What’s a guy to talk about? This column is not really a news column; I don’t provide a lot of information on breaking news stories. Even so, each month, other than those stories meant to be purely entertainment, I attempt to focus on issues that are currently relevant, or recently at the forefront in discussion in youth softball. My columns in February through May are difficult, because for the most part there is little happening in the softball world to write about.

To be relevant during these months, I would need to concentrate on college softball (not really youth softball), high school softball (other than discussing some parents’ frustration, not much of a subject matter), or about the little ones (10U through 14U), the only ones really playing games. As I began considering what I was going to lead off with this month, I started reflecting about where I have been in my youth softball history, and where I am today. During this process, it struck me how these experiences mirror those of many other people I’ve had the privilege of meeting over the years, and how this history binds so many of us together.

I have been writing about this sport for many, many years, long before my daughter was old enough to play the game. First as the Pacific Coast’s ASA JO Commissioner in a regular publication distributed to travel teams and recreation leagues, then as a columnist for one publication, and then for Softball West Magazine. In 1992, while writing for one of these publications, I penned a story about the ASA’s reluctance to recognize competitive softball for the 10U age group. ASA had just defeated legislation for a national championship program for the age group, and I felt that they had missed the boat.

This column was written even though I had never seen a 10U travel game, but with the realization that other sports had competitive programs for youth this age, which were providing a needed platform for young talented athletes. After reading my column, a 10U manager contacted me and asked me to attend a travel "friendly" to actually see a game. Although I had seen hundreds of youth fast pitch games, I was amazed by the skill level of the players and a few months later, this program (Dynasty of Riverside) contacted me again about bringing my 9 year old daughter down for a tryout.

This was the first of four such tryouts she would participate in, the first of six travel teams, and the first of nine years of playing travel softball. In all, we participated in five ASA nationals (the 10U team actually played in an NIT prior to ASA’s decision to conduct nationals for the age group), winning two and doing well in two others. Three of those nationals were with 18U Gold teams. Now our daughter plays in college, and as always, we make every game we possibly can.

Now as I get to this point you may be thinking that this story is going nowhere, but you’d be wrong. I have written this story to make a couple of points. First, I felt it was important to let readers know that I have experienced the same excitement, frustration, and anticipation that each of you experience. While many have knowledge of my softball administration experience, most do not know I’ve been there as a parent as well. Secondly, for those whose daughter is in college or has recently finished, I wanted you to know that I am experiencing the same realization that a major portion of our lives is rapidly coming to a close. And finally, I wanted all readers to know that my columns are written with empathy for all involved in the sport and my continued love for the game.

REJECTED!

While I have written a few fictitious columns in the past about softball games or softball stories on television, I did something recently that I thought you might find interesting. With all the reality programs on television now, I prepared a detailed program proposal for a television series and submitted it to ESPN for consideration. The program was to be a reality based series, following the development of an 18U Gold team through tryouts, and following the team through showcase tournaments and national qualifiers.

While following the team would have been part of the intrigue of the program, perhaps more interesting would be following individual players as they cope with the recruitment process, the ups and downs of dealing with possible college opportunities, and in the end making a decision on where they would attend school. This would be both a reality show and documentary on the college recruitment process.

Many players and their parents involved in the sport or recruitment process would have found the program of interest, and anyone who has an interest in the sport would have appreciated the program. With so much junk on television today, I really thought there would be a possibility that they would consider it. Well, I guess they did consider it, but just a few weeks ago I received a nice rejection letter from the network. The only neat thing is, I got a couple of letters from them on their cool letterhead.

FOUL TIPS

The weather is still wreaking havoc on youth softball. Just last issue I complained here about how rain had caused me to miss so many opportunities to see some games, but spoke about how a change was coming. Well the coming was short lived, as rain started back up again, stopping a couple of tournaments (youth and high school) that I had hoped to attend. Sorry to say, in the past month I’ve only been able to enjoy about 15 games, and all of those were college games.

I’m writing this column a couple weekends before the big Fresno Force Classic tournament. This is the first big test of the year for the young teams. Since these events get little in the way of any media coverage, I’m looking forward to reading event updates on the Internet to see who looks like the early favorites in the 10’s and 12’s.

As always, you can contact me at floydeunslip@yahoo.com_and so the ball rolls.