The Bad Rap Travel Ball Parents Receive

[cobb_of_fury]

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

dam - got a lump in my throat now -

 

[Louuuuu]

It doesn't get any better by the second year of 16u

Oh, yes it does... By 16U, a lot of the constant group chants, cheers, and dumba$$ songs from the dugout disappear. Those were almost enough to make me ask my doctor prescription valium in 12U.

Clothes on the floor, and boyfriends are a lot easier to take when you don't have a tension headache every weekend.

 

[Run26]

dam - got a lump in my throat now -

Trust me, you may be sad the first time but there's nothing better than not having to drive to and pick up kids up after practice. It's very liberating to be a parent of a kid who can take care of their self.

 

[Pacerdad57]

Oh, yes it does... By 16U, a lot of the constant group chants, cheers, and dumba$$ songs from the dugout disappear. Those were almost enough to make me ask my doctor prescription valium in 12U.

Clothes on the floor, and boyfriends are a lot easier to take when you don't have a tension headache every weekend.

yeah, i wasn't even considering the chants and crap, that seems LOOOONG GONE!!! and i'm quite happy about that, got over the BF problem for now, but being an obsessive compulsive kind of Dad, the clothes thing still drives me nuts!!! lol
i kinda understand the light switch thing, it's genetic, my old man used to come down on me HARD for not turning off the lights....money doesn't grow on trees, ya never listen, I'm gonna kick you a$$ if you do that again...lol
so i kinda ease up on her for that one.

 

[Pacerdad57]

Trust me, you may be sad the first time but there's nothing better than not having to drive to and pick up kids up after practice. It's very liberating to be a parent of a kid who can take care of their self.

i've found out that you're right Run26!!! by the end of the second day it was NICE!!!
now it's just, be sure you're home by 10:30. lol

 

[FastBat]

"Why would you waste your money..." There is a reason why your daughter doesn't play. LOL!

Yep! I have been struggling with this very issue trying to explain it to a few family members. They say, "Why do you keep practicing, she's already the best one out there?" They usually only go to her locally played weekday night games, if that, which is nothing like true travel. But, they really make me feel bad, at points almost insulting. Almost like it's a bad thing, my dd loves this sport and she is slightly ok at it. I am convinced there is nothing I can say that would make them ever change their minds. They have children too, I'm shocked they don't practice more with their children, so we just agree to disagree.

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

I'm not proud to say, but my dd complains about how boring her local ball games are. She really only gets excited about about travel ball games, when I tell her get ready for your travel ball game, she immediately starts getting that spring in her step. The local ball games are amazingly super slow. You would think 8 practice pitches between every half inning would be considered way too much, it's not. I just tell her, 3 more games, let's get them finished. I even ask her, "isn't it fun to play with your school friends?" That just does't seem to be enough motivation to play local weeknight ball games, I guess, that's what makes her different.

Oh, yes it does... By 16U, a lot of the constant group chants, cheers, and dumba$$ songs from the dugout disappear. Those were almost enough to make me ask my doctor prescription valium in 12U.

Thank goodness! The cheers make me cringe, ugh...

 

[bucketime]

coming from a parent/coach who has been out of it for three years. Daughter plays college now on full athletic scholarship so it was worth it. But as a parent and your done...your done. Meaning for the last 10 yeas of travel that is all I hung around with was travelball parents and coaches with the same desire and now that I am out its like getting out of prison. I have very little in common with the normal citizen. LOL. Thank goodness I bought a boat (brand new) in 2004 and it still looks brand new ( never used because of travleball) Yes we are a different breed

 

[Mr. Soft Balls]

Have been a travel parent the last five years and wouldn't give it up for anything. I loathed the day (3 more years) that travel would be over. Much to my surprise, DD told me after graduation, she would want to mix college and coaching during travel ball season. Hoping that maybe I can continue this fantastic past time with my family!

 

[crystlemc]

[video=youtube;qSBbU1-m82Y]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qSBbU1-m82Y[/video]

 

[coachjwb]

Lol love it!

 

[hittheball]

The cost of travel softball is PRICELESS. My daughter now plays in college and when I look back to the 9 years spent traveling to 27 states, countless tournaments and the friends made it is PRICELESS. Yes, it is very expensive to play travel with lessons, team fees, hotel, and travel by car / plane. But the memories and lessons learned to create a very focused young woman that is determined to be the best softball player she can be while being the best student she can be, 4.0 GPA going into her junior year. She is a pre-med Biology major with the goal of becoming an Orthopedic Surgeon. The game has taught her how to manage her time effectively, work with people, and be a leader. I am very proud of her and I cannot put a price on that!!!!

So I can tell those parents that do not understand why make the time commitment and investment in travel softball? That it is a lot more than what you see on the field. It is about helping a young lady develop self-confidence, knowing how to plan, and collaboration with people that carries well beyond the ball field and into her career long term.