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Sport for fun

Posted by Stay ready on February 25, 2025, 8:28 am

Would it be wise for a kid in the year they're eligible to make a commitment, not play high school softball in favor of a sport she just likes to play for fun. She has very high interest from P 4 schools. Going this route would mean from November of previous year to June of the commitment year which would be about 7 months of no live hitting. She practices over the winter with her travel team but no live hitting. I know high school is not a big contributer of being recruited but at least you get some live reps in and the school is in a tough conference with good teams and players. It would seem like you would want to be fully loaded and ready for the season in this commitment year. Especially since she felt not ready for the live pitching at the camps she attended after only a couple of months after fall season.

Re: Sport for fun

Posted by Click & read a correct opinion on February 28, 2025, 2:24 pm, in reply to "Sport for fun"

(That was a wink, everyone.)

But lemme suggest:

1. Don't do anything to rock any boats or cause any suspicion heading into your DD's recruiting year. So, play HS at least through sophomore season.

2. If she is verbally committed before her junior HS season, you can begin thinking about this. Input from the college coaches would be very important.

3. If you're thinking about a sport with some relevancy (maybe a pitcher who wants to do shotput), perhaps you have an argument that it would be good for her development. Otherwise, be ready for the college to be suspicious of your level of commitment.

While you didn't ask about this, I do think there is a strong argument to be made that committed players would be better off from a strictly developmental "get-ready-for-college" perspective if they were to not play HS and play club in the spring. For many schools, the quality of coaching and competition (not to mention conditioning and facilities) are below what the top club organizations offer.

Again, using a pitcher example, you'd possibly be much better off going and playing with IP and getting on their spring tournaments in Missouri and Iowa than wasting your time after school with Coach Numnuts.

There is a lot to be said about the social benefits of HS ball, but there is not an argument to be made that it gets you ready for college better than the top club programs.

Re: Sport for fun

Posted by @click on March 3, 2025, 10:36 am, in reply to "Re: Sport for fun"

Great thorough response here. I would add one thing. At the end, the poster indicates, "there is not an argument to be made that it gets you ready for college better than the top club programs". From a performance standpoint, I agree. But from a lifestyle standpoint, HS ball mimics collegiate ball way more than travel ball ever can. This means daily workouts; get some work in before class in the morning, head out to the field/fieldhouse after classes, midweek game/scrimmages, double headers most weekends. The college schedule can be a shock to many strong players who do not embrace the grind of their HS years. Taking a year off to have fun will definitely cause most college coaches to be concerned but you can go get that feedback from your prospective coach. But have fun now and grind next year, that's the dangerous part, you can't just throw the love switch on and off. Good luck!

Re: Sport for fun

Posted by Not Ready on February 27, 2025, 2:21 pm, in reply to "Sport for fun"

I read all of the comments on this thread so far. She should probably sit out of high school ball, focus on herself as you said, and do her classmates a favor. Sounds like the only reason you want her to play is for self benefit. Being part of a team, any team, it about teamwork. That concept seem obviously foreign to you all. Best of luck!

Re: Sport for fun

Posted by Easy answer on February 25, 2025, 1:55 pm, in reply to "Sport for fun"

Yes Play High School Softball

Re: Sport for fun

Posted by Stay ready on February 25, 2025, 4:48 pm, in reply to "Re: Sport for fun"

I actually know what needs to happen .I guess I'm just looking for validation that I'm not being a old overbearing dad looking to take the fun out of my kids high school experiences. She's very talented in 3 sports but softball is #1 but the other sports involve her friends. I'm trying to get her to realize that she can't let the fun of the other sports get in the way of her supposedly #1 goal of high level college softball. That's her goal not mine. From private talks she's well on her way to achieving her goal if she continues to excel

Re: Sport for fun

Posted by EagleEye on February 25, 2025, 6:46 pm, in reply to "Re: Sport for fun"

"Friends" can be a huge hindrance for girls when it comes to sports. The athlete knows what needs to be done to succeed. However, the peer pressure of the "friends" who are not on the same trajectory can sway a young girl to lean in the wrong direction.

What would you do if she was participating in the STEM field at a very high level and she needed to participate in a program to further her education? Would you let her skip the program because her friends were participating in another activity that would not help her with her main objectives?

Re: Sport for fun

Posted by Stay ready on February 25, 2025, 9:35 pm, in reply to "Re: Sport for fun"

I agree totally what you're saying. I'm just finding it hard in this situation to be the bad guy. It also isn't helping that one of the coaches in the other sport she plays is hyping her up on how good she is and can be and saying she could get a scholarship in that sport also. I'm not sure about that and definitely not at a level she's getting looks for like in softball. I'm hoping she comes up with the right decision with a little persuasion before I have to step in

Re: Sport for fun

Posted by EagleEye on February 26, 2025, 5:59 pm, in reply to "Re: Sport for fun"

The thing that has not been addressed is the level of the HS program. Is it one of the top programs that can compete with Marist, the Lincoln Ways, Lockport and some of the other top programs in the area? If that is the level she'll compete at during HS then by all means have her play HS ball. Especially if she has interest from P4 schools.

It'll be a great life lesson when it comes to decision making. Doing what I want to do versus doing what I NEED to do.

It doesn't help that you have a HS coach trying sweet talk her like a slimy phone scammer. He/she is looking no further than the current season. Not what's best for your DD's future beyond HS and college. Softball is a way for her to pay for a large part of her education. The college degree can potentially be worth millions in her future.

Re: Sport for fun

Posted by Yooper on February 27, 2025, 9:10 am, in reply to "Re: Sport for fun"

I absolutely understand the competitiveness standpoint. However, there is something to be said for leadership growth that occurs from playing on a poor team. I know a P4 middle infielder who played on a poor high school team at a 3A school. She played with kids who didn't even play travel ball, including several who were foreign exchange students. There was struggle and frustration, but also great growth. The coach relied on her to teach others how to play, dress, and conduct themselves at a higher level and the program grew. I know she credits that experience today for her growth as a player and person. She has a doctorate today and started at an ACC power.

Re: Sport for fun

Posted by Stay ready on February 27, 2025, 8:34 am, in reply to "Re: Sport for fun"

You are so right. I'm definitely going to screenshot everything you commented on. It will come across a little easier coming from someone else. Kind of like when you have to pay an instructor to tell your kid the same thing you've been trying to tell them.

Re: Sport for fun

Posted by @Stay Ready on February 26, 2025, 8:24 am, in reply to "Re: Sport for fun"

I know I'm being redundant, but if she even considers not playing a softball season, her P4 aspirations need to be "reconsidered." P4 is all-encompassing, and even if they have interest, they're constantly reranking their recruits on a day-to-day basis, and this, while not the kiss of death, requires a pretty convincing explanation. If she's a P4 recruit, the mid-majors or DII/DIII would overlook this situation to roster her, and it may be the experience she's looking for.

My oldest went through this. Was bumped up to Varsity Basketball as a Freshman. After the season, the Basketball Coach told her if she didn't participate in the Summer program completely, he wouldn't play her the following season. This was back in the day when you had your college ride by Freshman year, and full participation in Summer Basketball wasn't possible. It broke her heart not to continue in Basketball, but in the end, she knew softball was a better path.

Re: Sport for fun

Posted by Stay ready on February 26, 2025, 12:13 pm, in reply to "Re: Sport for fun"

It's possible she could have a great summer and fall season without the high school reps. I just think that for what it's worth high school is some type of tune-up for an important year. Wish there was a feasible way to get live hitting over the winter and spring season and i wouldn't be so concerned. Fielding and soft toss or machines can be accomplished but nothing can take the place of live pitching

Re: Sport for fun

Posted by @Stay Ready on February 26, 2025, 1:54 pm, in reply to "Re: Sport for fun"

I think you're playing all of us, but congratulations on not drawing a lot of hostile fire.

Re: Sport for fun

Posted by Choices on February 26, 2025, 9:22 am, in reply to "Re: Sport for fun"

Could she hook up with a southern team from a fall state and play a few spring tournaments while participating in the conflicting high school sport?

Re: Sport for fun

Posted by @Stay on February 25, 2025, 12:29 pm, in reply to "Sport for fun"

It is a weird signal. Does she not like softball? If that is the case, then playing P4 is a terrible idea because softball will be her job. Have you seen the P4 travel schedules in February? Have you seen a P4 weekly practice and lifting schedule?

Re: Sport for fun

Posted by This on February 26, 2025, 8:49 am, in reply to "Re: Sport for fun"

This is exactly what I was thinking. P4 for sure but even down to D3 and Juco practice year round. The intensity may change but you aren't going to get to take time off.

Re: Sport for fun

Posted by Come on now on February 25, 2025, 12:09 pm, in reply to "Sport for fun"

if she isn't seeing live pitching all year long (live games, practices, hitting lessons)...and then telling coaches at camps "she isn't ready for live pitching".....then yeah, not ready for P4

Re: Sport for fun

Posted by @Stay Read on February 25, 2025, 11:15 am, in reply to "Sport for fun"

Seriously? P4 interest? "Not ready for live pitching"?

Child, please. You don't understand P4 softball.

Re: Sport for fun

Posted by Stay ready on February 25, 2025, 1:21 pm, in reply to "Re: Sport for fun"

I could divulge more info but it's not important in my eyes to do that on this forum. Simple question is should she skip high school softball or not. So many want to be clowns

Re: Sport for fun

Posted by @Stay Ready on February 25, 2025, 1:54 pm, in reply to "Re: Sport for fun"

So you're asking the "clowns" for advice, and they're telling you to ask the college coaches, and you don't like the answer?

Re: Sport for fun

Posted by Answer on February 25, 2025, 2:03 pm, in reply to "Re: Sport for fun"

If she wants to play D1 whether it's P4 or not, then she should definitely play high school softball. If she doesn't love softball that much, that's fine. But play at a lower level collegiately.

Re: Sport for fun

Posted by @@ Stay Ready on February 25, 2025, 11:24 am, in reply to "Re: Sport for fun"

You should ask the coaches at the interested P4 schools what they think about that.

Re: Sport for fun

Posted by Fun is over on February 26, 2025, 1:47 pm, in reply to "Re: Sport for fun"

If she is that far along and being recruited at that level it's time to focus on softball. Freshman year is tough and she needs to start getting serious in the gym and tighten up her skills in softball. A lackadaisical approach heading into college is a recipe for disaster. Ask her if she really wants to play in college at that level. If she does now is the time to prepare.

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