DD is very disappointed (and so am I) with the competitive softball scene here in the NE. There are only a handful of very good organizations, and she made every one of them. The first one she made ended up dissolving the team within 2 weeks of tryout (I mentioned this previously here). She ended up making 2 other top organizations- one a 14U national team, the other a mix 2025/26 team. She picked the 14U national team thinking it would be more competitive. Yet, that team ended up with only 5 girls born in 2007, rest born in 2008 and 2009. (Yes, half of the team played up from 12U and couldn't handle 60 MPH pitches.) Needless to say, the fall season was a disaster, where we spent $1000 on uniform and several more thousands $ in travel just to watch them lose every single game. This was a 14U national team and should have mostly 2nd-year 14U players. Instead, it had mostly 12U players playing up.
So she tried out for another 14U national team and got in. But she now hates it. Coach promised to move them around but in reality doesn't. She never got to play the positions she wants, and never got the chance to even prove that she can do it. There was rarely any practices in the winter season, definitely none in the spring, so not sure how the coach decides she can't play those positions. The team had been together since the fall, and she felt not being included as she is the newest member. She said no more softball after this season. This is from a kid who used to want to play in college.
I am sad she feels this way. She is a very good athlete and has other sports she can focus on. Yet, softball has been her life since she was 5! On the other hand, I am happy to not have to worry about parent coaches who favor one person over the other. Last week she finally got put into a position she wanted, only to make an error since she hadn't played in that position since the fall and was taken out immediately. No chance for her to adjust. I think I am done with softball also. Maybe she can join her high school's crew team instead (wishful thinking.) We are encouraging her to participate in individual sports like golf, tennis, or diving, where personal performance counts more than coach's favoritism or bias.
Anyone else's DD thinking about quitting softball also?
So she tried out for another 14U national team and got in. But she now hates it. Coach promised to move them around but in reality doesn't. She never got to play the positions she wants, and never got the chance to even prove that she can do it. There was rarely any practices in the winter season, definitely none in the spring, so not sure how the coach decides she can't play those positions. The team had been together since the fall, and she felt not being included as she is the newest member. She said no more softball after this season. This is from a kid who used to want to play in college.
I am sad she feels this way. She is a very good athlete and has other sports she can focus on. Yet, softball has been her life since she was 5! On the other hand, I am happy to not have to worry about parent coaches who favor one person over the other. Last week she finally got put into a position she wanted, only to make an error since she hadn't played in that position since the fall and was taken out immediately. No chance for her to adjust. I think I am done with softball also. Maybe she can join her high school's crew team instead (wishful thinking.) We are encouraging her to participate in individual sports like golf, tennis, or diving, where personal performance counts more than coach's favoritism or bias.
Anyone else's DD thinking about quitting softball also?