The Bad Rap Travel Ball Parents Receive

[Converse Kid]

Lots of friends and friends of friends all Know my family and I are a SERIOUS Travel Ball family. I almost always get asked the same questions and get the same negative feedback from these uneducated people. 'Why would you waste your money, she is already good?" "Why would you spend all your vacations to play ball?" Blah, Blah, Blah, Blah. Take a good luck at the remaining teams in the state tournament. The majority are compromised of standout travel ball players. I was at a recent game where there were 5 different travel teams represented from the two squads competing. It is No Fluke! I wish these dead beat, uninformed Softball Guru's would get a clue. There is a reason why your daughter doesn't play. LOL!

 

[Hilliarddad3]

Just remember, travel softball parents are nowhere near as crazy as Dance Moms..... There's no show on softball on tv yet that I know of......

 

[yossarian]

Just remember, travel softball parents are nowhere near as crazy as Dance Moms..... There's no show on softball on tv yet that I know of......

We should "pitch" one to one of the networks.

(sorry, that was terrible.)

 

[cobb_of_fury]

Just remember, travel softball parents are nowhere near as crazy as Dance Moms..... There's no show on softball on tv yet that I know of......

Ooooh.... but there could be - There really could be...

 

[Longtoss1]

My wife has said this literally for the last 2 yrs that there should be a show called "Softball Dads....I Can Coach Fine From Here!", which I believe would be every bit as good as Dance Moms, especially if they were all miked up...lol

 

[wow]

This is a great topic and I am glad to see someone started a thread about it. What everyone needs to understand, who is outside looking in, is that this is about opportunity. If a kid wants to play at a high level this is the path. Now everyone will say they want to play the best and go to college D1, however when the financial, time, and effort come into play not everyone can do it. Its very difficult to bow out. You see a ton of consolidation from 12-14. The fact is some travel coaches don't even realize what it takes to be at this level. We are not crazy, eccentric, or narcissistic . Rather we are group of parents who love the game and our kids enough to get them a opportunity to play.

 

[cobb_of_fury]

My wife has said this literally for the last 2 yrs that there should be a show called "Softball Dads....I Can Coach Fine From Here!", which I believe would be every bit as good as Dance Moms, especially if they were all miked up...lol

I think that would need to be on cinamax

 

[nwbackstop]

This is my dd's first year of travel ball 10u, were doing it for several reasons but mostly for the opportunity to play ball,rec ball is full of girls that dont work hard and dont care too,its getting old

 

[Long Baller]

This is my dd's first year of travel ball 10u, were doing it for several reasons but mostly for the opportunity to play ball,rec ball is full of girls that dont work hard and dont care too,its getting old

Oh boy....that's how we all started. Welcome to the club, but just wait until 12U. Now we're all certifiably insane.

 

[yossarian]

I usually tell those people that I'm thankful we fell into this world. Because, as far as I can tell, travel ball (and other "select" sports and activities like it) are THE last places where kids are being taught to go out there and get what they want.

Then I ask them how much money or time value they'd put on their kids knowing how to envision long-term goals and how to put the work in to achieve them. Despite all the great teachers my kid has had, the deck is stacked against our schools because they're forced to cater to the bottom. The avoid-hurting-feelings-at-all-costs mentality is killing us. With travel ball, you don't have to deal with any of those things that hold hard working kids back. AND, she's having a blast in this sport with kids who love it as much as she does!

Then I drop the mic and go get seconds on Gramma's potato salad while they stand there and think, "yeah, he's insane."

 

[cobb_of_fury]

Oh boy....that's how we all started. Welcome to the club, but just wait until 12U. Now we're all certifiably insane.

We're at second year 14 - It's diffrent kinda crazy - because now your dealing with things like boys and dates and outside activities just at the point when you want them to really focus because the college coaches are starting to look at them and then high school starts next year and grades start to really matter. Then there's high school ball and thats a whole 'nother level of madness... then next year is 16U and it starts to be fish or cut bate time - you know the clock is running, you're not sure if shes serious enough but you want her to be kid and have fun - and you don't want to be THAT parent from the 80's movies whos pushing the kid in sports and they just want to Dance, or skateboard or some crap. then you have to start making decisions on colleges with a person who not that long ago was watching the disney channel and still cant put clothes away or turn off a light.

So yea the maddnes just goes on...

 

[BCsoftballDad]

I wish every parent, coach and parent coach that started and continued this journey with their children had the drive and understanding you speak of Converse Kid. I still don't understand why some parents spend the time and money to play travel ball but yet can't seem to find the time to go to the garage, basement or backyard and help their child improve. I believe this is where some of the "bad rap" comes from. I am here because this is what my DD wants, this isn't for me personally. I have found in my short time in travel ball that the lessons my DD has learned go far beyond the white lines. It just so happens that she wants to play against the best with the best to be the best she can be. I guess I should be grateful to those parents who still think travel ball should be equal bottom to top like most things in today's society. Fact is, travel ball is one of the few places left that she can still learn the value of working harder than others provides great reward.

 

[Dougk30]

We're at second year 14 - It's diffrent kinda crazy - because now your dealing with things like boys and dates and outside activities just at the point when you want them to really focus because the college coaches are starting to look at them and then high school starts next year and grades start to really matter. Then there's high school ball and thats a whole 'nother level of madness... then next year is 16U and it starts to be fish or cut bate time - you know the clock is running, you're not sure if shes serious enough but you want her to be kid and have fun - and you don't want to be THAT parent from the 80's movies whos pushing the kid in sports and they just want to Dance, or skateboard or some crap. then you have to start making decisions on colleges with a person who not that long ago was watching the disney channel and still cant put clothes away or turn off a light.

So yea the maddnes just goes on...

Very well put My thoughts exactly

 

[CoachTEA]

Lots of friends and friends of friends all Know my family and I are a SERIOUS Travel Ball family. I almost always get asked the same questions and get the same negative feedback from these uneducated people. 'Why would you waste your money, she is already good?" "Why would you spend all your vacations to play ball?" Blah, Blah, Blah, Blah. Take a good luck at the remaining teams in the state tournament. The majority are compromised of standout travel ball players. I was at a recent game where there were 5 different travel teams represented from the two squads competing. It is No Fluke! I wish these dead beat, uninformed Softball Guru's would get a clue. There is a reason why your daughter doesn't play. LOL!

Converse Kid, if I took all of the money that I have spent through the years (my DD starting playing at 4 years old and she is 17 now) on hitting lessons, pitching lessons, college camps, defensive skills training, gloves, bats, hotel fees, out of town dinners, etc. I would enough money to fully fund her college pretty much wherever, within reason. What we would have missed out on are some great friendships, bonding time, and life experiences that are in my mind PRICELESS. Travel softball is not for everyone and there are many times that I shake my head how the people involved act somethings, but I love, love, love it and I will continue to do it after my daughter is done.

 

[longball00]

People in our area ( the infamous Lake County HAHA!) constantly look at my wife and I like we have horns growing out of our head. They can't fathom driving 2.5 hours for practice, driving/flying all over the country, or the hard work our DD puts in. When I tell them it is what she wants and has a goal she wants to reach, they just kind of shake their head. Just yesterday she went to open gym for HS Volleyball, went home, grabbed a bite to eat, went to her strength coach to lift and run ladders for an hour and a half, came home, ate again, and went out for an hour of tee work all on her own. When she was asked if she gets a chance to be a kid, she tells them yes, but I'd rather work out, and play where I play to reach my goal. My friends kind of get it, but they really don't LOL.

 

[Pacerdad57]

We're at second year 14 - It's diffrent kinda crazy - because now your dealing with things like boys and dates and outside activities just at the point when you want them to really focus because the college coaches are starting to look at them and then high school starts next year and grades start to really matter. Then there's high school ball and thats a whole 'nother level of madness... then next year is 16U and it starts to be fish or cut bate time - you know the clock is running, you're not sure if shes serious enough but you want her to be kid and have fun - and you don't want to be THAT parent from the 80's movies whos pushing the kid in sports and they just want to Dance, or skateboard or some crap. then you have to start making decisions on colleges with a person who not that long ago was watching the disney channel and still cant put clothes away or turn off a light.

So yea the maddnes just goes on...

It doesn't get any better by the second year of 16u for the clothes and lights thing, just so ya know and can prepare yourself, and I'm not even going to start about the driving thing......

 

[ErieDiamonds02]

its only a matter of time lol

 

[cobb_of_fury]

It doesn't get any better by the second year of 16u for the clothes and lights thing, just so ya know and can prepare yourself, and I'm not even going to start about the driving thing......

OHhhhhh! - Craaaaap! Hadn't even thought about the driving thing....

 

[Dougk30]

The thing that scares me the most about the driving thing, is not having an excuse to be at every game.

 

[Pacerdad57]

OHhhhhh! - Craaaaap! Hadn't even thought about the driving thing....

Get ready buddy, the first time you watch her drive off to school by herself is a heartbreaker......