Do you miss competitive softball? Do you miss your friends, your coaches, and the high-level competition? Right now, KSHSAA, Kansas State High School Activities Association, does not allow high school players to participate in both competitive and high school softball. KSHSAA needs to allow the opportunity to play both travel and high school softball because few states don’t allow playing both and Kansas is one of them, playing both betters your game, and playing travel softball on the weekend does not interfere with the high school schedule. First, Kansas is one of the only states that doesn’t allow playing competitive softball during the high school season. Right now, Ohio, Kansas, and Arkansas are the only states that do not allow participation …show more content…
Although not every high school player doesn’t want to attend college on a softball scholarship, many travel ball players do. High school softball includes no recruitment, and usually focuses on teaching the younger players the rules and fundamentals of the game. What does it teach the older players? What do the girls who play competitive softball and are wanting to go to college for it learn? There are some high school teams that are highly competitive, but it’s not always the case. Only around 2% of high school only athletes go to college for the same sport (“Odds of a High School Athlete making a College Team”). On the other hand, 7% of high school athletes that also participate in competitive sports go to college (“Odds of a High School Athlete making a College Team”). According to a head coach of seven years and an athletic director of five years, “Playing the same sport in school and with an outside team can help with fundamental development and understanding” (“Club Sports: Can They Coexist With High School Sports?”). Although this coach thinks it is a positive, other coaches do not. For example, another athletic director stated, “As a young athletic director, I tried to stop it. Now, as I have grown in this position, I have worked to be more accommodating and less restrictive. We have athletes involved in club sports year round but want them to enjoy and be a part of the high school experience” (“Club Sports: Can They Coexist With High School Sports?”). Although his opinion may be valid, some high school athletes are more serious about their sport, and aren’t there to just enjoy the
Softball had evolved and the sport was being played in the U.S. After being introduced into the U.S., The All-American Girls
In 2012, Softball was cut out of the summer games. Elana would not get another shot. Resilience was the path Elana decided to take. She was determined to find a new sport. Elana talked to her parents about new sports and new opportunities.
The Softball Pitcher is the Most Influential Position on the Team Coach said there is no “I” in team, yet sometimes it felt as if there should be one. As the only pitcher on my high school fast-pitch softball team, I was often exhausted by the end of a game, but I knew my only option was to keep pitching. Although the fielders behind me were trying hard, none were great athletes; we all knew that if I did not strike a batter out, my defense would often be unable to make an out in the field. In fast-pitch softball, the pitcher is the team’s most influential position by limiting batter effectiveness, staying physically and mentally tough, and being a key fielder.
Take me out to the ball game, take me out with the crowd. Welcome, Café Champs to this edition of Tierani's Sports Café. In the past, I've covered softball basics. I noted in those posts that many of the basics of softball will also apply to baseball: the basic game play, number of players on the field (and the positions of the players), how to get an out, how to get on and around the bases, how to score and even terminology like balls, strikes, steals, homeruns, etc. Although the sports are more alike than different, I want to take the time to highlight some of their key differences.
The Dynamics of Fastpitch Softball Fastpitch softball, as its name suggests, is a fast-paced game overflowing with dynamics concepts. From the travel of the pitch to the impact of the swing, softball shows many dynamics concepts in action. While many go playing this sport without knowing the true dynamics behind it, terms used such as the “sweet spot” of the bat have a dynamics basis. Knowing the dynamics behind some of the actions of softball can help a player reach their optimal performance.
Growing up playing a sport, that sport becomes a part of you. It not only becomes a part of your everyday life, but it also becomes a contribution to your personality. “Friday Night Lights” or as I knew it: Monday, and Thursday night lights, became what I looked forward to most as a child. I started playing softball at the age of four, and my team played every Monday and Thursday night from the month of March to around the middle of June, for six years. When I turned ten years old, softball became a year-round sport because of it being more competitive.
The Union County Vocational Technical Schools (UCVTS) should have a sports program for students to join. Some students turn down the opportunity to come to UCVTS because no sports opportunities are available. Not many extracurricular activities are available besides clubs on campus. Also, students who attend UCVTS and play sports for their local hometown school can’t enjoy the same school spirt from a hard fought victory as the students who attend the hometown school. Students should play for the school they attend.
Lineup and roster cards must be submitted by a coach before the game starts. These are a few of the many rules in softball, I feel they are the most crucial to know.
This notion is supported by Dr. Daniel Gould, who believes that “Children who participate in sports have increased educational aspirations, closer ties to school and increased occupational aspirations in youth” (1). People against the funding of high school sports think that parents and society are placing more emphasis than ever before and, “[P]ressures athletic personnel to deviate on winning from the athlete- centered educational and personal development mission” (Gould 1). However, athletes strive to do better in class. Michael Lorenc, a high school basketball coach believes that “those who seem to have an overwhelming schedule where they’re playing maybe multiple sports, and high academic schedules, they tend to do better than those who don’t do anything extracurricularly” (Gray). Balancing sports and school makes athletes put more effort into keeping up grades while playing the sport they love.
In order to be an umpire one has to be vocal, make decisions, and stand up for themselves. Because I demonstrate these attributes, I was selected by the league to represent the Fife district in umpiring for the post season games. Sports and school work reflect on each other, they have some of the same key components. While playing softball, I’ve learned to be committed, focused, and to manage my time well in order to become a successful player and not let my team down. As a student those same characteristics apply to my academics to help me get an education.
Baseball is considered by many to be America’s favorite pastime. Softball in many aspects is similar to baseball but in reality it is harder to play. This can be shown in all aspects of the game from hitting to pitching to fielding to catching. One major aspect where the difference is obvious is hitting. It has been scientifically proven that a 95 mph fastball generates 2411 lbs of force as it crosses the plate and a softball thrown at 65mph generates even more according to youtube.com.
A field shaped like a diamond followed by a meadow of grass. Sixty foot base paths that surrounds the infield in a counterclockwise direction. A batting count of three balls and two strikes. Three outs total in all seven innings of pure determined, back and forth softball between two teams. This place has been my home for years.
For the last eight years, softball has shaped my life and taught me many things about leadership, sportsmanship, and how to work as a team. Softball has always made me happy, it’s not just the sport that makes me happy, but it’s the place that I get to go and the people that I get to play it with. Every time I’m on the field or in the cages I feel the most content. The softball field and cages are my sanctuary.
But, if I can play baseball for a school, that would be great for chasing my dream of playing pro baseball. Baseball
My parents are huge baseball fans, so they decided to sign me up for a little league tee ball program in hopes that I would one day play softball in highschool or college. This is comical looking back on it, because knowing me now, softball is one of the last things I can see myself doing. I was very shy growing up however I do vaguely remember making a few friends while in little league, so the social aspect wasn’t an issue. These tee ball practices last for about month until I dramatically decided that tee ball, or any outdoor sport for that matter, simply wasn’t for me. I would not suggest throwing a temper tantrum in the middle of the outfield and running to the bleachers because you can’t take the heat.