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Member
I am constantly amazed at the short sighted and short term view both athletes and their parents have in the world of travel softball today.
I get that everyone's kid is the greatest player since Jennie Finch, but let's all take a step back and look at the big picture shall we?
1. A solid travel organization or well coached team will teach your darling daughter to become a better player. That means that ocassionally she will be pushed, perhaps criticized, and asked to step outside of her comfort zone. That's how she will grow and get good enough to play at the next level.
2. Coddling her won't allow her to move beyond her comfort zone and master the game. To be an elite player she, and you, will have to grow a thicker skin.
3. Both you and your athlete must learn to exercise more patience. Rome wasn't built in a day, and to master a game as tough as fastpitch takes time. Remember, it's a journey not a destination!
4. Team hopping isn't the answer. Moving your daughter to a new team after she's made friends and developed a good routine with one team should be carefully weighed. Unless she's not playing on her current team, or the coaches don't have a clue why move her? The grass isn't always greener on the new team.
5. If your athlete is 12, 13, or 14 years old I have a news flash for you...the college scouts aren't watching her play. Allow your daughter to learn the game without worrying to death about making a mistake. Allow her to develop by focusing on her effort and the process of learning rather than her game results only. It really isn't about judging her performance today as much as where she will be when she is 16 or 17. If she is making progress, celebrate that!
6. Please trust your daughter's coaches to do what is best for her and the entire team. Coaching is a balancing act in which every player (and parent) can't be pleased all the time. Bad mouthing the coaches creates a horrible and destructive energy on the team and is counter-productive to success. Look at the big picture and ask these two simple questions: "Is she getting better?" and "Is she happy?"
As always, put yourself in her shoes and remember it's her game not yours. Yes you may write the checks, but let her develop into the player you know she can be by engaging in "big picture" thinking!
I get that everyone's kid is the greatest player since Jennie Finch, but let's all take a step back and look at the big picture shall we?
1. A solid travel organization or well coached team will teach your darling daughter to become a better player. That means that ocassionally she will be pushed, perhaps criticized, and asked to step outside of her comfort zone. That's how she will grow and get good enough to play at the next level.
2. Coddling her won't allow her to move beyond her comfort zone and master the game. To be an elite player she, and you, will have to grow a thicker skin.
3. Both you and your athlete must learn to exercise more patience. Rome wasn't built in a day, and to master a game as tough as fastpitch takes time. Remember, it's a journey not a destination!
4. Team hopping isn't the answer. Moving your daughter to a new team after she's made friends and developed a good routine with one team should be carefully weighed. Unless she's not playing on her current team, or the coaches don't have a clue why move her? The grass isn't always greener on the new team.
5. If your athlete is 12, 13, or 14 years old I have a news flash for you...the college scouts aren't watching her play. Allow your daughter to learn the game without worrying to death about making a mistake. Allow her to develop by focusing on her effort and the process of learning rather than her game results only. It really isn't about judging her performance today as much as where she will be when she is 16 or 17. If she is making progress, celebrate that!
6. Please trust your daughter's coaches to do what is best for her and the entire team. Coaching is a balancing act in which every player (and parent) can't be pleased all the time. Bad mouthing the coaches creates a horrible and destructive energy on the team and is counter-productive to success. Look at the big picture and ask these two simple questions: "Is she getting better?" and "Is she happy?"
As always, put yourself in her shoes and remember it's her game not yours. Yes you may write the checks, but let her develop into the player you know she can be by engaging in "big picture" thinking!