When to transition to travel

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What do you look for to try and decide if your DD is ready to try and move from rec to travel?

My DD started taking hitting lessons this year (her hitting coach also does travel ball teams) and has been hitting really well in her rec league. She has always been good fielding and throwing.

I have talked to her about it and she says she wants to play with the "better teams" (that's how she refers to travel), but she also says she will be sad to leave her friends (her best friend is on her team now). A couple of the girls she played with last year started travel ball this year and she misses playng with them as well.

She loves to play softball, and I think she is good enough to make a team (not be a star or anything but make a roster.) Although I worry as right now she is on top and I know transitioning at first she won't get near as much field time of even hitting time I would guess.

So what do/did you look for to know when it was time?

 

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What age is your DD?

 

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before you posted... lol...

There's a fit somewhere. Go ahead, go for it! She's asking, don't wait. Can she hack criticism and is a listener? Can she hack a long days in the ball park and just as important can mom/dad? If t

Seriously, if she loves the game or has true interest and is self-motivated she will do great and probably even be happy knowing she is potentially getting into the travel sector late. If you find a "fit", playing time won't be an issue. Do your homework and many things will fall into place. Not all coaches, teams, leagues, etc are elite nor terrible. Depending upon your area, you may have so many needing her it could be a great problem to have. Ask the questions you think you shouldn't, keep reading here on OFC... self-educate.

Curious, what age? What area are you guys from? These responses (some rhetorical) would shape further responses from me... good luck!

 

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Sorry meant to include age and forgot.

She is 10 turning 11 later this year. We are in the Akron area.

 

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The time is now. She will make tons of new friends. Try out for several teams, and get on the one that will challenge her and feels right for your family. Do not jump on the first team that offers her a spot unless it truly feels like a good fit. Ask around and find out about different teams and coaches and such. Decide which coaching style works best for your dd. For mine, there are a couple coaches I know of that are too intense for her, but a super laid back coach won't get anything out of her. Also, be prepared to just sit back and watch. Good coaches do not appreciate ” sideline coaching”, so make sure that whatever team you choose, you trust them to coach your daughter. One good way to check it all out is to attend a tournament or two and see what teams stand out to you. You can see how they coach, how the players behave, and (very importantly) how the parents behave. There was an incident at a tourney this weekend where a parent made a spectacle of himself. You don't want to be anywhere near a team with parents like that. It makes for a miserable summer. If you have any questions, the fantastic people here will be more than happy to help. Good luck!

 

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How old is she?

Why not take her to a few tournaments? You mentioned that you know a few girls that play travel ball. Let her go and hang out for a few hours to see what it's like. Not just play time, but have her observe the team between games too.

As far as missing friends, they create an amazing bond with their travel teammates that you just don't have in rec ball.

I personally think 9u or 10u is the best age to jump in. I feel that if you wait until 12u, the adjustment get's a little harder. Your dd would most likely be behind on skills (not all cases) and I think the 12 year old mental adjustment is harder.

In all, I think the adjustment will be harder for YOU than on your daughter. Going from being a rec parent to a Travel parent will surprise you. You will be surprised how you feel about the coach after your kid doesn't get as much playing time or doesn't play where you want her to play. Daddy and mommy goggles get A LOT thicker in travel. You will have a coach that will flat out tell you that your kid isn't good enough to play ss. You don't get that in rec ball. YOU, have to grow thicker skin.

That being said, this is my 4th year. My kids love it and I am still learning to adjust.

 

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I'd be researching now. Lots of good org's your way. Make a point to look at web pages and even put your request that "you are looking for a team" for next year, possibly even this year. Its so early and so many are looking you'll surely get into a deal that might be the ice-breaker for years to come. Your hitting instructor might be as good a person to rely on as well.

 

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How old is she?

Why not take her to a few tournaments? You mentioned that you know a few girls that play travel ball. Let her go and hang out for a few hours to see what it's like. Not just play time, but have her observe the team between games too.

As far as missing friends, they create an amazing bond with their travel teammates that you just don't have in rec ball.

I personally think 9u or 10u is the best age to jump in. I feel that if you wait until 12u, the adjustment get's a little harder. Your dd would most likely be behind on skills (not all cases) and I think the 12 year old mental adjustment is harder.

In all, I think the adjustment will be harder for YOU than on your daughter. Going from being a rec parent to a Travel parent will suprise you. You will be suprised how you feel about the coach after your kid doesn't get as much playing time or doesn't play where you want her to play. Daddy and mommy goggles get A LOT thicker in travel. You will have a coach that will flat out tell you that your kid isn't good enough to play ss. You don't get that in rec ball. YOU, have to grow thicker skin.

That being said, this is my 4th year. My kids love it and I am still learning to adjust.

well said!

 

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Lester and CrystleMC both are giving good advice.

Another thing to remember is that Travel isn't made to treat every player equally - like Rec. Your daughter had better be prepared for critcism, instead of "Nice try Sweetie, better luck next time"...
Criticsm is good, and helpful, when presented in the right manner.

Good Luck in your quest. You'll probably get a few tryout offers before this thread runs it's course.

( D*mm*t - mili28 types faster than me...)

 

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I plan on attending the Akron slam tournaments. I expect there to be a lot of teams there to look at.

Last week I told her coach we are thinking of trying out for travel ball after the rec league ends, he said that was good and was telling me when to expect tryouts to be.

 

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Tryouts will be for next year. Depending upon how much time your family is willing to commit to fastpitch this summer, you might want to post a listing in "Players looking for teams" on this site stating that your DD is willing to sub in tournaments this summer (if there is a weekend conflict because of rec ball, you might want to just post the weekends that she is available). It's a little tough socially for a 10u to sub with a team that has been together for several weeks, but if your DD isn't normally shy it might be the best way for you to see whether she truly has the travel ball bug. And it is certainly a good way for you to turn the tables and "try out" some teams.

Best of luck.

 

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I am a first year travel parent and my daughter is also 11. There is a pretty big change in itself from rec 10u to travel 12u. My daughter is seeing that right now. She had to and is still working at making many changes her coach has changed because she just was not doing things correctly and had to relearn the proper way. That is one thing you will see in the transition. And that is the travel coaches care and wants to teach instead of just being there to help their daughter. Not saying all rec coaches are like that, but I have seen some myself that are like that. Our coaches do not have daughters on the team so they are coaching for the love of the game and the girls.

Like others mentioned you and your daughter have to expect critcism. Your daugther will probably get the 3rd degree at one time or another.
I would make sure the team stays together at the same age. No mixed birth years on the same team.
Check their schedules and make sure you can manage it. Some play showcases and some do not. My opinion is you need to play the best to compete with the best.
Don't get discouraged. The speed of the game is much faster. The girls can hit much harder and pitchers have good ball control and speed.
Be prepared to drive !! Travel softball is a year round sport. My daugther joined last Sept and did 2 fall tournaments then practices and individual instruction weekly throughout winter. We drive 2.5 hrs 3-4x a week but worth every bit of it. Hope some of this helps.

 

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Be careful you don't pigeon hole her into softball only at that age. There are enough things to go around in those next few years and if she wants, can excel at as many you can handle. if you have a coach tell you at those early ages "SOFTBALL ONLY" say see ya and look for another team. Starting too young year round can lead to burnout and they are only young once........

 

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She has tried basketball and ****** and didn't care for either, she did do cheerleading for a couple of years but last year told us it was to boring and she played fall softball instead.

We tried to get her back into basketball this past winter after fallball ended but she didn't want to do it again.

 

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Another thought is to just find a local tourn team you might be interested in & ask them if they care if she just runs through practice with them. That will give you & her a chance to see first hand how she stacks up and what level they play at.

 

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By far the best advice I would give is to try and make contact with as many teams as possible in your area for her to sub this summer. I did that last year with my DD and she ended up going to several different team practices and then being asked to sub for tourneys. Anywhere from being an AP, to getting play time infield, we spent several weekends last summer trying to see if this was what she, and our family wanted. It is a family commitment! In all, really got to experience travel ball before the big commitment jump. Also get to see many different teams, coaching styles, organization expectations, etc. She ended up just loving it, dropped the forbidden sport of s****r, and jumped in feet first. Now is playing 10U travel and just loves it.

 

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I love the sub idea and didn't even know such a thing could be done until this thread, I am going to try it. Thanks everyone.

 

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I def. would recommend subbing this summer. My dd is 11 and wanted to go to travel ball at 10... wish we had. However, she did get to sub and loved it and saw what to expect. One thing to know, 11U is probably the toughest year. If you join an 11/12 mix team, it's easier, but then you get new players the following year. We are taking our lumps this year with all 11U... calling it our "character building year" Rec ball only gets less competitive due to so many girls leaving for travel teams. Have fun and good luck!

 

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Check out some tournaments & see if there are any teams needing temporary players.