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[ Midwest Fastpitch - keeptheboardcorrect@gmail.com ]

Reality of the majority?

Posted by Rose Glasses on May 15, 2025, 5:11 pm

After hearing/seeing horror stories on TikTok about the reality for some, I think there are way more these regrettable stories out there than success. These athletes are promised the world and then when they get to their schools, it’s something totally different. It’s the old bait and switch.
And it’s crazy that there is still “political bs” you have to deal with. Cliques, favorites, nepotism, you name it. It still happens. Even at the detriment of the teams success in some cases.(will never be proven, tho) Then there are the “one shot” and done players. Others seem to get chance after chance after chance. I’ve seen players make multiple errors in a game and stay in. Yet others, if they so much as breathe wrong they are out. How many of these athletes sit the bench that could be or have been an impact player? Yeah yeah I know, welcome to the real world.. let it be. SSDD. In the end, I know things will never truly be “fair” but dang, These coaches/schools can do better not squashing the spirits of these still young athletes. Let the real world be the cruel b!+€h she is when they get there.
Rant over…

Re: Reality of the majority?

Posted by Parent on May 16, 2025, 7:01 am, in reply to "Reality of the majority?"

One of the worst stories I have witnessed myself was one of the best pitchers we have from Illinois playing in college today. Her HS coach sat her on the varsity bench for 3 years, 3 years. When he finally did give her a chance, she was the best pitcher in Illinois. Now she is off playing in the WCWS and he can't stop tweeting about her and taking credit for her. The same girl he never gave a shot to for 3 years, what an asshole.

Re: Reality of the majority?

Posted by Well on May 16, 2025, 9:52 am, in reply to "Re: Reality of the majority?"

I goes it's all about what you chose to listen and focus on. There are plenty of heartfelt stories from seniors who are leaving the game, and what softball meant (means) to them.

Re: Reality of the majority?

Posted by Lol on May 16, 2025, 10:33 am, in reply to "Re: Reality of the majority?"

Most of these girls posting sob stories on tic toc are kids sitting the bench and cannot handle having to fight for a spot. Travel ball babied them or parents coddled them and they cannot handle adversity. Instead of making excuses for your kid hold them accountable and make sure their travel coaches do the same.

Re: Reality of the majority?

Posted by Disagree on May 17, 2025, 2:24 pm, in reply to "Re: Reality of the majority?"

There is some of that…maybe even a lot of that but it’s not all that. Having had a child live through college softball in a p4 conference I can tell you it’s a business and like all businesses there are good bosses and bad ones. Sometimes the decisions are baffling at best and infuriating more often and I’m the parent of a kid who played. The biggest disappointment for us was the complete lack of ability to improve players at the plate, in the field, mentally etc. the players on my dds team that improved were the ones who i know worked at home and even sometimes secretly in season with their own private coaches. As far as petty BS between players I think any time you have this many women together whether it be a sports team or a sorority this is going to happen. The best advice I can give perspective athletes is to try to find a school and town that you absolutely love because outside of softball that will keep you sane.

Re: Reality of the majority?

Posted by @Disagree on May 22, 2025, 11:41 am, in reply to "Re: Reality of the majority?"

If you're an athlete in a P4 conference, you're incredibly skilled, and your fundamentals are solid when you go to school. Otherwise, you wouldn't be there, so I don't think you'd expect anything different.

I think the most significant change is in strength. There's an incremental, nuanced improvement in plate approach, softball IQ, mental toughness, etc., but if you think P4 Coaches are looking at athletes they have to teach, you're a couple of levels too high. As far as "petty BS", there better be they're competing for playing time and money, suck it up buttercup.

Re: Reality of the majority?

Posted by @@ disagree on May 22, 2025, 10:44 am, in reply to "Re: Reality of the majority?"

We agree on more than we disagree. Everything you said is true. But knowing some of these kids in the portal, they are delusional thinking they will move to a better spot. I blame the parents for not talking to and reasoning with them that not everything happens right away. Thinking as a freshman you are going to walk into a starting position. Look how many freshmen are in the portal, then go and look at their stats and it becomes very obvious why they are sitting. On a side note, I wonder how many of these girls were actually cut from previous programs. Are D1 P4 programs taking advantage of the roster limit rule and using this as an excuse to drop players they see having no shot of playing in their programs? Definitely interesting times.

Re: Reality of the majority?

Posted by @disagree on May 20, 2025, 9:33 am, in reply to "Re: Reality of the majority?"

That's an amazing response. Wish I had seen it and taken it as advice years ago!!

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