Midwest Fastpitch - keeptheboardcorrect@gmail.com

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[ Midwest Fastpitch - keeptheboardcorrect@gmail.com ]

Help looking for an alternative

Posted by Looking for a Alternative on November 24, 2024, 11:22 am

Is this a good alternative to Highschool Softball?

https://default.aspx/?tabid=1456324

My daughter wishes to not play in highschool because of the amount of drama and the fact the coach is not as up to speed as our travel ball coach. She is going to play at the collegiate level and she just wants to keep up her skills. I also feel that in our highschool it is not your skill level it is how much parents give to the boosters.

Re: Help looking for an alternative

Posted by Bad idea on November 26, 2024, 6:18 pm, in reply to "Help looking for an alternative "

I’m just going to leave this here. Every single player on dds collegiate roster played high school ball. Your dd needs to learn how to deal with coaches that are different than her travel coaches because many college coaches are stuck in the past too. High school drama doesn’t hold a candle to collegiate drama. Politics are alive and well in college too. Obviously the choice is yours but my advice is suck it up and play.

Re: Help looking for an alternative

Posted by Maybe Not on November 28, 2024, 5:55 am, in reply to "Re: Help looking for an alternative "

Not all of the girls on my daughter's college roster played high school ball including mine. Many different reasons from small communities with very little talent, coaching, dead arms, injury, etc. No reason to "suck it up" if it is not for you. Why be miserable for 4 years as long as you keep on working on your game? Many different paths to college ball. Your daughter's should pick the path that is right for them.

Re: Help looking for an alternative

Posted by @Maybe Not on November 28, 2024, 8:15 am, in reply to "Re: Help looking for an alternative "

I'd be incredibly curious to know what school this is. We're in those recruiting years so we look at a lot rosters .. haven't seen any, and any player my daughter "admires" played high school with great success.

Re: Help looking for an alternative

Posted by Sec on November 29, 2024, 12:53 pm, in reply to "Re: Help looking for an alternative "

Mine is a sec player…I know there are rosters out there but the vast majority of collegiate players play high school. Dds coach has said numerous times that recruits that don’t play high school have a difficult time adjusting to the grind of daily 3-5 hour practice. Obviously the poster can do what they want but for most I firmly believe the benefits outweigh the downside of high school ball.

Re: Help looking for an alternative

Posted by @SEC on November 29, 2024, 3:14 pm, in reply to "Re: Help looking for an alternative "

My daughter coaches mid-major DI and says that while it's not a complete deal killer, there has to be an excellent reason, and the kid has to be an absolute rock star. The issue is a red flag for the family wanting coaching and playing time input. Most of them have been coached by family throughout travel. She says you never say never, but it's cringy.

Re: Help looking for an alternative

Posted by Smart girl on December 4, 2024, 10:41 am, in reply to "Re: Help looking for an alternative "

I think your daughter is correct at least in my experience with kids that didn’t play. They and their parents usually aren’t happy in high school or college

Re: Help looking for an alternative

Posted by Bill Conroy on November 30, 2024, 5:35 pm, in reply to "Re: Help looking for an alternative "

There are some players that are playing competitive D1 softball without playing HS softball. Most of those players are from Iowa or from very small schools, not big enough to field a team. I would recommend any young player that has the opportunity to play HS softball, regardless of coaching, or competition, play with their HS teammates. Far more positives come from learning to deal with the challenges that you may face at that kevel.

Re: Help looking for an alternative

Posted by @BC on December 4, 2024, 4:21 pm, in reply to "Re: Help looking for an alternative "

GD is pushing that trend in Iowa. However, he overlooks that there have been many big time D1 kids from Iowa that played for their HS. If you're good enough, you'll be found.

Re: Help looking for an alternative

Posted by All good on December 2, 2024, 11:51 am, in reply to "Re: Help looking for an alternative "

I guess you're right. There has to be some positives being coached by a high school science teacher that doesn't have a clue about softball and just there for an extra check. I'll have to dig deep and hard to find positives but I'm sure I'll come up with something.

Re: Help looking for an alternative

Posted by @stereotype much? on December 4, 2024, 4:14 pm, in reply to "Re: Help looking for an alternative "

You are right! All of us HS coaches are there for that huge paycheck! I mean that payday cuts years off my working career! HS softball is a money grab. You finally figured it out! What the heck are all of those science teachers gonna do now?

Re: Help looking for an alternative

Posted by @@stereotype much on December 5, 2024, 10:10 am, in reply to "Re: Help looking for an alternative "

If they're the softball coach,the volleyball coach, badminton, track. You can't get rich but it helps pay the bills

Re: Help looking for an alternative

Posted by Lets Be Honest on December 9, 2024, 11:43 am, in reply to "Re: Help looking for an alternative "

If you're coaching high school softball, you are making less than half minimum wage. They would "pay more bills" if they worked at McDonalds.

Re: Help looking for an alternative

Posted by @All Good on December 3, 2024, 1:28 pm, in reply to "Re: Help looking for an alternative "

As opposed to the 52-year-old Insurance Salesman with 2 years of High School JV baseball, you get in travel. Suck it up, buttercup the best players to ever played softball played High School ball. Your kid ain't that special.

Re: Help looking for an alternative

Posted by All good on December 3, 2024, 6:32 pm, in reply to "Re: Help looking for an alternative "

Sorry but my buttercup is well on her way to several power 4 offers. She's special to me. Only speaking out for knowing how others might feel in certain situations. My situation is going very well in spite of obstacles.

Re: Help looking for an alternative

Posted by Buttercup on December 4, 2024, 9:39 am, in reply to "Re: Help looking for an alternative "

People who use that are usually the softest people

Re: Help looking for an alternative

Posted by Wondering on February 22, 2025, 10:57 am, in reply to "Re: Help looking for an alternative "

Is Bill Conroy or the Bandits or Do Apparel doing a camp for ykung kids? I heard about it but haven’t seen anything posted.

Re: Help looking for an alternative

Posted by Opportunities on December 3, 2024, 1:24 pm, in reply to "Re: Help looking for an alternative "

In this situation there are opportunities to be a leader, be a good teammate, learn to work with people in charge that are less skilled than you (lord knows that’s life), play simply because of the love of the game. You don’t know it because your daughter isn’t there yet but college softball is a job. Long, long days lots of stress if you don’t absolutely love the game it’s difficult to deal with all the semantics.

Re: Help looking for an alternative

Posted by Lord knows on December 3, 2024, 10:32 am, in reply to "Re: Help looking for an alternative "

Lord knows That once you get to college, every coach out there is top notch. There are no favoritisms, clicks or booty kissing going on either. But hey, I’m just some keyboard warrior hiding on the other side of this screen.

Re: Help looking for an alternative

Posted by That alternative on November 25, 2024, 4:56 pm, in reply to "Help looking for an alternative "

Didn't the Dirtdevils have a spring leauge for girls that didn't want to play highschool softball? It was always successful and they had good competition. Some games were against the Chill and Bandits and they would go out of state for a tournament.

Re: Help looking for an alternative

Posted by @Alternative on November 25, 2024, 2:47 pm, in reply to "Help looking for an alternative "

As a parent, you want the best for your kid. No doubt. Don't take this as a knock, but the adversity at the HS level may be a good experience for her down the road. How do you handle unfairness? I have yet to see a HS coach like to lose games. Eventually, the best 9 play unless he/she is an ogre. No way would your average coach commit that much time/effort to a program just to sit one of the best players out of spite or lack of fundraising dollars. Best of luck in whatever you chose.

Re: Help looking for an alternative

Posted by Get her playing time on November 25, 2024, 9:03 am, in reply to "Help looking for an alternative "

Seems like each year there are different organizations having a spring ball league for high school aged players. Do what is best for your daughter. This one in Bolingbrook seems like a fair price and a good amount of games.. High School softball no longer works for everyone.

Re: Help looking for an alternative

Posted by @Get Her Playing Time on November 25, 2024, 11:33 am, in reply to "Re: Help looking for an alternative "

My guess is that 99% of all players at the P4 level contributed significantly to their high school program. I'm sure some situations would warrant not playing high school ball, but the practice and game structure of high school ball is way closer to college than travel, where you can control the environment.

Re: Help looking for an alternative

Posted by 2 Cents on November 25, 2024, 12:17 pm, in reply to "Re: Help looking for an alternative "

After multiple years of dealing with this specific situation, I’d have to 100% agree with the last half of this.
I’d also say, have your DD take on a leadership role, set the tone for season by example and by being a cheerleader for the rest of the team.
Also, have her work on personal goals within the environment she has been put in.
Hope to hear she is on the field with her high school.

Re: Help looking for an alternative

Posted by Boomalot on November 25, 2024, 11:56 am, in reply to "Re: Help looking for an alternative "

High Schoolis closer to college in a few areas:

1) batting your 9 best
2) fields are in good shape
3) the players know each other and you game plan for this players.
4) 21 outs required to win a game

Re: Help looking for an alternative

Posted by Not a bad deal!!! on November 25, 2024, 1:21 pm, in reply to "Re: Help looking for an alternative "

Join Panther Sports Club in our inaugural season of Recreational Fastpitch Softball!

* Registration open 11/23/24 to 2/28/25
* $95.00 per player (8u/Coach Pitch, 10u, 12u, 14u and 16/18u levels)
* Open to ALL players that meet age requirements. No tryouts required!
* April to June season that consists of 10 regular season game, double elimination playoffs and single elimination championship
* 12 players max per team, 6 teams max per level
* Head and Assistant coaches needed at ALL levels, Discount for Head coaches.

Register at www.panthersportsclub.com

Panthers rec/in house softball program is built on teaching players the fundamentals of the game. Depending on the age level players are taught the basics of the game from hitting to throwing and catching as well as base running. Younger ages focus on learning these skills, older ages focus on fine tuning them.

Unlike the Panthers Travel Fastpitch Softball program, all games will be played in Bolingbrook, amongst teams in the same league, no out of town travel will be required.

Panthers rec/in house softball program consists of five divisions that are divided by age as of January 1st. Similar to travel softball. Players should be registered based upon your player's age as of January 1.

For more information and detail breakdown of play levels and season information, please visit www.panthersportsclub.com and click on the Fastpitch Rec Softball page.

For any additional questions, please email Fastpitch@panthersportsclub.com

We cannot wait to see you on our fields!

Re: Help looking for an alternative

Posted by @Boomalot on November 25, 2024, 12:20 pm, in reply to "Re: Help looking for an alternative "

Also, practice daily with the players you compete against for playing time.

Re: Help looking for an alternative

Posted by Link that works on November 25, 2024, 7:40 am, in reply to "Help looking for an alternative "

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/3m7hufKeC2ZZ7hV8/

Re: Help looking for an alternative

Posted by @losethelink on November 25, 2024, 12:00 pm, in reply to "Re: Help looking for an alternative "

I don't know what high school you feed into but no way in hell this is a "better" alternative. Use of quotes because no matter how you parse it, quantitative, qualitative, esoteric, HScoach-is-an-idiot, blah-blah-blah. Zero chance.

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[ Midwest Fastpitch - keeptheboardcorrect@gmail.com ]