With more and more girls playing(training/preparing) year round, are they getting to be the difference makers that high school coaches want? If so, are the coaches doing the same(preparing/learning year round) to become the difference maker that the parents want? Are the parents learning year round to be the difference maker for the player/daughter? I ask this circle of ?'s to wonder who is the difference maker when it comes game time, or is it all or some of the above?

With more and more girls playing(training/preparing) year round, are they getting to be the difference makers that high school coaches want? If so, are the coaches doing the same(preparing/learning year round) to become the difference maker that the parents want? Are the parents learning year round to be the difference maker for the player/daughter? I ask this circle of ?'s to wonder who is the difference maker when it comes game time, or is it all or some of the above?

 

From our perspective (HHS), we are seeing more and more girls entering the program with more than just rec experience. We see girls taking an interest at earlier ages than we have ever seen. We have had some young girls show up to camps that have really impressed us and made us smile about the future. I can't speak for the other programs, but it appears in our world, girls are starting to understand the importance of putting in extra work and dedication.

 

What are coaches doing...Again, can only speak for us. We are constantly learning and trying new things. We have a great staff the cares about the individual...not our record. We feel the time, dedication and training takes care of wins...and honestly...those are all a bonus for us. Interacting and trying to teach life lessons are more important and we strive and hope they take something with them from their experiences. That may not always be the ideal experience for them individually, but hopefully learn from it and put it into action. We train just about year round now, excluding the summer travel ball season. Either on a field, in the fitness center, inside a gym (or our new Fieldhouse that's coming!!) or outside on the football field in the middle of the winter! We have a very dedicated group of kids at all ages that seem to love it! We also have coaches with pretty extensive travel ball experiences. Which really helps us understand what girls are really capable of.

 

As for us, HHS has always had very supportive parents. Our parents really study the game and are very knowledgeable. They support the program and their kids to make both better. They ask questions on how to make their kids better and provide the opportunities for their child's success. In the two years I have been at HHS, I couldn't ask for better parents! Hope I didn't jinks myself!!!:ohbrother:

What RCC9 wrote is the way I would envision it. I personally haven't had that experience as a parent yet. I hope parents, coaches, and softball daughters really think about what RCC9 wrote. I'm constantly trying to learn the game by talking to coaches, parents, players and yes, even my daughter who's probably taught me the most about the game. I personally feel that it takes an all out effort by all. Parents, coaches, and players all have certain expectations. I feel that we have to be realistic and realize that every player develops at different rates, not all coaches are cut from the same cloth and parents have cooties.:laugh: With that said, we must keep ourselves in check. If coaches or parents want their kids to achieve, we as parents or coaches must also help one another achieve. I personally feel that if a coach(and myself) expects my daughter to get better, then the parent and player has the right to expect the coach to get better. Also, the player and coach should expect the parent to get better. Remember, knowledge is power and in order to accomplish we must educate ourselves with the most accurate information we can find. Then check and double check all information you get told and find. I'm amazed about how many misinformed parents/players/coaches there are, but on the flip side their are so many that get it. For the ones that do get it, typically their team succeeds and their player has success to envy.:ylsuper: At the end of the day, it still is just a game. Don't forget to breathe and smile!!!:jump: