It did to me. Notify me of follow-up comments by email. While many recreational leagues let anybody play (depending on their roster size) travel teams typically recruit players and conduct tryouts. (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.) For us, it boils down to priorities. In many instances, the coaching staff can make or break a childs experience with a team or sport. Reduces boredom Cons Expensive Increased risk for injury Potential for burnout Time-consuming Pros Young athletes can reach a point where they are bored with rec league play. The high-end teams travel to tournaments every weekend (sometimes out-of-state) and qualify for national tournaments. Often, good organizations will reach out to a player that caught their eye and invite them to come to the open tryout. It was excellent, by the way. It became known in the United States by various names, such as kitten ball, mush ball, diamond ball, indoor-outdoor, and playground ball. Unlike recreational softball, travel teams don't play a set number of games every season. Some teams charge a small fee for this tryout. You may be betting on the kid getting a scholarship. If the coaches seem wishy-washy about these topics, dont offer straightforward answers, or seem like they just dont want to be bothered with the questions, thats a red flag. And does she understand that playing this sport at this level most likely requires trade-offs when it comes to things like friends, clothes, phones, and many of the other things that teens often spend time and money on in high school? What should she do? Our daughter played travel softball for 9 years. Thanks, Roy. But if you live in a smaller area, you may end up putting a lot of miles on your car. I also grew up watching sports slowly take over Sundays as the team practices/warmups got earlier and earlier until they happened during church times. Little League, which is the most common rec ball organization, is open to girls ages four through sixteen, and everybody makes a team regardless of their skill level. No formula exists, but here are a few ideas to think about: Variety: Encourage your children to play a different sport each season until their upper teens. Not criticizing anyone not on same path, but if they want it, you wont stop them. At the end the experience had her ready for 10U travel and to contribute straight away for a 10U team beyond pitching (she plays 2B and CF when she is not pitching). The fundamentals will already be in place, and theres no question as to whether they will dive head first to catch a ball. 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. Can you observe some practices or games before you commit? Dont let one child be turned away because they cant afford registration or equipment. This is a case where a player made a poor decision on team selection. Also, Im more interested and more compelled by Scripture to promote the spiritual health of my own children than of their team mates. I could now study what I wanted to study, and my classes were no longer determined by baseball practice. No internets back then to stalk them. And given the number of kids playing and the number of available spots, even a partial baseball scholarship is terribly unlikely. I find it filled with some great thoughts based on extreme examples and false assumptions. Or are they truly passionate about the sport? 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. Focus on what you can do. The cost is a fraction of what a travel season would cost but may actually put you in front of more coaches. Thus the rec league dries up. During my travel softball career, I played for some amazing coaches that pushed me to be a better person and athlete, as well as some that didnt believe in me. The nature of sport is that participants will learn in the course of their play, practice, games or meets, all about discipline, perseverance, punctuality, teamwork, goal-setting, how to handle disagreements, disappointment and failure, as well as success and recognition. My husband and I were both very competitive athletes growing up (though we had a wide variety of interests), played travel ball in high school, and won scholarships to a Big 10 university. She needs to throw on her gear almost daily and work on blocking up the ball. 15 to 20 tournaments per year (with tournament fees), Knows the rules surrounding college recruiting, Will help educate players and parents about those rules, Will be advocates for them during the recruiting process. 2019;7(7). Of course, there are other ways to be the problem parent such as bad-mouthing the coach and other parents, not paying your dues, not bringing your daughter to practices, etc. Those were the programs I kept going back to. Subscribe below. Always keep in mind why you have this child involved in sport. The cost of travel is not included in the monthly dues. A majority of programs at this level also have their own indoor facility for winter workouts and bad-weather training. What guides me is Paul in 1Cor9:22-23 22 To the weak I became weak, that I might win the weak; I have become all things to all men, so that I may by all means save some. There doesnt have to be a life lesson constantly pointed out. Ok, now lets switch gears and imagine this. The true reality of life is that we aren't going to be successful at everything. I do wonder though as a parent of a child who did play travel ball and also ended up as a D1 athlete if we arent typically just exchanging one pursuit of excellence for another. Levels are separated by age and skill level. Do they want to try out for the travel team just because friends are doing it, or because it seems like the next step? Marty Clark, Umpire in Chief (UIC) and Tournament . What is Daddy Ball? Too many surgeries, other arm problems, leg issues and other health issues that kids at that age shouldnt have to endure. On the other hand, dont force her to join a competitive travel ball team if she just wants to have fun. We still put prior commitments first and the coach understands that we cant make all games/practices as a result. His, Dont sacrifice your sons childhood on the altar of the hope that hes the next Derek Jeter. Dont get me wrong there are alot of rec leagues that are great but if you live in the middle of no where lile wr do that was out only option to make her the best that she could be and to teach her to challenge herself and not settle for just good enough. You can argue all you want and say you go to church when you travel, but the first time you skip church because it interferes with game time, you have taught your child that a game is more important than worshipping God. I think this is an important topic that needs to be discussed. Young athletes can reach a point where they are bored with rec league play. 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. Travel ball is being on the right team, knowing the right people, and working on your skill set; not that much different from academic pursuits really and more so I suppose. 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. Take Our :59 sec "Unlock Your Power" Analysis Quiz to Find Out, All content 2016-2023 The Hitting Vault. Travel ball, by contrast, is not cheap participation fees average about $2,000 per player per year. It seems to me that time comes in the mid to late teens, but thats going to be a judgment call . If you are ok with giving away your weekends to softball, then maybe travel ball is a fit for you. For the summer travel season, once teams are chosen, practices and games will start in May and go through to the end of July. I am very thankful we found an amazing travel ball coach at age six. And you should. A travel team may be the best way for them to learn new skills, meet expert coaches, progress in their sport, and have fun in the process. I just watched a program not too long ago on the rise of Tommy johns surgeries. How dedicated is your child? I dont know. In general, there is no regular season with travel softball it runs all year long, with club practices once or twice per week during the spring and fall season, and a full slate of weekend tournaments during the later spring and summer season. Cheer them on and let them entertain you. There are other times even on Sundays to play just as there are many different times that people worship. The only kind of baseball scholarship D1 programs offer is a partial one. Encouraging the pursuit of excellence and rewarding hard work and God given talent. Things like being on time, sportsmanship, work ethic, speaking respectfully, putting the team first, uplifting those around you, and attention to detail; those are all crucial life skills that youth sports can help build. Thanks for the great article I can share with the parents of my students. I dont normally respond to blog posts, but I wanted to respond to this one because I respect you. And for the good of rec ball leagues everywhere, for the good of your family, and for the good of your kids, I would urge you to avoid travel ball until the kid is old enough to commit to a more demanding regimen. We have made this decision for the past three years and been ridiculed for it and told we are not being fair to our son. I personally know people that I can guarantee will not be living the travel softball lifestyle for more than a season or two and Im pretty sure if someone would have stopped them before they started, they would have saved a lot of headache, money, and time. However, as parents now of three young adult children we handled sports for them in a much different way than the current culture dictates. I also when I was kid play at lyndon and never traveled and loved it and still played college baseball myself for 4 yrs. Travel teams are also sometimes calledelite teams, select teams, club teams, or tournament teams. Thankfully, we have a great group of players, coaches, and families. Get involved with the sports governing board and voice your opinion. After establishing a manageable budget for your softball team, you need to start promoting your program and recruiting players. I look at another coach who is seeded number one in the league and am very glad my kid isnt with him as I can only imagine the sort of character theyd be building. 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). There are half a million pieces of debris larger than 1 centimetre and 100 million pieces of. Non-Christians exist because what they worship is false. Coaches are typically parents or grandparents, and the umpires are often volunteers. Havent seen any. The biggest softball hubs are Southern California, Texas and Florida. Part of the argument for travel ball is the appeal of better competition. We asked our Facebook and Twitter fans what the most frequent problem in baseball and softball were and we noticed there was a very popular answer among parents, and players: Daddy Ball. They also need to learn more about taking care of their body to keep it strong and healthy through conditioning, nutrition, and good sleep habits. Get in the car, and sleep for the whole drive home. By the age of thirteen, I knew I wanted to play NCAA softball, and playing against the best competition was crucial in helping me achieve that dream. My recommendation to any family looking for a single event that can put their daughter in front of hundreds of college coaches, Scout Softball is the answer. Usually, these teams are part of a private or club sports program, not a recreational league or one affiliated with a school. According to WinterGreen Research the U.S. youth-sports industry is now a $15.3 billion market. Youre going to be purchasing a uniform (most likely more than one). If you stumble across a high level program that does, most likely the coach has been around for a long time and is trusted to look after the best interests of the whole roster (not just their own child). If youre a parent who never played a sport competitively, you might not understand her desire to spend every waking hour at the ballpark. Fifth, a child can play travel ball while a family is still committed to church. If team dues seem ridiculously high, make sure youre getting your moneys worth in terms of equipment, facility use, uniforms, etc. Dads get into it for a little better competition not meaning for it to take over their lives, and the next thing they know their schedule and wallet are dominated by travel ball. In those cases, your club fees might include two or three uniforms, matching bat bags, visors and bats (some teams exclusively swing one brand). And if it means giving up travel ball, by all means give it up. Competitive travel softball players come to the field every day with the intent to compete, push past their limits, and get themselves to the next level. Travel softball is not for everyone. As a preachers daughter, I saw many families who were active in church get involved with a travel ball team, and not only stop being active, but eventually drop out of church altogether. You as a parent cannot choose the level your daughter wants to play at. At the same time, they also want to focus on player development. 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. As a mom of a 10 year old girl who has played both travel and rec softball we have seen first hand the pros and cons of both. 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. I coach my son (U10 Rec soccer) and was considering travel but was hesitant because of playing on sundays. It will look different for each family and each child. Stay positive. But the reality is that if your goal is to play at the college level and especially if your goal is to play for a Division 1 program its an important part of the process. Travel softball hurts pocket books. Its important to be committed to making games, meets, tournaments, and practices a priority, but not at the expense of church, or important family gatherings. You explain it t the tee for me and cant thank you enough . He pulls down honor roll at school and is in band. This is going to be a big temptation for me because I love sports and am competitive by nature. This includes the travel teams, specialized . Glad to see you are faithful (and a baptist!). Having coached both my sons in travel an rec ball, and being on the board of our local rec league, serving as president for several years. On the low end, a $500 budget may be enough to cover your team fees and play in local tournaments with lesser competition. Fill your childrens team with morals and role models. My son loves basketball but I have noticed the small number of high school players that are playing in high school now especially in our town. Since the start of Softball Galaxy, we have gone from two daughters playing, to only one at this moment. 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. It allows each player to have the opportunity to play. 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. Lots of practice time is great for your player's development, but it definitely affects what other extracurricular activities they are able to do. Loneliness. Encourage her to work even harder to earn playing time. (And options do exist that dont cost an arm and a leg.) Listen to truthful, accurate feedback from coaches. Tha KS alot for all your insight!!! The tournament is 2 hours away and its cold and misty. I was sad when the team cut me from the roster, but I was also relieved. I do want to finish by saying that we absolutely love travel ball. Maybe families should pray over the decision that best suits each individual child. There is another very sad thing that often happens as a result of a familys involvement in travel ball. Look for positive, fair-minded coaching. Regardless, there is gas money that you will be spending. We want girls who are team players, dedicated and committed to playing softball at an elite level. It isnt even cheap! If you're acting like your son has already made it, then you are killing his drive. This is a delicate balance to strike, but its something to keep in mind. (Not that we did everything right by any means!!) . Im betting you would be better off saving your money to help him with college expenses. Please advertise when you have this league so I can get the 70 or so kids I will bring with me to get in registration line. I enjoyed your article and the discussion following it. My arm hurt all the time, and I wasnt a pitcher. 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. I appreciate the attention to burnout as well Ive seen that in some kids where theyre pushed to keep going and just dont want to do it anymore. But, this isnt rec league either. That makes YOU the problem parent. There are many benefits of pursuing sports excellence, travel like any other passion filled event children can participate can be an extremely beneficial. Theres a lot that goes into deciding what travel softball team to play for. Thank you for speaking out and I hope people will take these comments seriously. Let them play the game. It all depends on what attitude you approach it with. I do not feel we will ever look back on our decision to say no to travel ball. Here are a few of the factors you should consider when evaluating your options and picking a team. Go to a couple of games and see how the team plays together, and ask to watch the team practice before committing. Al Mohlers Culture Shift First up, travel softball is a lot more intense than traditional one. Do they enjoy it or is it a drudge? Do they look like theyre having fun, while still getting the job done? 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. It is other worldly, it is unlike anything the Non Christian can imagine, to deny ourselves something the world says is a must and do something the world sees as foolish. I literally could keep going and going. Jesus is God not baseball. We all know the problem parents. I dont believe in definitive s. Those conflicts are becoming more common with the increasing secularization of our country. Most importantly, let it be her decision, and make sure she knows youll support that decision (even if its not what you think is best). Living in Oregon and playing competitively, I traveled multiple times every summer and fall to play in college exposure tournaments in Southern California. Christian Smiths Soul Searching: The Religious and Spiritual Lives of American Teenagers . -ta. I wanted to play all the time, until I got to college and had to do so. Its a vicious cycle. Ryan E. I think this is a good post and is great advice. Be sure to consider these questions. Catherine Holecko is an experienced freelance writer and editor who specializes in pregnancy, parenting, health and fitness. Fun for all, talent levels not seen before. Thanks to all who replied. I simply have to go find the people that need Jesus. Here are 10 reasons I think you should keep your kid in the rec league rather than quitting it for travel ball. The low-end travel teams can be local teams going to a few tournaments outside the region. Were seeing some growth in her skills and she loves the game. Since day one, weve been here for our players, with our players, and because of our players. I submit that even with all the excitement of the game, and the money and fame that come with it, the life of a professional athlete is not one to be envied. Do they walk away, rolling their eyes? This is how travel sofball is. And, of course, traveling can be a great way for both families and teams to bond through shared experiences, like meals or just swimming in the hotel pool. But its also a major commitment, so its important to think carefully about what kind of program is best in your specific situation. Does your child have the discipline, maturity, and attention span required to succeed? Im coming at this topic from a multi-dimensional approach. The regular season typically runs from March to May, with single games twice per week, and one or two practices per week. What will travel ball mean for your other kids? And at best a professional athlete might play into his late 30s or early 40s, then what? I was recently Contemplating to start travel ball from my son recently and for some reason Ive been holding back . A majority of these tournaments are qualifiers for the organizations national tournament, where the top teams from different regions compete in one location. Back in 2011, CBS News reported that one Georgia family paid $4,000 per year for their 9-year-old son's travel team. The fear that if children dont specialize in one sport by eighth grade they will miss opportunities is unfounded. And there is no guarantee of playing time (unlike in recreational leagues where all kids will usually get a chance to play regardless of ability). I played college baseball and never once played Travel Ball in the summer until I was 17. Its quality time in a certain way, but probably not in the way youre envisioning right now. 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. Do the social aspects improve their values and stimulate great discussions at home, or lead them away from family?). It is important that each player is available for every team practice and game. Stop digging through message boards and groups, search and find your next team today! Here in our area not so much. ), playing time and how its divided up, and the coaching staffs goals and priorities. Build this league and you will have travel on the decline. Its also important that you dont make your child feel guilty if she tries a competitive team for a year and decides its not what she wants. They are the parents that try to coach from the sidelines. We decided to engage in travel ball because the coaching was better. Kids need to play more than one sport so their rotator cuffs can recover, so their elbows can rest, so they dont have to have Tommy John surgery at 17. I dont even want to think about how much parents pay for their 714 year old kids to travel to tournaments, to stay in hotels, to pay the tournament entry fees, and whatever else all this costs. Terms of Use | Privacy Policy | FUTURESLASH CORP. Get two articles delivered to your inbox each week. Since the college softball season completely overlaps high school softball season and recruiting budgets are often far smaller, Division I coaches prefer to attend the larger travel tournaments, where they can scout more players at once. It's really helpful to talk with other parents a few years ahead of you on the paththose who have experience with the same club or league you're looking at. I think God led me to this article to reassure me that we are doing right. I recognize that although it isnt common for kids to be offered college scholarships for sports, it obviously isnt impossible. 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. So Im writing in the hope that youll see that rec ball is a better route. Kids are smarter than what we want to give them credit for. 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. And keep in mind, the level of competitiveness usually coincides with how much work is expected outside of practice. 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. Thats particularly true for parents and players who are just beginning their travel softball journey, because it can be difficult to know how to evaluate a team and coach. Loneliness is not one of the travel problems which affects everyone, but when it strikes it can be the worst problem imaginable. There are multiple organizations that host tournaments around the United States. Open Access J Sports Med. Unfortunately, we dont all have that money tree growing in our backyard. With all of that said, here are some things you need to know about competitive travel softball. My older brother played sports from t-ball to college, probably would have went pro if he hadnt hurt his shoulder (yes, he was THAT good, Im not just saying it, he had an unhittab,e curve ball), but the decision was made when he first started that God and His church would always come first, and he would not play if there was a conflict between his first priority and the game. I needed a break, and I wanted to be a counselor at a Christian camp that summer (Kanakuk). Im not a coach, but I can only imagine that problem parents are one of the most annoying things to coaches. While rec ball was enjoyable, the ever changing pool of players, coaches and parents made for inconsistent experiences for my daughter, some good and some bad. I think this causes too many parents to look at travel ball as rec league 2.0. 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? 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! Accepting players from all over central Florida and have had players from all over Polk County, Hillsborough County, and Hardee County. "The cost for parents is steep. 23 I do all things for the sake of the gospel, so that I may become a fellow partaker of it. Tell him he's great and anything is possible if you put your mind to it, but don't let him be an entitled little asshole out there on the field, because that's your fault! Christians are Christians because we worship what is true. Some teams charge a flat fee up front, some allow parents to pay as they go and some combine the formulas. So much time was freed up by not having to go to practice. Not as organized- depending on the organization. Your email address will not be published. It's almost the only way your player can get exposure to college scouts for scholarship opportunities. Thanks for posting this. Learning that excelling takes commitment, hard work, loyalty. 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. All your doing is increasing the strain and the chance of injury for no appreciable gain. And we want them to work hard, even when the going gets tough. Ive seen many parents try, and it never ends well. Thats why Im writing this post. Ideally, you dont want to have parents serving as coaches. I made the switch from Little League/rec ball to travel ball when I was ten years old, and from then on I consistently played at the highest levels possible. http://kristenanneglover.com/my-kids-dont-play-sports/#comment-6411.