- Mar 21, 2019
- 137
- 28
Lol so you think 35-40% of girls playing softball 16-18 years old get to play in college? Surely travel ball players have to make up 25%+ of em right?
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Travel Ball is Killing Rec Ball
- Thread starter whack
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Lol so you think 35-40% of girls playing softball 16-18 years old get to play in college? Surely travel ball players have to make up 25%+ of em right?
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Now you’re just being silly.
“Don’t compare football and basketball to softball” =\= “35-40% of all 16-18 year old softball players get to play in college”
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- Mar 21, 2019
- 137
- 28
Right it’s being silly. These numbers show a pretty accurate picture for all the sports. The chance of a girl playing college softball are just as slim as a dude playing football. Most of your college softball players are still from hs’s bc if not 25% plus of girls college age that play softball would be playing in college and that’s not the case.
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It would be interesting to compare the percentage of girls that only play travel ball that make it to college ball vs. those that never play travel ball but still make it to college ball. I'm not sure what the results would show, but I have a pretty good idea that the travel ball group would fare better.
Personally, I am quite sure that DD would not be playing college ball if not for travel ball. She received interest from several of the schools on her list, many of whom showed up at tournaments to see her play. She only had one college coach show up at a high school game.
Personally, I am quite sure that DD would not be playing college ball if not for travel ball. She received interest from several of the schools on her list, many of whom showed up at tournaments to see her play. She only had one college coach show up at a high school game.
Just to be clear, you’re doubling down on the idea that it isn’t ANY easier for an undersized/slower softball player to find a place to play in college than it is for an undersized football or basketball player?
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- Aug 29, 2018
- 83
- 8
When I look at bios of college softball players, most played on a travelball team and list the team. Many did both HS and TB.
- Feb 3, 2016
- 502
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"It’s not about how good the kids are for the majority of the teams it’s about who’s mommy and daddy can pay."
For sure this is true.
"These travel teams aren’t turning kids into college athletes, sorry that’s just the facts."
Agree. Kid's putting in the work outside the team practice have a better chance. Some TB teams should be back in Rec.
"Travel ball can’t put two of the biggest factors....speed.
You can’t coach em or wish em into fruition. Sure there’s some footwork drills to enhance speed or reaction."
Being in shape and athletic sure helps here. Again if a pitcher thats morbidly obese can throw 60-70 mph someone somewhere will take her. Pitching speed is the equalizer here.
"rec league every mommy and daddy have these ideas their kid is the next college sensation and has to play travel ball."
Delusions of grandeur..happens all the time in sports.
"It’s killing rec league and destroying having kids be multi sport athletes."
To keep growing Softball I agree TB can have a negative effect on the sport as it relates to $$$$$ and push kids towards other sports. Fastpitch isn't for every kid.
"These travel kids are gonna find out come recruiting time the cream rises to the top and there’s nothing mommy and daddy can pay that puts you on a college team."
Recent events show this isn't always true.
The 24 news cycle proves that anything is possible when $$$ and college prestige is involved.
"They gonna watch multi sport athletes who only played rec and school ball get recruited and wonder what went wrong."
Maybe. HS ball is way overrated. Hard to practice sports 7 day's a week and maintain 4.0 average so again great athletes will always find a path if also great student.
"It’s all sports that’s being effected but it’s for sure killing rec softball."
Maybe but my kid would literally kill a normal rec ball athlete playing catch or a pitcher standing on a pitching rubber trying to avoid her line drive.
"Can barely get enough girls to make rec teams."
What do you propose? Selection process for girls based upon athletic index and skillset? Lottery system to make it socially and economically fair for everyone?
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For sure this is true.
"These travel teams aren’t turning kids into college athletes, sorry that’s just the facts."
Agree. Kid's putting in the work outside the team practice have a better chance. Some TB teams should be back in Rec.
"Travel ball can’t put two of the biggest factors....speed.
You can’t coach em or wish em into fruition. Sure there’s some footwork drills to enhance speed or reaction."
Being in shape and athletic sure helps here. Again if a pitcher thats morbidly obese can throw 60-70 mph someone somewhere will take her. Pitching speed is the equalizer here.
"rec league every mommy and daddy have these ideas their kid is the next college sensation and has to play travel ball."
Delusions of grandeur..happens all the time in sports.
"It’s killing rec league and destroying having kids be multi sport athletes."
To keep growing Softball I agree TB can have a negative effect on the sport as it relates to $$$$$ and push kids towards other sports. Fastpitch isn't for every kid.
"These travel kids are gonna find out come recruiting time the cream rises to the top and there’s nothing mommy and daddy can pay that puts you on a college team."
Recent events show this isn't always true.
The 24 news cycle proves that anything is possible when $$$ and college prestige is involved.
"They gonna watch multi sport athletes who only played rec and school ball get recruited and wonder what went wrong."
Maybe. HS ball is way overrated. Hard to practice sports 7 day's a week and maintain 4.0 average so again great athletes will always find a path if also great student.
"It’s all sports that’s being effected but it’s for sure killing rec softball."
Maybe but my kid would literally kill a normal rec ball athlete playing catch or a pitcher standing on a pitching rubber trying to avoid her line drive.
"Can barely get enough girls to make rec teams."
What do you propose? Selection process for girls based upon athletic index and skillset? Lottery system to make it socially and economically fair for everyone?
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- Jun 29, 2013
- 589
- 18
Your initial post might literally be true. But, the reasons why it might be accurate are more complex than just saying the decline in rec ball was caused by the rise of travel softball. There are a ton of rec leagues that don't survive because they really haven't adjusted to fit the needs of players, and the rise in travel ball isn't just because every parent a) has the money to do it, b) is bound and determined to get a scholarship for their DD, or c) are stupid enough to think they can buy athletic success for their kids. I don't know if anyone has ever surveyed parents re: why their DD plays travel, but for a lot of us the number one reason is that our DD is (or did) really enjoy playing a more competitive game.
You are correct that it's expensive, and if you're athlete doesn't have significant skills the scholarship at the end of the rainbow isn't going to be there. And you're right that every other sport has the same issues. But, if your DD really loves to play softball or any other sport, and you can afford it which unfortunately a lot of people can't, there's no harm in playing travel.
Also, if your DD wants to play in high school, around here travel or club sports is a necessity just to get playing time. The athletes today are a lot better than you remember when we were young, and if you want to get on the field, court, or dirt you have to have good skills. Unfortunately, rec ball isn't really the place where you're going to learn more than the basics because of time restraints.
You are correct that it's expensive, and if you're athlete doesn't have significant skills the scholarship at the end of the rainbow isn't going to be there. And you're right that every other sport has the same issues. But, if your DD really loves to play softball or any other sport, and you can afford it which unfortunately a lot of people can't, there's no harm in playing travel.
Also, if your DD wants to play in high school, around here travel or club sports is a necessity just to get playing time. The athletes today are a lot better than you remember when we were young, and if you want to get on the field, court, or dirt you have to have good skills. Unfortunately, rec ball isn't really the place where you're going to learn more than the basics because of time restraints.
- Mar 21, 2019
- 137
- 28
Sure it might be easier but you know as well as I do comparable skills they are taking the bigger stronger athlete. To think size and speed and strength aren’t factors is simply just ignoring facts.
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- Mar 21, 2019
- 137
- 28
Couple things. Most kids parents aren’t felicity huffman or whatever her name is. Average kids
Parents can’t buy their way onto a college team.
What do I propose? Get rid of all the low level travel teams but that won’t happen. These low level teams are here bc kids that weren’t good enough for the elite level travel wanted to play travel too so they made a step down and another step down till it’s very watered down. My daughter had a game tonight she’s upset frustrated bc most of the girls don’t know what to do they won’t cover bases she chases erratic pitches non stop and even when she tells em watch the runner and cover the bag good Chance is they won’t move to cover. Sadly this is what’s become of rec ball. Shouldn’t have to play travel ball just to play with semi decent kids but all the semi decent nothing special just decent players are playing travel.
I’m obviously of differing opinion than the vast majority of this site but travel ball is so watered down now it’s just really expensive rec ball at the low levels. Some of em are so watered down they play in rec league tourneys cause we played em last year. Is what it is. My apologies for offending the site.
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