02/27/2020
A gentleman posted in a group yesterday that parents should have their daughters stop playing softball. His perspective was based on the money involved.
And, I cannot argue that softball is expensive. I don’t know how parents do it. But I understand WHY they do it – and that’s where this guy missed the boat.
He listed the number of colleges from various levels offering softball, as well as the percentages of your daughter earning a roster spot. He further dissected the number of scholarships each division offers and how those are divided unequally among teammates.
His conclusion was that it’s a “Pipe Dream” for anyone to think they’ll play after high school – therefore they should quit.
Unfortunately, not only was his math and assumptions wrong, he failed to see the ENTIRE reason why most kids play and why parents support them.
Playing is fun. It teaches life-lessons. Character is built. Lifelong friendships are formed. And perhaps the most important thing – The time spent together, laughing, celebrating, crying, traveling, and learning – that time for a daughter and her parents is PRICELESS.
In the end, isn’t life about the memories we make, the experiences we have, and the impact on our world?
Not everyone who plays wants to keep doing it after high school. And that’s okay. For those that do, there is a place for each of you. Never let a misinformed, disgruntled individual ruin your dream.
But a bigger point, the memories created by the shared experiences between a daughter and her parents, that’s the #1 reason why every kid who wants to play, should play. Please don’t ever lose sight of that.
