling here is to say Enjoy the time you have while your daughter is playing. You never know when it will be over. (and when it's over - it leaves an emptiness in your life.)

:cap:

Bide your time until future granddaughter starts playing. I am hoping my kids bless me with a lefty pitcher some day! ;-)

 

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Uber! I need a new favorite team...can I get a T-shirt too?

Absolutely! I will let you know when their done