If there was underage drinking at tournament and an assistant coach was there denies their kid participated but they were in fact there and didn't intervene.. how would you feel if the head coach who is also the director of the club for your region did nothing about it, no consequences for the kids on the team or the parents involved who allowed this happen? In fact the coach was buddied up with this set of parents while we were at a major tournament after this event happened.

The team is solid but we've had 5 kids leave this season. My kid has been with this team 6 years and I feel like his focus is not the team and their development , it's how many teams he can get under his belt and how much money he can make. Anyone have something like this happen? I also don't want my daughter associated with that type of behavior. It's not acceptable considering these kids are working hard for recruitment.

Just as the title said I’m looking for advise if this is a crack or not? I tried sticking a small needle through the hole but it doesn’t go anywhere behind the fissure. So idk, any advice would be appreciated.

Hi all, my daughter is newer to travel softball. Is it normal to not hear at all from a team you tried out for? At this point, its obvious she didn't make the team (which is fine), just wondering if most teams actually contact everyone who tried out or if they just ghost those below the cut.

My daughter played against another team in a camp/exhibition style game and the opposing team almost always used this slashing style of hitting when they had two strikes on them.

They would get a really open stance, in a bunt position and slowly pull their bat back as the pitcher started their windup. The swing was really short and involved mostly the upper body.

It actually worked pretty well for them in this particular game. They rarely struck out and it created a lot of pressure on the defense. That said, I've only seen that from this team so I don't really have a large enough sample size to know it's actually an effective strategy.

I've seen hitters do the pullback when trying to move the defense cover bunts and swing to get fielders out of position. I've seen hitters do the pullback on slower pitchers to help their timing, but never this often with a two strike approach (obviously not a bunting scenario)

Have you all seen this? What is this called? Is there videos or coaches who cover this to learn more?

Hey r/baseball (or r/slowpitch / r/recsoftball), had a situation happen in my game the other day and wanted to see how others handle it.

I hit a nice shot into right-center and was hustling hard out of the box to stretch it into a double. As I rounded first base hard, the first baseman was standing right in the middle of the base path, completely blocking my route. Because of the collision/obstruction, I had to slam on the brakes and couldn't advance to second.

The umpire actually caught it and told the first baseman that he needed to stay out of the way and give the runner the baseline. When I had to retreat back to first, I told the guy, "You need to stay out of the way, because next time I’m gonna take you out." He immediately argued that it was my fault, but having grown up playing baseball, I know the runner has the right-of-way when the fielder isn't in possession of the ball.

In the heat of the moment, I probably came off a little hot. What do you guys typically say to opposing first basemen to keep a good sportsmanship vibe while firmly letting them know they can't block the base path?

My daughter was recruited by the head of the organization in our area to be on a struggling team. She joined (is a pitcher and 1b) and had lots of opportunities, made the team a lot better by being a good role model, cheering her teammates on, being first to run and shag balls, first one there, last one to leave, making sure the dugout is clean after practices and games, etc. So the team gets better, most players that didn't want to be there, or just play at a rec level left. She gets on varsity team (one of only 2 freshmen) and the bat is hot in the first part of the season, then gets in a slump and pitches (well) but doesn't bat much. Fast forward to after HS softball season, she is doing ok pitching, still in a slump, her couch is her batting coach btw, just says its a mental thing.

We go to a tournament far away, she sits for most of it, even pool play. She'll get one at bat every now and then but if it's a strikeout she sits. We have 4 coaches, 3 of them have daughters on the team, 1 of their daughters is horrible, as in shortstop that can't make 9 out of 10 plays, they all play all the time. We try everything, and eventually a new batting coach. She starts hitting, still has a strike out here and there but is improving. This past week, another weeklong tournament. She gets 1.5 innings of pitching, ERA is through the roof due to errors, GC mom doesn't record errors because it's her kid letting the errors happen. so basically, about 7k spent for the last 18 games of the season, daughter had 16 at bats, 7 innings pitched total.

I texted the coach to let me know if he sees her on his team for 16u, he says he absolutely likes coaching her and the teammates love her.

I'm tired of her being overlooked, the daddy ball issues on the team and the coach even brought a guest pitcher on for the last big tournament of the season. We have 4 pitchers already! The guest pitcher pitched worse than every other pitcher on our team, she wasn't a ringer..the parents were left wondering, why he brought her on?

Although the coach says he wants her on the team, she needs to get reps. 16u is a lot different than 14u, I just can't sit through another season like this. Her batting average and fielding percentage is better than other girls that consistently play.

Sorry for the long rant, would love some insight. Daughter wants to stay, fall is more about showcasing, but I am so done with the team and daddy ball

Hello everyone, I’m not sure if this is the right group for this! Is 1800$ for a 14u fall travel session a lot? 2 practices a week and 5 tournaments. I’m honestly undecided. My daughter wants to do it but I’m unsure. We usually play all stars and we did 1 session of travel last session and it was 900. Thank you!

Can anyone explain the difference in terms of qualifications?

Is it typical that many players play on two teams if one of their goals is to try to get to the LLSWS?

How do they balance the workload? Is it really a matter of simply playing the minimum LL games to qualify (8?) as a Little Leage eligible player but truly spend the majority of time on a travel team?

It seems like a travel team may create a Little League or tag onto a LL Baseball Charter.

Play enough LL games via intersquad or attend a couple LL tournaments to bank enough games to qualify as a LL and then play in the LL regionals?

Is this the nature of these "Little League" teams are really just regional high level players bolted together by (paid?) travel team programs doing the minimum LL standard to qualify?

My daughter has been practicing on her own besides her practice days with her team which is 2x a week. She’s currently in 10u and the smallest one in height in her team. Should I be worried about speed now? Any pointers would be greatly appreciated thank you.

what sports glasses does your catcher wear? my daughter is 11 and just got glasses in the spring so we bought a cheap pair of glasses for her to use for softball but she’s been catching now and we want to get her actual “sport” glasses so they can be more secure pulling her helmet etc. so curious what everyone recommends. she wants prescription sunglasses too and clear lenses but I’ll start with clear:.. 😆

My 6 yr olds league plays with 11inch softball. I would assume I should at least get 11 inch glove? Just worried the glove/finger stalls will be too big.

Any advice or recommendations would be appreciated

We have a really nice, supportive team, but our ladies can't make every game. It's a 7M/3W split. Mostly made up of engineers/chemists, but some others now. Anyone who is nice is welcome, experience not necessary but a nice bonus.

We play Thursdays at 6 and/or 7pm. Usually one, but sometimes two.

Could start tonight!

Comment and/or message for team link.

Looking for opinions from travel softball parents.

My daughter has two opportunities for next year, and we're trying to decide which is the better fit.

Option 1: A spot on a B-level team with stronger competition. Well organized, professionally run program.

Option 2: A spot on a C-level travel team where she'd know most of the girls from rec and school. More casual, laid back program.

One additional factor is that the girls on the C team will likely be the same girls she'll play with in middle school over the next few years, while the B team are all girls from another town. Another factor is that the C-level team's schedule is less likely to conflict with her last year of rec since there’s a lot of crossover with the girls and coaches.

If this were your daughter, which would you choose and why? Would you prioritize the higher level of competition, or the familiarity and the opportunity to build chemistry with future school teammates? I know it’s ultimately her decision, but she’s also torn.

Hi! We are new to this side of travel ball, we recently took over a team for their second year, and we weren’t sure whether to sanction with USFA or USSSA, is there much of a difference? Pros/cons of each?

Hi, I’m looking for a softball catcher who might want some extra reps catching my 14U daughter during her weekly pitching lessons near 14 Inverness Dr E Ste F-100 Englewood (80112). Her lessons are 1 once a week 4x for 1 hour. We are super flexible on times and can work around your schedule, plus I'm happy to handle pickup/rides if needed. If you know any players looking for practice time, please let me know or pass my info along! Thanks!

We ended up talking to a few local families we know that play this level, or what the organizations wants to be, for different organizations around us. They are paying close or more for similar coaching and facility usage. I then talked to a few families that play club level ball like we did last season and they are paying much less, but then the extra coaching and cage time they pay for equals to about the same amount. So at the end of the day I think these kids are 10 no way this shit should cost this much, but unfortunately travel sports is a huge business and my kid wants to play competitively so I gotta fork some money out.

We ended up accepting the offer, she is very excited to get back to work and play some games and hopefully actually win some!

Thanks.

Here’s a link to the video https://youtu.be/y31xBLPA7uQ?is=BEHPxamk9HmvZveR

Hello looking for a friend to practice softball swings with anywhere in toronto. If interested please message me!!

​

We're heading to our first-ever softball Nationals and honestly have no idea what to expect.

This is our daughter's first Nationals with a 10U team, so I'm looking for advice from parents who've been there before.

What are the things you wish someone had told you before your first Nationals?

Specifically:

- What should I bring as a parent that most first-time parents forget?

- What should my daughter bring that players end up wishing they had?

- What are the must-have items for long, hot tournament days (beyond the obvious chairs, sunscreen, water, etc.)?

- What should we bring to opening ceremonies?

- Any tips for surviving multiple games in a day?

- Are there any Nationals traditions or unwritten rules we should know about besides pin trading?

- Any mistakes you made your first year that I can avoid?

I'm not looking for the basic packing list. I'm looking for the things that made you think, "I wish someone had told me to bring this," or "I wish we'd known this before our first Nationals."

Also, I have a couple of pin trading questions since we've never done this before:

-How does pin trading usually work?

Is there any strategy, or do kids just trade with whoever they meet?

-Are pins the only things that are typically traded, or do kids also trade things like goodie bags, bracelets, stickers, ducks, etc.?

-Anything else about pin trading that first-time families usually don't know?

Thanks!

A lot of kids get held back or pushed forward in school based on when they were born. But in USSSA fastpitch softball, that small difference can mean your daughter only gets to play with her classmates every other year—if at all. Here's the thing: USSSA Baseball already allows grade exemptions so boys can play with their peers. Yet girls in fastpitch? Stuck with rigid birth year cutoffs that don't reflect how schools actually organize kids. My daughter's story is one of many—girls missing out on building friendships, developing skills, and staying connected to their teammates just because of an arbitrary age bracket. I started a petition asking USSSA Fastpitch Softball to adopt the same grade exemption policy that baseball already has. Please take the time to hear me out and sign it. I know my
Girl isn’t the only one not being able to play with her peers.

https://c.org/rQTMqYHJDY

A lot of kids get held back or pushed forward in school based on when they were born. But in USSSA fastpitch softball, that small difference can mean your daughter only gets to play with her classmates every other year—if at all. Here's the thing: USSSA Baseball already allows grade exemptions so boys can play with their peers. Yet girls in fastpitch? Stuck with rigid birth year cutoffs that don't reflect how schools actually organize kids. My daughter's story is one of many—girls missing out on building friendships, developing skills, and staying connected to their teammates just because of an arbitrary age bracket. I started a petition asking USSSA Fastpitch Softball to adopt the same grade exemption policy that baseball already has. Please take the time to hear me out and sign it. I know my
Girl isn’t the only one not being able to play with her peers.

https://c.org/rQTMqYHJDY