When do you play to win? (un-PC)

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Hate to see all these girls quit, when they are no longer on a winning team. Half the teams in any sport are flirting around 500 or below.... That's a ton of losing for having the REASON to play be winning.

MOST girls getting College Scholarships from our area will most likely be going to some small or mid-size colleges, where many will be doormats in their league and even worse outside their league. Sounds like a terrible 4yr career awaits all these girls whose REASON to play is TO WIN.

Sorry, I think those with this perception are disconnected from the female athlete altogether. Does Coops DD want to win every game... You betcha, and a million other girls too. NO WAY I believe the REASON they play is TO WIN. To many other much more gratifying and valuable reasons to be playing.

Maybe, I'm interpreting the question wrong, but having hard time seeing anyone's view on WINNING is why dds play. WINNING is a result.

WGMN21, I think I just threw-up a little bit in my mouth,,,,,, did I just type all that...^_^!

 

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You play to win, regardless of the level to play. You practice to get better so you have a better chance of winning. If you're paying hundreds of dollars for travel ball, your child should be getting better through practice by coaches whose knowlege is above that of a typical rec coach. If not, then you need to find another team. Playing travel ball for the sole purpose of winning without regard to the development of your child is ridiculous. What good is it doing your child if the travel team she is on wins but your child never leaves the bench because she is not getting better? If that's the case then you are doing nothing more than wasting your money.

Len

 

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Ask yourself, what is the goal of the organization? Is it to soley win tournaments every weekend? You know what, if you do great, Moms and dads still have to go to work Monday. If you don't same thing. Yes, everyone wants to win, problem is 50% of the teams playing any game will lose too. After that you think why you are out there.

1- Learn more each game than you knew before it.
2- Creating lasting friendships
3- College exposure as they get older should they choose to play in college
4- Have fun, at the end of the day it's a game people.

We visited over 20 colleges the past two years all divisions and not one asked how many summer tournaments did you win? Not One

Sometimes the parents think the wins are more important than they really are. That's why the showcase tournaments are the best ones to go to. You win great! if you don't and you played the best you can, even better....

 

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I think Hilliarddad nailed it. Our dd is playing travel ball for the first time because she wanted to play the game at a more intense level than rec ball. She wants to win no matter what level she's at, but she's learned that she'll have a better chance to be on a winning team if she learns to be a better player. And that attitude is rubbing off on the girls of the rec team she still plays for.

 

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The purpose of sport, in this case softball, is always to strive to be better. Practice, H.S. games, weekend travel games all provide opportunities for your daughters to improve as players and human beings. If their goal is always to improve and learn through all their playing experiences, the winning on the field will happen, and more importantly, they'll enjoy many more successes in life. I have always felt, the more girls you have of like mind on one team or another, the more success that team will have. A team full of talented individuals, may not succeed, looking out for only themselves.
You practice to play well, if you play well you will create opportunities to win. Even if the other team plays better and wins, you have still succeeded.

 

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In order to win, all the players must get better (kind of goes hand-in-hand).

 

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WINNING IS FUNNER... another T-shirt. When we practice we compete, We do drills for teaching then have competitions so they can execute under pressure. Winning can be learned and taught. the mindset that goes with it can help you in life. so teaching winning teaches life lessons and better ball. And I can tell you after doing this for 16 years that the weekends when we play late on sunday are usually the funnest weekends for parents and kids a like. Especially if its a top level tournament.

As a coach my goals for my team include college scholarships, getting better, having fun and oh, yeah.... winning

 

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6 of 1 half dozen of the other everybody plays to win i dont care who you are you play this sport to win because you love it.i think it is good for girls to learn to be a good winner and a good loser but always strive for win.does that mean you will always win no but if your not trying for that then you are playing for the back of jersey not the front.if you dont have a strong desire to win and you are playing travel ball you are probably letting some girls down on your team.plus that strong desire to win is what makes you better the whole thing is a catch 22

 

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See you on the field. By the way you had better come to win because we are. We've practiced all week and now that the weekend is here we are there to WIN. Say what you want- but if you play any sport to just get better and everyone have fun then you have just described a rec league and you should stay there. This is Travel- the girls work hard all week with their team OR on their own - to get better then they come together with their TEAM to WIN. so if your on a team and your only trying to get better yourself then you arent doing your team any good. A team has a goal to win- hopefully you can have an individual goal - that is fine but when your with the team check your individual goal at the door because you should be thinking about the team goal come weekends which is to win.

totaly lost me on the college scholarship rant- makes no sence.

 

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Wouldnt it depend on everyones definition of winning ?

Do you need to have the higher score to win ?

If you tried a new technique and it worked, your a winner.

If you tried a new postion and played great, your a winner.

If you helped someone learn about the game we love, your a winner.

Theres many ways to be a winner while losing on the scoreboard.

 

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OP, we play a schedule that gets the girls the most college coach exposure, Of course they play every game to win it, but we choose the tournament path to get them the most exposure win or not..... Anyone can go play non exposure tournaments to win them outright. We choose the exposure route for the girls.

 

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Hiliarddad3

I understand what you saying and had no problem with your post . It was another post that was talking about college and made no sence.

I totally agree you have to play showcase tourneys to get noticed- that is where the scouts are. I've never been with a team that won all the time - and we have been with the best but my point is you most certanily play to win- period. it doesn't matter if it is a single game and not even in a tourney. why show up if all your doing is playing the game to get better- play the game to win. You will get better if your doing the right things leading up to that game. Now it is game time- play to win.

 

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You know this is strictly adults screwing up a perfectly natural thing. The kids know what you're supposed to do -- Play as hard as you can and what happens, happens. It's only once we get to be adults that we fall victim to grownup disease and start over thinking the obvious, and thus start screwing things up for the kids. Aahh, human nature.

 

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Got ya OP sorry--

Philbob you are correct, the beauty of watching them at the older levels is they just do what is natural and sitting there truly enjoying it, is so much better than being caught up in the younger age nightmare of the adults, took a while for even me to figure that out....

Makes for much more relaxing weekends

 

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out of the 2 choices, I had to choose to get better. Overall, getting our kids better is the long term goal. But losing does stink. Not the end all, but still alot more gratifying to win and that leaves the kids and parents with a much better taste in their mouth. Working to get better during the week and the winter is the key. Winning comes from that if what you're doing is working. I agree to a certain extent that during the week is when they really focus on getting better. But the game experience factors in to them getting better also. The moment the game starts, however, you definitely play to win. How exactly do you play to not win? What does a coach or players do during a game that makes it become them trying not to win? If the game is surely out of hand, one way or another, then you make moves that you wouldn't normally make if winning, or not being able to win, was still in doubt at that point. The older the kids get, the more important winning is to them. As it should be. They're not just looking forward anymore to go getting ice cream after the game win or lose.

 

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......The moment the game starts, however, you definitely play to win. How exactly do you play to not win? What does a coach or players do during a game that makes it become them trying not to win? .........

What do you do when you fill out the line-up card for the championship game (not pool play)? Do you put down your best 9 or do you get as many kids in the line-up as allowed, with DH's, DP's, EPs, Flex etc. Right or wrong, I'm a win kind of guy. If it's going to be a battle, nine names go on the card.

 

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What do you do when you fill out the line-up card for the championship game (not pool play)? Do you put down your best 9 or do you get as many kids in the line-up as allowed, with DH's, DP's, EPs, Flex etc. Right or wrong, I'm a win kind of guy. If it's going to be a battle, nine names go on the card.

Yes....but is that your primary goal in travel ball? You can be a win kind of guy at rec.....so why not play there instead? It would be cheaper for you.......but then of course your dd probably would not get the training and practice fastpitch provides so she would not be near as talented.......

 

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Here is how we do it. Unless we have a 10th with a very hot bat, we put down 9 on the lineup card for games on Sunday. But, on Saturday, we get everybody in. If we did that on Saturday, only put 9 in, we'd only have 9 left come mid season as the parents and kids who aren't getting significant time on Saturdays would be upset over that. I really do feel that all 11 on our roster are surely good enough players to get pretty much an equal share of game time on Satuday. Not doing it to play "feel good" softball. Rather they earned their chance through all the hard work they have done at practice all winter and spring. They deserve a chance to show what they've got in games. If we had them all winter and they're not good enough to see significant time on Saturday(pool play) then we obviously either failed them as coaches. Or if its due to their lack of effort, then we made a bad choice in inviting them to play in the first place and we'll fix that at the next seasons tryouts. Either way it would be our, the coaches, fault. Now come Sunday, thats a different story because you need to put the best possible team out there for most of the day. We don't play all 11 anymore under any circumstances because then there is no backup in case of injury. But we will play 10 in the lineup if that 10th, non fielding player, is hitting well that particular day or weekend. Or if someone is not hitting well, but happens to be our top shortstop, or catcher, or #1 pitcher, etc. But we still usually find the right mix to get all 11 some time on Sunday, without hurting our chances. So in the end, I see both sides. And I agree with both concepts. I just feel I personally lean a little towards the importance of the development of the player side than the importance of winning side. Especially at the younger ages. Because if my dd played on a team that never won a game, but she developed into a great player who is prepared to play in college if she chooses to and does wind up playing on that level, then I'd be totally happy with that. Wouldn't we all? Or as a coach, if we never won a game, but somehow we developed our girls skills to a point good enough to catch major interest, for most or all of them, from good colleges, at any level, when that time came, then how could we be disappointed in what we've done as far as wins and losses? I guess what I wouldn't agree with is playing to win to the point where only your best 9 play all weekend, unless those players who don't play, and their parents, clearly don't mind. But don't think there are any travel players out there like that. Or parents. I know of a few teams who always mix it up on Saturday, getting all their pitchers work, moving things around alot. Sometimes they wind up with **** pool play records because of it and get an unfavorable seeding going into Sunday. But on Sunday, they are always there in the end, when they play all day with only their best in the game. To me, if you can do that, then that is most beneficial to all. This level is cut throat to an extent, and should be, but its not like any of these kids should be left off of the "post season"(Sunday) roster. Play less than others? Sure. But not totally park it on the bench all day. Nobody is getting paid here. Players or coaches.

 

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I look at the question from two different angles.

First, why do I spend time, $$, and effort giving my DD the opportunity to play travel ball? To give her the joy of competing at a high level of play and to give her the opportunity to improve her own level of play. While she is doing that the family has a great deal of fun and the opportunity to share a love for the game with each other and good friends.

Second, what is her primary travel goal? When she first started 5 years ago it was to be able to play with girls who could also play at a higher level of play. She just couldn't handle rec ball anymore. Then she (and we) "caught the fever" and became part of the community.

Is her goal to win? Absolutely -- if a player doesn't care if she wins or loses, she will never push herself to be her best. I would be upset if my 15 year old daughter did not push herself to be the best she can.

Does having fun with family and friends soften the blow when a game is lost?
Again, absolutely. But even at age 15, so does the hotel swimming pool and ice cream after the game -- or even better a Rita's Gelati.

 

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If I make the kids better they do win. So why not stick with the goal of making them better and reap the rewards of the wins? :yahoo:Yup I am a glass half-full kinda gal!