Travel Ball vs. School Ball

Travel Ball vs. School Ball

This subject has become a growing problem on Long Island in the past few years and one that just won't go away. If you ask the summer coach, they will tell you school ball is a waste. If you ask the school coach, they will tell you summer ball gets in the way of school ball. Fastpitch World is checking in on this issue to see if common ground can be reached between the two sides.

We believe it is safe to say that summer ball is the most valuable path for any student athlete to take if they want to play college softball. Because of the increased attention summer ball has been getting, it is a very rare site to see a college coach at a high school game. Since the advent of college videos, coaches no longer have to be everywhere watching games of players they no nothing about. Now coaches can choose what games and tournaments they want to attend based on video information they receive. Videos don't lie and they give the educated coach the opportunity to weed out players they feel cannot help their program and focus on those who can.

One issue we commonly hear is that the talent level of teams on LI are watered down because there are too many teams. This has become a very sore subject with a lot of people. It is our feeling that there are a lot of teams spread out on the Island yet we think this has no bearing on whether a coach will attend your game or not. Coaches tend to ask whether you will be at one place or another, however, if they really like you they will find a way to see you. We feel the best way to be seen by many coaches is the handful of recruiting showcases (not tournament) that are held before big tournaments. Anyone can attend, even if your team is not involved in the tournament.

A few we recommend are the Binghamton showcase, the Pennsbury showcase, Riseball camp and one right here on LI called the BCEP showcase. These types of showcases are the best way to put on a show for many coaches that attend and your exposure is dramatically increased.

Another important avenue might be to attend a camp of the school that you might want to attend. Generally, these camps are moneymakers for the college but what better way to be seen than live at the school of your choice.

Summer coaches have become very important to many players on LI but we would like to caution you on a few points. Summer coaches are quick to say how bad school coaches are. But let's look at the summer coach. What makes the summer coach any better than our school coaches? Is it because they play a much tougher schedule? Is it because they train harder? Is it because they have superior knowledge over the school coach? Maybe in some cases but we think the most important factor being left out is the fact that most of these summer coaches are stacked with talent. Does it take a good coach to win with talent? Regardless of where you coach, talent will, for the most part make you look good. There is no question that everyone puts in a lot of time but is it productive time? Summer coaches are just trying to stock pile the best players and the proof can be seen each year as the tryout dates are starting earlier and earlier. School coaches are being paid to coach and as parents, we expect more from them. Watered down teams is not the problem, we need all the teams we have. Every state has just as many teams as we do. We believe that we can improve our player's abilities if we work with each other instead of trying to poison our kid's minds by badmouthing the other coach. There is a reason why each year the same school teams are the ones to watch and there is a reason why summer programs go up and down. Somebody out there is doing productive work and it shows year after year.

Are school or summer coaches stepping over the line? What gives a school coach the right to tell a kid they can't play on a summer program while they are playing school ball? Holding playing time over a kids head is not only morally wrong but we would think it is hypocritical and borders on being illegal. What kind of authority does the school coach have that they are allowed to issue that statement?

We asked Riverhead HS Head Coach Bob Fox for his opinion on this subject and here are the questions we asked him.

Coach, do you let your players play on a summer team while they are playing school ball?

I tell them that they can not.

Do you really tell them they can not play?

Yes I do but I should add that I have a talk with the parents and players and make the suggestion that they are working out 6 days a week with me and I think they could use the rest.

So how do you penalize them?

I don't, I just make the suggestion to the parents but once my practice is over they are now the parent's responsibility and each parent will do what they feel is best for their child. I also want to point out that for me to penalize them would be hypocritical on my part because during the off season I have open gyms where anyone can come and during that time players playing other school sports show up all the time so how can I punish anyone? The coaches understand what we are trying to do for the kids and we work together.

With the fact that college coaches no longer attend High School games and they do attend summer games would it be a stretch if the summer coach said to the players that they cannot play school ball because if they get hurt they might blow any chance of being seen?

Yes there is always that possibility.

We at fastpitch would like to thank Bob Fox for participating.

Fastpitch world believes that each season represents a very important part of a growing athlete's life. Where as the school season is not as competitive, it is very important in many ways. One way is the athlete's community, playing for your school instills a sense of pride into our athletes; it also allows the kids to learn how to work for what they want. With school budgets being what they are there isn't much money left for the fluff that athletes love to have. In school ball the kids really raise the money with bake sales candy sales and other fundraising events. It allows friend's to compete with each other and gives the athletes that may not be a part of summer ball a chance to experience the highest level of a competitive atmosphere they may be able to play.

How about the extended spring training that gives our summer athlete's live pitching, defense, outfield play and running the bases. Summer ball allows many players the opportunity to play at a higher level than school ball and also gives them a chance to play in front of many college coaches. It allows the athletes to raise the level of play by surrounding themselves with athletes of equal ability. Most of all the kids love it.

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Travel Ball vs. School Ball This subject has become a growing problem on Long Island in the past few years and one that just won't go away. If you ask the summer coach, they will tell you school ball is a waste. If you ask the school coach, they will tell you summer ball gets in the way of school ball. Fastpitch World is checking in on this issue to see if common ground can be reached between the two sides. We believe it is safe to say that summer ball is the most valuable path for any student athlete to take if they want to play college softball. Because of the increased attention summer ball has been getting, it is a very rare site to see a college coach at a high school game. Since the advent of college videos, coaches no longer have to be everywhere watching games of players they no nothing about. Now coaches can choose what games and tournaments they want to attend based on video information they receive. Videos don't lie and they give the educated coach the opportunity to weed out players they feel cannot help their program and focus on those who can. One issue we commonly hear is that the talent level of teams on LI are watered down because there are too many teams. This has become a very sore subject with a lot of people. It is our feeling that there are a lot of teams spread out on the Island yet we think this has no bearing on whether a coach will attend your game or not. Coaches tend to ask whether you will be at one place or another, however, if they really like you they will find a way to see you. We feel the best way to be seen by many coaches is the handful of recruiting showcases (not tournament) that are held before big tournaments. Anyone can attend, even if your team is not involved in the tournament. A few we recommend are the Binghamton showcase, the Pennsbury showcase, Riseball camp and one right here on LI called the BCEP showcase. These types of showcases are the best way to put on a show for many coaches that attend and your exposure is dramatically increased. Another important avenue might be to attend a camp of the school that you might want to attend. Generally, these camps are moneymakers for the college but what better way to be seen than live at the school of your choice. Summer coaches have become very important to many players on LI but we would like to caution you on a few points. Summer coaches are quick to say how bad school coaches are. But let's look at the summer coach. What makes the summer coach any better than our school coaches? Is it because they play a much tougher schedule? Is it because they train harder? Is it because they have superior knowledge over the school coach? Maybe in some cases but we think the most important factor being left out is the fact that most of these summer coaches are stacked with talent. Does it take a good coach to win with talent? Regardless of where you coach, talent will, for the most part make you look good. There is no question that everyone puts in a lot of time but is it productive time? Summer coaches are just trying to stock pile the best players and the proof can be seen each year as the tryout dates are starting earlier and earlier. School coaches are being paid to coach and as parents, we expect more from them. Watered down teams is not the problem, we need all the teams we have. Every state has just as many teams as we do. We believe that we can improve our player's abilities if we work with each other instead of trying to poison our kid's minds by badmouthing the other coach. There is a reason why each year the same school teams are the ones to watch and there is a reason why summer programs go up and down. Somebody out there is doing productive work and it shows year after year. Are school or summer coaches stepping over the line? What gives a school coach the right to tell a kid they can't play on a summer program while they are playing school ball? Holding playing time over a kids head is not only morally wrong but we would think it is hypocritical and borders on being illegal. What kind of authority does the school coach have that they are allowed to issue that statement? We asked Riverhead HS Head Coach Bob Fox for his opinion on this subject and here are the questions we asked him. Coach, do you let your players play on a summer team while they are playing school ball? I tell them that they can not. Do you really tell them they can not play? Yes I do but I should add that I have a talk with the parents and players and make the suggestion that they are working out 6 days a week with me and I think they could use the rest. So how do you penalize them? I don't, I just make the suggestion to the parents but once my practice is over they are now the parent's responsibility and each parent will do what they feel is best for their child. I also want to point out that for me to penalize them would be hypocritical on my part because during the off season I have open gyms where anyone can come and during that time players playing other school sports show up all the time so how can I punish anyone? The coaches understand what we are trying to do for the kids and we work together. With the fact that college coaches no longer attend High School games and they do attend summer games would it be a stretch if the summer coach said to the players that they cannot play school ball because if they get hurt they might blow any chance of being seen? Yes there is always that possibility. We at fastpitch would like to thank Bob Fox for participating. Fastpitch world believes that each season represents a very important part of a growing athlete's life. Where as the school season is not as competitive, it is very important in many ways. One way is the athlete's community, playing for your school instills a sense of pride into our athletes; it also allows the kids to learn how to work for what they want. With school budgets being what they are there isn't much money left for the fluff that athletes love to have. In school ball the kids really raise the money with bake sales candy sales and other fundraising events. It allows friend's to compete with each other and gives the athletes that may not be a part of summer ball a chance to experience the highest level of a competitive atmosphere they may be able to play. How about the extended spring training that gives our summer athlete's live pitching, defense, outfield play and running the bases. Summer ball allows many players the opportunity to play at a higher level than school ball and also gives them a chance to play in front of many college coaches. It allows the athletes to raise the level of play by surrounding themselves with athletes of equal ability. Most of all the kids love it.