High School Softball

[watcher]

Did I miss something along the way ? All this time I thought this game was fun, What I was trying to say is HS ball is a fun time to play ball for your school. I get a kick out of the parents that get pissed-off because DD didn't make Varsity as a freshman. I have yet to see an employment app. that asked what HS team did you play SB on, Or what TB team did you play on.

[fasterpitch92701]

"I resent that remark.....so only travelball is serious or for the good players?
Please remember that you have bad and good coaches with travelball and HS ball. You also have bad and good programs for high school and travelball. It's truly all the luck of the draw."
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
It is often "luck of the draw". DD is the only player on the team who has ever played travelball. We have other HS teams in our league with 8 or 9 travelball players (from the SAME travelball team).

"so only travelball is serious or for the good players"... for serious players... yes, often true. The commitment for travelball, both in training, time, talent, etc, it totally different (as you know). "Good" players often don't succeed in travelball or, if they are "playing", often ride the pine. One could interpret those sentences and characterizatons in 1000 ways, none of them meant to be offensive, pious or denegrating. "Good" doesn't usually make it in travelball. Regardless, with HS ball there is often a social component that appeals to some players regardless of talent. For those who enjoy that, more power to them !!!

However, for those other... "serious" players who commit to travelball and end up on HS team where players are committing 4 errors an inning, can't throw well, do not having defensive skills, don't have much batting experience or base running skills, can pitch 30mph fastballs... all items that COULD be taught be haven't been taught (yet), it can be frustrating. And, it can also be an opportunity for that travelballer to teach, mentor and lead by example. As you noted, it can be the luck of the draw.

The key question is; if you are a serious travelballer and end up on such a team is it better to focus on the travelball and try another sport at HS during the softball season or... go with the HS team for whatever reason that pleases the player (not necessarily the parent), whether they be "good", "serious" or any other generic classification.

[Spectator]

If we are truly honest about HS ball we will all acknowledge the following differences:
1) HS ball is closed off in the fact that it simply has to work with what it has - no recruiting.
1B) Travel can gather players from as far away as they choose.
2) HS ball usually takes it's coaches from the teaching roster and they get paid real $$(be it measly) for simply contributing their time and no expertise(there are a few exceptions) .
2B) Travel coaches put in years of blood, sweat, tears, thousands $$$, spend time learning the game, and actually produce the players the HS coaches use, for NO PAY. (again, few exceptions)
3) HS Ball stays local, does not usually venture far from it's local district or region.
3B) Travel goes to where the good teams are - to make them a better team.
4) HS ball is quite often subject to politics (family relations, jobs, friends, etc)
4B) Travel can too - but it usually doesn't last long
5) HS ball is not first on the list for school administrators - they are there to support education.
5B) TB players for the most part are usually honor roll students, yet some HS players struggle to "make the grade to play"
6) HS ball is made up of 13-18 yo's
6B) TB usually selects the best of 2-3 year age differences, so as to make competition harder.

Yes, we all know the above is true, and this explains the real differences in HS and TB. There is simply no comparison.

[Martin]

Great post, Spectator.

[Gone in 2.6]

On the other side......

7. The majority of high school games really mean something/have something on the line (league standings, CIF ranking, or rivalries that are older than the players or even their parents).
7B. The majority of travel ball games (especially at the older ages) are meaningless. I couldn't
tell you the score of any of our games from fall or who WON for better than half of them.
8. Newspapers: High schools get big time love from them. The dd's get their names in the paper
and playoffs are closely followed in some communities.
8B. Newspapers: "What's 18 Gold?"

[pitchslap]

Not sure how relevant, but I want to share...

My DD was starting CF on her JV team as a freshman last year. She was named MVP for her team as well as being one of two girls called up to Varsity for CIF. At the end of the season, the varsity coach said "I have a spot for her next year if you keep her playing but, I don't want her playing on just any TB team, I want her on an 18G team."
I quickly found an 18G team that would take my 14 year old, probably not completely for her ability, but for my ability to cover the check. After a winter season of DD unhappily riding the pine and me spending a grip full of $$$, she has again made the High School JV team.
Now I'm not one of those parents that believe that my DD's going to be the next Jennie Finch, but I do know she not only maintained, but did improve during that winter season. I was infuriated at the varsity coach for misleading me.
After a few days of ranting and raving and considering making her take up track, I suddenly realized the only reason my DD was dissapointed about not making varsity, was because I was. She told me that all she really wanted to do is play, regardless of team. I went from being the egotistical demanding parent (like the ones in the stands that I hate), to feeling like the worst parent in history.
Now DD is starting SS and lead off on her JV team and couldn't be happier. the crowds are smaller and the glory is not quite the same but, I love watching her play every inning. I freakin' love it!!!! When the seasons done, we're going to try to find a good 16U team for her where she'll get lots of play time.
I feel I learned a really valuble lesson. Now I just need to apply what I learned with my little one. She's a 12u TB pitcher.

[Spectator]

Good post of you experience - what we have learned is that it doesn't really matter to daughter or us if our she is the "star" with her name in the paper, people talking about her, etc., it is that she is happy where she is playing. DD has not enjoyed her HS experience at all because she is not challenged. We played 10 ballgames and went 10-0 (we and daughter are pleased with her playing time) against weak teams winning most of those 10-0. Those games aren't fun for either team. Daughter's quote is that her favorite time in the box is in the game that is tied at 0 bottom of the 7th (or time expired), 2 outs and a runner on 2b. Favorite time pitching is the tied game, time expired, 1 out and bases loaded. I can't stand the pressure - but that's what she lives for - guess it's the adrenalin. Looking at our HS schedule now and in the past, we will never face true competition. Daughter has already decided to ride this season out, and then devote fully to TB, from top to bottom there is just no comparison.

[pitchslap]

Spectator,

From the sound of it, you have a little adrenaline junkie. I see bungee jumping and hang gliding in your future

[DDsNbr1Fan]

Good observations from everyone. DD is a experienced and talented TB player and was fortunate enough to make the Varsity team as a Freshman. She had high hopes and was very excited for the season. The season has been an eye opener and very disappointing for both of us, reminds us of 10u rec ball. Site the following...poor training, politics, poor game coaching, politics, surrounded by mediocre, politics, pay for play sponsorships, politics...did I mention politics!

Let me ask this of any HS coaches that have a crappy W/L record reading this...why don't you avail yourself to more and better training techniques, attend a coaches clinic that includes updated information on how the game is evolving, attend a few TB games and learn by watching and ask questions, most of you are teachers..research and teach the game properly, educate yourselves on the game or let someone else take the job! And don't tell me you don't have enough time to do all of this...TB coaches have real jobs as well and most seem to have the time to get better at the game.

Counting the days until TB starts up and playing some real ball!

[Sftbll4ever]

Let me ask this of any HS coaches that have a crappy W/L record reading this...why don't you avail yourself to more and better training techniques, attend a coaches clinic that includes updated information on how the game is evolving, attend a few TB games and learn by watching and ask questions, most of you are teachers..research and teach the game properly, educate yourselves on the game or let someone else take the job! And don't tell me you don't have enough time to do all of this...TB coaches have real jobs as well and most seem to have the time to get better at the game.

Counting the days until TB starts up and playing some real ball!

Not a coach, but what makes you think it is the coach in all cases? Our team has a pretty pathetic record. 3-14 or something like that. Could it be that the whole program only had 28 girls try out for it? How about the fact that only 5 girls play travel and the rest aren't playing anywhere except for school ball. Most of them haven't seen good pitching as they were playing rec at one time.

We had one of our pitchers decide to not play all fall nor even go to lessons and expect to come back and do well for HS ball. We are using a freshman pitcher who is decent, but she is coming off of an injury.

Our coach has travel experiance and played with the one of the top organizations in So Cal, if you don't have the players that can compete, the coach can only do so much.