High School Ball well under way, what are your thoughts.

[jag1]

I say good for the kid that left early......a meaningless softball game, or getting ready for her senior prom..! The entire team should have collectively packed their stuff up after the first game and went about their prom preparations, and shown the AD what a bone head he was for even scheduling a second game.(but, that may have deprived a few over-zealous parents of one out of 70-80 games their kid will play in this year..ha!ha!)....

[looking in]

jag,
You the man!! Everyone on here complains about HS Ball and can't wait till june! But when they lose, it's an issue! Let them be girls!!! Even the biggest stud's want to go to prom! They work hard all year, give them a day! But, it is the AD's fault, don't schedule it and make them decide! Give them this day!!!!!

[coolstuff]

What are acceptable reasons to miss a practice or a game? I think everyone would agree that missing a game or practice, whether HS or travel ball, should have some effect on a playing time and position. If a HS player decides to go on spring break and miss several practices right before the season starts, there should be consequences, agreed? Yet, I think we'd all agree that there are valid reasons - illness, a family emergency or event such as a funeral or wedding, are valid reasons I think we can all agree on. Scheduling any school event on prom day is a pretty dumb move, I think we all agree on that. (Confession time: I scheduled my older, non-athlete DD to take her SATs on the morning of the prom.) What about other school-related functions? If a player misses a practice for a school choir performance, is that something that should result in losing a position or playing time? What if the player misses a game for a choir performance? More serious or the same as missing a practice? Should softball players - or any HS athlete - give up involvement in all other school activities during their sports' season? Just wondering.

[gunshy]

Coolstuff, I have a very different opinion on Spring Break. I know your school schedules games and practices over Spring Break and has stiff consequences for missing either. In reality, every school is allowed a specific number of games (contests) per season, which is a not-to-exceed number. MANY teams do nothing over Spring Break and will ultimately play the EXACT same number of games as McCutcheon in a season and will probably have a few less early, crappy weather games and a few more pleasant weather games later in the season. What does McCutcheon gain by scheduling games during Spring Break? The weather is the most unpredictable and the kids would really rather be on the beach. As a parent, I would be honked beyond belief if I passed on Spring Break with my Senior daughter, only to have the mandated games snowed out and practices held indoors. The AD's need to get a grip and make Spring Break a down-week.
Coming from a small school where DD is a 3 sport athlete, Spring Break is the ONLY time that the kids have as their own. The cycle goes like this: volleyball 2 a-days start the Monday that we return from ASA Nationals. Basketball starts the Monday after the volleyball team is eliminated from the State tournament; basketball practices throughout Christmas break and usually plays in some holiday tournament. Softball conditioning began on Monday, after the basketball team was eliminated in Sectionals on Saturday night. Travel softball starts the first weekend after the HS team is eliminated and plays EVERY weekend until Nationals. Tell me again, why can't we take Spring Break off? I realize that playing 3 sports is an athlete's choice, but it is one that is made quite often at the smaller schools. MY belief that scheduling anything over Spring Break is not very smart, but to put kids in this position AND penalize them for taking a rare family vacation is an administrative failing. One might argue that it worked well for McCutcheon, as they won the state last year. Well, if my memory serves me correctly, some of the players on that team actually went to Florida for a few days AFTER spring break and missed school to do it. What message did we send there?

[bucketboy]

Sorry if I opened a can of worms here and as the now labeled over-zealous parent I can say yes I think it sucks that my daughter didn't have the time she thought she was going to have to prepare for the prom either and trust me if you knew the whole story the last thing I want right now is my daughter to have to pitch extra innings and wish the game hadn't been played at all. My "I have now seen it all comment" was not a slam on the kid, but the situation. Yes she has a punishment that was issued by the coach and whether I think it is soft or too harsh is none of my business because regardless of the circumstances she should have not put herself before the team period and anyone that thinks they or their kid is above the team as a whole will get a rude awakening at some point in their careers. Should she have been put in that situation to have to make that decision? No Should she have left in the middle of a game? No and that is why heybucket is a great forum to seek advice and share information that will in turn help others.

To make it clear and Gunshy sorry if I set a new record here is one of the reasons we complain on this board about high school ball. The best interest of the kids are not placed first in many programs and the AD's could care less about Girls Softball for the most part and on top of playing a game last Thursday, Friday, two Saturday, Prom, then after prom at King's Island on Sunday, a game last night, and scheduled to play tonight, tomorrow night and Thursday night would make one to think that not much thought was put into the schedule considering none of these games are make ups and were all on the original schedule may lead one to think in the manner that I am thinking right now.

I have to agree about the mandatory spring break practices being an issue as the kids need down time and frankly I am hoping for a rain out tonight as I know one high school team that could use a night off or just a chance to take a breath considering what they have had to endure over the last week or so and I hope that I am not labeled for hoping for something that would be good for the kids at this point in time.

[killerbee]

Being an athlete require some sacrifice. Meaning, possibly playing through a spring break, missing a prom etc.. Rumor has it, IHSAA is currently looking at playing through Spring break just like baseball in many midwest states.
Prior to joining the school team, the athlete will need to check the calendar and then decide which is more important.
SEASON SUSPENSION FOR THE GIRL THAT LEFT HER TEAM DURING A 14 INNING BATTLE.

[jag1]

Bucketboy, I think we're probably all considered over-zealous in the eyes of non-softball junkies..lol..and you're right about most of the AD's and school boards not giving a squat about their softball programs or what's best for the kids. (your schedule sounds ridiculous, that AD needs to find another line of work..!)

[looking in]

Bucket,
I agree with you, she should not put herself before the team! Killer, you are right, it takes sacrifice! But my take on this is, we all agree the ad's are to blame! They don't care about girls sports period!! Any girls sports!! Just Football and boys B-ball! The only time you will see a AD at a girls event is if it very late in the state tournament! If they start playing through spring break, alot of very strong programs are going to come back to earth! then we won't have to wait till june, we can start in april like we did at 10U!

[da60]

Bucketboy, for a school who's girls softball team has a pretty good track record in the state tournament, your AD may be the worst...I agree the girl should not have put herself above the team, however, for the AD to schedule games during prom weekend is absurd...I also agree with gunshy regarding the issue of games/practices during spring break...give the kids a break, nothing is gained over one week with the weather usually being horrible(plus I like sitting on the beach for one week)...our AD is improving regarding softball(mostly because some of the softball parents and the new coaches are vocal about improving things for the girls) but certainly football and boys basketball carry the clout(the football program has had success in sectionals and regionals and the basketball program has the only state title)...not sure how everyone's teams are doing, but we have played two horrible games in a row, lackluster hitting and shoddy defense...we did the same thing last year, got ranked in the top ten and the wheels started coming off...one more game this week, couple good games next week then county tourney Friday and Saturday...hoping for warm weather and sunshine.

[Justathought1]

Good points made......

My opinion is not a whole lot different then most if not all....

I feel that it was a shame a young lady (or 12 to 14) young ladies were forced to make a spur of the moment choice that they had little to do with. Right choice or wrong choice I am not one to criticise either choice. I just feel the situatuion could have been avoided. Period....
Parents have spent money on prom dresses and everything that goes with prom. The young ladies made a commitment to the team, to their coach, to their school, to their prom dates, to the parents that spend money, ect.... For an event that is so dear to a daughters heart should never had to be chosen over a sport that they work so hard at all year. I feel for the whole team because with this situation that arose last week-end it will affect each and everyone of them. It will bring disarray, and it will seperate unity.(if there was any) I am just assuming...

I wish them well and hope that each of them young ladies can come together and be open-minded to each others individual choices and know that it surely wasn't personal and I wish them the best of luck. Another life lesson teenagers deal with and hopefully builds these young teens into responsible adults without hurting relationships (team-mates).

I personally as a dad speaking wouldn't have been disappointed DD missing prom. LOL

Michael