Loneliness. Our hope as parents is that they think of themselves first as members of Gods family and then our family, and then perhaps as an athlete, etc., after that. Also, keep in mind that many tournament teams have monthly dues of around $200 to play on the team and have access to their training facility. I am coaching a 5-6 yr old team and can already feel the pull of private instructors, out of season ball, travel squads, etc. This was the early 90's. It was only an 18U team and I have no clue how far they traveled or who they played. Truthfully, we have gotten better instruction and development at a Rec ball/All Star level. How to Deal with Daddy Ball - RIP-IT Sports Jesus is God not baseball. I had played non-stop from the summer before my freshman year, through fall ball, winter weights, the spring season, then summer ball before it started all over in my sophomore year. Articles like this help. The low-end travel teams can be local teams going to a few tournaments outside the region. . Though parents are well-intentioned, often children are tired of pursuing what was once fun but has become a stressful climb to the next level of competition at the expense of other parts of their lives, or at the expense of joints injured by overuse. A job is not a game. There is no championship, just games. If you plan on being on a travel ball team, you need to be prepared to dish out some money. They learn to be a part of a team effort and that there are sacrifices that need to be made for the team (for instance being pulled during a game). Rec players are given basic techniques and instructions at a pace they feel comfortable with. If your daughter wanted to be a catcher at a higher level of play like travel ball, then shes going to be putting in some work. Let kids be kids, they and their bodies will decide what they can and cant do. What should she do? By your argument, we should never have church services because, if were in church and the lost people arent, how are we going to win them? For every 10 players that are forced to play at the highest level for their age, 6-8 will quit by the time they get into high school. Uber competitive athletics is going to end for 99.9 percent of kids/young adults. If I was in the big leagues, my summers (and falls, and springs) would be dominated by an unrelenting schedule leaving no opportunity to coach my kids teams. Picture this. I played college baseball and never once played Travel Ball in the summer until I was 17. The Holy Spirit leads us all differently. We have had a sub par experience, and I have that guilt every Sunday that we are at a tournament instead of honoring God in His house. If youre in Louisville, come check us out at www.KenwoodBaptistChurch.com. It all depends on what attitude you approach it with. If we dont, then look in the mirror. And I want to provide the best competitive opportunities I can for my own kids. I give you a big Amen! It will look different for each family and each child. Usually, these teams are part of a private or club sports program, not a recreational league or one affiliated with a school. Confused! My thoughts will be mainly applied to baseball, but I think they are valid for basketball, volleyball, soccer, lacrosse, swimming, and whatever else. Messages conveyed: We parents need to pray daily about what messages we are sending our children by the sports or other activities we have them in. If your children think you are most concerned about their being the best baseball pitcher, back-stroker, or whatever, they can become guilt-ridden for wanting to even think about spending time in other pursuits because they naturally want to please you (or the constant stress of knowing how vital it is to you, may act to make them hate it). We enjoyed Upward for what it was and knew that it wasnt hugely competitive (for the most part). The Do's and Don'ts of "Daddy Ball" - Amanda Scarborough Kids need to see that Jesus and his church are more important to their parents even than baseball. 1. We love them by showing them that God is infinitely more valuable than all else. Shes the one that still plays in the dirt instead of gets in the ready position. Its hard in the county. What is Daddy Ball? That's not to say you shouldn't do it -- just be ready to work I played four years at the University of Oregon, where I was First Team All-American, played in two Womens College World Series, and went on to play six years professionally. Turn your focus and see a different view. So many kids grow up dreaming, so few put on a big league uniform. She might have all the natural talent in the world, but if she wants to spend her summers going to birthday parties, having sleepovers and just living life, then let her! Focus on what you can do. Jesse played baseball for many years, served in the U.S. Army for 15 years, and began officiating 32 years ago. The three year old is already all in and ready to play. How dedicated is your child? 4. Subscribe below. Learning that excelling takes commitment, hard work, loyalty. Lack of specified instruction. The cost is typically around $100, which includes a uniform top. These coaches have years of experience, and often played many years themselves. With your TeammatesCommunication on the actual playing field is critical. Unfortunately with all the sacrifices Ive made that relocation doesnt seem likely but as usual, Ill pray about it. And while its obviously better to find a coaching staff that believes in you and is committed to nurturing your talent, I was able to learn important lessons and grow in both types of environments. (He never would have been able to do this had he continued playing in college as all of the players were expected to play in a summer league each year.) First up, travel softball is a lot more intense than traditional one. But dont hold her back if she wants to push herself. The gods of baseball punished me for my lack of devotion. Wake up at 5 a.m., get in the car and fall asleep for the whole drive there. Data Shows Travel Teams Killing Youth Sports - Samford University (Sometimes youll find an assistant coach who is a parent, but rarely a head coach.) These parents are the ones that complain when things dont fit their idea of how the team should be run. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); on Dont Play Travel Ball: Stay in the Rec League, Great Books Selections for Fall 2015 and Spring 2016. This is mainly to get those on the fence to really question if this type of play is a good fit for them or if maybe rec ball would be a little more suitable for them. My son is 11u, and this fall was his first (and possibly final) season of travel ball. Travel softball can be one of the most stressful aspects of the sport, especially when it comes to choosing the right team. More general instruction. Thats fine for an 18 year old on the cusp of adulthood, but theres no reason to put a 714 year old through that kind of rigor. On the diamond. Back in 2011, CBS News reported that one Georgia family paid $4,000 per year for their 9-year-old son's travel team. Plus, thats in addition to fees and travel for camps, which many top-tier players also participate in. As parents, however, we can sometimes unknowingly pressure our kids to continuing pursuing things at a higher level because we want it for them, not because they want it, and we proverbially try to put a square peg into a round hole. The best coaches and the best players stop playing rec ball in favor of travel ball, leading to fewer teams and a lower level of competition in the rec league. Its apparent that wegenerally speakingspend more time encouraging our children to pursue athletic excellence than we do in developing a Biblical Worldview in them. 2. This is related to the previous: the best players leave the rec league for travel ball, and then the mediocre players get tempted to do so, and then all the kids get burnt out and stop playing baseball. I was recently Contemplating to start travel ball from my son recently and for some reason Ive been holding back . Encourage her to be a good teammate. Bottom line: give your kids a childhood theyll want to replicate with their own children not one theyll react against. Is it more important than being at church on Sunday morning? Unlike recreational softball, travel teams don't play a set number of games every season. But what do the managers do? If you're acting like your son has already made it, then you are killing his drive. Do I think that she will go pro? I simply have to go find the people that need Jesus. If youre not in one of those states, expect to be travelling far and often. Im coming at this topic from a multi-dimensional approach. Very few will walk in my church doors on Sunday. If the tournament is really far from home, you may end up getting a hotel room. Was it really worth it? There are many problems that can occur when playing travel softball. She also coached collegiately for 3 years at the University of Montevallo (D2). Too many surgeries, other arm problems, leg issues and other health issues that kids at that age shouldnt have to endure. As a volunteer basketball coach for 18+ years, Ive seen girls spiritually suffer by the same well-intentioned convictions of their parents. Create a Logo and Brand. The journey the Lord had me on led to me being cut from the team after I did not play summer ball following my sophomore year. How will they respond if they don't get selected for a team, or if they get selected but then don't see a lot of playing time? This is great information, but unfortunately rec ballaka little leagueis a political nightmare where I am from and for many others. Notify me of follow-up comments by email. Do I think that she will even play on the high school level? Since you are spending so much time with your teammates, long-term friendships are formed more likely than on a rec ball team. Focusing on winning games is short-sighted and ignorant. Once we knew about travel ball there was no going back. However, there are those few girls out there that just clearly have no business being in travel softball. Thank you! There are gloves, bats, batting gloves, helmets, cleats, sunglasses, facemasks, and God forbid your daughter decides to be a pitcher or a catcher like ours. Yes, there are ways to make this lifestyle a little more affordable (check out used gear at places like SidelineSwap, Ebay, or take some tips from our post here on bats) but regardless of how much you cut the costs, you will still be paying a decent amount of money to be doing this. Be a parent. My daughter has played with the same girls and coaches for 3 seasons now. For us, it boils down to priorities. That means that even if your kid is the best thing since Babe Ruth, if he goes off to play major college baseball, the baseball team isnt paying all the expenses. As Ive talked to people about this dilemma, one friend proposed this to me: he said that I should start my own travel ball team, and I should commit myself to being low-key about it. Thankfully, this was a better fit for all of us. This is what we due when we gather for worship. Between 2013 and 2018, the number of U.S. kids playing baseball and softball combined increased by nearly 3 million, according to annual surveys by the Sports Fitness & Industry Association. Do they want to try out for the travel team just because friends are doing it, or because it seems like the next step? This is a delicate balance to strike, but its something to keep in mind. My name is Alexa Peterson. When my life ends, I will have to give an account to my Lord as to whether I obeyed the command in Matt28:19 that says Go. I dont normally respond to blog posts, but I wanted to respond to this one because I respect you. We pretty much know that were not ready to commit to a large amount of travel and that will be a consideration as our daughter gets older. I am offering these thoughts for parents who are considering whether to put their kids on a competitive team, or a travel-ball team, or a tournament team, or whatever it may be called in your sport and locale. She doesnt have ANY of the skills that the other girls have and the coach clearly has their own reasons for letting her ride the bench more than getting play time. What are the differences between rec ball and travel ball? The regular season typically runs from March to May, with single games twice per week, and one or two practices per week. Stealing home: How travel teams are eroding community baseball This is going to be a big temptation for me because I love sports and am competitive by nature. Its also important for everyone involved to be honest about the players skill level. My son (now aged 26) was approached from age 10 on to play travel ball, but we declined year after year because it would pull us away from church plus cost us a small fortune. They stand out on the team from the girls that clearly go home and put in the extra work, the extra exercise, even the extra lessons to constantly improve. But players should walk away from their travel ball experience not only prepared for college athletics, but also for life in general. Keep him in rec ball, where he wont get burnt out because hes a kid facing the demands of a profession. If you live in a big city, chances are that a good program is nearby. I want your son to love baseball, to have the opportunity to be a kid, and to play the game as a kid. 6. The 4 Biggest Problems in Youth Sports Today Also, since most teams only have one practice per week, theres an expectation that additional work is being done outside of practice. Lesson learned. I needed a break, and I wanted to be a counselor at a Christian camp that summer (Kanakuk). With all of that said, here are some things you need to know about competitive travel softball. 10 types of CRAZY baseball parents & how they're RUINING Thats commendable, but I suspect that those tournaments dont always start the Sunday games at times that make finding a worship service possible. Catherine Holecko is an experienced freelance writer and editor who specializes in pregnancy, parenting, health and fitness. Then you have mad moms and dads when their little one rides the bench all day at a tournament two hours from home that you had to arrive at in the pre-sunrise hours of the morning. Overall, you want your daughter to have a good experience on the field and off with her teammates and coaches. We have truly enjoyed getting to know our travel team family! doi:10.3390/sports7070171, Merkel DL. The U.S. government tracks about 23,000 pieces of debris larger than a softball orbiting the Earth. Do I think you are sinning if your kid plays travel ball? When we read books about how it takes 10,000 hours to become an expert on anything, it may wrongly motivate us to try to create little experts out of our kids by the time they graduate from high school. The majority of players at this level hire an experienced outside hitting or pitching coach. If you have a catcher on your team that cant stop a ball or she cant jump up to grab a wild pitch or make a throw down to second base, then your team will be at a disadvantage. Talk through the process and help her see the pros and cons of each option. She needs to spend more than 2 days working on drills. In travel ball, players have to try out. We are leaning strongly to go back to his Rec ball league that we enjoyed in the spring. Do you know the coach or coaches? We have the pressure of middle school tryouts being in 2 years, and we wanted to make sure that he did well at those tryouts. Crazy Baseball Parents #2 The Helicopter parent But for us, when you lay everything out on the table, our daughter getting to play this incredible sport with an amazing team outweighs all the negatives that come with it. He told us last week that he is glad that we have taught him to focus on his eternal future. They learn to be a part of a team effort and that there are sacrifices that need to be made for the team (for instance being pulled during a game). No one wants to admit that the little girl that they love and adore so much, is just not good enough to be doing something. Since tournaments and games are . In fact, most experts believe that if your goal is for your child to go pro, the worst thing you can do is overplay them. coming down the pike. Our time in sports opened up a world of opportunities, and more importantly taught us much about life, ourselves and God, so we are very pro-sports. He was selected and after spending money on uniforms, dues, tournaments, he was cut from the team because he had a slump in his batting. These rankings contain some of the best travel softball teams in the country and are comprised of the top travel softball teams across the United States. The pitchers pitched far more balls than strikes. Age brackets are 8U (8-years-old and under), 10U, 12U, 14U, 16U and 18U. Solving the Umpire Shortage in Youth Sports Requires a Team Approach On the other hand, dont force her to join a competitive travel ball team if she just wants to have fun. Youre all running on less sleep than usual and even though its only 5 am, theres no more rest for you. This not only applies to the sport of baseball and softball, but in all sports where a dad coaches their own son or daughter. Growing up I loved baseball. How do players interact with their parents? Being part of a team, no matter how long its for, isnt permanent, so as nice as it is to identify with activities that we love, we dont want them to define us or our kids. More important than that, you and your family dont need a summer long break from the life and fellowship of your local church. Competitiveness: Make sure you understand what level of competition you daughter wants. 10 common travel problems and how to deal with them - Worldpackers Here in our area not so much. The fear that if children dont specialize in one sport by eighth grade they will miss opportunities is unfounded. Have fun with sports, and use it to build character, not dream-castles in the skies. Sometimes coaches are not as experienced, usually a player's parent who has volunteered to help out. However, as parents now of three young adult children we handled sports for them in a much different way than the current culture dictates. By clicking Accept All Cookies, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts. Fun for all, talent levels not seen before. Travel softball teams will also sometimes have two different dates options for tryouts, so that athletes can attend the one that best fits their schedule. If youre exalting baseball over all these other things, areyou serving a false god, an idol, that is going to use you and then throw you away? This is a case where a player made a poor decision on team selection. Just like you, he burned out after two years and transferred so he could pursue his other passions and, more importantly, gain much-needed work experience which benefited him tremendously when he graduated from college and was looking for a job. This amount includes equipment, training, fees, and travel expenses. I find it filled with some great thoughts based on extreme examples and false assumptions. After speaking to a lot of college coaches, they agree. Having said that, below are the top reasons your daughter should not play travel softball. Maybe you and your spouse may do some shopping and go get a nice meal. Depending on where you live, you could be spending a ton of time in the car, or even on a plane. That makes YOU the problem parent. but could it be said that youre in the big leagues of your profession? We dont win Non-Christians by showing them how little we care about worship and the assembly of believers, we win them through honoring God as better than all other appetites. (And options do exist that dont cost an arm and a leg.) Problem 1: Specializing to get a head start We are in such a rush to do more, more, more at younger and younger ages, and as a result, our children are getting injured at an unprecedented rate. On the field. Who are these kids being forced to play? Baseball should be a fun game for him not a demanding job. Enjoyment: Help your children enjoy a sport for the simple joy of the sport. Which we gladly did because we got to see our daughter develop into a top notch softball player, which would not have happened here. Let them play the game. Kevin Soles. Thoughts on a 15 year old trying to play for a travel team with no Dont get me wrong, there is definitely room for improvement with all players. We will be staying with rec from now on. And keep in mind, the level of competitiveness usually coincides with how much work is expected outside of practice. You, as the parent, are going to be doing the driving. 2019;7(7). The true reality of life is that we aren't going to be successful at everything. Unfortunately, we dont all have that money tree growing in our backyard. Get access to discounts and the latest news.
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