DD played baseball (not softball) in pre-K (she turned 5 during the season) and it was t-ball technically but they did coach pitch after the first game or two, and brought the tee out after several missed pitches and no one was ever out during hitting.
I take it back. She was in K and turned 6 at the end of the season around the last game or so. I keep forgetting she is almost NINE!
mustardseed2007, Last year DD was in K and her team was made up of 4-7 year olds and it was only hit off the tee. Her friend G who has played since 3 played a modified coach-pitch last year at age 6 and in K. They got 4 tries by the pitching machine and then 3 tries to hit it off the tee. At this age it is supposed to be about learning skills and confidence. You are going to hate it if you never get on base.
I didn't play full on coach pitch until 3rd grade. Then 4th and 5th grade was slow pitch softball and we switched to fast pitch in middle.
Post by mustardseed2007 on Apr 15, 2018 13:51:57 GMT -5
For whatever weird reason, the league I was in growing up went right from T ball to kid pitch so I've never experienced coach pitch myself. So far DS can hit it during practice but hasn't managed during the game. His swing has improved a lot but still isn't very good.
Anyway, I knew this league was more intense in terms of number of practice and number of games per week over the church league, but I didn't realize that it's apparently also different in terms of the batting methods - I mean I assume. Lesson learned I guess.
On the other hand, I think DS is only 1 of 2 or maybe 3 kids on his team who hasn't gotten on base yet. So it's not like most of the kids aren't rising to the challenge. DS heard about the T yesterday, though, and he was like... WHAT? I'm so good at the T! That would be SO MUCH BETTER. Ha.
Today's game was 11-5 in favor of our team so maybe it's more evenly matched than I originally gave it credit for. Char played terribly though. She hardly went for the puck at all, which is not like her. In basketball she's super aggressive. IDK what's up with that.
My DD played t-ball in K and there was absolutely no pitching. Then in 1st and 2nd it’s coach pitch, and in 3rd we go to kid pitch. In coach pitch, though, it’s unlimited pitches, and the kid stays at bat until she hits. I like that - I think it’s less embarrassing, and allows me as the coach to spend some time working on the swing. (I can’t pitch. I’m awful. I find another parent to pitch and I work on hitting mechanics.)
Lots of DD’s friends play baseball. K was t-ball, with coach pitch starting 1/2way through the season. The tee was brought out for kids that were afraid of pitching or if they couldn’t hit the ball. 1st grade is coach pitch.
Post by mustardseed2007 on Apr 16, 2018 12:34:02 GMT -5
Sigh. I think next year we will for sure be going back to church league. I mean, this hasn't been awful awful, not as bad as it could have been anyway, but it's way too advanced for where we are. And knowing there are lots of other, less advanced options out there makes me feel bad. I mean, we did this because truly everyone we know is doing this league, (there are 7 or 8 Kinder boys teams for our elementary school alone in this league) but SOMEONE is in the church league because they have a team, usually more than one, every year.
Post by covergirl82 on Apr 17, 2018 7:34:52 GMT -5
DH sent me an email with info about a fundraiser for the travel baseball team that DS is on. It's a new team, so they need equipment (e.g., catcher's gear, some team bats, etc.). The coach mentioned the cost to be on a team next year (due to age, I guess) is a little over $600 (compared to $365 this year). I about had a heart attack. It's a good thing DH and I both work. I don't think we'd be able to afford these kinds of activities otherwise!
covergirl82 $600??? Each?? For baseball?? I think we pay $100 for our league, and DH’s company (sole proprietor) sponsored the team for $250. It means his company name is on the uniform. Could you find a local business to sponsor? Our league has 2 levels of sponsorship: $250 gets you on the team uniforms, and $500 gets you a sign on the outfield fence. The whole league plays on the same complex - 5 fields - so there is decent visibility.
covergirl82 $600??? Each?? For baseball?? I think we pay $100 for our league, and DH’s company (sole proprietor) sponsored the team for $250. It means his company name is on the uniform. Could you find a local business to sponsor? Our league has 2 levels of sponsorship: $250 gets you on the team uniforms, and $500 gets you a sign on the outfield fence. The whole league plays on the same complex - 5 fields - so there is decent visibility.
We were quoted $1500 a year for travel volleyball. That doesn't include the cost of actually traveling and our entry fees. Ummm.... No thank you. We have bills and college and such to worry about.
Saturday DS had little kid tee ball (aka bubba ball) for the first time in 3 weeks. He missed one game because he was screaming his knee hurt so we ended up in urgent care. Then the next week they cancelled because of the cold and drizzle. He was a mess! Running around like a crazy person, not paying attention, crying when his friend got the ball. Sheesh. He really, really wanted to play, but Saturday I regretted signing him up.
Post by covergirl82 on Apr 17, 2018 9:01:58 GMT -5
mae0111, yes, for baseball. That is apparently the cost for kids age 9 and up. (DS will be on a 9U team next year.) That is in addition to the cost for the regular little league team, and then the other sports he plays (football and basketball). And he'd like to try out for the travel basketball team next year.
Yeah, I'm going to have to start a spreadsheet to start totaling sports costs. Either we need to cut down on things like meals out, or we need to have a crucial conversation with DS about picking 2 sports.
I can’t find swim lessons for DS. No openings, even at the crazy expensive places. I called a few friends while on vaca and apparently the new thing is for SAHMs to put their kids in the Saturday sessions so they can “get a break” (I had had a couple afternoon cocktails and barely managed to keep my mouth shut). 3:30 on Tuesdays isn’t possible for most working parents, so this new trend blows. A lot of places don’t even offer beginning swim on weekends - which I totally don’t get.
Post by covergirl82 on Apr 17, 2018 10:22:18 GMT -5
2chatter, not related to sports, but a SAHM whose son is in DD's class, and I'm FB friends with complained about the snow day yesterday and the kids being home and how she's "alone" with them for days straight because her H is a pilot. I didn't comment, but couldn't help but wonder about all that "alone" time she has for at least 6 hours a day on the 5 days a week the kids are in school.
I've noticed in my area a similar trend of sports practices/classes being either during the day or right after school, which are both either difficult or impossible for families where both parents work.
Ok I think DS will not get on the waitlist for little league because its Tuesday, and opening day starts Saturday. I think if DS would have made it we would be notified by now. It is for 7 year olds not sure how it is pitched
The church league has openings. It is for 7-10 year olds and seems much smaller. The price is better. And it says it is semi competitive in that they keep score sometimes, not all the time. I think it would be more laid back than little league. But I am not sure about him playing with 10 year olds, and I am not sure how this one is pitched either. It is 3 months long (ouch). Beginning of May through end of July. He will do camp which is pretty tiring June and July. It is two days a week for one hour a day, Tues and Thurs. How does that compare to little league? Should I sign him up? He wants to do it, but might be tired from camp for two month. For 3 weeks there are just practices, no games. It seems like a big commitment because I really hate going places in the evening, but might help his coordination and summer outside evenings could be fun with a picnic packed maybe. Not sure if I have to stay for practices and games or just drop off for both or just go to games. Also it is about a 15 minute drive one way. Or I could not mention it and just have leisurely summer evenings... which are my favorite. He is really into sports now though... We are all tired after basketball and that was only 1 day a week from 6-7. I would have to do them all on my own because DH's job- he can't help me.
7-10 is a huge range. Some ten year olds are taller than I am and I can only imagine how they hit. Would the 7s play kids their age? I’d ask people who have done the league what they think. Here summer leagues are more casual and people don’t make every practice - that’s also worth asking.
I got DS signed up for swim lessons. On Saturday so DH can take him. Yay!
Little League for DD last year was April-June. 2-3 1 hour practices a week for the first month then then that plus a game usually on Saturdays. Our coach dropped it to 2 practices and 1 game. Games were 1 hour only. For us we had lots of rain outs for practices and cold miserable games as it doesn't become consistently nice until June. School also doesn't get done until mid-June.
During the summer DD still goes to gymnastics practice after being at gymnastic camp all day and swimming in the afternoon. She is really tired by the end of the day and I normally try not to schedule anything major over the weekend to let her recoup. But then that is just for a week each month.
I’m coaching softball and have 12 kids on the team. I scheduled the first practice for tomorrow night and asked people to let me know if they planned to attend. So far: 4 yes (including my own kid), 1 maybe, 4 no, and 3 no-reply. I understand if you can’t make it, but TELL ME. UGH.
This does not bode well for the season. I need to make the line up for each game in advance. I spend a lot of time making sure everyone gets to play the “good” positions, and everyone is required to play every inning. People no-showing screws everything up, and I have to fix it on the fly.
I’m coaching softball and have 12 kids on the team. I scheduled the first practice for tomorrow night and asked people to let me know if they planned to attend. So far: 4 yes (including my own kid), 1 maybe, 4 no, and 3 no-reply. I understand if you can’t make it, but TELL ME. UGH.
This does not bode well for the season. I need to make the line up for each game in advance. I spend a lot of time making sure everyone gets to play the “good” positions, and everyone is required to play every inning. People no-showing screws everything up, and I have to fix it on the fly.
People not showing up just pisses me off. My kids are in sports to 1) get exercise, 2) learn to be a part of a team, 3) learn sportsmanship, and 4) have fun. Not necessarily in that order or any order for that matter. To us, our family values are wrapped up in being “part of a team”. We keep our commitments, we try our best, we cheer for our friends and console them when they need it, we SHOW UP. I can’t figure out why other people bother signing their kids up for stuff they aren’t willing to commit to. There’s a kid playing tee ball who leaves every practice early so he can go to karate. They knew what day and time practice would be before they signed up. Why sign up to immediately double-book your kindergartener???
mommyatty, mae0111, That stuff caused DH to enact a very official contract for kids in his after school program. If you have scheduling conflicts and don't tell him up front before he casts the show, he will kick you out. Does not have time to be constantly rearranging rehearsals and schedules because of poor time management from kids and parents.
Would you allow your child to play tackle football? Growing up our started in 7th grade. Here it starts in second for non school related club football. It just seems so early to me. I want to say no tackle ever but I am not sure what I would say if he really wanted to and was a lot older.
Also another controversial question. My family has had a lot of accidents on 4 wheelers and dirt bikes so I won’t let my kids ride them. They've Never asked. Yay or nay for you?
I realize I fall more into safety / scared than a lot if parents, but I’ve spent thousands of dollars in medical bills and tons of doctor appointments so maybe be that’s why I am more hesitant than some.
waverly, we have an ongoing discussion in our house about tackle football. I’m a no. DH, who played and was very good, is a yes. Here it starts in 4th grade. I’m hoping to put it off until at least junior high.
I’m a hard NO on 4 wheelers and dirt bikes. DH has a cousin who suffered a really debilitating brain injury on one. And her dumb-assed parents still let her ride, she fell again, and spent weeks in a coma. Her speech is unintelligible to me, though they seems to understand her. She’s in her 50s and lives a fairly normal life, mostly because they live in a small town where everyone has known her family for 5 generations. She works at a grocery store and lives in a house on her parents’ ptoperty. DH’s niece fell and broke both wrists on a 4 wheeler. Two months later, she did it again but only broke one and required surgery. She’s damn lucky neither time ended in a broken neck as she went over the handle bars and flipped.
Flag football until middle school here. But middle is fifth grade. I let DD play flag football. And she is playing roller hockey in a non-checking league (this league goes through HS and they are alway non checking; I don't think any of the actual high schools have hockey leagues and certainly not roller hockey.
Tackle football would be a hard no for me. If either of them showed any interest in flag football, I'd sign them up - but not tackle. I am also shying away from ice hockey. Beyond the crazy commitment it requires, it just makes me very nervous. Lots of concussions and freak neck-breaking injuries.
No one around here has four wheelers, so I haven't been faced with that question yet. I don't think I would say yes. Those things are scary to me.
I did’t realize (although I should have) that hockey had so many injuries. Luckily DS at least now has zero interest because he was terrible the one time we took him ice skating. Think limp noodle on skates.
Post by mustardseed2007 on Apr 22, 2018 17:43:26 GMT -5
Well this may not be fair b/c I'm pretty sure my son who is not good at baseball will also never want to play football, but tackle football is a hard no for me.
4 wheelers are VERY VERY common in H's family and are also a hard no for me.
Accidents on 4 wheelers are sooooooo common. I feel like when anyone flips one or is thrown and dies or is seriously injured it's treated like a freak accident when in fact it's just incredibly common. Just off the top of my head, a yougn boy in our neighborhood was killed a couple years ago on one. And then also a coworker of mine was sued when his friend was riding my coworker's 4 wheeler, flipped it, and became a paraplegic.
I'm more ok with golf cart-type things when they are driven by a sober adult over solid ground over short distances. But sometimes a sober adult is hard to come by and then it's also a no on that.