Coach_Gonzalez wrote:Sftbll4ever wrote:I remember a really really really really really long time ago when there were really only like 5 travel teams in So Cal. You either made the team or you didn't. If not, you went back to Little Miss or Bobby Sox to play.
Ahhhh, the good ole days.
Seriously though. As long as they are having fun and staying out of trouble, that is good with me. They will either get seen or not get seen. If they don't care, they are playing for fun.
That is exactly what I am talking about, and thats what it should be.
Lets examine the absolute silliness of this post, shall we:
1) The 5 "real" travel teams would have nobody to play except themselves.
2) Those 5 teams don't win Nationals a lot any more.
3) The old system produced some real peach coaches....arrogant SOBs with little or no coaching talent.
4) The NCAA is getting a lot of excellent ballplayers from unknown teams.
5) Thousands of hard working young ladies are receiving scholarships for their efforts...who wouln't even have a team to play for in your scenario.
6) Many people choose travel because their kids are getting much better coaching than they would in rec ball....just because somebody is on the board doesn't make them a great coach.
7) The explosion of teams has spread throughout the country and now Nationals is getting to truely be a national tournament where teams from many different areas of the country have a chance not only to compete, but to actually win the tournament.
You may think it is watered down...but look at college sports....they have DI, D2, D3, NAIA, JC...you might as well be arguing that there should only be 10 college teams so they can choose the best of the best....it would make picking the top 10 much easier.