High School practices

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Aug 10, 2016
686
63
Georgia
Just if 1/2 your team wants to quit - then maybe it's the coach. All of these girls love playing softball so it would take a lot for them to give that up - even if they are still doing TB.

Obv if you are thinking about quitting - talking to the coach in the exit meeting would be the ideal place to talk things out. He is allowing parents and DD has asked if I'd sit in on it (but not speak - but that will be tough). I just think most girls are afraid to express their problems with things.
 
Jun 6, 2016
2,714
113
Chicago
First, go here and review the GHSA rules on off-season/summer activities. Not my state so I have no idea what the regulations are, but most of what you describe would be a violation here. It may not be there, but don't assume. Never assume. From my experience, a lot of coaches don't actually know the rules, and quite a few will ignore some of them, especially in sports that don't get a ton of state association attention (if the GHSA is anything like the IHSA, they simply do not have the personnel to police girls softball).

To address your question: For in-season, the number of days is normal. Getting home at 9pm every day is not -- unless that's the result of far travel for games. That's kind of unavoidable if you live in an area where teams, especially conference opponents, are spread out.

My in-season schedule is M-F, usually 4-6 or 6:30. Sometimes pitchers/catchers will stay later. Students get out at 3 at our school, so they get an hour before practice most days (Fridays we start right after school). I occasionally schedule Saturday games (1 or 2 per season at most). Obviously game days are later, especially for away games. I do my best to not schedule a series of long trips in the same week, but living in a big city I don't have to schedule too many opponents that are that far away.

I think getting home around 9 happens from time to time. 8 is probably closer to the usual time. That's typically when I arrive home, and I'm always the last to leave (I also live closer to the school than any of my players, so that probably evens out).

It's a lot, for sure. But I don't think the in-season hours are unusual.
 
Aug 6, 2013
392
63
Spring season ball for DD. Tryouts sometime in March then practice is usually 4-6:30/6:45 M-F. There might be a Saturday practice here and there, not every week, it would just depend. Games are always during the week T & Th usually - never double headers and those nights she might not be home until 9. There is no offseason workouts - no weights, no hitting, nothing. It is dark until season starts. That being said here they can play HS and travel at the same time so her travel team might continue workouts although no tournaments until HS is over usually.
 

Strike2

Allergic to BS
Nov 14, 2014
2,044
113
That schedule doesn't appear inconsistent with what I saw at DD's HS. The coach wasn't exactly Mr. Personality, but it was a competitive program. Off-season workouts were student-led. Believe it or not, there are HS extra-curriculars that can be even more demanding.
 
Jun 6, 2016
2,714
113
Chicago
Spring season ball for DD. Tryouts sometime in March then practice is usually 4-6:30/6:45 M-F. There might be a Saturday practice here and there, not every week, it would just depend. Games are always during the week T & Th usually - never double headers and those nights she might not be home until 9. There is no offseason workouts - no weights, no hitting, nothing. It is dark until season starts. That being said here they can play HS and travel at the same time so her travel team might continue workouts although no tournaments until HS is over usually.

Only two game days per week? How many games do they play in a season?
 
Aug 6, 2013
392
63
Only two game days per week? How many games do they play in a season?
Well my daughter is a junior this year. Freshman year (2020) the season didn't happen here in VA. Last season (2021) they were only allowed to play schools in our division so they played 14 games total. I did a little research and it looks like they play 20 games usually and that includes playoffs.
 
Nov 15, 2019
324
43
High school here can play a max of 38 games in the regular season. Generally we have two to three double headers a week and 2 or 3 Saturday tournaments.
 
May 10, 2021
149
43
Spring sport in MI. There is a local team that practices on Easter Sunday every year and they are usually ranked and very talented. They play 2-3 times per week plus Sat tournaments. Nearly 7 days per week during the season every week. Either practice or game everyday.

Other local HS teams play 2-3 times during the week, no tournaments and really nothing on weekends at all. Normally practice after school and done by 6pm. Depends on the coach and program.
 
Mar 10, 2020
734
63
I've talked about DD's high school issues but now we are really at a point where she is saying she isn't going to do it her senior year. Some of the issues stem from barely having any time that is not softball and just the way he treats the girls. If you are a part of the "favorite" group - I think he treats you different than the rest but he does have a way about him that doesn't allow for questions and he treats some of the girls like they don't matter.

But the way he treats them isn't something I can really do much about so really my biggest question is related to practices. What is the normal practice schedule for other teams?

For DD's team during the season - Aug - Oct - he wants them 6xweek. That means after school until 5 or 530 for practices and Saturday practices. And ofc games thrown in there - usually double headers on Saturdays and the weekday games - they are there from 3pm - 9pm at least.
So homework is an issue on game days - and some weeks they had 3 games. DD gets home 930 - tries to eat dinner and does homework until 12-1am.

During off season - the spring - he wants them 4x week - less stuff - but if you are doing a spring sport, you don't have to do the workouts. Summer schedule - 3x week - it gets longer as it gets closer to the season. You are excused for travel ball ofc.

Add in travel ball practices/tournaments and DD has very little rest. Freshmen who started this year - actually got overwhelmed with the amount of practice they had to do and talked about not doing it next year - but they will - they are on big travel teams so no way they will quit - or their parents won't let them. Did have one girl who was on a nationally ranked TB - stop doing TB this season and is looking to do a spring sport - maybe to take a break from SB.

We have one girl who might go to a different school next year - another one is talking about transferring - starting pitcher has mentioned not doing it. Just a lot of talk of people not doing it next year. Which sucks for the ones that do want to come back.

Is asking the coach to lessen the practice schedule something that is okay to ask or should we just do whatever he says? I've told DD if they can get all of the girls to ask about it - then maybe he'll consider. They have their exit interviews coming up - where DD is not really sure what to tell him. The coach already has one assistant coach leaving because of how time consuming it is. I just want to know what is considered a normal schedule. (It'd be one thing if we were some amazing team who was winning championships but we aren't - but that probably just makes him want to practice more).

Sorry if it sounds like I'm whining but just curious how others do it. thx
Time management. Pay closer attention to the wasted time in every day and there will be more time to get things done.
 
Oct 10, 2018
305
63
Just my .02 but academics and sleep are more important than school ball. Without the grades her college choices (no matter how great a baller she is) will be limited.
 

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