Midwest Fastpitch - keeptheboardcorrect@gmail.com

Midwest Fastpitch - keeptheboardcorrect@gmail.com
[ Midwest Fastpitch - keeptheboardcorrect@gmail.com ]

Tournament favors

Posted by Parent on June 17, 2025, 12:53 pm

Can we please stop scheduling games on a Thursday and/or Friday afternoon! Most families have working parents. How can a family pay for this crazy sport, if tournament directors keep raises prices and schedule games in the middle of the week.

Something has to change.

Sorry just venting.

Re: Tournament favors

Posted by Better days ahead? on June 17, 2025, 4:22 pm, in reply to "Tournament favors"

Yes, these schedules can be ridiculous. Not only are they not always good for balanced family life and families' pocketbooks... but they're also not good for mental health when you consider the 8 AM games that cause teenagers to get up at 6 AM on the weekends.

I've never understood why games don't go much later. As more facilities with lights are built, games can go until 10 PM at night. Kids don't go to sleep until midnight anyway - let 'em play, and then start at 10 AM the following day.

This is another example of how travel is arguably MUCH tougher than college. College games are mid-day or at night and provide players with nutrition and athletic trainers - all are better for the athlete than the gauntlet that we put teenagers through!

Re: Tournament favors

Posted by @Better on June 18, 2025, 9:54 am, in reply to "Re: Tournament favors"

Are you going to follow your daughter to work if her workday starts at 7AM and ask them to start later?

Come on man.

Re: Tournament favors

Posted by @Better on June 18, 2025, 8:22 am, in reply to "Re: Tournament favors"

Let your daughter play a season or two in college and get back to me about easy it is. You are crying about having to get up at 6am? Lift STARTS at 6AM (and you better be early), during the WEEKDAYS... before class. Trainers are there so they can wrap the bumps, bruises, and strains and get the kid on the field because otherwise they wouldn't play hurt. Travel isn't an hour to Crown Point...it's hours on the road/overnights/up early.

Here you are complaining about 8am games. You ain't seen nothing yet...

GMAFB

Re: Tournament favors

Posted by @@Better on June 18, 2025, 11:33 am, in reply to "Re: Tournament favors"

14 year olds don't play in college.

Re: Tournament favors

Posted by @@Better on June 18, 2025, 4:01 pm, in reply to "Re: Tournament favors"

Nor do 18 year olds when they couldn't make 8am games when they were 14.

Re: Tournament favors

Posted by Geez on June 18, 2025, 5:18 pm, in reply to "Re: Tournament favors"

The sacrifices and work ethic demanded by the sport is what gets kids into college, if that's their goal. Those are non-negotiable, and a part of the hard knocks and Darwinism that life throws at each of us.

But more doesn't always mean better.

Let's say that you were the type of kid who woke up at 6 AM to get to all your games and practices back in the day. That's admirable, and I hope it has served you well.

But today's kids - at least those who are most committed - are also working in specialized hitting/pitching/defense work, weight training, and often PT. Those aren't hours that any of us had to deal with back in the 70s or 80s. We also didn't play the number of games that these kids do - often year-round.

Yes, many softball programs still have early morning lifts - but that's often dictated by when softball can get access to facilities, especially at mid-majors and below. The most progressive programs are using sleep monitors, aligning travel with circadian schedules, moving back practice times, incorporating massage sessions, etc. to give athletes every advantage possible.

Seems illogical to presume that driving 14 year olds into the ground is the best way to evaluate whether they're ready for being a college athlete. Sure, it separates some from the pack, but at what cost? Would 4 AM games be an ever better option?

Of course not... so why isn't the inverse (10 AM games) a possible improvement?

Re: Tournament favors

Posted by @ geez on June 19, 2025, 1:35 pm, in reply to "Re: Tournament favors"

I agree with most of your post, until the "why" question at the end. There is no Why?, it's very simple. It's not about the players, parents, or coaches. It's about tournament directors and $$$. 10am start means fewer games over the weekend, which means fewer teams in the event, which means fewer tourney fees.

Yes, more and more complexes have lights, but often there are permitting/zoning issues with having them on late. My town it's 11pm, and I've been told by park district people that the phone calls start at 11:01, if the lights are still on.

Re: Tournament favors

Posted by @@geez on June 19, 2025, 3:38 pm, in reply to "Re: Tournament favors"

Great point. Thx.

Re: Tournament favors

Posted by @Parent on June 17, 2025, 2:47 pm, in reply to "Tournament favors"

Being a parent of a player, is like another job. But we need our main job to pay for the sport/all that goes with it.

Re: Tournament favors

Posted by Wednesday on June 17, 2025, 2:46 pm, in reply to "Tournament favors"

You think that is bad.. My 16U had an 0800 AM on Wednesday at a college campus 3 hours from our home last week... Of course... arrive by 0645

Re: Tournament favors

Posted by @Tournament favors on June 17, 2025, 1:55 pm, in reply to "Tournament favors"

Hard to swim against the current of supply and demand...

Teams, and thereby the parents, "vote" with their registration fees.

It is what it is... but I feel 'ya.

Re: Tournament favors

Posted by Agreed on June 17, 2025, 1:48 pm, in reply to "Tournament favors"

It is absolutely ridiculous, there is this assumption that 14 year olds can drive. Why can we do two day tourneys in the fall, but summer tourneys start on Thursdays and you'll have like 1 game on Thursday, two on Friday at 8am & 7pm at different complexes. Its just too much already.

Re: Tournament favors

Posted by Really on June 17, 2025, 3:25 pm, in reply to "Re: Tournament favors"

What is this Families of Faith? Is this a "Church League"? When does New Lenox open up?

Re: Tournament favors

Posted by Church League on June 18, 2025, 6:50 am, in reply to "Re: Tournament favors"

The Families of Faith in Channahon, IL off RT 6 must have a slow pitch church league.. Saw them practicing last night...It was definitely slow pitch. Must just play other churches. New Lenox Crossroads set for grand opening 6-28...

Re: Tournament favors

Posted by My daughter on June 21, 2025, 11:52 pm, in reply to "Re: Tournament favors"

She plays D2. Lifts 4 days a week at 6:00 AM. Goes to school. 3 hour practice 4-5 days a week starting mid afternoon. Doesn’t complain. In great shape. Put you time in. Most girls can’t. It pays off more than 1 way. Makes school cheap and they are in incredible shape. Not for the lazy. That work ethic doesn’t work.

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