Softball Tips - Finding the Right Team

Yes, it's that time of the year again. The fastpitch softball summer is season is coming to a close, and with it players (and their parents) are starting to look at next year.

For some, the decision will be easy. They like their team, they like their coaches, they want to stay right where they are. For others, it's not quite as clear-cut.

If you're in the former group, congratulations. Glad to hear it, although this article probably won't be of much interest to you. If you're in the other group, though, you have a lot to think about in the next few weeks (or days).

Where you go likely will depend on your situation and what you want out of the game. If you're a starter but just unhappy with the coaching, or with some of your teammates, or some other general aspect of the team, you may just be looking for a change of scenery. But if you feel like you haven't been getting a fair opportunity, you may have to make some tough decisions.

One of the toughest is to leave a team that consistently has a winning record. Winning is fun, no question about it. As Nuke Laloosh would say, it's more fun than losing. There's a chance, especially if you move to a team that is just forming, that you will suffer more losses than you're used to.

So at that point you have to make a decision — would I rather play and maybe lose, or sit and win? It sounds like a no-brainer but it's really not. Our society is very win-oriented, and losing more than you're used to can get to you after a while. You have to be strong to accept the idea that playing is better than not playing, no matter what the outcome.

Or there's the situation of moving to a team where you'll feel more challenged. Perhaps you have one of those coaches who likes to win, and thus plays at a "comfortable" level instead of stretching the team, even now and then. You know that in order to develop your game you need to play tougher competition. But again, that might mean you lose more than you're used to. Can you accept that?

Can you accept making more outs than you have in the past while you face better pitching? It's easy to say yes while you're sitting at home watching TV or listening to music, but something else entirely when you're walking back to the bench after your second K of the game.

There are all kinds of scenarios like that. It ultimately comes down to what you want for your career. For some people, getting the trophy is most important. Nothing wrong with that. It'll be nice to look back on someday.

But for others, it's about developing their game. If that's you, and you're not getting the opportunity where you are now, perhaps it's time for a change. Just be sure you know what you're getting yourself into, and that you're able to handle the bad as well as the good.

Anyway, that's the way I see it.

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If you will be trying out for a new team this year, don't forget to check out our Tryouts Peak Performance Kit so that you can deliver your best tryout performance ever and give yourself the best chance of landing that spot on the team you want to play on!

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