Who are You?

[gunshy]

Coolstuff, your post begs the question of why this player stayed on a travel team that didn't work with her in the fall and winter?? Fall and winter, especially at 12u or 14u, is when the fundamental base of a player is built. If the coaches were ignoring this player as you suggested, this player should have moved on earlier. This CAN happen and there are no absolutes relative to high school; players can get better and get more attention in high school, but that is not the most often occurrence. AS for the players on my team, every single player played a different position on their HS team than they did on my travel team, fully half of my kids pitched for their HS team and not one played outfield. My catcher, who is VERY good, played 3rd base, my 3rd baseman played SS, my SS, 2nd baseman, lf and RF all pitched and all of these kids were all area and all-conference as Freshmen. But....this makes the first weekend of travel a real adventure. These kids may or may not be 100% healthy and they all played out of their normal positions for 2 1/2 months.

[jag1]

I'm not sure I agree with the "take the winter off" concept. My dd, along with 3 or 4 other kids on our team are multi-sport athletes (basketball or swimming) during the winter high school schedule. Even though they're involved with high school sports, they are still attending at least one travel ball practice a week, still manage a hitting and/or pitching lesson a week, and often find time to get some tee work in on a weekly basis. Getting to go play indoors somewhere mid-winter is like icing on the cake, and a welcome break from the monotony of trying to stay sharp during this time..! My kid would play every other weekend, if her schedule allowed.....I can't see how that would harm her preparation for the "rigorous" high school season..lol! (I'm sure our H.S. program isn't nearly as demanding as most of yours......) and by the way, good luck to everyone on their upcoming prep season...!

[Justathought1]

I agree with you jag1. I was just thinking I was a very bad parent letting my child do High School Swimming every day (6-days a week), Confirmation for her religion each week, Pitching lessons each week, hitting each week keeping grades up and doing softball practice or tournaments, and having a very understandable coach and teammates that helped work around her busy schedule.lol

I just think it is not for everyone or every team. It just is an individual decision.

Good luck to all..

Michael

[looking in]

Jag1, i had you pegged as a pendleton hieghts parent!!?? Am i wrong? you do play travel for a certain team out of pendleton, correct??

[jag1]

We play travel ball out of Pendleton, but attend Rushville H.S....same conference, 180 degree difference in coaches and their respective programs !

[gunshy]

I don't recall mentioning ANYTHING about taking the winter off and I am not suggesting that at all. The whole idea of NOT playing indoor tournaments every weekend all winter revolves around the notion that the aggressive players are already in hitting lessons, pitching lessons, Parisi speed school, HS conditioning and travel team practices, just to name a few. These players are constantly working on their individual skills in the winter and the notion that they NEED to play 8 indoor events just doesn't make sense. If a team plays a weekend indoor tournament, that team most likely doesn't have a team practice that week; most teams cannot/should not miss 8 team practices each winter. It really comes down to when you want your team to peak; if you want them playing their best in February, practice them 3 times per week and attend all of the indoor events all winter long. If you want them to play their best at Nationals, build up to Nationals and make sure they have something left in their tank for when it counts. Everyone is different, but no more than 1 indoor per month and weekly winter team practice has served our team extremely well for several seasons.

[coolstuff]

Coolstuff, your post begs the question of why this player stayed on a travel team that didn't work with her in the fall and winter??

Don't know. I never asked her parents that question.

[Justathought1]

I can appreciate your comments gunshy, I really do. You are giving your opinion and no-one can say you are right or wrong. I just feel it is a team decision and a family decision on what they feel is best for their situation.

Re: Who are you? (Post)
What team you with? Hope all works out either way for everyone. Best of luck in High School too.....


Michael

[gunshy]

JT1, if you read my posts I am very careful to specify "everyone is different", "there are no absolutes", "works well for my team", etc. I agree with you that it is 100% a family/team decision BECAUSE each family and team has their own set of circumstances. I am also aware that, in the absence of different thinking, some people will defend whatever position they happen to be in at that particular time. Example: I have been a part of more than one conversation that went along the lines of "we looked great at the Sportzone all winter, practiced bi-weekly, had mandatory team hitting every week, hired our own team pitching coach. Then we started playing outside and seem to get worse instead of better, each week. Now, some of the kids act like they don't even want to play." As I heard that story repeat itself over and over, it didn't take long to formulate some ideas and try a different coaching path. Although these coaches never openly suggested that possibly they went too hard, too early, that WAS a possible/reasonable conclusion. I decided to try quality over quantity, and, in our particular situation, it has worked for several seasons in a row. We play our best ball at the end of the summer, which is our team's goal. Maybe it has worked because 1/2 of our team plays HS volleyball and 6 play HS basketball and the players are ALWAYS pushed for their time, I am not sure. I offer our experiences as an alternative, not an absolute.
TEAMS; Shockwaves '93 Clinton Prairie High School

[lumpy]

Tough to argue with success. I heard your team did very well in Pekin last weekend.

I also think there is a burnout factor in softball. I have seen too many teams going through the motions in July. By the time you figure the team is tired of softball, it's too late.