Year Round Travel Sports- Positive or Negative Opinions?

[Davemy]

I never had a kid play travel sports but it seems to me playing games and practicing year round can not be good for everyone involved.
What makes this a Good or a Bad thing? Is this a matter of keeping up with the Jones or What if you took August, November and December completely off for Softball.
There is no doubt Parents and Players are burned out in August! Who is causing the length of the season Parents or Coaches?

 

[Chad Strahler]

Supply and demand is the reason. But I believe you should take a couple months off every year. Recharge your desire and love for your sport.

 

[Softballfarm]

I think this is a "to each their own" type of matter. I have been on both sides with our team and my opinion has evolved over the years. I cannot deny the rapid development of skills by continuing to work at your craft, no matter what it is, but I also have seen first hand the benefit of taking a break, both mentally and physically, can have on a person...athlete, parents, coaches, all involved. Growing up with baseball, I can remember never wanting the season to end, practicing in my garage in the winter bc it was the only dry space I had...but still I was in other sports, played and enjoyed. I suppose I am straying from the OP but where I am now with our team's development I encourage the players to play other sports and enjoy their youth and athleticism while they still have it.

 

[number5]

This is a each their own question and answer. First of all, some girls don't want to play other sports. Then the question of how long is a break? One, two, or three months? There are plenty of girls that play in door pitch and hit during the winter months which is mostly for fun. No stress. Then let's bring in school ball. For the majority of kids this is for fun as well. So the girls are playing softball year round, is it really competitive ball? But once again it's up to the kid, if they want to play let them play and if not let them have a so called break. Just my 2 cents.

 

[Davemy]

I am not sure it is up to the player. The Head Coach/Team or Parents have a big influence on what the player has to do. If this was a survey, How long of a season would you like?

 

[FastBat]

I think this is a "to each their own" type of matter.

I agree...to each their own. Some kids will want it, some won't. I have found it's best to let parents, parent their own child, the way they see fit. Why should I tell another parent the best way to raise their child? Who's to say I'm doing this right? (Some days I wish these kids came with an a written (owner's) manual.)

Over the last 4-5 years, my dd has played softball year round, just about as much as any other kid in the state. I was once afraid of the dreaded "burn out" situation, too. But, then I realized some times when she would practice, she would be really into it and other times she wasn't as much (sometimes referred to as half-@$$ing it). But, the more I thought about it, isn't that like me or most other people I know, dealing with different aspects of their own lives? I would say, year round practice is self regulated, in that sense.

But, with year round practice, it teaches other important life lessons like: understanding what a commitment truly is, having a purpose, keeping your word, doing something you have to do vs. want to do, prioritizing, hard work pays off, and doing something you maybe think you can't but still keep working and you surprise yourself by actually accomplishing a goal.

The life lessons I somehow, or even accidentally, picked up "tossing a ball" has enhanced my life in every way to this day. If playing year round helps them to continue to play well into their late teens, I would risk the dreaded "burn out" situation, to get the valuable life lessons I continue to utilize longer than my 13 years I actually played softball.

 

[Pacerdad57]

we typically take about a month off per year, at the end of summer travel ball.
the kid likes it, she loves playing with her travel team, so if she's up for it, and it keeps her busy , active and getting reps, why make her stop? she's old enough to realize when she needs a break, and when she does she takes one. it may be nothing more than skipping one pitching lesson to to veg for a day, but that always seems to do it for her. if it's something she loves and wants to do, i'm all for her schedule as she sees fit.

 

[Louuuuu]

I am not sure it is up to the player.

It SHOULD be "up to the player". Too many coaches have the "win at all costs" mentality, and too many parents think that they'll miss out on that D1 Full Ride if their kids aren't involved 12 months a year.

If we're "doing it for the kids", shouldn't we be listening to them? This is a discussion we should be having before the season starts. "How much do you want to practice/play?". Sometimes the answer is "Every waking moment", sometimes it's not. Make sure you're on a team with the same ideas.

 

[wow]

Athletes are doing something year round. Varity is the spice of life. Whether its softball, Bball, track, Crossfit, vball, etc... its does not matter. This is a topic that has been beat to death here.

Sometimes you need a break and that's ok. But remember somewhere, someone is outworking you.. Complacency is the enemy of greatness.

 

[Heavy Hitter]

Athletes are doing something year round. Varity is the spice of life. Whether its softball, Bball, track, Crossfit, vball, etc... its does not matter. This is a topic that has been beat to death here.

Sometimes you need a break and that's ok. But remember somewhere, someone is outworking you.. Complacency is the enemy of greatness.

True but if you don't give your body a break whether your mind wants to or not you greatly increase the risk of overuse injuries. Then you have no choice but to sit. Women's sports have had a huge up tick in overuse injuries, because of year around non stop specialization in 1 sport. That doesn't mean they can't be doing something but something different.

 

[hammerhead20]

This is my daughter's first year with a year round team and she loves it. She has really improved on the field. For me, it has been invaluable as far as her confidence and social skills are concerned. She absolutely loves spending time with her team. They are all wired like her so to speak. I think if she had to go a few months without being around her team she would go crazy.

 

[Wolfpack31]

I have been at this a long time. My personal opinion from the older "team" perspective (team with High School players) is that Fall ball and Fall showcases has much to do with the year around situation. There used to be only a few tournaments / showcases in the fall, now you could play every weekend from mid August through early November. At this rate, with the date of birth cutoff being Jan 1, you would be better off playing with your summer team through November and holding tryouts in the winter as opposed to August. (Which will never happen as there aren't enough indoor facilities to hold everyone's tryouts)

Point being, we used to tryout in August, then take a few months off and get back to work practicing in November or December. Nowadays, summer travel season ends in late July early August and within weeks you are on the field with new teammates or perhaps a new team and starting all over again without any mental or physical break. I think many teams would be in favor of a break following the summer travel season if it weren't for all the fall tournaments that are now available. Now it becomes a case of everyone else is playing in the fall so we need to be as well in order to keep up with what everyone else is doing.

Based on multiple conversations I have had through the years, I bet if you "Polled" the college coaches you would find a majority of them that would be in favor of travel ball eliminating fall ball / fall showcases period! For one, the college coaches are seeing a higher level of injuries and burnout from players, as well they themselves are getting burned out from never getting a break. Fall showcases puts them in the same situation as the players, if everyone else is out watching the players and they want an opportunity to see those players, then they themselves need to be out there watching.

I don't see a change coming anytime soon therefore I believe most teams go with the flow of what everyone else is doing and or what is best for their team.

 

[brownsfan]

One thing I've picked up with the recruiting coming at earlier ages, it's tough to take time off, especially pitchers once in the 6th grade. Colleges are playing in the spring and dependent of your school, may be playing MS ball OR some form of rec. Then during the summer, you're playing travel and attending camps. Colleges will then play some during fall and or host camps. At that time, you're trying out for the next age group or higher level team if not returning. Then you add fall camps, tournaments. During winter, you think you're shut down only to find out you're at some indoor event and the cycle starts all over. The key has got to be balance in everything going on. My dd had to take a week off here and there to keep skills sharp enough to shine.

However, once I think you commit it's easier to take time off. You only need to attend said colleges camps, schedule becomes more limited, and rest is easier to come by. DD for the first time was able to take two weeks off at a time three different times of the year. She would of had more, but the timing of certain events prevented that.

 

[wow]

Just a thought but I would love to hear from a team in FL, CA, TX, or AZ... I wonder if this is a conversation they have as they enjoy 10 Month/Yr schedules...

 

[FastBat]

For me, it has been invaluable as far as her confidence and social skills are concerned. She absolutely loves spending time with her team. They are all wired like her so to speak. I think if she had to go a few months without being around her team she would go crazy.

This is a great reason your dd should play softball! Although, I love the sport, it's all the other aspects of the game, that make it great!

 

[Heavy Hitter]

A lot of college coaches still like the multi-sport athletes. It not a must but they still like them.

 

[FastBat]

A lot of college coaches still like the multi-sport aesthetes

Why can't they do both? Play softball and other sports? I'm confused is that a rule or something?

 

[Heavy Hitter]

Why can't they do both? Play softball and other sports? I'm confused is that a rule or something?

What sport do you put first if there a conflict? Out of season softball or the in season sport?

 

[FastBat]

What sport do you put first if there a conflict? Out of season softball or the in season sport?

I guess it depends on the situation, but honestly don't think it's that big of an issue. One of the pitcher's, on my dd's team plays travel softball and volleyball, it works out.

 

[CARDS]

I guess it depends on the situation, but honestly don't think it's that big of an issue. One of the pitcher's, on my dd's team plays travel softball and volleyball, it works out.

A lot of the issues with what you see with teams looking....

We had 3 or more pitchers over the years and ladies that could play a couple positions so we could play events under 14 year around.

A lot of teams seem to be struggling to get 11 and at least two pitchers now...Coaches seem to not be able to find other options want their ladies to go year around just cannot field a competitive team.

Above 14 we took from Thanksgiving till New Years off as a travel team. Ladies that wanted work I mixed in with the HS team or got some work in on their own naturally; the pitchers got their time in.
All of our ladies went on to play at the next level from DI to JC....