WHO IS THE CULPRIT?

[East TX]

Evidently most of us(youth and adults) see the continuing same-people barrage of propaganda saying that this one teams' players must give THAT SB team TOP PRIORITY above other sports, mainly at their respective HSs.

The unintentional culprits are those who have said this in most all their post from the beginning of this blitz of promotion.

It appears that maybe you were wanting--"Too much sugar for a dime".

I would hate to see good young HS girls placed in the following two type predicaments if they tried to play both; HS commitments and a demanding SB Coach.----here are the two scenarios--

1 The travel SB Coach says, "You need to be on the bus Friday at 4:30 pm for a Tournament starting at 7:30 in San Antonio Saturday. '  Likewise, the HS Volleyball Coach says, "NO! that's the same night we start district play and I need you as a spiker!."

2. The travel SB Coach makes the same demand of a HS Cheerleader "Be on the Bus!"  Likewise, the Cheerleader Sponsor says, "Hey! this is Homecoming we need you as a catcher when we throw Amy up a dozen times that night.  We count on you for your strength and we know you don't want to see Amy get hurt-if we had to sub someone for you."

Evidently their were just not enough girls that wanted to handle the pressure of this "quagmire" of two demanding authorative figures "stressing" these youth out who are torn between two groups with impossible demands for the same time-frames.

Looks to me you will have to play with a watered down group from this area and/or sub in Houston 5A girls.

I am not sure how this will all play out but it appears to me the tactics used just prior to and during  the AFA Tournament may have de-stablized the whole 18 & U area SB participation(and totally discouraged a number of good girls)-- as long-term teams have even been disbanded.  Most girls it appears, even great D-1 potential girls, would rather play with their friends in a less stressful atmosphere: and in the off season continue other select programs and just hope that if they get a scholarship offer- if it is because they are exceptional players.

Please try not to read any malaice into this observance. I have helped with sports development of all kinds for decades and am just making observations!

[Guest lawdog]

Evidently most of us(youth and adults) see the continuing same-people barrage of propaganda saying that this one teams' players must give THAT SB team TOP PRIORITY above other sports, mainly at their respective HSs.

The unintentional culprits are those who have said this in most all their post from the beginning of this blitz of promotion.

It appears that maybe you were wanting--"Too much sugar for a dime".

I would hate to see good young HS girls placed in the following two type predicaments if they tried to play both; HS commitments and a demanding SB Coach.----here are the two scenarios--

1 The travel SB Coach says, "You need to be on the bus Friday at 4:30 pm for a Tournament starting at 7:30 in San Antonio Saturday. '  Likewise, the HS Volleyball Coach says, "NO! that's the same night we start district play and I need you as a spiker!."

2. The travel SB Coach makes the same demand of a HS Cheerleader "Be on the Bus!"  Likewise, the Cheerleader Sponsor says, "Hey! this is Homecoming we need you as a catcher when we throw Amy up a dozen times that night.  We count on you for your strength and we know you don't want to see Amy get hurt-if we had to sub someone for you."

Evidently their were just not enough girls that wanted to handle the pressure of this "quagmire" of two demanding authorative figures "stressing" these youth out who are torn between two groups with impossible demands for the same time-frames.

Looks to me you will have to play with a watered down group from this area and/or sub in Houston 5A girls.

I am not sure how this will all play out but it appears to me the tactics used just prior to and during  the AFA Tournament may have de-stablized the whole 18 & U area SB participation(and totally discouraged a number of good girls)-- as long-term teams have even been disbanded.  Most girls it appears, even great D-1 potential girls, would rather play with their friends in a less stressful atmosphere: and in the off season continue other select programs and just hope that if they get a scholarship offer- if it is because they are exceptional players.

Please try not to read any malaice into this observance. I have helped with sports developed of all kinds for decades and am just making observations!

SO TRUE East Tx.  We as parents and coaches think it is so easy.  We forget about the pressure of these kids having to make a decision this hard.  Pressure causes burn out more than anything else.  They are still only kids and have the rest of their life to deal with pressue.  Sometimes I feel that we are trying to make them grow up too soon.

[CraigS]

Funny you should bring this back up. I just off the phone with Ken Delcambre, Head Softball Coach AND Athletic Director, from Galveston College. I spoke with Ken about the debate going on here in the GT. I ask him to give me HIS opinion of the senerio, being the HEAD softball coach,and also the AD! Ken said he would try to be here HIMSELF (his assistant may come) Saturday to share with any and all who are interested in his take on the subject!

I think ALOT of you will be very surprised as what he will have to say from a college Softball Coach AND Atheltic Director perspective!

I could paraphrase our conversation, however, I don't want any of you to think I've added, or left out any part to support my opinion. I feel everyone would be better served if you could hear it yourself!

Hopefully some of you that are interested in a little exposure, and words of wisdom from a little higher up will join us this weekend!

[bassman]

School ball should come first. If you know you can not give 100% to your school team for the entire season, then don't play. Same thing if they decided to play only league ball.  We should teach the athletes today that if they want to play a sport, a TEAM sport, then you should give 100% to the team. Instead, we teach them that its o.k. to play some for this team and then miss practices or games for another team. Where does the concept of team come in. What if your starting pitcher played only half the time on your team and then missed half the time for another team. How would that make you as a member of each team feel.

[sbmom]

I totally agree. My daughter has been on teams, although still in league ball back then, where we have had to FORFEIT, or play short,  because some girls left in the middle of a tournament to play basketball. Same problem where they have left basketball to play softball. Parents tried to be fair and miss games equally between sports, but that is still not fair to the girls that play on either team!