Riding Solo

[quote name="Craig S" post="997432" timestamp="1302812236"] K. Soignet just wone Area in Zavala at 5-6"...to advance to regionals (also a new personal best) [/quote] Congrats. 5'6" is pretty salty.

[quote name="Riding Solo" post="997409" timestamp="1302810206"] I agree that select sports do help kids, no doubt in my mind but not at the expense of high school sports. I will keep saying this till the day I die. You don't see this trend in 4A and 5A because there is plenty kids to go around but in 3A on down when kids start specializing in one sport then sooner or later certain sports will die. We won't see it in my life time but it will happen. Again I have not seen it in girls sports but I have on the boys side. Sure the numbers are small right now (specializing) but they will grow [color=red]because things get easier with each generation that = lasier[/color]. [/quote] Just so no one misreads something. What I mean is, your devoted athletes will always play and compete. It is the number of devoted athletes that is shrinking.

I agree that select sports do help kids, no doubt in my mind but not at the expense of high school sports. I will keep saying this till the day I die. You don't see this trend in 4A and 5A because there is plenty kids to go around but in 3A on down when kids start specializing in one sport then sooner or later certain sports will die. We won't see it in my life time but it will happen. Again I have not seen it in girls sports but I have on the boys side. Sure the numbers are small right now (specializing) but they will grow because things get easier with each generation that = lasier.

Craig me and you could argue our points all day long but in the end neither one of us will change our thinking and that is OK. I am not downing select at all. I see the pro's and con's and I am sure you do too. I applaud any kid that makes it to the next level from good ole fashion hard work. They are the exception not the rule. If you have a kid that has ability and great work ethic, then you have someone special. You know as well as I do there are a lot of great athletes that do not have a good work ethic. That being said we again have jumped off subject a little bit. LOL!!!! The kid in question and the parent made an honest mistake. The did not check the schedule to see if the volleyball tournament conflicted with a school sport. They assumed the district meet would start on tuesday like in the past. Now, that is still not an excuse to me. Personaly I would have done some more researching before committing but that is just me. The only reason I brought this up was not to say anything bad about the kid or parent because both are awesome persons. I brought it up because I see a trend that I am totally against. Again, this is just my opinion. More and more kids (Mainly Boys) are specializing in one sport and IMO it is because of select sports. Don't have a problem with a kid trying to better themselve but at a 3A school and down you need your best athlete's to play multi-sports. Look at it from a athletic directors standpoint. At a 3A on down if kids specialize then that is taken away from the pool you have to draw from. Well that pool was not very big to begin with. This is the high school coaches lively hood. Performance is based on wins sad but true. Yes, this is about football mainly. 4A and 5A, no big deal they have a large pool to draw from. The 3A and down schools their pool is shrinking and at an alarming rate. Again nothing against select sports, both of my kids played AAU but not at the expense of their high school teams. We are a 3A school by the way. I also know that I am beating a dead horse. ;D ;D

[quote name="Craig S" post="996092" timestamp="1302577033"] You're the one that brought up Cody Trahan.....most of those girls played on the same pathetic good for nothing...do no good for the kids select team. The colleges connected to those kids are the likes of LSU...Alabama...ole Miss...McNeese..ULL...Sam Houston...New Mexico State....Ok State...that doesn't count the ones playing now....like mentioned before 27 from GT Shockers alone....plus however many more from other local select teams...from JUCO to DI. Not dilusional at all.....we live it everyday....in fact we have practices every some often during the season to keep the kids from falling to far behind...as we only have so much time to get them ready for the summer....when the real games begin. [/quote] Again never said select is a bad thing but have seen the down side of it. Keep living the dream man. Hope it works out for you. It is about you. Buy the way no kid you mentioned Is like Cody. Not yet anyway. It is a goal to encourage our young people to strive for.

[quote name="Craig S" post="996054" timestamp="1302574334"] [quote author=Riding Solo link=topic=82947.msg995999#msg995999 date=1302570404] The established 5A programs would chew up any 14U team. We are talking about 18 year olds vs 14 years olds. Come on man!!!! I think you missed Aggie’s point. I agree several girls in the golden triangle have gone on to play at the next level but when was the last one that went division 1? Someone correct me if I am wrong but I think it was Cody Trahan from LCM. Parents put way too much pressure on their kids to excel in sports these days. Select started out as a good thing but now we live in the “ME” generation.  Yes, the select kids play to win but when the lights go off to the parents and the kids because the parents have made them that way, it is all about “ME”.  Never pushed my kids, they were self-motivated in sports. At 14 years old kids are still motivated. Write me in 4 years and I hope your kid still is, a sport that is. Don’t think education is an issue according to you, which is awesome.  High school sports are still the purist form of competition and team work. When a goal is a goal and not how many college coaches are in the stands.  [/quote] #1....you have a distorted view of HS talent as a whole...or maybe you underestimate the talent in select softball. #2...Ashley Kuhn @ LSU...from Ned...actually signed with NW La out of HS......ashley Leon committed to full ride at McNeese.....during the same time Cody went DI...there was a whole slew of them.....Verde...Parker....Lemoine...Godwin....Tankersley...Laporolorie (sp).....Beard......and several others who names I forget...catcher from WB.....Pitcher fro. WB.....oh..and Hanan....the reason for the lapse in number recently is due to the lapse in select programs like what Robert Verde had during that time in the GT. #3...Its of the times....if a kid wants to play in top programs they must compete with top competition year round...now if "just" playing at any level above HS is all you seek....then I will do it the HS only way.....YOU WILL NOT find a single kid that plays in the SEC....big XII....Pac 10....Big 10...ACC....Big East.....that did not play at top select softball programs #4...maybe...but if a kid wants to play in the conferences mentioned above......its more about WHICH college coaches are in the stands....and it ain't happening at HS games [/quote] Most of these kids you have mentioned graduated a few years back and I mean a few. You have a distorted view. Don't get me wrong, I hope everthing works out for you and your child but Select is not what it is all cracked up to be. For some parents and kids it is false dreams. Hope that is not the case for you and your daughter. Good luck man.

I also agree with Aggie. ;D ;D

If you are good enough the college coaches will be there if it is high school or select, plain and simple. My daughter was not good enough apparently and that's ok with me. But she tried out for a college team, made it and the rest is history.

The established 5A programs would chew up any 14U team. We are talking about 18 year olds vs 14 years olds. Come on man!!!! I think you missed Aggie’s point. I agree several girls in the golden triangle have gone on to play at the next level but when was the last one that went division 1? Someone correct me if I am wrong but I think it was Cody Trahan from LCM. Parents put way too much pressure on their kids to excel in sports these days. Select started out as a good thing but now we live in the “ME” generation.  Yes, the select kids play to win but when the lights go off to the parents and the kids because the parents have made them that way, it is all about “ME”.  Never pushed my kids, they were self-motivated in sports. At 14 years old kids are still motivated. Write me in 4 years and I hope your kid still is, a sport that is. Don’t think education is an issue according to you, which is awesome.  High school sports are still the purist form of competition and team work. When a goal is a goal and not how many college coaches are in the stands. 

Wow, what a awesome young man. I cried the whole time I read it. Really makes you think.

[quote name="YOUKNOWIT11" post="995605" timestamp="1302500666"] Most girls HS teams would never be the teams they are without select sports athletes. Coaches are lucky to have them and should be flexible at times. It's funny though how some coaches will shun a player for playing another sport or two. What? Do they not want true athletes on their team? Can they not be a bit flexible when their really true athlete has another obligation that will benefit their future? Give and take will help their team. But I'm sure the parents that are complaining to the coaches about select sport athletes playing above their darlings are the players who are either not very athletic or ones who don't put their kid's first and see that they have better training, sometimes year round, in specific sports so they can excel and rise above others and make their HS teams more successful simply because they found an avenue to be a better trained athlete. The worst we've found are volleyball coaches who demand...illegally I might add...that the VB girls train together one week prior to the legal day to start workouts. So the successful 16u or Gold SB player has to get grief from the VB Coach and be punished either by playing on JV even though she's a better player than 99% of the varsity players or gets on varsity and sits til the coach gets beat enough they have to put her in. That shows up quickly who should have been on varsity all along or who should have been playing on varsity and not sitting so much. It's funny then on the flip side when a SB and VB select player in both sports has a club VB tournament on a Sat and her HS softball coach gladly accepts that she needs to miss practice. Give and take like I said helps everyone. Funny too how most SB teams around SE Texas are more successful by going deeper in the playoffs than their NONFLEXIBLE HS VB coaches. Just my two cents!  [/quote] Nobody is complaining about select sports. I think they are great but not at the expense of their high school team IMO.  I can tell you that at 3A schools and down, the coaches want all the kids to play as many sports that they can. They have to, the numbers simply are not there. A line has to be drawn somewhere if not there would be anarchy.

[quote name="Craig S" post="995591" timestamp="1302492469"] Perhaps we did. So from there then we will definately have to agree to disagree. HS sports are a past time you do with your friends....and of course try to win..as far as you can into the playoffs....earn letter jackets...get patches...all district...state whatever etc.....but not much more than that. [/quote] Look at it this way Craig, we had good conversation even though we disagree. This is the most action on the track thread in a while. LOL!!! I wish your daughter the best. Enjoy while she is young, you cannot get those years back. It is awesome that you are involved like you are with your children. There are alot of parents who are not. I applaud you.

[quote name="Craig S" post="995579" timestamp="1302491027"] [quote author=Riding Solo link=topic=82947.msg995574#msg995574 date=1302489702] [quote author=Craig S link=topic=82947.msg995573#msg995573 date=1302489074] [quote author=Riding Solo link=topic=82947.msg995563#msg995563 date=1302488318] [quote author=Craig S link=topic=82947.msg995553#msg995553 date=1302487622] [quote author=Riding Solo link=topic=82947.msg995549#msg995549 date=1302486840] My suggestion is save your money and prepare for your kid to go to college.  Again I hope it works out for you and her but the percentage of kids from this area that go to the next level is slim to none. [/quote] And its people like you who cripple the local kids by feeding this trash to them.. The GT Shockers fastpitch softball has assisted 100% of the eligible players to the next level....that would be 27 out of 27 in the 3 !/2 years we've been in existance.......try telling THOSE LOCAL girls they are NOT living their dreams... You are entitled to your opinion as we all are....but you really should not speak as if you know the facts unless you educate yourself better on the topic. [/quote] Pretty sure I am more educated than you, see my daughter went to the next level but not in softball and i promise you this, she would never miss a high school game for a select team.  If your good enough, missing one tournament won't make a difference. High school memories last a life time. [/quote] Great...so you think so...you live a lifetime of memories in HS....I for one can't really give you much of my high school happenings....and I played college baseball....which was a much bigger memory. Missing one probably wouldn't hurt her...you are correct....so the same can be said of HS sports....missing one game shouldnt hurt her either....so what's your real point....there are actually college softball players who don't even play HS softball....I'm not recommending that...just saying....HS sports are so insignificant to playing at the next level some don't bother.... [/quote] Sad, Is all I can say. Must of not had many friends. ;D [/quote] Limited is all I can say....yes plenty and still do as does my daughter...all over the country...you know the ones that share in the same dream that she does and that she competes against in Colorado...Florida....at camps in Miss..Louisiana....etc. Get it yet.....HS is supposed to be fun...right..prom...homecoming....clubs...dating...sports....etc.....not a disapointment from from coaches who think THEY are responsible for their success because they have them for 4 year during a limited time as compared to the select teams who have had them for10 years year round and compete against the best there is to offer around the ENTIRE country..... Congrats to your DD...you need to recognize she is probably the exception....not the rule. [/quote] Me and you have gotten off tract. My daughter played AAU and i loved it, going all over the country to play ball was awesome. Memories I will never forget and neither will she but she would never miss an high school sporting event for an AAU event. I do understand the exsposure these kids gets from select teams but not at the expense of their high school team. Sorry but that is my opinion and mine only.  I guess we were fortunate to have good high school coaches.

[quote name="Craig S" post="995573" timestamp="1302489074"] [quote author=Riding Solo link=topic=82947.msg995563#msg995563 date=1302488318] [quote author=Craig S link=topic=82947.msg995553#msg995553 date=1302487622] [quote author=Riding Solo link=topic=82947.msg995549#msg995549 date=1302486840] My suggestion is save your money and prepare for your kid to go to college.  Again I hope it works out for you and her but the percentage of kids from this area that go to the next level is slim to none. [/quote] And its people like you who cripple the local kids by feeding this trash to them.. The GT Shockers fastpitch softball has assisted 100% of the eligible players to the next level....that would be 27 out of 27 in the 3 !/2 years we've been in existance.......try telling THOSE LOCAL girls they are NOT living their dreams... You are entitled to your opinion as we all are....but you really should not speak as if you know the facts unless you educate yourself better on the topic. [/quote] Pretty sure I am more educated than you, see my daughter went to the next level but not in softball and i promise you this, she would never miss a high school game for a select team.  If your good enough, missing one tournament won't make a difference. High school memories last a life time. [/quote] Great...so you think so...you live a lifetime of memories in HS....I for one can't really give you much of my high school happenings....and I played college baseball....which was a much bigger memory. Missing one probably wouldn't hurt her...you are correct....so the same can be said of HS sports....missing one game shouldnt hurt her either....so what's your real point....there are actually college softball players who don't even play HS softball....I'm not recommending that...just saying....HS sports are so insignificant to playing at the next level some don't bother.... [/quote] Sad, Is all I can say. Must of not had many friends. ;D

Here is the deal Craig, you believe Select sports are more important than high school sports and I disagree. But thats OK we can agree to disagree. My daughter made it to the next level without select sports. By the way she did play AAU basketball but that was not what got her to the next level.

[quote name="Craig S" post="995553" timestamp="1302487622"] [quote author=Riding Solo link=topic=82947.msg995549#msg995549 date=1302486840] My suggestion is save your money and prepare for your kid to go to college.  Again I hope it works out for you and her but the percentage of kids from this area that go to the next level is slim to none. [/quote] And its people like you who cripple the local kids by feeding this trash to them.. The GT Shockers fastpitch softball has assisted 100% of the eligible players to the next level....that would be 27 out of 27 in the 3 !/2 years we've been in existance.......try telling THOSE LOCAL girls they are NOT living their dreams... You are entitled to your opinion as we all are....but you really should not speak as if you know the facts unless you educate yourself better on the topic. [/quote] Pretty sure I am more educated than you, see my daughter went to the next level but not in softball and i promise you this, she would never miss a high school game for a select team.  If your good enough, missing one tournament won't make a difference. High school memories last a life time.

My suggestion is save your money and prepare for your kid to go to college.  Again I hope it works out for you and her but the percentage of kids from this area that go to the next level is slim to none.

[quote name="Craig S" post="995536" timestamp="1302484437"] [quote author=Rizon link=topic=82947.msg995383#msg995383 date=1302462949] School sports should come first. CraigS...if I faced what coaches face today when I coached...I wouldn't let a child play who was going to miss games/meets for their club sport. I would wish them the best of luck in club and hope they received the scholarship they were looking for. However, as long as you and the coach had that agreement...then that's the agreement. Didn't OF not let girls play volleyball because they missed because of select? If that is true, why was the same rule not followed all year? [/quote] And that's fine...like I said my kid talks to her coaches beforehand and all decisions are made.....however....if the HS coaches are honest with themselves and their team...and parents...etc....its the TRUE SELECT players that win them games. However it isn't usually a problem for the HS sport and the same Select sport...as they don't compete during the same season in order to NOT INTERFERE.. Its the players that play select softball that interfere with HS volleyball....or Club volleyball that iinterferes with softball....etc etc....so now what? Obviously you have a very talented athlete...she chooses a sport....but would like to play all and rep resent her school and help them win when she can...but her top priority is to be the best she can in her prefered sport...which will ALSO HELP her high school team. Then you have this...the volleyball coach is trying to get as many of her VB players to play club.....why...because she recognizes it helps her program...well so the BB coach and the softball coach wants the same.....so the kids comply and seek a select level of play in the sport they choose as per their perspective HS coaches....only to be penalized by coaches of other sports....because the chose softball rather than volleyball...or volleyball rather than BB.....see how this is working out....so what gives.....well in my kids case she doesn't even bother....and at nearly 5-10 she can be lots of help to both VB and BB.....buuuuttttt....nope she will stick to softball and high jumping [/quote] No kid or parent should dictate to a coach what they should or should not do. If you or your kid is doing this and getting away with it then your high school coach is weak. If you decide to play a select game instead of a school sport then how are you helping the school? I hope your child gets to that next level. Not many kids do. By the way high jumping is out of the question remember softball come first. State track meet is not important. Softball is her future remember.

[quote name="tjcfan08" post="995269" timestamp="1302406446"] Riding Solo.....how many times are you going to go there....please correct me if I am wrong, but the past 5 or so years haven't field events been on Tuesdays for District.....the parent involved knew that, committed to the select tournament in Indianapolis, and then later found out that district this year had changed.....unfortunate for everyone involved.... But I do agree, high school sports should come first.....I like wosgrad post, so true so true....you start out that way, you end that way.... Take your blood pressure medicine riding solo and it just might be time to retire..... ;) Trust me, I am taking mine..... ;D [/quote] Good post grad, Tjcfan08 I will beat that dead horse until the day I die. Sorry but I will retire someday just not yet. ;) Someone please enlighten me, did they change the track schedule at the last moment? Craig S, would your daughter miss the state softball tournament also?

What is your opinion on this? A kid who can score points for her team in the field events decides to skip the district meet to go to a select volleyball tournament. Just wondering, I have an opinion and will give it once I hear some comments.

Here is my argument, If a kid is good in volleyball they are pretty much good in everything. A athlete is an athlete. At a 3A school you need your best athletes to be involved in every sport possible in order to compete or reach that goal of a state championship and that is the ultimate goal.  To me that is not the ultimate goal of the parents, some parents not all.

Hard to keep my mouth shut on this one. It is a losing battle with volleyball. Whoever coaches at Hamshire Fannett nothing will change just like Silsbee. Volleyball  does not take should I say "conditioning" that basketball does therefore volleyball is easier for kids to participate in. Therefore the numbers of kids are greater in volleyball. That trend will not change.  One word "LAZY". 

Congrats.

[quote name="tigersvoice" post="974677" timestamp="1299014077"] [quote author=tjcfan08 link=topic=81037.msg974643#msg974643 date=1299008711] GOOD LUCK LADY PANTHERS, BRING IT ALL HOME TO SOUTHEAST TEXAS....... Panthers will upset Canyon....can't wait!!!!! [/quote] Absolutely love your enthusiasm, but have you researched Canyon? That limb that you are on is really quivering with the strain. ;) ;D (Modification was to correct a spelling mistake) [/quote] Tjccfan08 is just rooting for the local team like I am. You know that tigersvoice. There is no money involved in their prediction. ;D ;D Canyon can be beat and I hope the lady panthers do it. The last team from the golden triangle to go to the state tournament was Lumberton in 2007 or was it 2006? The golden triangle was due.

Congrats to the lady panther team. It has been a while since an southeast texas girls team has made it that far. Really proud for you girls. No matter what happens southeast texas is proud of you and community christian of Orange.