High School Softball

[riverboat325]

Okay, let me start by saying that I see these posts about high school coaches etc. and I think, oh God, another parent that thinks daughter is D1 candidate yet can't make a lousy high school team. Well, I apologize. Daughter is freshman, outstanding travel player (pitcher/3rd base) on an outstanding travel team (maybe championships, state and regional champs, etc). Looking forward to high school softball more than anything. Worked out faithfully all winter despite demands of high school basketball. Tryouts consisted of running, little bit of hitting (during which the new coaches (all levels) tried to "correct" everyones swing/stance). Daughter never fielded a ground ball or fly ball during 4 days of tryouts. After tryouts coach assigned all freshman to the freshman team, all sophomores to JV team, juniors and seniors to varsity. Believes that the players need to "bond" with their classmates. Handed out nifty flyers stresing the values of hard work and mutual respect. BTW, varsity program has won average of 4 games/year over last 5 years. Additionally painful becasue this part of the state is hotbed of softball and many travel teammates are playing JV/Varsity. She's thinking spring track might be a better avenue. What say you who have, I'm sure, experienced this in the past?

[Gone in 2.6]

If this softball program is one that your daughter does not feel she wants to be a part
of then by all means she should give track a try. My dd tried track her freshman year and
has never looked back. Life is too short to participate in an extracurricular activity that
is not enjoyable. You'll probably get some emploring her to stick it out to show colleges
that she can "play in an academic enviornment etc etc". Hogwash. You "stick out"
chemistry, algebra, spanish III. You don't stick out an elective if you don't like it.

The real question is......is it dd that has heartburn with the program or you?

If it is her, then get the girl some track spikes and a baton and have at it!

[wadeintothem]

I say she play freshman, then JV, then Var.. like everyone else on earth who arent phenoms..

[softballdad]

There is a lot of high school games going on right now post the scores in the high school scoreboard. For all of us to see. Thanks

[nksoftball]

Riverboat -

Let me give you my 2 cents worth as a high school coach.

This is my first year as a high school coach and I am inheriting a team that hasn't won more than 4 games the last 3-4 years. One of the problems I have faced is that we had terrible numbers for girls went out for softball. Last year the old coach barely had enough to fill a Varsity roster. This year, it looks like we will be able to fill both a JV/V roster with the 22-25 girls that are going out.

Being the size of school that we are, I don't think we will ever have to have tryouts. We have room enough to expand to include a freshman team if needed.

Having said that, every single day of practice is a tryout in our program. Naturally, the upperclassmen are on the Varsity team and the underclassmen are on the JV team. Until we have the numbers to change that, it will continue to be that way.

Does that mean an 8th grader or freshmen can't play on the Varsity team? Absolutely not. They will have to earn their way up there and beat out any other upperclassmen at that position. Yes, it's probably going to be tougher for them to earn that position, but it is possible. Also, as a coach, you need to have significant backing (preferably strong stats) about why an 8th or 9th grader is playing over a Senior because you will have parents questioning you. Some coaches just play the Senior because they don't want to have the confrontation (which they know will happen). Me personally, I will play the best player because I want the players out on the field that will give us the best opportunity to win.

I would strongly encourage your daughter to take the leap and go out for high school softball. It is her time to show the coaches her abilities and hope that they see them shine through. Maybe have her take a minute to talk with the coach and say, "What do I have to do to earn a spot on the Varsity team." If he or she says that underclassmen don't play on the Varsity squad, then yes.....it's probably time to move on. If the coach gives her some honest feedback and also knows that she has the desire to play HS ball, things could be better then. If things don't work out and she doesn't want to continue playing, then I would understand that and support her.

Best of luck and let me know if there is anything else I can help you with.

[fasterpitch92701]

Part of the issue is that you don't appear to have a coach, rather, an administrator who can partition people based on their grade level. That can be done by a 5 year old.

Part of one of the responses to your original post was very good: what does your daughter want to do and who has the issue, you or your daughter.

If your daughter wants to play JV softball, go for it! Just don't expect too much. If she would rather do track, great. Apparently she could even wait another year and automatically be on the varsity softball team. However, it also appears that the capability of the varsity team will be less than stellar the way it is going.

We have a similar situation. DD is a freshman, Nat's-experienced travelball player on a varsity team with players who, in general, might make a 10U "B" team. Maybe. She can't wait to get back to travelball. Regardless, she is sticking with softball for this year and will reassess next year. She does track tournaments on days/tourneys when there is no softball. She may choose to simply do track next year (along with volleyball and basketball) But it's her choice. Having noted that, it's REAL frustrating as a parent to watch any of the HS softball games she/they play as the team is averaging 4 errors an inning, no wins this year (so far) and none likely in the future. That is tough on players who have been trained and coached to win. The coach is a nice person... but can't really advance the skill set of players. That may be the determining factor for the future.

Which raises the question... who coaches for you next year? You may want to ask your AD as it appears... appears that the future will bring more of the same should that coach remain.

Good luck. Hopefully your daughter takes the road she enjoys. If it's not enjoyable for HER it will turn into frustration.

[watcher]

The situation dictates the solution, Four years ago my oldest went straight to Varsity (because she was the 3rd best outfielder in the school) If she had been a shortstop she would have probhably landed on JV, Three years ago my youngest went straight to JV and spent two years there. Had there not been two stud catchers that were upper-classgirls she would have been on Varsity, The coaches asked if it would be OK to put her on Varsity as a hitter and we (parents ) told them we would rather her "play" on JV, But it was thier call, She played two seasons there and had alot of "fun" Now the Varsity team has only 4 TB players on the roster and it don't look to get any better in the near future.

It's only HS ball, Let it be fun for them

[nksoftball]

It's only HS ball, Let it be fun for them

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.

[slim00]

It's only HS ball, Let it be fun for them

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.

I agree, it's only HS ball. It's not one of the things that will really impress a potential employer by putting it on a resume.

[Demonboy]

It's only HS ball, Let it be fun for them

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.

Some people are just dying to be offended.