Which Travel Team??

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Need some input, Do you think its better to play on a local travel team where the girls know most of the team and thats encouraged by the H.S. School coach or get on board with a bigger name travel team where the girls and coaches are not familiar with each other but play with more intensity.

 

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you have to make this decision based on what is best for you and your dd. Your goals should be the biggest factor on which team is best for you & yours.

JMO

 

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My 12u DD we drive 30 minutes to practice @ the Spano Dome, and my 10u DD we drive 4 hours to prac. Both were great fits for our DD's and our family.

 

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I agree with Yahtzee....It all depends on your goals.

College ?

Scholarship neccessary?

I think the paths vary, if she wants to play professional softball i would say choose the elite travel team.

If she wants to be a hair dresser and attend a beauty school, stay close to home and have fun while you can.

I know some very talented kids that could have played on any travel team in the state, they went to college and just stoped playing, school is first.......

 

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Whatever best suits you and your families situation. Also, just curious, what are the player's thoughts?

 

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Agree with above, it depends on you.

I will say this I have seen kids from both sides go on and play college ball and kids that have not played 1 college game.

 

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the other thing you have to look at is the high school coach going to hold it against you if you do go to a team other team and not play for the local team

 

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If you want to play in college, and feel you can get more exposure and learn more from the bigger name team's coaches, then I would recommend talking with your high school coach about what you are thinking about. Perhaps you will be surprised to find out that he or she supports a decision to play with the other team.

 

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coachjwb has it right. The really tough issue, of course, is what to do if the HS coach makes it clear that HS PT will depend upon a commitment to play summer ball with the local team. If your DD really wants to play in college and she has an opportunity to play on a TB team that gets good exposure, I think you have to go with that TB team. It's possible that the HS coach, when push comes to shove, will end up playing your DD anyway.

Best of luck. These are not easy choices.

 

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It is a shame a HS coach would try and control that. I would think they would want your DD to get the best training, competition, and exposure possible - it will only come back to help his/her HS program. The bottom line is that if you DD is in the top 5-6 players on the team, her PT will not be affected one bit, the HS coach wants to win and only a idiot would cut their own throat on a principle like that.

As far as your DD benefit - most times she will get better training, comp and exposure on the TB team - if she wants to genuinely be a possible post HS player she should look at that TB program...

 

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I know its a shame but it does happen and my dd is one of two girls i know that this is happening to and yes they both go to the same high school, and most of the v team is playing for the same local travel team

 

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for one i thought you werent allowed to have more than four girls on roster from a particular school.all that aside i am biased been coaching a good team last couple years and we have been playing in some great games 1-1 2-1 4-3 etc.i just believe when you get in games with teams that are equal or better than you and all 9 girls are at that level that prepares you more for college game.it is unreasonable to think you can play local rec league and develop your skills the same way you can in a good travel team that plays other good travel teams.i will agree there are some freaks out there that are just so gifted they may not play travel and get to play in some sort of college role.if it were me i would play the averages if that is your dd s goal if all she wants is fun well leave her in rec.eventhough travel is alot of fun as well making n ew friends etc.

 

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The really tough issue, of course, is what to do if the HS coach makes it clear that HS PT will depend upon a commitment to play summer ball with the local team.

Not that it matters, but I think a coach is violating OHSAA regs if they do this.

You have to do what is best for you and I think the goals your DD has will lead you to the answer. You also have to factor in the ability of the coaches and the schedule that both teams plan to play. Just because it is an elite team does not mean that your DD will get better coaching than the local team. If the elite team is not playing a showcase schedule, you may find that both teams play against a mostly similar level of competition.

If your DD's goal is to play in college, that is an individual pursuit and she needs to play on a team that will best help her get recruited.

If your DD's goal is to have the best high school team possible, it might be better to play with the local team and help everyone raise their level of play.

 

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Two trains of thought here. First one is the HS coach can do what they feel they can do if they so choose to. Our first one who went outside the program felt bad and was almost afraid to tell the coaches she did. She wanted to get more exposure to possibly play in college if she chose to. In the end it worked out for all as she played the style school wanted her to play during HS season and the way her summer coach wanted her to during that time. She had a few choices to play the next level, but decided not to as the major she is going for and playing at her chosen school was not an option for her.

Now the second thought is that there are plenty of girls that we know who stayed in the system and went onto play in all levels of college ball as well. So depending on the team, the desire, the skillset of the girls and how they promote themselves is crucial. the coaches are not just going to show up on your door. They need to be "salesmen of themselves" regardless of who you play for. Yes, exposure tournaments help but is not the only avenue for the ladies. Get to camps of your interested schools to get on the coaches radar if you need to.

Good luck in reaching for what they may think they want. As stated in the end, many do not play all four years anyway for a multitude of reasons.... Just enjoy the playing time while you can no matter where they play.

 

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my dd picked the right team to play for and this team plays all showcase schedule and has college coaches that over see the origination not saying anything bad about the local travel team cause it is a really good team . and i know all the girls that play on this team and i know for a fact that there are more then one of these girls that would like to play for another team but due to politics and yes we all know that some teams are ran by it

 

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head case coaching if they are dictating... people we live in America... choices are what make us the best country in the world! And to me... if he/she has an agenda on subtling forcing your decision... there's only one decision left for me!!!! My DD won't play for that coach. So, be happy, ask questions, get "real answers" and use that to educate yourself to make a sound decision for you and your families personal reasoning, needs, and desires....long term and short term.

 

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Thanks for everyones thoughts on this, my DD does have high goals she has set for herself, she works hard 10 months a year and knows where she wants to play in college and beyond. I just want to try to give her every opportunity to reach the goals she has set for herself.

 

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I wouldnt worry about anyones opinion. Play where it makes most since for her. That being said you dont have to be with most elite travel clubs or the best high school programs. If she is good enough and continues to work hard on the game she will have the chance to play at the next level. Ive always been told if your good enough they will find you.