What ever happened to................?

[jonriv]

As a few other parents and I were discussing where this year's HS graduates were going to play- the topic drifted to last years players. Many of those players either no longer appeared or never appeared on the rosters of the schools they were going to. What happened?

Here's what we found out:

Some were cut(yes, they actually had tryouts)
Some were injured
Some quit
Some flunked
Some left because they hated the school

It is so important that parents and players do their research before committing to a school:

Is it the right fit?
Will I play?
Do I really have the grades?
After the official visit- do I like my future teammates?
Do I like the coach?
Does the school offer the Major I want?
Is it too far from home?
Is it too close?

We had counted ten girls that fit this criteria. pretty scary

[J O E]

jonbovi

You forgot...will softball pay the rent?

Answer: Yes...if you're 'good' with a doublewide.

[jonriv]

jonbovi

You forgot...will softball pay the rent?

Answer: Yes...if you're 'good' with a doublewide.

Joe- we don't do Doublewides in Connecticut. It is either building or renovating?? and where will you summer?- the Hamptons, Nantucket, the Vineyard.........?

How many people from Connecticut does it take to change a lightbulb?

two, one to change the lightbulb and the other to stir the cocktails

[J O E]

jonbovi

You forgot...will softball pay the rent?

Answer: Yes...if you're 'good' with a doublewide.

Joe- we don't do Doublewides in Connecticut. It is either building or renovating?? and where will you summer?- the Hamptons, Nantucket, the Vineyard.........?

How many people from Connecticut does it take to change a lightbulb?

two, one to change the lightbulb and the other to stir the cocktails

Yes they do. I was at the Foxwoods last week and saw plenty...took home some Pequot money too from their 21 tables...

[jonriv]

jonbovi

You forgot...will softball pay the rent?

Answer: Yes...if you're 'good' with a doublewide.

Joe- we don't do Doublewides in Connecticut. It is either building or renovating?? and where will you summer?- the Hamptons, Nantucket, the Vineyard.........?

How many people from Connecticut does it take to change a lightbulb?

two, one to change the lightbulb and the other to stir the cocktails

Yes they do. I was at the Foxwoods last week and saw plenty...took home some Pequot money too from their 21 tables...

Perhaps I should re-phrase- we do not do Doublewides in my part of CT Too bad I did not know you were going to be up this way, I would have warned my friend's in the CT State police.

[J O E]

No...I flew into Hartford...just as much trash there too...with unemployment at 12%...when are you guys going to wake up and elect someone who knows how to create a job or two???

CT police...I saw plenty doing 80-90mph with my radar detector on...Tell your buddy he missed me...

Decent golf courses...but the rest you can have. At least the Pequot are having a good time of it....taking all that white man coin. They're hitting the Chinese pretty hard too...busing them in from NYC.

[jonriv]

The usual course of action in CT is for the rest of the state to try to tax fairfield county to pay for everything. Their is serious money in Fairfield County (Greenwich, Darien, Wilton, New Canaan)

generally speaking the $$$ is closer to the shore(Bridgeport the exception) Malloy, the Governor- is a democrat that thinks he's a Republican- he's been going after the state workers unions. Hartford is the Insurance capital of the world and also the home of Colt firearms

Be careful of the cops in CT- they use confiscated cars as unmarked highway patrol. Saw a guy pulled over by a Mazda

[fasterpitch92701]

Back on the original post....(there was one, really...) those we know that have departed the game followed your list fairly closely;
- wrong fit
- couldn't keep up the grades
- too far from home
- didn't like the school
- didn't like the coach
- lack of maturity and ability to be independent.

From another perspective, those that are thriving have their own set of attributes;
- a good school fit (size, locale, type, etc.)
- reasonable, realistic expectations
- ability to work hard and focus
- maturity and independence
- far from home but that's ok... this is an important one as it tags to MANY other attributes. It reflects a willingness and ability to be independent and seek new venues, a maturity level. It works into....
- working through issues.
- doing the homework necessary to select a good fit, school, coach, team, locale
- time management
- personal responsibility
- having personal initiative
- ability to mentor and be mentored
- ability to work with others, teachers, coaches, team mates.
- ability to focus on what counts.
- self confidence
- the ability to balance the work of college with the fun of college.

Interestingly enough, looking back on 18g, 16u.... 14u.... 12u... the players that were going to make it in college could often be picked out early, often very early in their careers. They were not always the best players but they were the players that were going to do best. They appear to be the best at life in general, regardless of economic or social factors, and softball brought out more of "that", whatever "that" is... out of them.

As always, there are exceptions. But, somehow, there is an overall pattern to those that are successful and those that are not. JMHO

Enjoy in good health...

[jonriv]

Back on the original post....(there was one, really...) those we know that have departed the game followed your list fairly closely;
- wrong fit
- couldn't keep up the grades
- too far from home
- didn't like the school
- didn't like the coach
- lack of maturity and ability to be independent.

From another perspective, those that are thriving have their own set of attributes;
- a good school fit (size, locale, type, etc.)
- reasonable, realistic expectations
- ability to work hard and focus
- maturity and independence
- far from home but that's ok... this is an important one as it tags to MANY other attributes. It reflects a willingness and ability to be independent and seek new venues, a maturity level. It works into....
- working through issues.
- doing the homework necessary to select a good fit, school, coach, team, locale
- time management
- personal responsibility
- having personal initiative
- ability to mentor and be mentored
- ability to work with others, teachers, coaches, team mates.
- ability to focus on what counts.
- self confidence
- the ability to balance the work of college with the fun of college.

Interestingly enough, looking back on 18g, 16u.... 14u.... 12u... the players that were going to make it in college could often be picked out early, often very early in their careers. They were not always the best players but they were the players that were going to do best. They appear to be the best at life in general, regardless of economic or social factors, and softball brought out more of "that", whatever "that" is... out of them.

As always, there are exceptions. But, somehow, there is an overall pattern to those that are successful and those that are not. JMHO

Some great points and looking back I agree.

Upon further inquiry I found out on of the girls that was "missing" had blown her knee out in fall ball her freshmen year- career over. You just never know.....

Enjoy in good health...

[fasterpitch92701]

Soooo.... hummm... in CT.... either you're drinking warm, flat Schlitz or Chateau Lafite Rothchild... or live in a 4750 brick beach house on 5 acres or the doublewide wide in back of McDonalds, way, way down the road... or... eat 9 day old possum road kill that has been properly tenderized by Michelin and Goodyear or have Maurice, the head waiter, bring "the usual" dining choice after proper hors d'oeuvres... hummmm... different worlds, not that I am prejudiced... after all, some people prefer a real sport like softball and some prefer that boring, slow, pathetic, lame game of baseball. Eh, as least it's easy to sleep through baseball.