tryout question

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I am not sure what to do here, so I thought I would get some input from the forum. My DD is a tall, athletic 11 yo who really likes playing softball, but has not tried out for any weekend tournament teams. We (she plays and I coach) a community based travel team. Our league has numerous girls that play on some of the better known tourney teams in NEO and I think she has as much talent as many of them, but she also plays on a national level JO volleyball team - she was on a 12's team as an 11 this year. Because the national tournament is the last week of June and the regional tournament is usually the first or second weekend of May, they added an out of town tournament in June to keep sharp.

My question is should we even bother with tryouts? She wants the opportunity, but with the VB commitment, are there coaches out there who would be OK with the schedule? I don't want to waste anyone's time, least of all ours, by doing tryouts only to have it become a problem down the road. Any advice from someone in a similar situation or who may have had some experience juggling schedules like this would be appreciated.

 

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It's very hard to play two sports at a high level especially with that kind of overlap.

 

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If I am interpreting your post correctly, you would be absent from two June tournaments to attend JO volleyball tournaments. And absent from a May softball tournament.

Juggling two sports, or more, is always difficult. But if you put these conflicts out on the table, I'm fairly certain that someone would want to have your DD on a softball TB team. In return, you would have to understand that your DD would probably get less playing time on the softball team. We have this situation, although not with volleyball and we generally sit the player who has missed a previous tournament, at least for a while. I think she and her family understand that, and once the "credit" for missing a tournament has been established, it's water under the bridge.

BTW, as your DD gets older, the problem will get smaller. Most members of the team will be playing HS ball and not available in May and perhaps the early part of June.

Don't forget, BTW, to assess which sport will be the most likely to produce college money for your DD. That will help you decide whether playing softball TB is a good thing for your DD.

 

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Check out the DiamondChix..I believe they have a team that allows the multisport athlete to do 2 or more sports.

 

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We allow and encourage our players to play other sports but if you're missing all of the spring practices, spring league, and half the summer season as well as fall (VB season), that leaves very little commitment to travel softball. If everyone on the travel ball team isn't fully committed, than the team won't be successful so that is a hard sell.

 

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Thanks for the responses. To clear a couple things up, the JO volleyball doesn't start until Dec. so fall would not be out, in fact we have played fall the last 2 years. VB tournaments are not every weekend, but there are probably 2 per month Feb-April. Nationals is not a guarantee, but if they qualify, like this year, they would stretch everything out through June. Finally, I wish I knew where she could get the most college money - she was also one of the top basketball players in our winter travel league last year. In short, she is tall and athletic, likes all three sports, wants to play all three and has not reached a level at any of them where it is apparent she should be choosing another sport as her main one. That is one of the big reasons I want to explore travel teams - maybe we can knock one sport off the list, maybe we muddy the waters even more. What I don't want to do is have her make a team and because of other sports, miss time and end up sitting half the summer. I want her to be challenged so she can make up her mind (or have it made up for her by the competition).

 

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Throw it out there, you never know what you might find that fits. Every team is different and you might find one that doesn't start until later where there won't be any conflicts. I know there are alot of fastpitch girls who also play JO volleyball so it is definately doable. Just make it clear at try-outs so everyone knows what the deal is. Good luck!!

 

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I can't see any of the top tier trams being ok with it. Sounds like things could conflict quite a bit when you add in practices for both sports.

With that said, I could imagine that there are some teams out there that could work with you. It'd probably be a team that rosters 11-12 girls, where it wouldn't be as big of a deal if she was missing.

I would suggest doing this now (in her early years), you will find that travel softball can be somewhat pretty cut-throat (sometimes), and her absences will creat conflict in the end. Eventually someone will perceive her absence as a lack of commitment and will be upset whenever your daughter is playing and theirs is not. .

 

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I've worked with players in the past that have had very similar circumstances. If the kid brings an amazing work ethic to practice, works hard on their own, and gives 100% when they are there it could be workable. You would definitely need to let the coaches know the circumstances up front so they can make the decsion if it is worth it or not. Ultimately the team would probably carry her as an "extra player" of sorts, being the 12the girl possibly. Its great when she is there, but you have enough to compete without her.

 

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kned44,

Have you also thought about the opposite scenario? What if you take her to multiple tryouts and you both find a team that she really enjoys. She practices all fall, winter, and then starts playing tournaments with them in the spring and WANTS to miss volleyball instead of softball? Are you prepared to tell her volleyball coach that she might miss volleyball for softball? Either way it is going to be a tough decision.

The main thing is that you and your daughter will never know unless you try. Go to some tryouts, talk to the coaches and the organizations and see what their thoughts are. Most organizations will be upfront and honest about your situation.

If you need some advice on NE Ohio organizations let me know... (hint, hint)

 

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If she is really good at VB, and I assume she is since she plays on a national team; then make that #1. Find a team that will accept the conflict and just be very up front about it from day-1 and there won't be any issues down the road. We have done both for years and managed through the conflicts.

CGS brought up the issue of scholarship. Volleyball is hands down the better choice. You can do your own research, but VB is a head-count sport (as defined by the NCAA) which means that every head is a full scholarship (that's 12 for D1 and I think 8 for D2). Softball is an equivalency sport which means each head doesn't have to receive a full scholarship and if you can find anyone that wants to admit it, softball scholarships cover very little unless you are the lucky 1 or 2 full rides as a stud pitcher or catcher. Also Ohio, Indiana, Michigan is a hot bed of VB talent and it is easier to get seen by recruiters in VB since the major national qualifiers (only about 6) have every D1 & D2 coach in the nation in attendance.

That being said.....Let your daughter do both. Give her the opportunity and option to choose which one she really loves; and throw in another sport along the way. If you are thinking scholarship now at age 12 you are only fooling yourself into throwing good money after bad. If she needs to concentrate on only one it shouldn't be until she is about a Freshman which is when the real recruiting starts, so don't let anyone tell you different.

 

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Thanks for the responses. To clear a couple things up, the JO volleyball doesn't start until Dec. so fall would not be out, in fact we have played fall the last 2 years. VB tournaments are not every weekend, but there are probably 2 per month Feb-April. Nationals is not a guarantee, but if they qualify, like this year, they would stretch everything out through June. Finally, I wish I knew where she could get the most college money - she was also one of the top basketball players in our winter travel league last year. In short, she is tall and athletic, likes all three sports, wants to play all three and has not reached a level at any of them where it is apparent she should be choosing another sport as her main one. That is one of the big reasons I want to explore travel teams - maybe we can knock one sport off the list, maybe we muddy the waters even more. What I don't want to do is have her make a team and because of other sports, miss time and end up sitting half the summer. I want her to be challenged so she can make up her mind (or have it made up for her by the competition).

This was the exact thing that my dd went through with the exception that she started JO VB & SB in the same year when she was 9. We were able to manage it simply by passing on the Open (National) team offers and playing for a high quality club (Regional) team.

To reach the pinnacle in both sports it is going to require some serious dedication and a huge time commitment. This really became a problem when HS started.

My dd made the HS varsity team as a pitcher her freshman year and her initial JO schedule had absolutely no conflicts (thought we were blessed at the onset). Then the tournament schedule changed and the spring rains changed the HS schedule and it was a huge mess. She ended up missing three VB tournaments that season due to her HS softball commitment. She felt horrible about having to let her team down. Then came the impact on her pitching ability due to all the overhand hitting (she was a MH), lost 5 mph easy. She decided in her Sophomore year to give up VB, she misses it terribly and has even had a couple local community colleges approach her about playing for them.

I don't envy you or your dd having to make the decision. Trying to play a National team VB schedule and JO softball simultaneously is a recipe for heart ache. Good Luck to you!

Doug

P.S. JO Softball is far less expensive and you get a great tan.

 

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As said previously, it is very hard to juggle two sports at a high level. Make sure you are up front with the coaches. Set up a meeting with them so you have their undivided attention. That being said, a previous post recommended the Diamond Chix. They are a good org. with good coaches and also seperate their teams into groups of girls with other sporting interest and those who want to do primarily softball. Another poster gave the example of what will the VB coach think. You should also be up front with them so there are no suprises there. Good luck and at that age, I would recommend trying both sports. Your DD may like softball more. Asking is always free.

 

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It all depends on the coach. Our coaches were very supportive of playing two sports at the same time. We had some overlap on occasion, but made it work the best we could. I would make sure that your daughter is willing to devote to both sports. Sometimes, it does not leave any free time in your schedule. Best of luck to you both!

 

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At 11 years old, I would definitely let her play 2 competitive sports. We expect our girls to be committed to softball from June- July and we chart practice attendance throughout the season. A girl should not be made to play one sport at such a young age. Other competitive sport organizations encourage girls to stay active and take a break from one competitive sport and play another. You never know which sport may just be her favorite to play and excel in. Good luck and know that there are several girls playing 2 competitive sports at 11 years old.

 

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Once again a big thank you to all who have responded. She has been playing JO volleyball since she was 7 - her Mom has been her coach every year. This year was her third on community travel softball team and her first playing travel basketball. I have coached basketball and softball so we have been able to make things work with the scheduling. It hasn't been easy, but we have minimized missed practices and games for all three sports. When she made the national team this year, it was the next logical step in her VB development. I think this next year for softball a travel team would be her next logical step as she has done well in our league, which includes many travel girls who play league during the week and travel on weekends. Does anyone have any sugestions for NEO teams at 12U who have coaches that might be OK with her schedule. BTW, she is around 5'6" or 5'7" and a LHP/1B.