More Time Off

[NumeroUno]

Every year it seems like tryouts are starting sooner and sooner after ASA Nationals. I even saw a tryout posted the same week I was at the nationals. Don't you think these kids need more than a couple weeks off? Do you really think that if they took 2 months off they would not be as good come nationals? Can ASA step up and make you take more time off? I walked in my house from nationals and within a few hours I found myself working on next year. I would be the first one to vote for more time off after nationals. Even though I would be thinking about it everyday.

[TulsaEliteGold]

In Oklahoma the first high school tournaments start today as we play our HS ball in the Fall (Aug-Oct 15). So, the 18s and 16s almost always do tryouts the first 2 weekends after Gold Nationals.

States that play HS Fastpitch during Fall:
1. Oklahoma
2. Georgia
3. Missouri
4. Colorado
5. Nebraska

[Bill_B]

Every year it seems like tryouts are starting sooner and sooner after ASA Nationals. I even saw a tryout posted the same week I was at the nationals. Don't you think these kids need more than a couple weeks off? Do you really think that if they took 2 months off they would not be as good come nationals? Can ASA step up and make you take more time off? I walked in my house from nationals and within a few hours I found myself working on next year. I would be the first one to vote for more time off after nationals. Even though I would be thinking about it everyday.

In my military days when I trained very intensely it became clear to me that extended time off (more than about three days) caused me to regress to a point that was further behind than the time off I took.

Philosophically, and not considering the potentially deleterious mental effect of excessive training, one could argue that progression halts when training stops. If progression stops it follows that goals slip, providing goals do not take into account training stoppage.

So, then, it comes to goals. I continue to marvel at my two daughters and how they were just babies yesterday. Time moves inexorably forward with a velocity that seems to include a component of acceleration. When one is closer to the end than the beginning things take on a different perspective. One cannot afford to let too many goals slip as they quickly become unattainable with the passage of time.

We finished the season Sunday, took Monday and Tuesday off, and are back at it with conditioning and fundamentals as of yesterday.

[NuNu's Dad]

Hey Bill. Got to agree with your comments.

I'l take it a step further: this is the time to integrate new things. My DD always is excited about the start of the new cycle. ie End of Nats. This is when we would make progressions without having to worry about being game ready. At 8yrs it was the 11 inch ball, at 9 it was 35 feet distance, at 10 it was a changeup, at 11 it was a curve, 12" ball and 40' distance, etc. This year it is 43 feet, a new glove and a new effort at core stengthening and strength training.

Last night her pitching coach asked her if she was going to take some time off. She replied that she already did: Sunday (we were eliminated Saturday), Monday (flight home) and threw light on Tuesday! Back to work!

[Sam]

Teams aren't holding tryouts because the girls can't wait....they are holding tryouts to get "first dibs" at recruiting their teams....they could really give a crap about the girls....and apparently, these young ladies' parents could give a crap about them.

Oh, you might think its all fine and wonderful when your kid is so duly "motivated" at 12 years old....she won't be that way at 14....she'll find boys....or girls....or whatever. She'll find other things to do.

Give them a month off...go on a real vacation. They won't hate you later in life for that...but they might just well hate you later in life if you keep pushing them....they will say they want to work out now....their goal in life is to bring a smile to your face....but keep pushing them and they might kill you in your sleep when they turn 17.....

[superD3]

Anyone ever hear of repetitive motion injury ??

[Sftbll4ever]

I have finally taken the advise of others. My dd is getting a much deserved vacation. She can not even touch a ball for another 3 weeks. She needs the mental break as well. Her pitching coach demanded the break as well.

I will admit that the last few years we did not take the time as she had some mechanics that needed work. This year, she is good and it is time. Unfortunately she is still doing stuff for school. Volleyball starts on the 25th and she is doing weight training, but these are things she wants to do. She wants to stay active.

I think the time off is needed so that the injuries will hopefully stay away and also so that they do not lose the drive to want more.

[NavinR]

My daughter (first year 14) needs to find a new team this year due to the break up of the old one. For fifteen years we have taken a camping vacation in August. This year she will miss tryouts and opportunities to join new teams. I suppose this will be the last camping trip.

[Slider]

Teams aren't holding tryouts because the girls can't wait....they are holding tryouts to get "first dibs" at recruiting their teams....they could really give a crap about the girls....and apparently, these young ladies' parents could give a crap about them.

Oh, you might think its all fine and wonderful when your kid is so duly "motivated" at 12 years old....she won't be that way at 14....she'll find boys....or girls....or whatever. She'll find other things to do.

Give them a month off...go on a real vacation. They won't hate you later in life for that...but they might just well hate you later in life if you keep pushing them....they will say they want to work out now....their goal in life is to bring a smile to your face....but keep pushing them and they might kill you in your sleep when they turn 17.....
Teams aren't holding tryouts because the girls can't wait....they are holding tryouts to get "first dibs" at recruiting their teams....they could really give a crap about the girls....and apparently, these young ladies' parents could give a crap about them.

Oh, you might think its all fine and wonderful when your kid is so duly "motivated" at 12 years old....she won't be that way at 14....she'll find boys....or girls....or whatever. She'll find other things to do.

Give them a month off...go on a real vacation. They won't hate you later in life for that...but they might just well hate you later in life if you keep pushing them....they will say they want to work out now....their goal in life is to bring a smile to your face....but keep pushing them and they might kill you in your sleep when they turn 17.....

I am going to play the bad guy here. As the parent of 2 girls, one who did give up Softball and one is has a driven passion for the game, I tend to disagree with your post. My older daughter, who gave up the game, not because she was pushed or because of boys. She gave up Softball because she wanted to focus on cheerleading, and she became a very good one. She has now graduated high school where she cheered for 4 years and has moved on to college. My second daugher who is almost 16 and has been playing travel ball since she was 9 has a love of the game that drives "her" to keep going.

Yes I know that there are parents who push their kids, they want them to be the superstars! But you also need to leave room for those athletes that have a love for the game and the sport. A love that drives them to work harder, play more, and excell. These are the players that don't want to take those breaks. They CHOOSE to leave Nationals and go straight to tryouts! These are the players that believe that they must continue to work for themselves. Not because someone else wants them to. Yes we sometimes still have to say: "DD we need to hit" or "DD have you done your work out". You know as an adult sometimes I need that kick to, it does not mean that I don't want to do it or that I am burned out!

Just because a player goes year round or because she works out rigourously does not mean that her parents are pushing to hard. Give these kids some credit! They are capable of making these decisions by themselves. Stop bashing on parents because they stand behind what their kids want to do......................Yes if DD came to me today and said it is time to quite-we would hang up the cleats, just like we did with the older one.

So................don't pressume to say that parents or coachs don't give a "crap" about their kids. Maybe we care enough to step back and let them lead thier lives the way they want!

JMO

[A's mom]

Keep in mind, especially here in So. Cal., These are just the early tryouts, with so many teams out there, you will still find a spot if you miss the first try-outs. Most teams have another formal tryout in January, if you want to wait, but most teams will look at you any time of the year especially if you're DD is good. Last year, there were at least ten teams (off the top of my head, I'm sure there were more) in my area advertising all year for more players. We were approached by 4 different teams, who knew we were committed and knew my DD was recovering from surgery, multiple times through the year. Very few girls would lose out on a team by taking a little time off. Much better than two surgeries in six months (1st year 14's) and a whole year off due to repetative motion type injuries. Be careful!