Travel ball and Rec ball?

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I think Rec ball has a very important place in the game and if you use it properly it will benefit both your DD and the game itself.

I see rec ball as like the first dose of crack, a little something to let you know you like it and to get you wanting more. Use that to evaluate your DD desire to be better or the best. If you are playing 10u travel (and you are an above average player) the is no reason you shouldn't be playing 14u rec ball (a pitcher may be a different story). My dd was 10 pitching 14u rec and thank goodness she has lightning fast reflexes, they saved her several times.

How many talented kids are in rec ball because they don't really know about travel ball? We stumbled across it thanks to one of my DD rec coaches who had an older daughter that was playing travel. When you have a good travel player playing in a rec league too, you open the door for others to seek out a higher level of play. Parents talk while watching a game and become enlightened, and we all want more for our DD. JMHO

 

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My dd is a pitcher also and she pitched rec and travel when she was 9 and HATED it!! Once she got the taste for the skill and competition level in travel, rec ball was no longer fun. She was absolutly miserable and so were we, nothing worse than getting used to the fast pace of travel ball only to go back to the 2 hour walk fests associated with rec.

Now as far as being a snobby elitist travel parent, I think you have it backwards. I or my 3 girls have NEVER been treated so horribly as when we decided to leave our local rec league and go to travel ball. It sometimes amazes me how rediculous people, both adults and children, can act over the betterment of a child. I hear this same story over and over again from many travel parents and players....now who are the snobs??? There aren't many travel teams that won't open their arms to just about any player who comes along, but the rec parents are so busy turning their nose to anyone who is better than their kids that they wouldn't notice it.

Its not a popularity contest. Its not about who likes you or your dd. Its not about setting in the chicken coup listening to the hens cackle and peck one another. Its about dd working on perfecting her skills. Heck get a lawn chair and set by the outfield fence so you dont have to listen to the rabble. I have been there and heard the same small minded self centered trash that locals like to talk.

The kids that play local rec are probably going to be the same crew that plays high school ball. And unfortunately their parents come along for the ride. The same cackling same back biting just a little older lol.

The same parents or kids that like to trash talk will be the same ones that are still doing it as you enjoy watching your dd play college ball. It is what it is. Just use any available chance to get better when the chance presents its self and it will pay dividends in the long run.

Tim

 

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This concept has been discussed many times on OFC over the years. I will say it again: It seems to vary greatly in different parts of the State. Here in NW Ohio, we have Rec Ball, Rec "Travel" ball, and Tournament teams. Rec Travel Ball was mostly kids on Tournament teams, but it gave the kids a chance to play with others from their own school. So Rec Travel was a pre-curser of what would eventually become the high school teams. So if your Rec ball is competetive, there is no reason not to take part. If your Rec ball is the equivalent of our "house league", then there is no reason to participate, since the level of play is so weak. You will get nothing from it. It depends on your situation.

 

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The same parents or kids that like to trash talk will be the same ones that are still doing it as you enjoy watching your dd play college ball. It is what it is. Just use any available chance to get better when the chance presents its self and it will pay dividends in the long run. Tim

Amen brother. Absolutely.

 

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We have a daughter in 10u and 12u. Both made a travel team. 10u will continue with rec also, with travel coming first, because she needs to work on pitching and wants to play some ball with her friends. Once this becomes too much or conflicts, we'll reconsider. I also coach both teams, so same goes for me.
My 12u decided that her rec team would come first and that along with 2 travel players in the house, we decided to only do rec for her. Her rec team is highly competetive, 52-1 2 OGSO state championships and 1 runner up in last 3 years. She may fill in on the travel team also.
So, every situation is different. Different kids, teams, coaches, situations. Do what you feel best, but make sure you listen to your kids and ultimately let them decide. It is afterall just a game and not a job, so let them have fun.

As a travel coach, I want my kids to play rec and openly encourage it. However, one must take priorety. Travel takes top priorety, rec games over travel practice is ok. Everyone must be on the same page on this though, communicate to parents.

 

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My oldest does both but for the local team. She caught the bug last year.

My youngest did do both last year, and we saw why she only did travel at 10U two years ago. The only ones who challenged her were the true 12U players and the girls who played travel.

 

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Why wouldent you let her get as many reps as possible. The rec allows her to work on her pitching game. Dont take what you read from everyone on here as gospel. Make your own decisions and do what is right for your dd. If she is getting little or no reps in travel its the perfect time to get them.

People will complain that rec will hurt a kids swing. If that is the case her swing wasnt that strong in her form to begin with. If you are allowing a bad pitcher to dictate her ability to hit the ball. She needs some reps.

I hear constantly from parents that my kid hits faster pitching than slower rec pitches. Thats because she either dosent know where to hit the ball or dosent do well at timing different pitches. A rep is a rep a good fundamental swing is just that whether it is from a TB or a RB pitcher. Use the time and the reps you get to work on her game.

Heck I even let mine play a slow pitch league after the TB season to work on waiting for the pitch. She has played at the least 10 months out of the year for the last 8 years. If your dd burns out then its as much her finding different things in life she likes as much or more than softball. There are ball players and then there are kids that play softball. Let her decide which one she is.


Tim

Good Post...

My DD also played both and golf...It did not hurt her progression one bit.

Now our rec. team was more of a feeder team for travel so it was a different situation then most and we did play two years up but she was able to play with the girls she would be facing and playing with in HS.

Heck, most travel teams would love to have had this team back then and looking back and at the 18U teams that have benefited from our these girls WOW...
I was looking at the 9u-14U pictures and to see these ladies now and where they are now and the Colleges that are looking at them...It all started at the recreational level..

I would not change anything we did...A lot of good times... Got to love the Catholic Leagues...

 

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I'll go against the grain. At 10U I would let her play both. I have a 9 year old and doing travel without playing with any of her friends would not work very well. She would sour on softball. For 12U they are ready to pick one as long as the team has a good practice program.

 

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This is my opinion for what its worth! I have coached rec. ball 4 years, B level travel ball 1 year and help coach a A level travel ball club 3 years. First year coaching travel, I let 4 players pay rec. and travel. Boy that is a pain when you are the coach. Rarely enough girls to have a full practice and always an excuse why the rec players could not make it to practice or early season games. The 4 years in travel ball I have not saw any of the girls playing in rec. programs improve until the rec. season was over. When you make the commitment to do travel, it is time to drop rec. leagues!

 

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Sometimes it's tough but my girls all play rec and travel together. Our rec league doesn't schedule games on weekends which helps a lot and after the rec season starts their arent rec practices. It is an adjustment when you play rec after a travel tournament but our girls seem to be able to pull it off. Just my "2 cents".

 

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Crush191 (It is an adjustment when you play rec after a travel tournament but our girls seem to be able to pull it off. Just my "2 cents".)

Sure it can be done! A lot of girls do it, just don?t make the assumption that it does not affect the rest of the travel team. The rec girls and families were happy as can be while they girls were studs during the week and could not understand why they did not play as well as the could on the weekend. All I?m saying is there can be an affect on the rest of the team that is not obvious to the rec. ball parents. Not knowing your travel team and commitment of the rest of the girls it maybe ok, but my experience in the past is it not fair to the rest of the team or coaches not to be prepared at the start of the travel season. Cost of most travel programs $400 and up, cost of our local rec. $50.

 

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Looking at some of these post it looks like we down here in the Southwest corner of the State have it good with our travel teams and recreational teams the past 8years...

Harrison, Ross, Lebanon, Colerain, Fairfield, Loveland, Anderson,Mason, Kings, Hamilton, Felicity, Deer Park, Little Miami, East Central IND.and Middletown has been blessed to have the crop of recreational players come through their recreational organizations.
Sorry if I left someone out...

 

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There are a lot of good points being raised on this post. I currently run my community program in addition to coaching my daughter 12u travel team.

For what it's worth, my advice is if both organizations are playing in the same season I would pick one and stick with it. I have seen players attempt to play both and it never works out. Both organizations will get short changed at some point. Even if both teams say they are ok with it keep in mind they this will change the minute their team is impacted by your daughter missing games/practices.

The only way I would allow my daughter to play both is if she was not going to get mound time for her travel team as a pitcher. I think game situations for a pitcher is critical to develop the mental aspect of the game. This is the only way I would even consider playing for two teams at the same time. However, you need to be aware of the pitfalls if you attempt it. Thats my 2 cents and I wish you the best of luck with your decision.

 

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I use to think people were crazy for not letting their kids play rec. For years my oldest played CYO,Community rec and travel. She improved very quickly due to this. All the community teams had travel players it was good competition. When she was in high school she would play on the high school summer team and travel, she loved it. You only know what you know lol...last summer I was asked to take a look at a pitcher playing in a 5th/6th grade rec league who wanted some bodies opinion on if she was ready for travel softball. I was a bit in shock. The umps were bored, the pitchers threw slow pitch style, they played with modified rules. I was there for an hour and half and seen maybe 1 ball in play. It looked like zero fun.

So my new stance is: If you have a solid rec league- Playing wont negatively impact their skills it will enhance them, there are plenty of positives to playing, if your kid wants to play, let her! Let her go show off her travel skills, learn to be a leader etc.

If you have a very weak rec program that barely resembles fast pitch- If you think your kid will be bored, I'd say pass on it.

If your kid doesn't want to play rec ball at all, even if it's a strong rec program don't make her play.

 

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I agree with Uber...

The level of play varies in travel in the same way as rec. If your dd is gonna play 23 out of 24 days in May...let it be her choice. If she is a pitcher, let her pick only one team to pitch for or bring out the ice packs...the mental game will come if she is a for real pitcher.

 

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My daughter is a pitcher and started travel ball as a U13 last summer. She also played Rec Travel (as it has been described) last summer as well. Fortunately she had very good coaching and pitched alot of innings in that league. This really helped because she did not pitch that much in tournament ball last summer.
I think she would have benefited playing both leagues as a U12 as well, just to get used to the talent, especially seen in the speed and consistency in the pitching that she faced.
This year she will pitch more, so we are just sticking with tournament play.

 

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My daughter is a senior in high school who will be moving on to D1 college ball next year and as she came up I have seen and heard this discussion many times. It is a valuable discussion so here are my opinions.
1. Let your daughter choose she knows more about what she wants then you think and she may not be telling you everything for fear of disappointing you.
2. Be honest with everyone up front about which one will take priority when games conflict. Practices should never trump games.
3. Don't sweat the small stuff. One at bat ,one game, one weekend, or even one summer will not determine whether or not your daughter reaches HER softball goals. My daughter has had bad experiences in all of those situations.
Good luck

 

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When DD's team was playing a SoCal team last year at the Nationals, I asked a parent from that team if they play Rec Ball in California. His reply was.. What is rec Ball?....

 

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When DD's team was playing a SoCal team last year at the Nationals, I asked a parent from that team if they play Rec Ball in California. His reply was.. What is rec Ball?....

That is funny!

 

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When DD's team was playing a SoCal team last year at the Nationals, I asked a parent from that team if they play Rec Ball in California. His reply was.. What is rec Ball?....

Of course they play year round and actual game time and reps are a non issue lol.