I apologize for the length……..
This week, my daughter’s high school softball career came to an end.....rather abruptly. 7 innings can go by really fast! It is so much fun to watch your team go deep into the playoffs. However, I believe the further you make it, the more hurt you feel when it ends.
Sure, we have travel ball this summer, and fortunately my daughter will be continue to play softball in college. However, there is just something about playing for your high school, your hometown, and the girls you've grown up with. The girls have forged a bond with one another through the years. Parents grew relationships with one another. It was this way when I attended high school in my hometown…way back in the 80’s.!! I can honestly say, and to the credit of my daughter's HS coach, there was very little drama with the team over the years. I thoroughly enjoyed my daughter’s high school career. This of course was our family experience and I don’t presume every softball mom and/or dad share the same experience we had.
I do have many great memories of travel ball tournaments. I've been involved with travel ball since my kid was 9 years old. My family and I have made very good friends through the travel ball circuit. I've spent countless hours and $$'s on the game. My family and I have driven many hours and miles in a car traveling to and from tournaments. We’ve traveled across country several times. I can’t count how many hours I have sat on a bucket or hit fungos. We have painfully gotten up early many weekend mornings preparing for an 8am game. I would not trade my time back in.
With this said, travel ball has never been able to meet the emotional need or the pride one feels playing for their school. Again, I’m speaking based on my family’s experience. I understand the argument from the travel ball family that plays on the HS team that is not very competitive…….”can’t wait for travel ball to start” kinda of thing!
Don't get me wrong, I'm not knocking travel ball. It is a necessary fact these days for any kid that wants to play at the next level. The game is evolving. The level of competition is getting better. It has made my daughter better. It’s really the only way to get recruited. Travel ball just has never given us the same feeling as when you play for your hometown colors. I’m truly gonna miss it.
This week, my daughter’s high school softball career came to an end.....rather abruptly. 7 innings can go by really fast! It is so much fun to watch your team go deep into the playoffs. However, I believe the further you make it, the more hurt you feel when it ends.
Sure, we have travel ball this summer, and fortunately my daughter will be continue to play softball in college. However, there is just something about playing for your high school, your hometown, and the girls you've grown up with. The girls have forged a bond with one another through the years. Parents grew relationships with one another. It was this way when I attended high school in my hometown…way back in the 80’s.!! I can honestly say, and to the credit of my daughter's HS coach, there was very little drama with the team over the years. I thoroughly enjoyed my daughter’s high school career. This of course was our family experience and I don’t presume every softball mom and/or dad share the same experience we had.
I do have many great memories of travel ball tournaments. I've been involved with travel ball since my kid was 9 years old. My family and I have made very good friends through the travel ball circuit. I've spent countless hours and $$'s on the game. My family and I have driven many hours and miles in a car traveling to and from tournaments. We’ve traveled across country several times. I can’t count how many hours I have sat on a bucket or hit fungos. We have painfully gotten up early many weekend mornings preparing for an 8am game. I would not trade my time back in.
With this said, travel ball has never been able to meet the emotional need or the pride one feels playing for their school. Again, I’m speaking based on my family’s experience. I understand the argument from the travel ball family that plays on the HS team that is not very competitive…….”can’t wait for travel ball to start” kinda of thing!
Don't get me wrong, I'm not knocking travel ball. It is a necessary fact these days for any kid that wants to play at the next level. The game is evolving. The level of competition is getting better. It has made my daughter better. It’s really the only way to get recruited. Travel ball just has never given us the same feeling as when you play for your hometown colors. I’m truly gonna miss it.