- May 25, 2010
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The answers are yes and no, respectively, but you'll have to make keen observations and will likely need to do a significant amount of research in order to find the right fit. Unfortunately, it seems to be almost entirely dependent on where you live and the sort of youth sports culture that exists there.My DD is a multi-sport athlete and frankly I'm glad she likes so many different sports. I'm a huge believer in the benefits of playing more than just one sport. At some point she will have to narrow it down, but she is only 8 and I am trying to do everything I can to keep up with her and let her find "her sport". She is an absolute sports nut.
Here is our problem. She currently plays academy soccer (travel soccer......but they don't actually travel) and in softball she plays rec only (she is a pitcher). Recently, she has talked about wanting to play travel softball also. I'm thinking it's impossible to do both, but maybe she could be a pickup player from time to time when a local softball team might need a guest at a local tournament. However, after reading these boards, it seems as though pick up players aren't very welcome in many places.
Have any of your daughters been able to play two sports at the same time on a competitive level? or is it totally impossible?
Are youth softball coaches understanding if you miss some softball practices due to another sport? I know many of the youth soccer coaches are not very understanding. My DD's last soccer coach was pissed that she left a few soccer practices early to go to a different sports practice. I think a lot of it was the coaches ego. I refuse to let a coach pressure my daughter into only playing only one sport at the age of 8. From my experience, most of the kids that excel at any sport are the ones that put in the extra practice time at home or with their dad........not the ones with the best attendance at the organized team practices.
So, I guess I'm asking......Do understanding travel ball coaches exist? or is my daughter destined to stay in rec softball ?
In NorCal, crazy is the norm among both soccer and softball coaches. My DD decided to drop club soccer for this fall, but will still play rec. Her softball coach doesn't want girls missing practices at all for any reason, but I told him before she even tried out that her main fall sport is soccer, so it was his decision whether to take her on the team knowing that in advance.
There seem to be a lot of parent-coach negotiations concerning players that are between 8-12 years old in our area.
I think we have a duty to our kids to keep them active and to do what we can to facilitate their enjoyment of whatever sports activities they choose. I am just honest and firm with the coaches up front and they have the option of choosing or not choosing my child if they want an 12-month, full-time commitment.