Travel Team Practice

[Coach23]

As usual, I am fighting the battle with a few uninformed high school coaches on travel team practices. I go to great lengths to make sure there is no problem with eligibilty...however, it is essential that the elite players maintain batting practice (at a minumum) with their summer teams during the season. We typically have batting cage work on Sunday's...IF it does not interfere with high school games or practices. Some coaches have a problem with this....However, here is the rule...copied from the TSSAA handbook. I don't think it is possible to interpret this incorrectly. You would think a coach would welcome the additional practice and input from knowledgable coaches

 

 

TSSAA Handbook:

3. Q. May a player participate in a scrimmage, practice game or game with an independent team after being registered with TSSAA in that sport? A. No. The student shall be ineligible immediately in the sport in which the violation occurs.

 

4. Q. Is it a violation for a registered athlete in baseball or softball to practice with an independent team? A. No, provided he/she participates in practice situations only (batting practice, infield practice, etc.), provided no game situations are involved.

 

I welcome comments from all.....hopefully we will all be more informed!

[doorbell]

As usual, I am fighting the battle with a few uninformed high school coaches on travel team practices. I go to great lengths to make sure there is no problem with eligibilty...however, it is essential that the elite players maintain batting practice (at a minumum) with their summer teams during the season. We typically have batting cage work on Sunday's...IF it does not interfere with high school games or practices. Some coaches have a problem with this....However, here is the rule...copied from the TSSAA handbook. I don't think it is possible to interpret this incorrectly. You would think a coach would welcome the additional practice and input from knowledgable coaches

TSSAA Handbook:

3. Q. May a player participate in a scrimmage, practice game or game with an independent team after being registered with TSSAA in that sport? A. No. The student shall be ineligible immediately in the sport in which the violation occurs.

 

4. Q. Is it a violation for a registered athlete in baseball or softball to practice with an independent team? A. No, provided he/she participates in practice situations only (batting practice, infield practice, etc.), provided no game situations are involved.

Why is such a big deal in softball, it happens all the time in other sports. the trevel ball players play vollyball and scocer for school in the fall the whole time while they are playing tourments on the weekend, what is the diffrence.

Edited February 18, 2006 by doorbell

[NewNews]

I welcome comments from all.....hopefully we will all be more informed!

 

Its not real hard to understand the interpretation of this rule Coach23.....When I

was coaching I basically ran into the same comments from Highschool coaches and

parents.....Trust me if anyone has any ?????s pick up the phone and Call TSSAA

 

615-889-6740 speak with Benard Childress or any of the other directors......they are there everyday and are very helpful....trust me I know......

 

I also agree that HighSchool coaches should be thankful but as usual there are

SOME that have EGO's larger than TEXAS......

 

[Fan]

Who has ego's as large as Texas?????? It appears it may not only be HS coacches as suggested by NewNews.

 

It is HS season. Most will practice 5 - 6 days a week. Do they really need another day of practice with another program?

 

Each coach has a different coaching style and teach things diffently. Most do not want their players being "coached" by someone else during their season whether it be parents or other coaches. Any coach has enough issues with parents let alone other coaches.

 

I have a suggestion -- Let the players alone unless they are playing for you and it is your season. They have enough to deal with let alone their summer coach riding them about missing off season practice. You tell them one thing and their HS coach tells them another. Who should they listen too? Both will get mad.

 

I'm not sure if I can think of anything more selfish than summer coaches trying to interferre but in during HS season. Except for maybe HS coaches interferring during summer season. If you want to coach your players year round either get a HS job or coach thier summer team.

[Coach23]

Who has ego's as large as Texas?????? It appears it may not only be HS coacches as suggested by NewNews.

 

It is HS season. Most will practice 5 - 6 days a week. Do they really need another day of practice with another program?

 

Each coach has a different coaching style and teach things diffently. Most do not want their players being "coached" by someone else during their season whether it be parents or other coaches. Any coach has enough issues with parents let alone other coaches.

 

I have a suggestion -- Let the players alone unless they are playing for you and it is your season. They have enough to deal with let alone their summer coach riding them about missing off season practice. You tell them one thing and their HS coach tells them another. Who should they listen too? Both will get mad.

 

I'm not sure if I can think of anything more selfish than summer coaches trying to interferre but in during HS season. Except for maybe HS coaches interferring during summer season. If you want to coach your players year round either get a HS job or coach thier summer team.

 

I am not sure I would call running a Sunday batting cage practice interfering FAN! Maybe you have had a bad experience or something, but it is my experience that most high school programs are somewhat lacking in a good batting practice...some programs don't even have the right equipment (i.e. pitching machine etc.) due to a lack of funding for HS softball. I am sure you are way off base calling summer coaches selfish...as we spend countless hours preparing these girls for high school (indirectly) and ultimately for college ball....the vast majority for NO pay and little recognition. We are lucky at Seymour to have a great coach with D-1 experience....who is truely capable of preparing our girls for the next level....but most are not. Most summer coaches fully support their respective HS programs...working with their HS coaches....by coaching fall teams or private work.

You ask if these travel ball players need another day of practice....maybe so...maybe not....but most will need to practice 5 to 6 days a week if they expect to play at the college level....whether it be HS or not. Most are more than willing to do this...as long as the HS coach doesn't interfere. Ultimately, I think it should be the girls...or her parents....decision, as it is truely their future that is affected. My question....if a HS coach doesn't want a child to practice for her summer team during season....What will that HS coach due to promote that child and get her the scholarship that she is working so hard for. I would like to here from former players who have moved on to play college ball and hear if they feel if their advancement to the next level was driven by the HS coach or the summer coach. Me personally, I don't want to interfere.....but I expect the HS coach to feel the same.

[coldplay]

I am not sure I would call running a Sunday batting cage practice interfering FAN! Maybe you have had a bad experience or something, but it is my experience that most high school programs are somewhat lacking in a good batting practice...some programs don't even have the right equipment (i.e. pitching machine etc.) due to a lack of funding for HS softball. I am sure you are way off base calling summer coaches selfish...as we spend countless hours preparing these girls for high school (indirectly) and ultimately for college ball....the vast majority for NO pay and little recognition. We are lucky at Seymour to have a great coach with D-1 experience....who is truely capable of preparing our girls for the next level....but most are not. Most summer coaches fully support their respective HS programs...working with their HS coaches....by coaching fall teams or private work.

You ask if these travel ball players need another day of practice....maybe so...maybe not....but most will need to practice 5 to 6 days a week if they expect to play at the college level....whether it be HS or not. Most are more than willing to do this...as long as the HS coach doesn't interfere. Ultimately, I think it should be the girls...or her parents....decision, as it is truely their future that is affected. My question....if a HS coach doesn't want a child to practice for her summer team during season....What will that HS coach due to promote that child and get her the scholarship that she is working so hard for. I would like to here from former players who have moved on to play college ball and hear if they feel if their advancement to the next level was driven by the HS coach or the summer coach. Me personally, I don't want to interfere.....but I expect the HS coach to feel the same.

 

 

Both Fan and Coach23 have some truth to what they say.

A majority of high school coaches are in it for the extra $ 2500 to $ 3000 and don't put the six days in during season, or summer workouts to improve the program.

 

A BIG number of summer coaches are there to promote THEIR OWN kid, and mask the TEAM to further their own agenda that might not be eye to eye with their high school coach.

 

The need is for summer programs to support the high school team, and for the high school coaches to look to summer programs to feed the school. There ARE some areas where this works well.

 

Also, parents need to shut up or put up.

If you don't like whats going on with your summer coach or your high school coach, pick up a whistle and put some time in, form your own team.

 

For the summer coaches who complain about the high school coaches, volunteer as an assistant and establish a record with the tssaa. The state probably needs more good summer coaches to become high school coaches.

 

Anyway, its about the KIDS. Not the coaches.

and, the talk should not always be scholarships, scholarships, scholarships.

Alot of the good players don't play in college or play only one year.

 

Coaching a kid is teaching them about life, not just getting them a part-time job earning college money as a softball player.

 

just an opinion, though.

Edited February 18, 2006 by coldplay

[wildukcats]

Both Fan and Coach23 have some truth to what they say.

A majority of high school coaches are in it for the extra $ 2500 to $ 3000 and don't put the six days in during season, or summer workouts to improve the program.

 

A BIG number of summer coaches are there to promote THEIR OWN kid, and mask the TEAM to further their own agenda that might not be eye to eye with their high school coach.

 

The need is for summer programs to support the high school team, and for the high school coaches to look to summer programs to feed the school. There ARE some areas where this works well.

 

Also, parents need to shut up or put up.

If you don't like whats going on with your summer coach or your high school coach, pick up a whistle and put some time in, form your own team.

 

For the summer coaches who complain about the high school coaches, volunteer as an assistant and establish a record with the tssaa. The state probably needs more good summer coaches to become high school coaches.

 

Anyway, its about the KIDS. Not the coaches.

and, the talk should not always be scholarships, scholarships, scholarships.

Alot of the good players don't play in college or play only one year.

 

Coaching a kid is teaching them about life, not just getting them a part-time job earning college money as a softball player.

 

just an opinion, though.

Great post coldplay

[longtimecoach]

Great post coldplay

Depending on the program, the high school coaches do know the rule. As a longtime summer coach (19 years} and having the expierence of two daughters who have played in college, I understand the zeal to have your players practice legally with their summer team. However there isonly one head coach a season. Your well coached High School coaches realize the importance of one voice and direction. In as much as the importance of Summerball, it is paramount in order to improve one must play many games against the best there is. Remember the most important game to win is the last one of the season. Compared to 15 to 10 years ago the quality of High School Fastpitch coaches has vastly improved. Look around, there are many new succesful coaches who have played in college, been taught by the best summer coaches, as well as attended many camps as they strived to improve as younger players. All of this knowledge is being taught. The bottom line is as a summer coach would you allow your players to play on two teams during one summer{and I don"t mean as a pickup player.} I believe the answer is no. One team, One Head Coach, One Voice during a season.

[fastballbaker]

First of all one must understand what TSSAA says is not always "gold"

Just because they may say practicing with two teams is o.k. does not make it right.

 

I don't see the ego a problem, nor do I see the extra practicing a problem. What I fear and what other high school coaches may fear is the chance of injury. I try to go beyond the call of duty to keep my players safe at all times during all drills in practice, so my players may make it through the season healthy. If a kid was to get injuried during a summer league practice (during the hs season) not only would they hurt their coach, but more importantly they would hurt their teammates and the team. This would also be vise versa during the summer.

This is the #1 problem and fear that I have and many other coaches may have also on this issue.. Thanks

[keemom]

Depending on the program, the high school coaches do know the rule. As a longtime summer coach (19 years} and having the expierence of two daughters who have played in college, I understand the zeal to have your players practice legally with their summer team. However there isonly one head coach a season. Your well coached High School coaches realize the importance of one voice and direction. In as much as the importance of Summerball, it is paramount in order to improve one must play many games against the best there is. Remember the most important game to win is the last one of the season. Compared to 15 to 10 years ago the quality of High School Fastpitch coaches has vastly improved. Look around, there are many new succesful coaches who have played in college, been taught by the best summer coaches, as well as attended many camps as they strived to improve as younger players. All of this knowledge is being taught. The bottom line is as a summer coach would you allow your players to play on two teams during one summer{and I don"t mean as a pickup player.} I believe the answer is no. One team, One Head Coach, One Voice during a season.

 

 

That's great if you are lucky enough to play for one of these coaches. What about girls who have to play for coaches that know little about softball? Last year's head coach had to be shown where to stand to coach 1st base (he was in the batter's box). Team practices were a joke. No discipline, no knowlege of the game, no pitching machine, Division 1-A where real pitchers were few and far between. A seasoned travel player was told by the coach that she needed to stop throwing the ball so hard. She suffered greatly during this loooong season. Took much of the summer to adjust back into top shape. Would have been better off not playing at all. Practice/support from the travel coach would have been helpful.

[NewNews]

everyone has an opinion.......jmo

 

 

Interfere?????????

 

give me a break......... good thing these parent-coaches/parents/summer coaches have interfered from the age of 4yr to 18yrs.....or there wouldn't be a need for a highschool program....

 

.Coach23 is trying to offer help..we are talking about Batting Practice....

 

How many HS coaches complain about not getting enough swings in.....alot.. besides....if a kid wants more practice and it will help the kid, which will help their HS team, then whats the problem....once again

its about communication.....if the kid doesn't want to practice or if its overwhelming to the parent then talk about it with the coach.....not to everyone that doesn't matter...

 

Fan......If they are good coach they shouldn't get mad because they will understand it's about the girls.....

 

Coldplay...... Well every good player works to be what they are and if they care that much then all they want to hear is scholarships, and if they are a good player and didn't play college ball then obviously they didn't love the sport to begin with!!

just to let you know I am 16 so that is coming from a kid not a parent.....

 

 

longtime coach.....One voice well I know of 11 varsity players that listened to 1 voice....hs coach....and now they are not playing for that school.....and yes they are good players.......and some have scholarships already.....so be careful about one voice...

 

 

fastballbaker.....hurt?????? getting hurt just happens.....you can't control that ....

heard where a girl got her leg broke the first day of hs practice......this can happen......fear ???? can't step onto the field thinking that or get out of bed .....life

goes on and so does a true team......

 

Conclusion.........Find out what we want......Us...the players......You will be surprised what we will tell you .......its up to the Parents,Coaches to advise us on making the right decisions......

 

I am using my Dads screen name just for the record.....

[mcdonaldr115]

newnews daughter,

 

everyone wants what is best for you, the 16 year old player.

the point most of these people are trying to make is that everyone needs to work together. as cold play said, scholarships are great, but that should not be the only focus. The love of the game. The love of the game.

 

Bad coaches, poor facilities, bad parents, injuries, poor teammates, ect.... are the things that hurt girls with a love for the game. Most of us discuss ways to improve all of these situations. No One wants to hurt a kid, I hope not!!

 

And, wanting to get a scholarship is great. But, a college scholarship is a job. So, love of the game is needed for that job. If you love electronics, and don't mind long hours, work at Best Buy during your college years.

If you love softball and are good enough, go for it. It's long hours and hard work, usually 6 to 8 hours a day of softball, but if you love it, and they are paying you enough, you should work for it and do it.

 

Most people wouldn't work at best buy 8 hours a day for the love of electronics, so softball should be the same.