Which has more pressure?

Both be about pressure...

They both present presure for different reaons, as someone has said!

HS: You have to play in front of your peers and be judged by them! When you don't get to play, believe me kids are mean, they talk about or make fun of that person for the fact that they don't play!
I also do not feel that one loss can keep the top conference contenders at home from playoffs or states!

TB: I guess this can depend on what your main reasons for playing TB are.
If your main objective for playing TB is to make it to college, hopefully with a scholarship, to play softball, then the pressure is definetely there!

If your main objective in playing TB is because you really enjoy playing the game and being around and in that atmosphere and the fun things/situations that arise from it then the pressure would not be there!

I agree with Guru, if you are playing in front of coaches that could mean the difference in you getting to fulfill one of your goals in life or not, that is pressure at the highest! My DD was told from the day she started playing showcase TB, you never know who might be watching, so do your best everytime!
A good example was one time we were at a big tournament (Dynamite), and she was on the mound, she happened to look out and see the head coach for Alabama sitting and watching the game! Now to her that was an extremely BIG thing! Considering this team is almost always in the College World Series! So did she feel pressure, you bet she did! We didn't have to tell her he was there, she knew exactly who he was from seeing him a lot on TV and she had actually considered Alabama as an option at one point. Even if she had not, who would want to do bad in front of a coach of that caliber, regardless! She did excellent by the way and we were extremely proud when the coach of Alabama told us to tell her that she had done extremely well! It just so happened that he was there to watch a kid who was playing for the team that the DD was playing againest!

So all in all it just depends what you hope to get out of TB, as to how much pressure is involved.

 

>>I also do not feel that one loss can keep the top conference contenders at home from playoffs or states!<<

I beg to differ. When you have 4 good teams in a conference playing for 3 playoff spots one loss can and has made the difference.

 

but..

When you are going to a State Championship, one conference loss can mean everything because where will that seed you in the playoffs.

I think that high school ball has more pressure. Things that happen in your game are posted in the newspaper. At my school, there are crowds at our games. The playoffs were on the radio. You are competing for All-Conference, All-State, etc.

The only time I think travel ball has a lot of pressure is when a college coach, from a school that I want to go to is there. Nothing else really matters. I usually play better then, but if I make an error one game, then I have 5 more games to still prove myself.

 

Misplaced imagination.....

....is what I call it. Pressure, be it HS or TB or taking a test or applying for a job etc. is natural for sure. But the whole idea of letting some idea into your head, in this case, failing in one way or another, is what dictates pressure. Its taking an intangible thing, a thought, and making it tangible in your mind. Jealousy is the very same type of misplaces imagination. If you, as a player, will be confident that you've done your 100% very best to prepare yourself, then BE confident, and go out and play! Overthinking in sports, and for that matter lots of other gigs we go through everyday life is a waste of your time. I once heard on a Christian radio broadcast this.....the speaker said..."write down all of your worries/pressure stuff on monday, and on friday look back on your list." You'll be amazed at all of the things on the list just go away, and BAM were not worth being in your mind. Its the same thing in sports....

 

Good thoughts

Preparation solves many issues that lead to stress! U hit on it Marlin what most all coaches have said for years, U play the way U practice! Ladies work hard at practice and the stress of games can be reduced. LOL bring on the games

 

My favorite saying about softball is...

My favorite saying about softball is "Natural is better than Nervous!

 

Nice......

.....quote!