EYEBLACK. It is the makeup of Satan. It just has to be. Anything invented to stain expensive jerseys, and not come off with soap and water (or bleach and AJAX and pressure washing) that darkens pores and makes it look like you beat your daughter for days after the games, has to be the product of the devil. The moment a softball mom sees it, or hears the early morning tournament day suggestion of "hey let's put some EYEBLACK on," while one bad influence of a player with braided pigtails, pulls a fresh batch from her bat bag while her inexperienced mom stands by with pride because her … [Read more...]
The Life of a Pitcher | Softball is For Girls
When they show up on the field, any given Saturday With butterflies and excitement, they are ready to play. They take a look at the circle, and inspect the mound Where the deep trenches from those who came before them are found. They warm up their snaps, their grips and their throws And say a silent prayer that they'll pitch like the pros. But what most don't know or fail to see Is what goes in to this gig doesn't come for free. They can be seen at home throwing a rolled up sock against the wall Practicing their pitching as they walk down the hall. In the grocery store, the … [Read more...]
How Not to Be a Sucky Softball Coach | Softball Is For Girls
Coaching. It's a hard gig and can be a cocktail for disaster. Between parents, and dealing with players, and trying to make decisions for the greater good of all, that will certainly not be agreed upon by everyone involved - being a softball coach is not an easy feat. So first... We want to thank all the brave men and women out there who step up, and take on the task. Without YOU, no matter how many people complain about "mommy" or "daddy" ball - there are thousands of kids who wouldn't have the opportunity to play without you. WE KNOW what YOU GIVE UP. We know what it feels like to … [Read more...]
How Not to Suck at Being a Softball Parent | Softball is For Girls
It's no secret that there are a lot of rules for softball parents. For parents of any athlete in general. Apparently, we are supposed to sit down (not too close to our kid), relax, fork over money and our kids and be quiet and just smile ever so sweetly and only say, "I love to watch you play!" Which, we all do. We all love to watch them play. (Except for when they play terrible. Or when they are whiny, Or when we feel like there feelings are being squashed like a bug.) Because if we didn't love to watch them play, we certainly wouldn't sit through the heat and the cold and the rain and … [Read more...]
Tips for Keeping Fastpitch Softball Affordable
In many parts of the country, rec leagues are dying out as girls get older in age - and more and more travel or tournament leagues are born. For so many families, travel and tournament ball is a daunting endeavor simply because the reality is it costs a lot of money. Not only do you have team expenses, but you have actual travel expenses, may need to take time off work, will have to pay for lessons so your daughter can keep up with her peers competitively and stay in the game - and a host of other expenses outside of just providing the equipment she needs. Sadly, many youth sports … [Read more...]
An Open Letter to All The Upcoming Softball Seniors | Softball is for Girls
In many parts of the country, school has started. And for many of you - this means that your senior year is on the way. This also means that at some point in the next 365 days, you will step on your school field for a very last time as a player, wearing a school jersey. To you the player, and certainly to the ones that love you, it seems like it was just yesterday when you first made your school team.... And this brings us to share our first piece of advice. Time doesn't wait for anyone! It won't wait for you, it won't wait for your friends, it didn't wait for your parents...it … [Read more...]
Is Your Team Predictable?
So once upon a time, 100 years ago, ok it's really about 30 years ago ( wow, writing this I realize it may as well be 100 years ago), I played on a really good travel ball team. We weren't the best there was but we were really good. In fact, we should have won a lot more games than we did. We had some great players on our team, players that went on to play at major Division 1 programs and the Olympics. As a team, we played very well together, and after three years together had really found our groove as a team. But now as an adult, with more softball knowledge, I realize we could have been … [Read more...]
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My Daughter Is a Headcase | Softball Is For Girls
I adamantly disagree with the assumption that girls are headcases simply because they were born with a vagina. It's one of those myths - you know myths like girls are so sensitive, and girls are just soft, and girls are just not as strong as tough. I call the BS card on all of those things. And yes, I am an authority, because I am raising 4 humans born with a vagina and who are NONE of those things. Girls are strong. Girls are determined. Girls are tough. Girls are persistent. Girls persevere. Girls can do any darn thing they want to. They can even stand up to pee if they really … [Read more...]
