Girl's Soccer Heads? What do you think of Izzy?

[Pitt79]

https://tribhssn.triblive.com/belle...210.64117178.1568118975-1230125555.1551879169

I found this article in the Trib, girl with D1 scholarship locked up quits 3 games into junior year to "avoid injury". I guess it's logical, but it's also sad IMO, say's she will "train" with the Riverhounds, whether that means just practicing or playing in other games isn't clear. But knowing what I know, yes, HS soccer is inferior to club soccer, but on the surface HS soccer seems big league, it's in a big stadium with your whole school watching, instead of in front of your parents sitting on folding chairs, Even at my daughter's crappy Class C high school it was like that. Sure she might or might not avoid injury, but the EXPERIENCE of the high school team is a pretty good one. How soon before football studs start sitting out high school football if they get offers early?

 

[JD1976]

https://tribhssn.triblive.com/belle...210.64117178.1568118975-1230125555.1551879169

I found this article in the Trib, girl with D1 scholarship locked up quits 3 games into junior year to "avoid injury". I guess it's logical, but it's also sad IMO, say's she will "train" with the Riverhounds, whether that means just practicing or playing in other games isn't clear. But knowing what I know, yes, HS soccer is inferior to club soccer, but on the surface HS soccer seems big league, it's in a big stadium with your whole school watching, instead of in front of your parents sitting on folding chairs, Even at my daughter's crappy Class C high school it was like that. Sure she might or might not avoid injury, but the EXPERIENCE of the high school team is a pretty good one. How soon before football studs start sitting out high school football if they get offers early?

Setting aside the fact that she is leaving her team in mid-season, D-1 level girls players not playing high school soccer is very common. In fact, when US Soccer established its Girls Development Academy (DA) a few years ago they forbid any Club players from playing HS soccer. Even before that, many ECNL players were skipping high school. Not only is there the added wear and tear, but top D-1 programs do not even pay one bit of attention to high school soccer. It’s all about the club game. So in conclusion, optics of leaving her team hanging aside, this is a common decision nowadays.

 

[Sean Miller Fan]

Smart move. She shouldn't even be playing HS soccer.

 

[Pitt79]

Personally, I think it's kind of sad, always living for the future and missing out on the present. The likelihood of serious injury really isn't that high in girls soccer.

So then why shouldn't all the 5 STAR high school football studs now in their senior years with P5 scholarships locked up just quit now? SMART MOVE RIGHT?

 

[Fk_Pitt]

Setting aside the fact that she is leaving her team in mid-season, D-1 level girls players not playing high school soccer is very common. In fact, when US Soccer established its Girls Development Academy (DA) a few years ago they forbid any Club players from playing HS soccer. Even before that, many ECNL players were skipping high school. Not only is there the added wear and tear, but top D-1 programs do not even pay one bit of attention to high school soccer. It’s all about the club game. So in conclusion, optics of leaving her team hanging aside, this is a common decision nowadays.

It’s just not common in Pittsburgh for girls to forego HS soccer. Yet. I know all clubs would be happy if their players didn’t play HS. But the trend hasn’t started here.

Most players, and there are plenty here who are stronger players than she is, still play HS. Not because of recruiting or anything like that...but just because it’s all part of the HS experience. I’m not going to question her. Some will probably say she’s a primadonna. I won’t. I’m sure she’s a good kid doing it for what she feels are the right reasons. The HS season can be brutal physically, playing 3 games per week. And on top of it, her HS plays in a really dreadful section, so the risk of injury is even more because she’s playing against players who aren’t really players, if that makes any sense.

At the end of the day, she probably made the right decision for her and it’s one that many students have a hard time making. I give her credit. I’m sure it wasn’t easy.

 

[Pitt79]

Setting aside the fact that she is leaving her team in mid-season, D-1 level girls players not playing high school soccer is very common. In fact, when US Soccer established its Girls Development Academy (DA) a few years ago they forbid any Club players from playing HS soccer. Even before that, many ECNL players were skipping high school. Not only is there the added wear and tear, but top D-1 programs do not even pay one bit of attention to high school soccer. It’s all about the club game. So in conclusion, optics of leaving her team hanging aside, this is a common decision nowadays.

I'm sure your right, but I still see it as a missed good experience. It just seems like they're whole life is somehow owned by a dream of getting to the highest level and you give up a normal life along the way, and who really makes it past college? I wouldn't want my daughter to be a pro soccer player, it's basically a low paying job if you aren't USWNT level.

I have a friend, her daughter is playing for Maryland United in the ENCL and high school, they're obsessed with a D1 scholarship, I sent her this article, I'm curious to see if they follow this path if she gets any offers, she's 2nd Team All Conference Class AAAA going into here Sophomore year.

 

[JD1976]

It’s just not common in Pittsburgh for girls to forego HS soccer. Yet. I know all clubs would be happy if their players didn’t play HS. But the trend hasn’t started here.

Most players, and there are plenty here who are stronger players than she is, still play HS. Not because of recruiting or anything like that...but just because it’s all part of the HS experience. I’m not going to question her. Some will probably say she’s a primadonna. I won’t. I’m sure she’s a good kid doing it for what she feels are the right reasons. The HS season can be brutal physically, playing 3 games per week. And on top of it, her HS plays in a really dreadful section, so the risk of injury is even more because she’s playing against players who aren’t really players, if that makes any sense.

At the end of the day, she probably made the right decision for her and it’s one that many students have a hard time making. I give her credit. I’m sure it wasn’t easy.

Yeah no doubt it wasn’t easy. I couldn’t imagine being 16 years old and having to let my teammates and friends down. But it is a business decision that many kids in position have to make. Also, you can be certain that her future college coaches wholeheartedly endorsed the decision.

 

[Pitt79]

"the risk of injury is even more because she’s playing against players who aren’t really players"

This is true in every sport, the vast majority of players never get past the high school level and aren't what you'd call "real players" in the larger sense.

 

[Pitt79]

Around here where I live though, a lot of girls with D1 Scholarships and playing in ENCL seem to still play in high school. Girls HS soccer is a big sport here, even at smaller schools you get great turnout at games.

But if this is a valid thing, then high school football players with D1 scholarships wrapped up before their senior years should just quit to avoid injury, right? The likelihood of injury is way greater in football than girls soccer by far.

 

[Fk_Pitt]

"the risk of injury is even more because she’s playing against players who aren’t really players"

This is true in every sport, the vast majority of players never get past the high school level and aren't what you'd call "real players" in the larger sense.

There is a disparity around here from the big schools to the smaller schools. In that section BVA are in, the schools that they play are pulling players out the school hallway to fill their rosters. While BVA runs into occasional good players, they are playing in every game against players who are not trained soccer players. That means that their opponents can be irresponsible both intentionally and unintentionally. When you get up to Quad A, 99% of the players are soccer players and 90% of them are club players. Of the elite AAAA programs (there’s about 12-14 of them), they have 40-60 players trying out and are cutting 10-20 club players every year just to get down to a manageable roster size. Many of those players cut would score 30 goals per year in lower classifications. So in a sense, AAAA is a lot like club soccer. The lower classes, not so much.

Today there are four classes from 4A down to 1A. Back in the day, about 10 years ago, there were only two classes in western PA soccer. They had AAA and AA. So there were inequalities within sections. My daughters school was playing a section game vs one of the teams from BVA’s section. The other team didn’t like how the game was transpiring midway through, and two illegal dirty tackles later, my daughter had a broken leg and another girl had a torn ACL. That’s the risk when playing against these non soccer schools that make up the smaller classifications these days.

 

[Sean Miller Fan]

Personally, I think it's kind of sad, always living for the future and missing out on the present. The likelihood of serious injury really isn't that high in girls soccer.

So then why shouldn't all the 5 STAR high school football studs now in their senior years with P5 scholarships locked up just quit now? SMART MOVE RIGHT?

For 1, if my son was a 5 star football player, I would not mind if he decided to sit out his senior year. I don't think that its a bad move.

As for soccer, why should these girls (or boys) play on 2 teams? Their club team is what is most important especially when you are playing in the smaller classes of the WPIAL. At that point, its just "rec soccer." I mean if you want to go out there to have fun with your friends, go for it but other than that, there's no point in her playing. She can continue to play for the Riverhounds and concentrate on school and actually have a life outside of soccer.

 

[Pitt79]

I guess I'm old and just don't like the direction things are going-and IMO having fun with your friends is actually a good reason to play, you won't be doing that sort of thing ever 4-5 years later if you don't go pro in a sport. And 95% of D1 athletes probably never go pro.

On the bright side, if more super talented "D1-type" kids drop out of high school sports, the ones who will really appreciate it, will have more spots on the roster. It would of been great if the 3 future NFL/CFL players, and 4-5 other P5 recruits I went to high school with hadn't been my teammates. I played the same positions as a few of them

 

[anon_d97v9o3a8b6xr]

My daughters HS team has several solid players hurt. All got hurt during HS and not ECNL. Except for my kid, hamstring was hurt during ECNL, and now limping through HS. My kid said to me, I don't want to play HS, just focus on club.

I believe HS soccer is truly for the kids who want to represent their HS, and really may not see club as an interest and don't see college as an interest. I really don't want my kid playing HS, but my wife wants the social part.

 

[Joe the Panther Fan]

My only problem with the decision is the timing. If you weren't going to play, you tell the coach at the beginning of fall practices that you aren't playing this year. But to wait until a couple weeks into the regular season to decide to quit, unless you are hurt, to me that's not right. You committed to play, see the season through.

fk, you probably remember the Riverhounds tried a few years ago to get all of their players to stop playing for their high schools. At that time the girls pretty universally said no. I wonder if this idea originated with them, and they finally found someone to take them up on the offer.

 

[JD1976]

My only problem with the decision is the timing. If you weren't going to play, you tell the coach at the beginning of fall practices that you aren't playing this year. But to wait until a couple weeks into the regular season to decide to quit, unless you are hurt, to me that's not right. You committed to play, see the season through.

I agree 100% with this.

BTW, as an aside, the school she is committed to, Memphis, has been very good the last few years. Currently, they are ranked #14 in the country.

 

[anon_d97v9o3a8b6xr]

My only problem with the decision is the timing. If you weren't going to play, you tell the coach at the beginning of fall practices that you aren't playing this year. But to wait until a couple weeks into the regular season to decide to quit, unless you are hurt, to me that's not right. You committed to play, see the season through.

fk, you probably remember the Riverhounds tried a few years ago to get all of their players to stop playing for their high schools. At that time the girls pretty universally said no. I wonder if this idea originated with them, and they finally found someone to take them up on the offer.

I didn’t know this girl started playing for the team than walked away.
Memphis in general has decent soccer. The Lobos, their club in the area have been decent.

 

[Joe the Panther Fan]

I didn’t know this girl started playing for the team than walked away.

She played, iirc, their first three games, and then told the coach on the day of their fourth game that she decided to quit.

 

[Fk_Pitt]

She played, iirc, their first three games, and then told the coach on the day of their fourth game that she decided to quit.

That schedule they play is brutally bad. She probably got into the season and realized that it’s just not worth it. If she played in AAAA, she’d just be another decent player struggling, scratching and clawing for goals against back lines filled with other D1 players. In her section, she can score as many goals as her coaches allows her. Give her credit for realizing that her health and future is more important than being a big fish in a small pond at BVA. The timing of it just stinks though.

Joe, as you likely know, your niece’s club coach also would have loved for his players to skip HS. But the allure of a HS season is still too strong right now in western PA. And as you well know through her time at Norwin, there is nothing more fun for a HS student than to play on a high level HS team and win WPIAL or PIAA titles. So I get that side of it.

Every year, the Hounds are successful at convincing a couple of their players to drink their koolaid and skip the HS season. I know a girl right now who I’m told was cut from her Beadling team, was picked up by the Hounds, and now thinks she is going to get recruited to and play at a local blue blood program and has decided that HS is not for her. Again, if that’s her decision, that’s her decision, and most respect it. But that HS experience is a blast...if you’re at the right school.

 

[Pitt79]

...But the allure of a HS season is still too strong right now in western PA. And as you well know through her time at Norwin, there is nothing more fun for a HS student than to play on a high level HS team and win WPIAL or PIAA titles. So I get that side of it...
...But that HS experience is a blast...if you’re at the right school.

That's the thing, on the surface, the high school leagues and games look like the major leagues vs. Club games for the most part. My daughter played on a bad team, at a low level, but even at her little school they played in stadiums, in playoff games, covered by at least local media, often with a couple hundred fans, students, parents etc., and where celebrated in their school, and there was excitement at the game because of the crowd. She also played some club travel, and that was usually, just parents sitting in folding chairs, QUIET, except for those obnoxious soccer parents yelling etc.

The High School seemed like the big league environment where they get recognition, including in the local media, media doesn't cover soccer club games at all, the high school teams get a half page in the Baltimore Sun a couple days a week around here, and also in the smaller local papers. Which is kind of funny in that the better teams, aren't covered or play in front of fans, high schools do. and nobody remembers who was good at Club X except the parents of Club X, I run into people now that will comment how much they miss seeing my daughter playing at the school their kids still attend.

 

[Fk_Pitt]

That's the thing, on the surface, the high school leagues and games look like the major leagues vs. Club games for the most part. My daughter played on a bad team, at a low level, but even at her little school they played in stadiums, in playoff games, covered by at least local media, often with a couple hundred fans, students, parents etc., and where celebrated in their school, and there was excitement at the game because of the crowd. She also played some club travel, and that was usually, just parents sitting in folding chairs, QUIET, except for those obnoxious soccer parents yelling etc.

The High School seemed like the big league environment where they get recognition, including in the local media, media doesn't cover soccer club games at all, the high school teams get a half page in the Baltimore Sun a couple days a week around here, and also in the smaller local papers. Which is kind of funny in that the better teams, aren't covered or play in front of fans, high schools do. and nobody remembers who was good at Club X except the parents of Club X, I run into people now that will comment how much they miss seeing my daughter playing at the school their kids still attend.

You’re absolutely right. I had a local D1 Head coach tell me that he finds great value in HS soccer. In HS, players are playing against players who can be 3 years older than they are, they are playing under the lights, in stadiums, and in front of their school mates, and they are playing for their community. You don’t get any of that in club soccer where you are playing in front of mom and dad against players your own age. In the larger classifications, the level of soccer is actually higher than it is for many players who play on low level club teams, because they are facing players at the HS level that they don’t see at their club. The main reason college coaches don’t recruit HS is because the HS season often conflicts with their college season. But if there’s a day off, we will see college coaches at our HS stadium.

 

[Pitt79]

My daughters high school coach also told me this year that, at the HS they are less concerned with developing skills than they are with winning games, where the club teams supposedly care more about development than winning. My daughter's been playing in college this year, and she's somewhat struggling, now everyone on the team is good, and she's not on the field every minute, she plays 10-15 minutes a game, except when she played 60 in a 12-1 win, playing on a really good CC team, ranked #9 in the country NJCCA D3-believe it or not, but they changed her to midfield, and she is less skilled learning a new position, at the high school team and low level clubs she played at, they used her at defense and the main thing was defending and getting the ball out of their end and taking free kicks because she had a booming leg, and at the Class C level she was an athletic star defender, now they expect so much more and it's been hard to adjust. but what the heck, she gets into every game, and has played well, she had an assist one game. But yeah, HS vs. serious clubs are different animals, with different "benefits". I think the HS has the MENTAL benefit of making you feel like you are in the "big leagues", like I played in front of 10000+ crowds in HS football, I wasn't good, I didn't DESERVE that - LOL.

 

[anon_d97v9o3a8b6xr]

You’re absolutely right. I had a local D1 Head coach tell me that he finds great value in HS soccer. In HS, players are playing against players who can be 3 years older than they are, they are playing under the lights, in stadiums, and in front of their school mates, and they are playing for their community. You don’t get any of that in club soccer where you are playing in front of mom and dad against players your own age. In the larger classifications, the level of soccer is actually higher than it is for many players who play on low level club teams, because they are facing players at the HS level that they don’t see at their club. The main reason college coaches don’t recruit HS is because the HS season often conflicts with their college season. But if there’s a day off, we will see college coaches at our HS stadium.

I will say my daughter just turned 14, young freshman. She is playing against 18 year olds in HS. It does have benefits for her, she starts, her friends come see her play, the physical grind is keeping her active.
The downside, we played a really really really bad team last night. So bad that the game ended 6 minutes into the second half due to the score. My kid netted two nice goals, and came out with 10 minutes left in the first and was able to get treatment. We won 9-0, and it could have been 20-0.
The harder teams we play will have ECNL players and higher level club players, but some of these teams are so bad that its better to have the day off and get treatment than to play at all.
I have not seen a single college coach at any of the games so far this season. I don't really expect them to come either considering most of the colleges around us are all D1 with only a few D2.

 

[Pitt79]

"I have not seen a single college coach at any of the games so far this season."

Is that the only reason to have games, just to prepare for the future of individuals? You don't see any value in the school having teams and games, the whole thing is just for the development of the ENCL players? Maybe they really shouldn't play if that's all it's about and not at all about the school and the school's team and the school's season, and the experience you get out of it.

 

[anon_d97v9o3a8b6xr]

"I have not seen a single college coach at any of the games so far this season."

Is that the only reason to have games, just to prepare for the future of individuals? You don't see any value in the school having teams and games, the whole thing is just for the development of the ENCL players? Maybe they really shouldn't play if that's all it's about and not at all about the school and the school's team and the school's season, and the experience you get out of it.

That was in comparison to what Thomas said. He sees coaches at HS games and we don’t.
My daughter playing HS will not prepare her for ecnl. Ecnl prepares her for ecnl. A completely unqualified HS coach is not preparing my kid for high level soccer. That’s reality.
Ecnl is also very structured and controlled to purposely protect the athletes physically. HS doesn’t have the same controls or knowledge.
If my kid wants to represent her school, that’s for her to decide. If not, no reason to play HS.
I don’t need my kid to be overworked and not coached properly. Again, reality. You play HS because you want to represent your school. You don’t play if you value ecnl or other club leagues more and are a strong candidate for D1.
American athletes often over train. Why, because they don’t have proper controls or knowledgeable people running the organization. Players in Europe do not train like we do. I spent time playing in Europe. Trained in Belgium and Holland. I spent far more time with skill, fundamentals, game knowledge and tactics All done by high quality coaches and staff. We were heavily monitored for fitness and fatigue.
American players haven’t learned the game well enough. There’s a lot to be learned.

 

[anon_d97v9o3a8b6xr]

I’ve also done this three times with three daughters. My brother, myself, and nephew all went through it. I feel fairly comfortable with the outcomes and allow my kids to drive some of the decisions because they want to do it. Pretty simple.

 

[eastender2]

A couple things:
1.) There is an article in today's paper about the Belle Vernon team, in it is a telling quote for a player, "We've really been working more as a team these last couple games, being able to connect with each other and being there for each other has helped us succeed."
which leads to
2.) from what I have heard, she didn't quit because she's afraid of getting hurt, she quit because the coach wouldn't kiss her behind and daddy wasn't allowed to coach.

Take it for what it's worth.

 

[Joe the Panther Fan]

I don’t need my kid to be overworked and not coached properly.

That's the insane thing about the high school schedule. College coaches complain about having to play two games in a week. In fact that's one of the things driving the potential change to making soccer a two semester sport, rather than just a fall semester sport. In high school, at one point my niece's team played something like eight games in 12 days, including two sets of back to back games. That's insane! But when they don't want to cut the number of games and the regular season only lasts eight weeks or so, that's what you are left with.

For my niece's team it wasn't AS bad, because they were so much better than most of the teams they played that half of those games didn't even rise to the level of a decent scrimmage. But that's still waaaaaaay too much for girls of that age to be playing.

 

[Sean Miller Fan]

A couple things:
1.) There is an article in today's paper about the Belle Vernon team, in it is a telling quote for a player, "We've really been working more as a team these last couple games, being able to connect with each other and being there for each other has helped us succeed."
which leads to
2.) from what I have heard, she didn't quit because she's afraid of getting hurt, she quit because the coach wouldn't kiss her behind and daddy wasn't allowed to coach.

Take it for what it's worth.

If she is a major D1 recruit playing for a AAA school, I would say the coach would have to cater to her. Not saying the dad should have been an assistant but we are talking about a huge talent gap between her and the other players.

 

[Fk_Pitt]

That's the insane thing about the high school schedule. College coaches complain about having to play two games in a week. In fact that's one of the things driving the potential change to making soccer a two semester sport, rather than just a fall semester sport. In high school, at one point my niece's team played something like eight games in 12 days, including two sets of back to back games. That's insane! But when they don't want to cut the number of games and the regular season only lasts eight weeks or so, that's what you are left with.

For my niece's team it wasn't AS bad, because they were so much better than most of the teams they played that half of those games didn't even rise to the level of a decent scrimmage. But that's still waaaaaaay too much for girls of that age to be playing.

Always the built in advance for your nieces school! They are like PSG of the WPIAL!! They coast through section play and only have to worry about their two games against their arch rival. It allows them to rest players and avoid the daily grind of the other 2 AAAA sections. Hopefully next year, realignment will put a school like Fox Chapel in that east section to give them a 3rd reputable team. Right now the south section has 6 good programs, the north has 5, and the east has 2 fighting for 4 playoff spots per section. Move Moon out of the south and put them in the north, move Fox Chapel out of the north and into the east. Then the south will have 5 good teams fighting for 4 playoff spots, the north will have 5 good programs fighting for 4 spots, and the east will have 3 good programs fighting for 4 playoff spots. It still wouldn’t be equitable, but it will be as close they can get to equitable while keeping geography a consideration.

 

[Fk_Pitt]

That was in comparison to what Thomas said. He sees coaches at HS games and we don’t.
My daughter playing HS will not prepare her for ecnl. Ecnl prepares her for ecnl. A completely unqualified HS coach is not preparing my kid for high level soccer. That’s reality.
Ecnl is also very structured and controlled to purposely protect the athletes physically. HS doesn’t have the same controls or knowledge.
If my kid wants to represent her school, that’s for her to decide. If not, no reason to play HS.
I don’t need my kid to be overworked and not coached properly. Again, reality. You play HS because you want to represent your school. You don’t play if you value ecnl or other club leagues more and are a strong candidate for D1.
.

Just want to be clear that we don’t see college coaches routinely at HS games. But we will see them a few times per year. We’ve had Erica Walsh from Penn st, We’ve had the pitt and Duquesne staffs. It’s just not that often. But we always have the small D2 and D3 schools. There are three WPIAL girls committed to my HS daughter’s D1 college next year. That coach is looking to make the trip in when my daughter is playing one of her future teammates.

 

[Fk_Pitt]

A couple things:
1.) There is an article in today's paper about the Belle Vernon team, in it is a telling quote for a player, "We've really been working more as a team these last couple games, being able to connect with each other and being there for each other has helped us succeed."
which leads to
2.) from what I have heard, she didn't quit because she's afraid of getting hurt, she quit because the coach wouldn't kiss her behind and daddy wasn't allowed to coach.

Take it for what it's worth.

here’s BVA’s schedule. Pretty easy to play as a team and connect when you’ve played the teams they have. But... Looking at those last two games, she probably would have been able to score 4-6 goals between the two games. Maybe Dad would have expected the coach to leave her on the field to score 10 and that’s the type of issue you’re alliding to?

http://old.post-gazette.com/highsch...7147-7413-11D5-A786-003048215596}&seasonid=21

 

[Pitt79]

My daughter playing HS will not prepare her for ecnl. Ecnl prepares her for ecnl. A completely unqualified HS coach is not preparing my kid for high level soccer. That’s reality.

That's not what I was saying. I wasn't saying that HS prepares anyone for the ECNL, what I'm saying is basically, does everything you do have to have some value beyond itself? Can't playing on the HS team just be an end in itself, even if it serves no other purpose? I mean, just do it just because you like it? I mean, if you like it, reminds me of the people who quit watching their team play as soon as they are eliminated from the playoffs, personally I keep watching, even if there is nothing to play for other than today's game. That's my whole point, everybody seems to be thinking, what do I get out of this in THE FUTURE, instead of just living the moment.

 

[Pitt79]

There are also schools like McDonaugh in Baltimore where half the roster gets D1 scholarships, IN EVERY SPORT, but girls soccer for sure.

 

[Consultant Panther]

That's not what I was saying. I wasn't saying that HS prepares anyone for the ECNL, what I'm saying is basically, does everything you do have to have some value beyond itself? Can't playing on the HS team just be an end in itself, even if it serves no other purpose? I mean, just do it just because you like it? I mean, if you like it, reminds me of the people who quit watching their team play as soon as they are eliminated from the playoffs, personally I keep watching, even if there is nothing to play for other than today's game. That's my whole point, everybody seems to be thinking, what do I get out of this in THE FUTURE, instead of just living the moment.

I think you have a point. My daughter played D1 softball. Fortunately, she did play high school softball, because it was a great experience for her. She had an epic senior season. Some travel coaches suggested she think about not playing HS ball, because she tore her ACL the summer before her freshman year. Her travel softball from the age of 13 on was about getting recruited. After she verballed, she switched to a travel team that was more about trying to win and improve the skills of the players and she (and my wife and I) had a blast that season.

Her travel ball paid off and she received a very nice scholarship. Unfortunately, her college career was limited, because she tore the same ACL for the second time during the fall of her freshman year. She still had some shining moments in college. There was so much stress during most of her travel ball years that it took a lot of the fun out of it. I sometimes wonder if it was worth it. High school ball was different. She played it for the love of the game. One thing I will say is that all her years of playing softball made her into a better leader and she's very successful at her job.

 

[Pitt79]

I find it ironic after growing up in the '70s and playing high school football in Western Pennsylvania, that now the high school teams are like the low pressure rec league in some sports, instead of the destination team that everyone was busting their butts to make.

 

[Pitt79]

And I kind of raised my daughter like it was the '70s, she played rec until the end of 7th grade, then only tried out for a better team because her coach pushed her, she went to the tryout and thought she wouldn't make it, but did, then she had a couple good years and tried out for high school JV and made it, I was surprised to be honest, then she got on this local travel team, with this hyper serious, angry coach in 10th grade, and was so unhappy she was about to quit soccer for good, like after 6th and 8th grade, lol. Then she ended up her last two years of HS playing for a small school with a horrible team and becoming an all section star of the team, with no more travel ball and only rec, and crazily ended up being asked to join the 9th ranked team in the country in NJCAA where she clearly isn't as prepared as most of the others-but she's playing in the games, so there's that, so no way where we ever preparing to play at the highest level or thinking of D1 scholarships, from year to year I kept wondering if she'd be frustrated and quit, being a star on a crappy high school team was actually like the pinnacle. LOL And now it's so crazy, that there is actually a potential that se could end up a National Champion, albeit at a low level, but still, WTF?