Softball for Newish High Schooler?

[Anonymous]

I'm looking for some advice/tips. DD played a travel sport for years until recently. She's fallen out of love with it and wants to try another sport, maybe softball.

Unfortunately, her parents are clueless about the softball scene. What I'm finding, though, is that there doesn't seem to be a clear path for her to "break into" softball. There don't seem to be rec programs for girls her age (rising 10th). I'd honestly like her to try out for travel if/when she's ready, but she only has a little softball experience (1 pre-COVID season in MS). She did pretty well then, and is overall a fairly athletic kid in most ways. I think she could pick up the basics quickly in the right environment. My hope is that she'll at least be able to confidently try out for her HS team.

We live in the District, and there don't really seem to be many options at all--even for private coaching--nearby. We'll travel a little, but Gaithersburg (where there seem to be more coaching options) seems like more than we can manage a few times/week. And I'm not really finding many travel teams near here--at least not ones that seem to have B & C teams, if she'd be able to make one of those.

Given all this, does anyone have any thoughts on how to help her get up to speed and onto a team as quickly as possible so she has a few years to play before she graduates?

TIA!

[Anonymous]

Search on https://www.usssa.com/fastpitch for b level teams in the DC area -- you'll likely have to shelp somewhere in MD for her to play. If she's a rising 10th grader, she'll need a 16U team. There aren't many on the C level -- at that age most kids have been playing for many years already.

In Arlington, there's a rec league available for high schoolers -- she can sign up to play there in the fall (their spring season is almost over I think.) http://agsafastpitch.com/site/ClientSite/divisions/444109

Also, McLean Little League has a "seniors softball" division that she could try.

I'm in Arlington, so these are the ones I'm familiar with. You could also join "Original Virginia Travel Teams" on FB and ask for advice there.

[Anonymous]

Also, check with the local little leagues and such. Some have softball as well. Maryland Heat is a 16U c level team -- not very familiar with them -- their website isn't opening for me.

[Anonymous]

Vienna has rec teams for high schoolers. So does ALexandria (I know bc we just played a Fort Hunt team). If she is athletic she may be able to make JV at her high school, depending which high school it is.

[Anonymous]

Most NOVA rec leagues have 18u.

My daughter did the same and took a break from 11-15 and then made JV team at a FCPS high school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Vienna has rec teams for high schoolers. So does ALexandria (I know bc we just played a Fort Hunt team). [b]If she is athletic she may be able to make JV at her high school, depending which high school it is.

Make JV softball as a neophyte 10th-grader? What is wrong with you? Why would you give this family false hope?

It's insulting to those of us whose kids have spent years playing on travel teams to think that somebody "athletic" can walk onto the field and make a team. That's ludicrous.

If the kid wanted to play softball in high school, she should have thought of that back in kindergarten and first grade. And OP's PARENTS should have pushed their kid rather than let her dabble and "find herself".

If your kid can't make a travel team in just one sport by 6th grade, something's seriously wrong with you as a parent. ANY KID except the most clumsy ones can make a travel team in something as long as they and their parents work at it and commit to it. You have to look side-eyed at parents who talk up their kids' activities in D&D or Scouts or something as if that's a replacement for the competition and the friendships you get playing travel.

I feel really badly for OP's kid, to have OP and her husband raising that kid without instilling a drive to compete.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Vienna has rec teams for high schoolers. So does ALexandria (I know bc we just played a Fort Hunt team). [b]If she is athletic she may be able to make JV at her high school, depending which high school it is.

Make JV softball as a neophyte 10th-grader? What is wrong with you? Why would you give this family false hope?

It's insulting to those of us whose kids have spent years playing on travel teams to think that somebody "athletic" can walk onto the field and make a team. That's ludicrous.

If the kid wanted to play softball in high school, she should have thought of that back in kindergarten and first grade. And OP's PARENTS should have pushed their kid rather than let her dabble and "find herself".

If your kid can't make a travel team in just one sport by 6th grade, something's seriously wrong with you as a parent. ANY KID except the most clumsy ones can make a travel team in something as long as they and their parents work at it and commit to it. You have to look side-eyed at parents who talk up their kids' activities in D&D or Scouts or something as if that's a replacement for the competition and the friendships you get playing travel.

I feel really badly for OP's kid, to have OP and her husband raising that kid without instilling a drive to compete.

Hilarious! 🤣

[Anonymous]

Please. Ridiculous.

I have a kid that made JV lacrosse and field hockey as a 10th grader and never play the sport before (FCPS). She’s a good athlete and it wasn’t overly competitive this year.

It’s totally OK to try a new sport as a teen. I know it’s not “approved” NOVA mindset but that’s your fault for spending thousands of dollars and hours on a sport. It can be tried and played for fun.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Vienna has rec teams for high schoolers. So does ALexandria (I know bc we just played a Fort Hunt team). [b]If she is athletic she may be able to make JV at her high school, depending which high school it is.

Make JV softball as a neophyte 10th-grader? What is wrong with you? Why would you give this family false hope?

It's insulting to those of us whose kids have spent years playing on travel teams to think that somebody "athletic" can walk onto the field and make a team. That's ludicrous.

If the kid wanted to play softball in high school, she should have thought of that back in kindergarten and first grade. And OP's PARENTS should have pushed their kid rather than let her dabble and "find herself".

If your kid can't make a travel team in just one sport by 6th grade, something's seriously wrong with you as a parent. ANY KID except the most clumsy ones can make a travel team in something as long as they and their parents work at it and commit to it. You have to look side-eyed at parents who talk up their kids' activities in D&D or Scouts or something as if that's a replacement for the competition and the friendships you get playing travel.

I feel really badly for OP's kid, to have OP and her husband raising that kid without instilling a drive to compete.

And this is how kids have mental breakdowns and find themselves pregnant their first year out of high school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Vienna has rec teams for high schoolers. So does ALexandria (I know bc we just played a Fort Hunt team). [b]If she is athletic she may be able to make JV at her high school, depending which high school it is.

Make JV softball as a neophyte 10th-grader? What is wrong with you? Why would you give this family false hope?

It's insulting to those of us whose kids have spent years playing on travel teams to think that somebody "athletic" can walk onto the field and make a team. That's ludicrous.

If the kid wanted to play softball in high school, she should have thought of that back in kindergarten and first grade. And OP's PARENTS should have pushed their kid rather than let her dabble and "find herself".

If your kid can't make a travel team in just one sport by 6th grade, something's seriously wrong with you as a parent. ANY KID except the most clumsy ones can make a travel team in something as long as they and their parents work at it and commit to it. You have to look side-eyed at parents who talk up their kids' activities in D&D or Scouts or something as if that's a replacement for the competition and the friendships you get playing travel.

I feel really badly for OP's kid, to have OP and her husband raising that kid without instilling a drive to compete.

Hilarious! 🤣 [/q
***standing ovation*** I love it when people use satire to point out how absurd something is----in this case the idea that kids have to pick their sport by age 6 to excel. Bravo!!!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Vienna has rec teams for high schoolers. So does ALexandria (I know bc we just played a Fort Hunt team). [b]If she is athletic she may be able to make JV at her high school, depending which high school it is.

Make JV softball as a neophyte 10th-grader? What is wrong with you? Why would you give this family false hope?

It's insulting to those of us whose kids have spent years playing on travel teams to think that somebody "athletic" can walk onto the field and make a team. That's ludicrous.

If the kid wanted to play softball in high school, she should have thought of that back in kindergarten and first grade. And OP's PARENTS should have pushed their kid rather than let her dabble and "find herself".

If your kid can't make a travel team in just one sport by 6th grade, something's seriously wrong with you as a parent. ANY KID except the most clumsy ones can make a travel team in something as long as they and their parents work at it and commit to it. You have to look side-eyed at parents who talk up their kids' activities in D&D or Scouts or something as if that's a replacement for the competition and the friendships you get playing travel.

I feel really badly for OP's kid, to have OP and her husband raising that kid without instilling a drive to compete.

Hilarious! 🤣 [/q
***standing ovation*** I love it when people use satire to point out how absurd something is----in this case the idea that kids have to pick their sport by age 6 to excel. Bravo!!!

***standing ovation*** I love it when people use satire to point out how absurd something is----in this case the idea that kids have to pick their sport by age 6 to excel. Bravo!!!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Make JV softball as a neophyte 10th-grader? What is wrong with you? Why would you give this family false hope?

It's insulting to those of us whose kids have spent years playing on travel teams to think that somebody "athletic" can walk onto the field and make a team. That's ludicrous.

OP here. While I can't imagine that this poster is being serious, I also know from years of another travel sport that some kids are just better than others--even precious snowflakes who've been playing much longer. Happens all the time.

In fact, I think travel sports are mostly a moneymaking scam unless you get really lucky. I'm willing to pay because I think there are other benefits for my kiddo and because I have fun watching her have fun. But I'm under no illusion that she's going to be made into a star player, whether she starts now or had started at birth. I said she's athletic, not a prodigy. My guess is neither is your kid.

Anyway, thanks so much for the good advice, everyone else. I've got several great places to start now! And to this PP, thanks for the laugh!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Vienna has rec teams for high schoolers. So does ALexandria (I know bc we just played a Fort Hunt team). [b]If she is athletic she may be able to make JV at her high school, depending which high school it is.

Make JV softball as a neophyte 10th-grader? What is wrong with you? Why would you give this family false hope?

It's insulting to those of us whose kids have spent years playing on travel teams to think that somebody "athletic" can walk onto the field and make a team. That's ludicrous.

If the kid wanted to play softball in high school, she should have thought of that back in kindergarten and first grade. And OP's PARENTS should have pushed their kid rather than let her dabble and "find herself".

If your kid can't make a travel team in just one sport by 6th grade, something's seriously wrong with you as a parent. ANY KID except the most clumsy ones can make a travel team in something as long as they and their parents work at it and commit to it. You have to look side-eyed at parents who talk up their kids' activities in D&D or Scouts or something as if that's a replacement for the competition and the friendships you get playing travel.

I feel really badly for OP's kid, to have OP and her husband raising that kid without instilling a drive to compete.

***standing ovation*** I love it when people use satire to point out how absurd something is----in this case the idea that kids have to pick their sport by age 6 to excel. Bravo!!!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Vienna has rec teams for high schoolers. So does ALexandria (I know bc we just played a Fort Hunt team). [b]If she is athletic she may be able to make JV at her high school, depending which high school it is.

Make JV softball as a neophyte 10th-grader? What is wrong with you? Why would you give this family false hope?

It's insulting to those of us whose kids have spent years playing on travel teams to think that somebody "athletic" can walk onto the field and make a team. That's ludicrous.

If the kid wanted to play softball in high school, she should have thought of that back in kindergarten and first grade. And OP's PARENTS should have pushed their kid rather than let her dabble and "find herself".

If your kid can't make a travel team in just one sport by 6th grade, something's seriously wrong with you as a parent. ANY KID except the most clumsy ones can make a travel team in something as long as they and their parents work at it and commit to it. You have to look side-eyed at parents who talk up their kids' activities in D&D or Scouts or something as if that's a replacement for the competition and the friendships you get playing travel.

I feel really badly for OP's kid, to have OP and her husband raising that kid without instilling a drive to compete.

***standing ovation*** I love it when people use satire to point out how absurd something is----in this case the idea that kids have to pick their sport by age 6 to excel. Bravo!!!

I'm wondering if this is the guy who used to write long posts about his athletic prodigy t-baller son and how other t-ball players didn't deserve to be on the same field. Those were comedy gold. This is a different style, but pretty funny.