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). 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. 14,539. 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. The low-end travel teams can be local teams going to a few tournaments outside the region. Team fees may cover tournament entry costs, batting cage rental, practice field rental, uniforms, equipment and organizational costs. Can I get a travel ball history lesson? | Discuss Fastpitch Softball Josh McDowells The Last Christian Generation Voddie Bauchams Family Driven Faith. 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. If youre in Louisville, come check us out at www.KenwoodBaptistChurch.com. Don't Play Travel Ball: Stay in the Rec League - For His Renown This amount includes equipment, training, fees, and travel expenses. Identity: Think about how your child views his or her identity. Its also likely that kids will need to miss school for team commitments. So much time was freed up by not having to go to practice. If youre a non-Christian reading this post, dont you want to live for something more than baseball? The group that split from us is the same group that has ruined our little league. 113. whack said: Mid 30's there was travel ball when I played but not the ridiculous amount of them as there are now to where it's hard to even field rec teams. They open/close each practice and game with prayer and are not overwhelming us with lots of games. Fifth, a child can play travel ball while a family is still committed to church. Lack of skill It's not easy to admit that you or someone you love is not good enough for something. A majority of programs at this level also have their own indoor facility for winter workouts and bad-weather training. Travel baseball costs average around $3,700 annually. We should be able to admit that to ourselves, but I think sometimes our pride gets in the way. We played Upward for quite some time and my wife was amazed at how many parents going to the practices are unchurched. 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? I dont normally respond to blog posts, but I wanted to respond to this one because I respect you. I have seen it just recently in the church Im attending now. Hopefully, this helped you decide whether its the step that you should be taking or not. Travel softball can be one of the most stressful aspects of the sport, especially when it comes to choosing the right team. Travel ball isnt free by a long shot. Every year, most teams host an open tryout, where anyone interested in joining has an opportunity to be evaluated by the coaching staff. Do I think that she will even play on the high school level? Some of you may have fainted after mentally calculating the cost of everything in that last section. However, the main reason weve stuck with travel is the consistency that it offers. 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. You have to grab a quick breakfast to eat on the way. Maybe its you? These are just a few of the reasons why travel ball may not be a good fit for you. There are many problems that can occur when playing travel softball. There are significant costs (thousands of dollars per season is common). Are you prepared and willing to skip regular family vacations because your weekends and your travel budget are going into softball? What will travel ball mean for your marriage? What are they learning? Your email address will not be published. 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. But besides that, if you are a Christian parent, the absolute worst thing you can do is teach your kids that anything is more important than God. Does your child have the discipline, maturity, and attention span required to succeed? What are you waiting for? 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. They have grown together, developed rapport and strong friendships. Travel Ball Format Not Good For The Sport - Coaches Insider Youre just now rolling out of the soft, comfy bed to throw on some clothes and get a lazy start to the weekend after a long hard week at work. I am confident that there are better ways to steward those thousands of dollars. Lesson learned. Thankfully, we have a great group of players, coaches, and families. They dont need to have baseball practice every week all year long, and you dont need to be their taxi for that every week all year long either. While many recreational leagues let anybody play (depending on their roster size) travel teams typically recruit players and conduct tryouts. Before diving into the specific specifics of what to look for, its important to understand why you should consider playing travel softball (and why its not the right choice for every player in every situation). Part of the argument for travel ball is the appeal of better competition. But I say be wise. She needs to spend more than 2 days working on drills. There is a big time commitment: practices; games; travel; and parent volunteer hours all add up. Of course, we cant forget tournament day. It was excellent, by the way. As of now, we do believe that we are pursing the wisest course. Its not for every child or family, but we have enjoyed allowing our child to play travel ball, at least today. The biggest softball hubs are Southern California, Texas and Florida. All rights reserved. (Their varsity team is seeded #1 or #2 nationwide and is competitive, though still strives to put Jesus first.) Maybe you and your spouse may do some shopping and go get a nice meal. When I was playing at Arkansas, none of my teammates had a full ride from the baseball program. Growing up I loved baseball. I think this causes too many parents to look at travel ball as rec league 2.0. It is generally agreed that softball developed from a game called indoor baseball, first played in Chicago in 1887. Also, some teams have fundraising opportunities that can bring down the cost to participate. The Difference Between Travel Softball and Little League. Are those stewardship issues as well? This is a great place to learn the rules of the game, to see if your daughter enjoys softball, and to just have fun while learning sportsmanship and the very basics of fundamentals. Ok, so there were still good players in rec when you played. Looks like a good pastor (Caldwell) commented above if thats who I think it is. Teaches them basic techniques. There are many benefits of pursuing sports excellence, travel like any other passion filled event children can participate can be an extremely beneficial. With your TeammatesCommunication on the actual playing field is critical. Which is Better for My Daughter: Rec Ball or Travel Ball? 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. Confused! On the low end, a $500 budget may be enough to cover your team fees and play in local tournaments with lesser competition. But if you cant imagine doing this every weekend or every other weekend (not always cold and misty of course, but it does happen) then maybe travel softball isnt a good fit for you and your family. I played two years of major college baseball at the University of Arkansas, and Ive been coaching my sons in baseball and basketball for the last 7 years or so. Now, this doesnt mean that her coach and teammates like it, but we have found that our commitment has opened the door for spiritual conversations. . Encourage her to work even harder to earn playing time. A job is not a game. 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. The pitchers pitched far more balls than strikes. Notify me of follow-up comments by email. Of course, we dont love those miserable weather days where its cold and wet. Its a vicious cycle. My daughter loves the game more now than ever before. We parents should observe whats going on, be readily available, but not be constantly interfering, trying to direct, or solve everything that goes on in practice or competition. I know you were saying that theres no one answer for everyone. I enjoyed your article and the discussion following it. Great post. The only kind of baseball scholarship D1 programs offer is a partial one. What is the true cost of travel softball? Thanks to all who replied. Its apparent that wegenerally speakingspend more time encouraging our children to pursue athletic excellence than we do in developing a Biblical Worldview in them. Other important considerations are coaching style, character and overall attitude. If instead you go to games and yell out how to do things to the girls or degrade them or constantly run to the dugout to chit chat, then you are a problem parent. doi:10.3390/sports7070171, Merkel DL. Now, teams just showcase players instead of playing team softball. What to Look For in a Travel Softball Team - The Hitting Vault 8U softball debate. Your opinion please. | Discuss Fastpitch Breakers Labs, located in North San Diego County, is an elite, competitive Fastpitch Softball Organization dedicated to developing the student athlete. After my first year of it in college, I found that what had been so fun because I had the opportunity to look forward to it in the off season, or even on days between practice or games, began to feel like a dreaded obligation that consumed a significant portion of every day. 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. I think God led me to this article to reassure me that we are doing right. These girls can always work harder to be better. The physical and mental challenges of pursuing more than one sport is healthy in every respect. The Do's and Don'ts of "Daddy Ball" - Amanda Scarborough The Sleep Foundation. Baseball is the greatest game ever, it is exactly that, a game. It is a great starter for players to figure out if they really like the sport and would like to continue with softball at a higher level. On a competitive travel team, players gain great experience in team play and sportsmanship. Our children assume that Sunday morning is time to worship with our church. And remember that there will befundraisingresponsibilities, too. I have coached in a recreation league for almost five years, and now my eleven-year-old daughter is in soccer travel ball. First, not all travel ball destroys a childs love for the game. I think Jesus said it best when He said, What does it profit a man to gain the world and lose his soul?, Thank you sir for thisI wrestle with this issue a lot as our older children (3 boys/12, 9, & 8) are starting to get to the age where this is a possibility. Rec ball allows them to have fun, play sports, and still be their age without all the stress and competitiveness of travel ball. However, there are those few girls out there that just clearly have no business being in travel softball. More important than that, you and your family dont need a summer long break from the life and fellowship of your local church. 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. But if you don't make it into your dream team, the loss is much heavier on people's pockets as well as their minds. Consider D1 baseball: each team is allowed a maximum of 11.7 scholarships, and those scholarships can be divided up between players. I imagine that we could have lived a little more comfortably had I not been playing softball. Dont sacrifice your sons childhood on the altar of the hope that hes the next Derek Jeter. Be a parent. Coaches are more open to the players exploring different positions. Open Access J Sports Med. 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. In those cases, your club fees might include two or three uniforms, matching bat bags, visors and bats (some teams exclusively swing one brand). Al Mohlers Culture Shift The cost of travel is not included in the monthly dues. As a PastorI certainly appreciate the sentiments expressed in this article. James Jesse, Vice President (Umpires) for Grand Slam Tournaments (GS), leads corporate oversight of all GS umpires and directly manages a team of 60 umpires in Atlanta, Georgia. Think about your reasons for getting your child into a sport. " (Travel softball) has taken high school softball out of the equation," Hutchinson says. You also accept the fact that this may be a long day and that the next time you touch that warm bed could be 3 am the next morning if you make it to the championship. Your email address will not be published. That said, you can end up spending a lot more than that. Travel with extended families and make bonds with good people. I could now study what I wanted to study, and my classes were no longer determined by baseball practice. He said he had seen it happen. Overall, the risks are pretty much the same as regular baseball. Its Saturday morning and the sun hasnt risen yet. Now I know the reasons. 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. Rec ball is shorthand for Little League Softball and/or your local city league. These are good thoughts. Keeping Youth Softball Travel Teams in Perspective Christians need to be gathering with the same group of people every week to worship the risen Lord Jesus, to hear his word, and to fellowship with each other. I also when I was kid play at lyndon and never traveled and loved it and still played college baseball myself for 4 yrs. Any extra lessons are usually a large chunk of money. Awards. As one who has three sons, two of whom played travel ball for part of their youth, and one who didnt, I can affirm everything you say here. Get access to discounts and the latest news. 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. Breakers Labs This guide will help you understand what to look for in a traveling softball team, and will answer some of the most common questions parents have about the process, including: Joining a traveling softball team can be a great experience, both in terms of enjoyment and player development. Your daughter will be around these girls for months at a time, and they say you become who you surround yourself with. So, whats the vibe of the players? Travel Softball Rankings | Youth Select & Showcase Travel Sports Teams PDF Diamond Dusters Fastpitch Organization Bylaws What Is Travel Ball Softball? - SportsRec Then again, some games I find my older daughter listening to her ipod while we watch the games. Thanks for the great article I can share with the parents of my students. Here in our area not so much. 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. At the same time, they also want to focus on player development. It always seems to happen with those families that God is really working with. Thats why Im writing this post. Not posting some long winded bs. Here are 10 reasons I think you should keep your kid in the rec league rather than quitting it for travel ball. Hey, for years sports programs operated quite successfully without Sunday morning scheduling. Is it a help or detriment to their character and bodies? Data Shows Travel Teams Killing Youth Sports - Samford University It's not just what you'll spend on equipment and fees, which can be significant, but extras such as travel costs and required apparel purchases (like a team jacket or bag). He told us last week that he is glad that we have taught him to focus on his eternal future. Bottom line: give your kids a childhood theyll want to replicate with their own children not one theyll react against. Travel teams are also sometimes calledelite teams, select teams, club teams, or tournament teams. 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. The goal should always be for kids to have fun, be active, and keep learning, no matter what sport or team they choose. Hopefully not though. Travel softball hurts pocket books. Im embarrassed to admit this, but I accidentally conditioned myself to fall asleep every time I was in a car for more than 45 minutes. 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. If you dont put in this extra work, you will quickly fall behind your teammates and ride the pine (plus risk being cut at the end of season). Christian Smiths Soul Searching: The Religious and Spiritual Lives of American Teenagers Coaching: Are the coaches experienced? ), playing time and how its divided up, and the coaching staffs goals and priorities. Ok, now lets switch gears and imagine this. Is the travel ball opportunity your 714 year old kid has more important than Friday nights and Saturday mornings at home with the family? 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. It allows each player to have the opportunity to play. If we dont, then look in the mirror. Loneliness is not one of the travel problems which affects everyone, but when it strikes it can be the worst problem imaginable. If this sounds like your daughters work ethic, then maybe travel ball isnt for her. 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. You will have to have tournament entry fees and food for the day, whether you bring it or buy it from concessions. When you go to a game, you are there to support the team. Travel ball is good for those who are not afraid of being challenged and want to play at a higher level. Im not a coach, but I can only imagine that problem parents are one of the most annoying things to coaches. See also: How to Pick the Right Softball Bat. Thats commendable, but I suspect that those tournaments dont always start the Sunday games at times that make finding a worship service possible. At tryouts, you should expect to be tested on your home-to-first sprint time, your home-to-home sprint time, and your overhand throwing speed. His, Utilize the links below to browse our Travel Softball Rankings. Young athletes can reach a point where they are bored with rec league play. We havent broken the bank, we attend church on Wednesdays is we know we will be traveling too far to attend on Sunday (otherwise we go on Sundays), and the kids are all great friends. I would urge you to consider how trustworthy Jesus is, how he can reconcile you to God, how he has paid for your sin, and how his Spirit can enable you to love others and enjoy life with them in a gathering of people joined together at a local church. I do want to finish by saying that we absolutely love travel ball. Along with a recreational league, they have Travel Ball Teams that play competitive softball. Living in Oregon and playing competitively, I traveled multiple times every summer and fall to play in college exposure tournaments in Southern California. Fourth, travel ball is expensive, but so are the other activities in which many parents place their children like show choir and band. The Holy Spirit leads us all differently. I got an education, got married, we started having children, and now I get to coach my kids. This is going to be a big temptation for me because I love sports and am competitive by nature. I enjoyed my time as a travel softball player, but it wasnt always easy for me or my family. If you think the coach is doing a bad job, then take your daughter off the team. Another common problem is not having the right equipment. There are typically four or five tournaments during October and November. You, as the parent, are going to be doing the driving. Its Saturday and its 10 am. Not one. sacrifice your sons childhood on the altar of the hope, each team is allowed a maximum of 11.7 scholarships, Dont Play Travel Ball: Stay in the Rec League | For His Renown | Pastor John Reading List, http://kristenanneglover.com/my-kids-dont-play-sports/#comment-6411, 6-String Salvo, February 12, 2016 Mike Lee, The Daily Discovery (February 12, 2016) - Entreating Favor, More Great Reading | Second Chance Pastor, Todays Links // 4 Free Kindle Books, Worship Songs, Socialist Millennials, Buy a Friend App, Freedom from Anxiety | Word + Life | KevinHalloran.net. Top 5 Reasons Your Daughter Should Not Play Travel Softball 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? Competitive Travel Softball: Key Considerations When Picking a Team, Top 7 Things to Look For in a Travel Softball Team, Picking a Travel Softball Team Final Thoughts. And keep in mind, the level of competitiveness usually coincides with how much work is expected outside of practice. Travel Baseball Teams Near You | NCSA I agree 100% with your article. After establishing a manageable budget for your softball team, you need to start promoting your program and recruiting players. I wanted to play all the time, until I got to college and had to do so. 2. Truthfully, we have gotten better instruction and development at a Rec ball/All Star level. Thus the rec league dries up. What is Daddy Ball? He was athletic and had the potential to play college baseball, so we finally enrolled him in travel ball after his freshman year in high school. The cost for a year of travel softball can range from $500 to $5,000 and up, which includes a full uniform, and sometimes includes equipment. But when it comes to things like time commitment and competitiveness, they can be as different as night and day. How to Deal with Daddy Ball - RIP-IT Sports There are TONs of small but critically important things young players learn over the course of YEARS playing travel softball that you'll have to catch up on, especially if you want to play catcher, the toughest of all positions. Looking back, Im so thankful they gave all they did so that I could be successful its something I can never repay them for. Uber competitive athletics is going to end for 99.9 percent of kids/young adults. Terms of Use | Privacy Policy | FUTURESLASH CORP. Get two articles delivered to your inbox each week. It all depends on what attitude you approach it with. Our daughter played travel softball for 9 years. Do you want to miss the younger kids games and practices? Not necessarily, but if your kid is in the 714 age range, I will suspect that you might not be pursuing the wisest course. Its also important for everyone involved to be honest about the players skill level. This is a delicate balance to strike, but its something to keep in mind. Baseball cant raise the dead, but Jesus will do just that when he returns to make this world into the new heavens and new earth. Well, this certainly diverged off the main topic of traveling versus rec sports, but I hope it provides a little more to talk about, especially among family members. We sure miss watching her play, but for the time being, we feel this was a good decision for the entire family. Also, Im more interested and more compelled by Scripture to promote the spiritual health of my own children than of their team mates. We are leaning strongly to go back to his Rec ball league that we enjoyed in the spring. 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. 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. 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. I appreciate the article. Many programs are run as a tight ship, with the goal of teaching and preparing their athletes for what college ball will be like: fast paced practices and a strong emphasis on execution. Kids come out of high school where it seems that every game mattered, to a travel ball season where if you go 5-0 or 0-5 it doesn't matter. This mentally effects the kids also with so much pressure to do well. You all make very good points to consider. We may be the exception along with the league in which we play. I think it does need to be approached carefully and prayerfully, especially with the demands on the family and commitments that call us away from the church. Often this will vary from league to league and from coach to coach. Thank you for writing this. He was so upset. It would surely come in handy as a travel ball parent. This is very true for our daughters as well. Costs by region (travel mom is from California so these prices maybe a bit higher or lower than what you might spend), but here is her breakdown: FAST, FREE SHIPPING ON ALL ORDERS | WIN FREE DIAMOND CLEATS OR SPIKES FOR YOUR TEAM - LEARN MORE, Original Defense Pro Softball Fielder's Mask, Women's Period Protection Volleyball Shorts (3").